I Love Lucy: Gone From Hallmark Channel?

[Braves2005]

I've noticed that I Love Lucy on the Hallmark Channel has now been replaced by 4 episodes of The Golden Girls in the mornings and 2 episodes of The Golden Girls in the afternoons. Did I Love Lucy do so badly on The Hallmark Channel that after only a month or more it is gone from the lineup?

Is this the first time that I Love Lucy has failed on a cable channel or on regular TV in syndication?

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

I looked at a couple of episodes of Lucy on Hallmark, but quickly discovered the shows were being edited down with some of the lines taken out. As a result, I stopped watching. If this is how Hallmark is going to treat a classic TV show, I suggest they air something else.

 

[BRNout]

After that New Year's Day marathon, HC truly has let ILL go to waste. What a shame to treat one of the greatest shows of all time in such a way! And a wasted opportunity.

At least in Chicago, MeTV shows I Love Lucy in it's almost* original version.

*Almost original, in that it's the original syndicated version, with the references to the sponsors removed.

 

[anotherguyTN]

THe same thing seems to have happened to Cheers on Hallmark as well. Could it be that Hallmark is even worse than TV Land about this?

 

[sack]

I looked at a couple of episodes of Lucy on Hallmark, but quickly discovered the shows were being edited down with some of the lines taken out. As a result, I stopped watching. If this is how Hallmark is going to treat a classic TV show, I suggest they air something else.

The editing in shows like Lucy, MASH, Cheers is contemptable. Not only do they cut up someones art to fit in a few more commercials, but they don't even have the decency to think about what they are cutting. I used to enjoy MASH on Hallmark, but with the uneducated editing that goes on, the shows,,,, suck. I guess no one there has heard of comic or dramatic timing. THey cut out truly funny lines, cut in the middle of a scene, upcut scenes, ending scenes early,,, they remove little pieces here and there with no regard to content or flow.

MASH would have 2 stories going in the same episode, one serious and one comic. There have been times where I have been waiting for the punchline on the comic story,, that one last scene which makes the whole story make sense,,, and it has been cut. Unacceptable! ANd what about those that are watching for the first time,,,, they hear about how great a show is, then see it and it makes no sense.

I've given up on Hallmark, TV Land, and anyone else that butchers shows to make a few bucks more. If they don't have any respect for what they are showing, I have no respect for them. For me, the only channels worth watching anymore are "educational", like Science, Discovery, History. For the old shows,, DVD.

 

[Otto Maddock]

For the old shows,, DVD.

I totally agree... I get the entire-season DVDs they're coming out with. But I haven't bought the I Love Lucy ones yet, and don't know if I will since I've seen every episode hundreds of times. It's one thing to stumble upon them while channel surfing - and I usually do end up watching the entire show - but I doubt if I'd be motivated to plop in a disc.

Instead, I like watching the old shows I haven't seen before... Route 66, Hazel, Father Knows Best, Donna Reed, Doris Day, Joey Bishop, Make Room For Daddy, Ozzie & Harriet, Rat Patrol, Real McCoys, One Step Beyond... Too bad they can't come up with a real classic TV channel that shows this type of stuff. I gave up on TV Land because every time I happen to turn it on, there's an Andy Griffith marathon. That's just lazy programming.

Speaking of entire-season DVDs, does anyone know what holds up some of the releases? Mary Tyler Moore - first 4 seasons out for years now, but 3 more to go; Leave It To Beaver - only 2 seasons out. I don't think it's because shows like these don't sell well. What do they need to do... get permission from every person in every episode?

 

[BobbyNBC10]

Why don't WGN America get I Love Lucy, Andy Griffith and others like Gilligan's Island in addition to what they are already airing like I Dream Of Jeannie, Bewitched, The Bevrly Hillbillies, The Honeymooners and The Cosby Show among others?.

 

[Silkie]

Their television network is getting to be cluttered and junky as their stores. I want my murder mysteries back.

 

[mleach]

Speaking of entire-season DVDs, does anyone know what holds up some of the releases? Mary Tyler Moore - first 4 seasons out for years now, but 3 more to go; Leave It To Beaver - only 2 seasons out. I don't think it's because shows like these don't sell well. What do they need to do... get permission from every person in every episode?

In the case of Beaver, among the actors I would imagine only Barbara Billingley, Jerry Mathers Tony Dow, maybe Ken Osmond ( Eddie ) and Frank Bank ( Lumpy ) would have a say. Same with the estates of Hugh Beaumont & Richard Deacon even though I am not sure if Hugh has any family left. Richard Deacon I believe did leave behind his male partner when he died in 1984 but I have my doubts he ( if his partner is still even living ) would have a say. Everyone else on the show like those who played Gilbert, Larry, Judy or the estates of Burt Mustin and ( Miss Landers ) Sue Randall, being supporting characters as they were on the show, I very much doubt any of them has little or any say for that matter about a DVD release of season 3 of Leave it to Beaver.

I have often wondered myself what delays a show's DVD release. Mama's Family only the NBC shows are out but not the syndicated ones that aired ( the ones with Iola & Bubba ). I seem to recall reading the "delay" was due to fighting among family members within Joe Hamilton's family. I seem to recall hearing that Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrenece were the reason. That I very much doubt. Vicki has milked the "Thelma harper" character for years and I think she still does stand-up featuring her dressed as Mama ( why would she deny a season 2 Mama's family? ) Also Keep in mind that Carol Burnett had NOTHING to do with the syndicated Mama's family as she and Hamilton were divorced by the time the syndicated Mama started. I cant see how she would have had a say in the matter.

Alice..only a "best of" DVD is out, that I have heard was strictly a Linda Lavin thing.

 

[cspotrun]

it seems that all these shows are tied-up with DVD distribution rights and it has left networks like Nick and TV Land groping for something to put on. is there a better explanation?

 

[Silkie]

it seems that all these shows are tied-up with DVD distribution rights and it has left networks like Nick and TV Land groping for something to put on. is there a better explanation?

The term, "Cutting off your nose to spite your face", comes to mind

 

[anotherguyTN]

it seems that all these shows are tied-up with DVD distribution rights and it has left networks like Nick and TV Land groping for something to put on. is there a better explanation?

It probably varies according to the show and the attitude of the owners of the rights to the shows. I figure that shows that haven't been on TV for years until recently like WKRP and Newhart are back on ALN and WGN as a way to promote the DVD sets. On the other hand, I also wonder if Looney Tunes is currently being left off of TV except for the New Year's marathon on Cartoon Network and the recent Chuck Jones tribute on TCM because WB thinks that it will increase DVD sales.