Are there shows that should be chopped in two for syndication or DVD?

[Alan Brady's Hair]

This is kind of related to the complete v. single-season DVD release question. There are at least two shows that I would be more likely to keep up with in syndication or buy a DVD set of if they would break it into pieces. Each of these shows had a very radical break at some point, changing the tone of the show while still maintaining some quality:

1. Cheers - obviously, the Diane v. the Rebecca years. The Diane years are the forerunner of the will they/won't they shows, the Rebecca years are an ensemble workplace comedy.

2. MASH - probably the Trapper/Henry years v. the B.J./Potter years (although it could be the Frank v. Winchester years). The first an ensemble military sitcom with serious overtones, the latter emerging as full-blown dramedy.

Cutting the shows in half would allow the parts to be sold as DVD packages, and to be syndicated to different places. For instance, Comedy central might get the ensemble years of each show, while Lifetime might take the early Cheers and A&E the later MASH episodes.

There are other shows that I think could be cut in two worthwhile shows, like Petticoat Junction, Happy Days, and Newhart.

Other shows obviously have distinct breaks, but I think it's mainly a difference in quality, including the Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, and the US version of The Office.

[Sal]

My Three Sons

The series used to be syndicated in 2 parts. The DVD packages can be done in the same manner:

1960-65 - Black and White on ABC with Bub and Mike

-1965-72 - Colour on CBS with Uncle Charley and Ernie and the wives



Beverly Hillbillies - Black and White and Colour episodes can be sold separately. The black and white episodes are now mainly found in public domain DVDs but if you want to have the official releases, you can also split up the packages in two ways just like with My Three Sons.



Ozzie and Harriet: Can be split 3 ways:

The Early Years: 1952-55 - When Ricky and David were young and cute.

The Middle Years: 1955-61 - Ricky sings!!

The Later Seasons: 1961-66 - The boys get married to great looking wives.

[Regulus]

IMO I'd rather Not split a show for syndication. Case in Point- Lassie, when this show was syndicated Not only did they split this show, they also LEFT OUT four seasons (4, 9, 10,11)! which included the episodes where the dawg changed masters (That's seasons 4 and 11 for those of you in Rio Linda!)! It wasn't until 2009 I FINALLY got to see those "Lost Episodes" thanks to Y2K3 Joker's "Lassie Project" Sets.

[Svenfan1234]

No, I believe long-running shows should be kept intact. While I agree that some shows turned to completely different shows by their end, it would be useless to do something like this. JMO.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Well, we know GUNSMOKE is split into 3 packages, and has been before The Viacom Distributed Shows moved over to CBS Television Syndication.

The half-hours ("Marshal Dillion")
The B&W Hours
The Color Hours

But that is logistics more than anything else.

[RetroTVNitekatt]

Originally Posted by Sal

Beverly Hillbillies - Black and White and Colour episodes can be sold separately. The black and white episodes are now mainly found in public domain DVDs but if you want to have the official releases, you can also split up the packages in two ways just like with My Three Sons.

Viacom and later CBS Television Syndication did have 3 packages of THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES available - the B&W Shows, The Color Shows,and the complete series.