Harvey's Intros - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Flash72 · 07-04-2003, 05:11 PM

I remember when I watched the show during it's first run on NBC how they had Harvey Korman do intros for the show. He was called "Alistaire Quince" and it was done in the style of "Masterpiece Theater" where Harvey sitting in a chair would lead into the beginning of the episode." Does anyone else remember these? It is a shame that in syndication they cut those out.

Penny Lane · 07-04-2003, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flash72
I remember when I watched the show during it's first run on NBC how they had Harvey Korman do intros for the show. He was called "Alistaire Quince" and it was done in the style of "Masterpiece Theater" where Harvey sitting in a chair would lead into the beginning of the episode." Does anyone else remember these? It is a shame that in syndication they cut those out.

I kind of remember that. But wasn't that on The Carol Burnett Show?

Not sure though

PZelda · 07-05-2003, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Penny Lane
I kind of remember that. But wasn't that on The Carol Burnett Show? Not sure though

I heard nothing of that either and Vicki didn't mention it in her book, so I really don't think that was done. Besides, it would have made the opening run pretty long. I don't know. Hey, I wasn't born until 1985, so I wouldn't know.

Kellibean · 07-05-2003, 11:40 AM

You're not losing your mind! I remember this, too!
Loved it!!

Kelli

Flash72 · 07-05-2003, 04:08 PM

Thanks, I knew they occurred, I just wanted to see if anyone else remembered them as I did. Take care.

TVJunkie101 · 07-05-2003, 09:56 PM

Yeah. I didn't watch the original runs, but didn't the NBC episodes have a little different opening than what we see now?

I think tvparty.com under the Carol Burnett section may have a videoclip of the original opening credits. TVparty also has clips of the Eunice tv movie, that was the pilot for Mama's Family.

TALLguyinKY · 07-06-2003, 01:13 AM

Yeah, I was 4 and 5 when MF first aired on NBC, and I vaguely remember Harvey and the different openings, too! And it must have been in the series, because a book on television shows (can't remember which one) lists Harvey as Alistair in the cast credits, and mentions how he'd introduce each episode.

The camera would pan on a bright day down these houses along a street---not many trees, and then stop at "the house"---it may have been slightly different.

I saw the clip online a long time ago, which is how I can remember to describe it like that. I think it was at "TVParty".

Man, I'd love to see those openin's again, with "Alistair Quince" and everything!

Sammy Reed · 07-21-2003, 01:09 PM

I remember Alistair Quince, too. Who-knows-why they cut the intros out of the reruns.

TALLguyinKY · 07-25-2003, 04:44 AM

I wonder what he said? I can't remember...stuff about the plot, the characters, the "moral"...interesting...

TV Guy · 07-31-2003, 10:31 PM

Yeah, Harvey did intros as Alistair Quince for pretty much all the NBC episodes. He also co-directed a good deal of those episodes. The opening for the NBC episodes used a completely different house for the exterior (although the interior was basically the same). When episodes were made for first-run syndication, a different house was used for the exterior, for some reason. If you watch the opening of the early syndicated episodes (1986-87), the camera panned down the street before stopping at the house, similar to the way it happened in the NBC episodes with the different house. By the second syndicated season (1987-88), the "down the street" shot was dropped. When the NBC episodes went into syndication, the exterior shots from the 1987-88 season were attached to those episodes, for consistancy. And since all network shows lose a minute or so due to editing when they enter syndication, it was probably easiest to drop the Alistair Qunce intros.

ConservativeBalla · 08-19-2003, 02:06 PM

They probably don't show it in syndication just because of time. So many stinkin' commercials these days! I mean, look at how other shows intros, etc. have been butchered due to time slots. Makes me sick.

folbartman · 08-25-2003, 01:34 AM

I believe the show's intro is different also to keep consistancy, like someone mentioned. It would then keep the audience in re-runs looking very consistant. I like the new openings better, its not so much of an maude or all in the family type opening.

The old openings can be found on my site at www.mamasfamilysite.cjb.net or mamasfamilysite.tripod.com

on the sounds/video's page.

Enjoy.

astro4004 · 12-21-2003, 09:48 PM

Thank you for posting these, Folbartman. It was really interesting seeing that original opening credit sequence. I vaguely remembered the Harvey part, but the pan-down-the-street and original exterior shot had completely escaped my memory.

Yay!

MamasFamilyFan2003 · 12-28-2003, 09:47 AM

ok this sucks!!!!!! Yall have real time but NOT me!!!

I WANNA SEE THE ORIGINAL INTROS!!!!!!

Isnt there any way to convert them to Mpeg? PLEEEEZZ???

PZelda · 12-28-2003, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MamasFamilyFan2003
ok this sucks!!!!!! Yall have real time but NOT me!!! I WANNA SEE THE ORIGINAL INTROS!!!!!! Isnt there any way to convert them to Mpeg? PLEEEEZZ???

I took some screenshots a little while ago, but I know it won't be the same.... =/

The first few are screenshots from two of the original teasers on that site...

This is from the episode where Vinton and Naomi first start dating (this aired sometime in 1983)

At the end of the teaser, the camera would zoom out, as if you were reading a book, then it would close and you would see this-

From the two-parter "The Wedding" eps...

Then Harvey as the beloved Allstar!

What the opening credits looked like- I didn't take pics of the people on the show because the character part of the credits are still the same.

Then they reached the house...

If you want to see more pics, just ask, and I'll take more. Those are all the pics I took.

07-04-2003, 05:11 PM	#1
Flash72 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 17, 2000 Location: Alabama Posts: 310	Harvey's Intros I remember when I watched the show during it's first run on NBC how they had Harvey Korman do intros for the show. He was called "Alistaire Quince" and it was done in the style of "Masterpiece Theater" where Harvey sitting in a chair would lead into the beginning of the episode." Does anyone else remember these? It is a shame that in syndication they cut those out.
	__________________ It is better to fail while attempting, then to fail to attempt... Flash72 http://www.tvlinksonline.com/boards/...&postid=799864

07-05-2003, 09:56 PM	#6
TVJunkie101 Member...you 'member? Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,838	Yeah. I didn't watch the original runs, but didn't the NBC episodes have a little different opening than what we see now? I think tvparty.com under the Carol Burnett section may have a videoclip of the original opening credits. TVparty also has clips of the Eunice tv movie, that was the pilot for Mama's Family.
	__________________ Shawn DVD Reviews \| My TV on DVD List \| Sitcoms Online NewsBlog

08-19-2003, 02:06 PM	#11
ConservativeBalla R.I.P., Mr. Reagan. Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2003 Location: 704 Hauser Street, Queens, New York; having an eating contest with Meathead eating Edith's beef stew. Posts: 1,822	They probably don't show it in syndication just because of time. So many stinkin' commercials these days! I mean, look at how other shows intros, etc. have been butchered due to time slots. Makes me sick.
	__________________ Big Daddy: ...now you promise me you won't fret none. Dorothy: Well, I would, but I'm not exactly sure what "fret none" is.

12-21-2003, 09:48 PM	#13
astro4004 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 21, 2003 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 38	Thank you for posting these, Folbartman. It was really interesting seeing that original opening credit sequence. I vaguely remembered the Harvey part, but the pan-down-the-street and original exterior shot had completely escaped my memory. Yay!
	__________________ "Get real, Grandma!"

07-05-2003, 11:40 AM	#4
Kellibean Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 05, 2002 Location: NC Posts: 15	You're not losing your mind! I remember this, too! Loved it!! Kelli

07-05-2003, 04:08 PM	#5
Flash72 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 17, 2000 Location: Alabama Posts: 310	Thanks, I knew they occurred, I just wanted to see if anyone else remembered them as I did. Take care.

07-06-2003, 01:13 AM	#7
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	Yeah, I was 4 and 5 when MF first aired on NBC, and I vaguely remember Harvey and the different openings, too! And it must have been in the series, because a book on television shows (can't remember which one) lists Harvey as Alistair in the cast credits, and mentions how he'd introduce each episode. The camera would pan on a bright day down these houses along a street---not many trees, and then stop at "the house"---it may have been slightly different. I saw the clip online a long time ago, which is how I can remember to describe it like that. I think it was at "TVParty". Man, I'd love to see those openin's again, with "Alistair Quince" and everything!

07-21-2003, 01:09 PM	#8
Sammy Reed Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2003 Posts: 403	I remember Alistair Quince, too. Who-knows-why they cut the intros out of the reruns.

07-25-2003, 04:44 AM	#9
TALLguyinKY Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 18, 2002 Posts: 1,439	I wonder what he said? I can't remember...stuff about the plot, the characters, the "moral"...interesting...

07-31-2003, 10:31 PM	#10
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	Yeah, Harvey did intros as Alistair Quince for pretty much all the NBC episodes. He also co-directed a good deal of those episodes. The opening for the NBC episodes used a completely different house for the exterior (although the interior was basically the same). When episodes were made for first-run syndication, a different house was used for the exterior, for some reason. If you watch the opening of the early syndicated episodes (1986-87), the camera panned down the street before stopping at the house, similar to the way it happened in the NBC episodes with the different house. By the second syndicated season (1987-88), the "down the street" shot was dropped. When the NBC episodes went into syndication, the exterior shots from the 1987-88 season were attached to those episodes, for consistancy. And since all network shows lose a minute or so due to editing when they enter syndication, it was probably easiest to drop the Alistair Qunce intros.

08-25-2003, 01:34 AM	#12
folbartman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 16, 2003 Posts: 193	I believe the show's intro is different also to keep consistancy, like someone mentioned. It would then keep the audience in re-runs looking very consistant. I like the new openings better, its not so much of an maude or all in the family type opening. The old openings can be found on my site at www.mamasfamilysite.cjb.net or mamasfamilysite.tripod.com on the sounds/video's page. Enjoy.

12-28-2003, 09:47 AM	#14
MamasFamilyFan2003 harper days are here Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 17, 2003 Posts: 81	ok this sucks!!!!!! Yall have real time but NOT me!!! I WANNA SEE THE ORIGINAL INTROS!!!!!! Isnt there any way to convert them to Mpeg? PLEEEEZZ???