Question about the Opening and Closing credits for All Sitcoms [Archive]

TVFactFan

06-01-2003, 10:58 AM

Does anyone know if opening and closing credits of a sitcom are modified once they go into syndication? The reason i'm asking is because I noticed that my local station showed diffferent versions of Three's Company. I was also told that the very first time the Jeffersons aired on CBS, there was a longer version of the opening and closing credits. So if someone knows of any show that has different opening and closing credits once they were in syndication please let me know.

Adamantium

06-02-2003, 08:00 PM

I bought a tape of "Taxi" and the theme song was longer than it is on TV. Of course, "I Love Lucy" had to change it's theme song for syndication since the original theme is an animated Lucy and Desi running around a Phillip Morris Cigarette box. The "Boy Meets World" theme song of the first, second and third seasons have been replaced by the fourth season's theme.

The Obsolete Man

06-02-2003, 08:25 PM

Yes. Definitely Yes.

Bewitched, for Example... all the Dick York credits are from 1966 (even the episodes from '64 and '65), the Dick Sargent credits all from 1969, seemingly because there were products or sponsors in the credits at some point.

The Monkees entire syndicated run used the second season opening theme (and didn't have the little Kellogg's boxes beside the boys names in the closing credits).

The second season opening was used on the first season of the Partridge Family.

...Screen Gems edits the openings of their shows a lot.

At one point, I believe the Dick Van Dyke Show was run in syndication with the ottoman tripping opening covering the First season also.

TVFactFan

06-02-2003, 09:28 PM

Originally posted by TVAdam
I bought a tape of "Taxi" and the theme song was longer than it is on TV. Of course, "I Love Lucy" had to change it's theme song for syndication since the original theme is an animated Lucy and Desi running around a Phillip Morris Cigarette box. The "Boy Meets World" theme song of the first, second and third seasons have been replaced by the fourth season's theme.

So basically more video footage was seen in the opening credits when you bought the taxi tape?

Adamantium

06-02-2003, 10:31 PM

It looked the same. The cab was driving over the bridge, but the reruns it has, for example, Marilu Henner Tony Danza Randall Carver. Whereas in the tape it had Marilu Henner (space) Tony Danza (space) Randall Carver (space). It was too long. Now I didn't notice any scenes added to the tape that N@N cut out, maybe cutting out the theme was enough, I don't know.

treky

06-03-2003, 12:50 AM

they edit the opening & closing credits of shows, huh? I NEVER knew that! Boy, colorized movies, editing of TV shows and the credits, a million commercials. Is NOTHING sacred on TV anymore!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

treky

06-03-2003, 03:33 AM

theres a part of "The Beverly Hillbillies" opening that was edited out a long time ago. When they're driving down the street, just after ther closing credits stop, Jed points to something on the side & says something, & they all turn & look-but they don't show what they're looking at-it was a billboard advertising Kellogs cereals (one of the shows sponsors).

TVFactFan

06-03-2003, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by treky
they edit the opening & closing credits of shows, huh? I NEVER knew that! Boy, colorized movies, editing of TV shows and the credits, a million commercials. Is NOTHING sacred on TV anymore!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

Yeah they sure do, I never new that my local stations edited out parts of the Three's Company Opening Credits. N@N shows the longer version of the opening credits and my local station showed the shorter version.

Sean Snow

06-03-2003, 05:42 PM

Originally posted by SOLOMON

Yeah they sure do, I never new that my local stations edited out parts of the Three's Company Opening Credits. N@N shows the longer version of the opening credits and my local station showed the shorter version.

Yes, shorter versions of a show's opening are often used in syndication. I remember seeing Family Ties in reruns on a local station - they aired a horrible, shorter version of it's theme.

TVFactFan

06-03-2003, 05:47 PM

Originally posted by Sean Snow

Yes, shorter versions of a show's opening are often used in syndication. I remember seeing Family Ties in reruns on a local station - they aired a horrible, shorter version of it's theme.

I'm trying to find out if a scene was deleted out of the 1975 Jeffersons opening credits when George and Weezie are in the cab.

Commander Benson

06-09-2003, 05:49 PM

Originally posted by treky
theres a part of "The Beverly Hillbillies" opening that was edited out a long time ago. When they're driving down the street, just after ther closing credits stop, Jed points to something on the side & says something, & they all turn & look-but they don't show what they're looking at-it was a billboard advertising Kellogs cereals (one of the shows sponsors).

I remember that very well, and you're correct--the Clampetts' truck passes a huge billboard advertising Kellogg's cereals (usually Corn Flakes).

The theme song continues during this last bit, as well:

"So come along and visit with the Clampett family,
as they learn the simple pleasures of the hills of Beverly;

"And that includes the products of the sponsor of the week:
the best to you each morning, fresh from Battle Creek."

My wife is younger than me; she caught me singing that final tag once and accused me of making it up.

Commander Benson

ABC1

06-09-2003, 08:45 PM

The reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime have had their opening credits cut so that some of the scenes of the cast were cut out. I hate that. :mad:
And of course, on Lifetime, you can't even SEE the closing credits as they originally aired on NBC. I HATE the way closing credits have been destroyed by networks just wanting to cram more ads into the show.
I know the only reason they do that is to make more money, but seeing those in program ads ticks me off as well. No wonder DVD's get to be so popular. I don't think I'm the only person who enjoys watching the closing credits of tv shows.

treky

06-10-2003, 02:13 AM

no, you're not. I enjoy them too, and also get REALLY, REALLY MAD :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: when stations and networks do it! But, at least N@N & TV LAND don't do it all the time.

But, what REALLY, REALLY, REALY ticks me off is the way PAX treats the closing credits of "Bonnanza". They not only shrink them down so you can't even see them, and put them on the bottom half of the screen, but they also fade them so yo can barely see them at all! THEN, they shoot them by so fast, it's like they're being shot out of a machine gun, or something. I just hope that TV LAND doesn't do that when they start showing it. (I think they start showing it in Sept.)

Jenya

06-10-2003, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by ABC1
The reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime have had their opening credits cut so that some of the scenes of the cast were cut out. I hate that. :mad:
And of course, on Lifetime, you can't even SEE the closing credits as they originally aired on NBC. I HATE the way closing credits have been destroyed by networks just wanting to cram more ads into the show.
I know the only reason they do that is to make more money, but seeing those in program ads ticks me off as well. No wonder DVD's get to be so popular. I don't think I'm the only person who enjoys watching the closing credits of tv shows.

We get that show on Prime in Canada. Lucky for us the music and credits are left intact. I would complain to the TV station for doing that.
I really hate it when they do that to movies on TV. They do it so fast, and split the TV screen, that you can't even read anything!!!:mad: :mad: :mad:

treky

06-13-2003, 12:55 AM

Originally posted by Jenya
We get that show on Prime in Canada. Lucky for us the music and credits are left intact. I would complain to the TV station for doing that.
I really hate it when they do that to movies on TV. They do it so fast, and split the TV screen, that you can't even read anything!!!:mad: :mad: :mad: I seriously doubt complaining to the station will do any good, unfortunately.

Also, sometimes the distributor purposley cuts some things, shortens certain scenes, etc., then sometimes the station will cut a couple more things to fit in more commercials. And since commercials help pay for the shows, unfortunatly, it's only going to get worse as time goes on.
In the 70s, a 30 minute show ran for 25-26 mins., minus commercials. Now, a 30 minute show runs for 22 mins., minus commrcials!!!

BLT

06-13-2003, 11:53 AM

When NewsRadio, was in local syndication they excised the full opening from most of the season 1-4 epiodes with the cast credits superimposed over the prologue with a short 5-second bumper in the style of season 5 & some season 4 epsodes which never had the full opening.

I also noticed that "Just Shoot Me's" older openings are plastered over in the syndicated repeats with their current opening showing pictures of the cast. I remember originally there was a pencil breaking in half, then there were a couple modifications after that as well.

Tweety

06-17-2003, 10:53 PM

and of course, when Nick @ Nite shows "Cheers" the opening theme song is cut massively...

I always attributed stuff like that to the fact that the new channel that's broadcasting the show just wants to make more room for commercials (which is why episodes are cut more often than not).

And Commander, you are so right with your Beverly Hillbilies Kellogg's billboard comment...I remember that very well... but today, of course, they fade out of the opening credits just as Jed is pointing to the billboard...

You just can't make THAT stuff up :wave:

TVFactFan

11-28-2003, 04:45 PM

treky

11-29-2003, 03:53 AM

Originally posted by Tweety
and of course, when Nick @ Nite shows "Cheers" the opening theme song is cut massively...

I always attributed stuff like that to the fact that the new channel that's broadcasting the show just wants to make more room for commercials (which is why episodes are cut more often than not).

And Commander, you are so right with your Beverly Hillbilies Kellogg's billboard comment...I remember that very well... but today, of course, they fade out of the opening credits just as Jed is pointing to the billboard...

You just can't make THAT stuff up :wave: and also on the reruns of "I Dream of Jeanie" & "Bewitched" on TV LAND, they show the 1966 opening on ALL the Jeanie shows, and the 1966 or 67 opening on all the Bewitched shows that had Dick York.

But, the worst cut (at least to me) is what PAX does with the ending of their "Bonanza" reruns, when they not only split the screen, they also shrink the credits down to the lat quarter of the screen, and fade them into the background so they're barley visible AT ALL!!!:mad: :mad:

But, (I learned this on another site) sometimes that's not always the station or networks fault. The company that gives them the reruns does it.
Also, sometimes, the station or network has to make more cuts than the provider did.:mad: :mad: :mad:

There is hope, though THE HALLMARK CHANNEL is showing reruns of "MASH" uncut.

Brent88

11-29-2003, 09:37 AM

I hate when a network cuts out the closing credits like ABC Family, Lifetime, and ABC, CBS, and NBC do to cram more crap in.

treky

12-04-2003, 02:41 AM

when the pilot episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" first aired in September of 1962, it had some scenes that have ince been cut out, unfortunately. Besides the Kellogs billboard that someone else mentioned, the show started with an aireal shot of Beverly Hills, and the anouncer said "This is Beverly Hills" then they switch to another shot and he says "Home of doctors, celebritys, lawyers" or something like that. Then they show that scene of the Clampetts in their truck, and he says "And hillbillies...HILLBILLIES??? (then ther's a laugh track) "And here come The Beverly Hillbillies!" (or something like that).

There was also a couple scenes at the end, after the closing credits, which were supposed to be in the second episode, but for some reason were never seen. Then, after that, there was a scene from the THIRD episode, that also was never shown, for some rreason.
The way it's shown now, they start with the scene of the Clampetts, and the announcer says "Here come The Beverlly Hillbillies!"

Also, at the end of the pilot episode, they originally played ANOTHER verse to the theme. It went: (I don't remember all of it)

(something, somehing, something) with the Clampett fam-i-ly
as they explore the wonders of the hills of Bev-er-ly
brought to you each (something) by the sponsor of the week
The Best To You Each Mornin'
Kellogs of Battle Creek!

In sydnication, they just show the scene of The Clampetts driving along, and the announcer says "Here come The Beverly Hillbillies!"

In the pilot episode of "MASH" there was originally a segment before the opening credits showing some of the characters. It also explained why Hawkeye & Trapper are wearing those Hawaien shirts in the opening. It also showed a couple more little scenes and explains why the pilot episodes opens with them in the O.R.

PZelda

12-04-2003, 02:49 AM

Originally posted by ABC1
The reruns of The Golden Girls on Lifetime have had their opening credits cut so that some of the scenes of the cast were cut out. I hate that. :mad:
And of course, on Lifetime, you can't even SEE the closing credits as they originally aired on NBC. I HATE the way closing credits have been destroyed by networks just wanting to cram more ads into the show.
I know the only reason they do that is to make more money, but seeing those in program ads ticks me off as well. No wonder DVD's get to be so popular. I don't think I'm the only person who enjoys watching the closing credits of tv shows.

OMG yes. And Lifetime makes the ending credits go by so fast, too! :mad: YOu can't even see who guested in a particular episode because it goes too ****ing fast. :(

PZelda

12-04-2003, 02:52 AM

Originally posted by Sitcom Analyzer
I never the Cheers opening theme was longer-LOL

It is, plus at the beginning there is a voiceover thing or whatever that says "Cheers was filmed before a live studio audience".

What was really annoying was on my Three's Company DVD was when you would keep hearing the audience laugh. GAAAAAAAAAH! :mad:

TVFactFan

12-04-2003, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by PZelda: VICKI!!
It is, plus at the beginning there is a voiceover thing or whatever that says "Cheers was filmed before a live studio audience".

What was really annoying was on my Three's Company DVD was when you would keep hearing the audience laugh. GAAAAAAAAAH! :mad:

Are you talking about the audience laughing at something funny? I'm not sure I know what you mean

musicradio77

12-04-2003, 09:31 PM

By the way, Nick at Nite has the closing credits intact for my favorite show "Full House" and ABC Family cuts out the closing credits into split screen credits for the same show. Listen to this clip for the closing theme in the syndicated version as heard on Nick at Nite which is located at http://www.sitcomsonline.com/sounds/fullhouse-3rdclosing.wav

Brent88

12-04-2003, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by BrooklynGuy78
By the way, Nick at Nite has the closing credits intact for my favorite show "Full House" and ABC Family cuts out the closing credits into split screen credits for the same show. Listen to this clip for the closing theme in the syndicated version as heard on Nick at Nite which is located at http://www.sitcomsonline.com/sounds/fullhouse-3rdclosing.wav

We know that.

Brent88

12-04-2003, 09:34 PM

DianeChambers87

12-04-2003, 09:43 PM

Definately.

The Cheers opening theme is cut short....almost in half, and the credits are speeded up to go with the shorter version.

TJHooker

12-11-2003, 01:51 AM

Anyone remember the hack job A@E did to Night Court a few years ago...It was a travesty!!!

treky

12-11-2003, 02:08 AM

Originally posted by treky
when the pilot episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" first aired in September of 1962, it had some scenes that have ince been cut out, unfortunately. Besides the Kellogs billboard that someone else mentioned, the show started with an aireal shot of Beverly Hills, and the anouncer said "This is Beverly Hills" then they switch to another shot and he says "Home of doctors, celebritys, lawyers" or something like that. Then they show that scene of the Clampetts in their truck, and he says "And hillbillies...HILLBILLIES??? (then ther's a laugh track) "And here come The Beverly Hillbillies!" (or something like that).

There was also a couple scenes at the end, after the closing credits, which were supposed to be in the second episode, but for some reason were never seen. And then, after that, ther was a scene from the THIRD episode! wich also never aired, for some reason.

Also, at the end of the pilot episode, they originally played ANOTHER verse to the theme. It went: (I don't remember all of it)

(something, somehing, something) with the Clampett fam-i-ly
as they explore the wonders of the hills of Bev-er-ly
brought to you each (something) by the sponsor of the week
The Best To You Each Mornin'
Kellogs of Battle Creek!

In sydnication, they just show the scene of The Clampetts driving along, and the announcer says "Here come The Beverly Hillbillies!"

In the pilot episode of "MASH" there was originally a segment before the opening credits showing some of the characters. It also explained why Hawkeye & Trapper are wearing those Hawaien shirts in the opening. It also showed a couple more little scenes and explains why the pilot episodes opens with them in the O.R.