As Was Expected---

[nuzguy]

---TV Land is turning the M*A*S*H marathon into a commercials marathon. TVL lightened up on the spot load for tne first two epiosodes of tne show, then began editing and stopping for four minutes of commercials every 8-9 minutes. Once during the M*A*S*H reunion show, aired repeatedly, TVL made it a whole 6 minutes between commercial flights.

The same will befall M*A*S*H when it begins airing at 10 ET.

 

[ercjncpr]

When I got the DVDs of MASH, I began to notice four to six minutes of each episode that had been cut out for the syndication run for no reason, some of which should have been left in as necessary to understand the plots and subplots of each episode. I suspect TVL is doing the same

 

[fred flintstone]

When I got the DVDs of MASH, I began to notice four to six minutes of each episode that had been cut out for the syndication run for no reason, some of which should have been left in as necessary to understand the plots and subplots of each episode. I suspect TVL is doing the same

TVLand typically gets the syndication version. Sometimes for marathons or special tributes, they run the original version.

Four to six minutes cut out for no reason??
No way. The reason is to run commercials.
The writers of shows should understand this and should write to allow for cuts. But they don't. Not smart, since syndication is where a show can get its greatest audience and where the people who create can make the most money.

 

[radiorob2.0]

Not to defend TV Land, the excess units an hour is crazy, but you have to remember when MASH originally aired there were few commercials back then. Networks were able to pay the bills with fewer units.

When MASH first went into syndication, stations cut out a few minutes to allow inventory. Back then I received MASH on two stations. One simply started the film (how it was distributed back then) a few minutes into the show while the other just cut a few minutes somewhere in the middle. Both methods were rather annoying. Once the show was finally distributed on video tape, it was already edited.

Drifting slightly off topic, one of the casualties of inventory was the classic scene where Henry discussed sex with the camp. I need to purchase the DVD!

 

[nuzguy]

Yes, but the program and all others running on TVL is up-pitched as well as edited to make it (them) the cash cow they are. Granted the economics have changed but not that much.

 

[radiorob2.0]

Ummm....yes the economics have changed that much.

I'm not defending Viacom or anyone else, but the rules have changed. Through the network run of MASH the world consisted of mostly four television channels. Cable was only a means of retransmission. Even when MASH ended its run, cable was not a factor. Remember when all ESPN had was the CFL and Australian Rules football?

Today, cable networks are competitive and there are way too many choices. The advertising budgets are crumbs as oppose to big slices circa 1972. Therefore, it takes that more units to not only pay the bills, but to pay stockholders and corporate vice presidents who feel they deserve an end of year bonus.

Again, I'm not defending the action. However the excess units and the availability of DVD's and the interactive downloadable options of the internet will eventually spell the end of mass media....but that's a topic for another message board.

 

[fred flintstone]

Not to defend TV Land, the excess units an hour is crazy, but you have to remember when MASH originally aired there were few commercials back then. Networks were able to pay the bills with fewer units.

When MASH first went into syndication, stations cut out a few minutes to allow inventory. Back then I received MASH on two stations. One simply started the film (how it was distributed back then) a few minutes into the show while the other just cut a few minutes somewhere in the middle. Both methods were rather annoying. Once the show was finally distributed on video tape, it was already edited.

Drifting slightly off topic, one of the casualties of inventory was the classic scene where Henry discussed sex with the camp. I need to purchase the DVD!

Networks were loss-leaders. Networks existed to draw viewers to network-owned stations, which made money - lots of money. At the time of MASH, the 11pm News on WCBS-TV2 in New York accounted for 10 per cent of CBS' profit.

Fox lost money on the original network run of MASH. Series become profitable through syndication and international sales.

TVLand does not charge as much for spots as CBS did. No cable network does. So they run more spots.

You all have got the tail wagging the dog. TVLand is in the business of running commercials. The purpose of the program is to get you to watch the commercials. This is commerce; not art. YOU are the product television sells.

 

[anotherguyTN]

A couple of things that I can remember in MASH that have been cut from the syndicated/cable version:

There were some times in the first season where Hawkeye and Trapper would have a line where they would say "Well we did it again, screwed up in reverse." This line has almost always been cut in the edited versions.

There is a clip that shows up in the second interview episode that also contains clips where Col. Potter lowers his binoculars and there are black circles around his eyes and Radar cracks up. I believe this came from an episode where there was an unknown practical joker (Who turned out to be BJ) that pulled several gags, but that particular clip was cut from that episode. I also remember Henry's discussion of sex being cut as well.

 

[hifidistortion]

How much editing was done by TVL on the Finale....I did notice that they had let up a little. But yes TVL is terrible with commercials, With some shows starting at ":08, then :05, then :15!", TV listings can't follow that. TVL seems to be doing well, so RUN the commercials, but let the shows start on time. Remember the reason for TVLand is for classic TV, so let the product be the star......this would lead to a competitor soon, there are a lot of classics out there.....TVL said they had to let "Happy Days" go to make room for M*A*S*H.

 

[fred flintstone]

How much editing was done by TVL on the Finale....I did notice that they had let up a little. But yes TVL is terrible with commercials, With some shows starting at ":08, then :05, then :15!", TV listings can't follow that. TVL seems to be doing well, so RUN the commercials, but let the shows start on time. Remember the reason for TVLand is for classic TV, so let the product be the star......this would lead to a competitor soon, there are a lot of classics out there.....TVL said they had to let "Happy Days" go to make room for M*A*S*H.

TV Land is a Viacom network and Viacom (originally CBS Films) - along with its subsidiary Paramount Television (originally Desilu) controls a good deal of the syndicated product - especially in-demand syndicated product.

 

[azumanga]

TV Land is a Viacom network and Viacom (originally CBS Films) - along with its subsidiary Paramount Television (originally Desilu) controls a good deal of the syndicated product - especially in-demand syndicated product.

Only that Viacom no longer owns the classic television programming library -- it's back in CBS's hands now, under the name "CBS-Paramount Television". Viacom now owns only Paramount Pictures studios and the cable channels (except for the Showtime family of channels -- that's now CBS's).