Warning: ALF Season 1 cut! - Page 12

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

If that was the case -- wouldn't they just replace the opening with a version that didn't have the NBC-related "in stereo" slug?

I can see accepting reality and acknowledging something along the lines of "this is all that's available, and likely all we'll get," and you have to pick your battles. But to not care at all that the shows are incomplete, as if it doesn't make any difference? That floors me. (Especially since some of the episodes were released by a different company uncut.)

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

The reason why it's a top seller on amazon.com is because Lion's Gate got away with lying. They claimed that the original unedited episodes were in terrible condition (which is untrue, and quite possibly the biggest lie that has ever been told in the history of TV-on-DVD). I will be very disappointed if you believe in that stupid, retarded phrase (which I wouldn't be one bit surprised if you do).

After they got away with lying, and made money off of consumers by defrauding them, they don't deserve to be in the TV-on-DVD business ever again.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

People watch the televised versions because they are free. People don't normally watch televised versions of movies that they already own on DVD. Most people, if they bought the DVD of a movie and the DVD contained the edited for TV version, they would be very angry.

Most of those people are probably unaware that the episodes on the DVD have been edited, because it is not advertised on the package. If they could choose between a box labeled "ALF Season 1 Unedited version" and "ALF Season 1 Edited version", do you really think anyone would buy the Edited version?

Some people need to re-read the HTF mission statement again. "We the members of the forum are interested in the film product to be recorded and reproduced as closely as possible to the way the original creator(s) of that particular film intended."

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

Actually, they do know that they are edited. The packaging on the original case did read that the content may be edited from the original network episodes.


I don't know about everyone else but I consider myself a pretty informed and intelligent entertainment consumer. I'm also pretty good at math. "As closely as possible?" I don't know about everyone here but 22 minutes out of 24 minutes is pretty close as possible.

As far as consumers not knowing? They know more than you think they do. They just aren't as consumed and fanatical about the one or two minutes of edited material as most internet surfers are.

Perhaps the HTF Statement should read:


But, then again, the entertainment industry doesn't go by what a few paltry consumers might think.

Sales of DVD's and TV shows released to DVD are much higher than those sold online and most entertainment fans don't have access to the internet.

And you're wrong ... most families continue to watch edited movies on television despite having the DVD because of that family interaction that's involved.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

Did moderators suddenly become invisible?

Messrs. Jacobson and Talmadge, take a break. If anyone else would like to join them, just disregard the instruction posted above.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

So just HOW LONG are the edited episodes anyway?

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

They're even shorter than the way they aired in syndication.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

Most episodes of ALF have a cold opening before the opening credits.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

Yeah, Walmart finally received some Season 2 sets and I just picked up my copy. This set is worth having just for the Alf Christmas Special itself. I figure that for 22 half hour episodes, it's worth the $15 for the set.

Despite these being syndicated episodes, the series is still really good and entertaining to watch.

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

I've still got a bad taste in my mouth over this. Now that "A.L.F." is airing re-runs on TV, I see NO NEED to buy the DVDs (not that I was going to do that in the first place).

Re: Warning: ALF Season 1 cut!

And that's the primary reason why I didn't purchase the DVDs. I am not going to settle for TV-DVD sets that are just full of edited episodes.

For all American ALF fans, I have the message that the newly released Code 2 DVD set has all episodes UNCUT, plus all original music is present:

http://www.amazon.de/ALF-komplette-erste-Staffel-DVDs/dp/B002G5U1SS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1251895219&sr=8-1

It has English audio and subtitles! It's from Warner Home Video.

And Mark_To/Michael Alden (who is long gone) had the nerve to claim that no "pre-existing transfers" for the original network episodes exist.

Um, they were shown on Odyssey Channel once, so of course they exist. Oh, and Oliver, is "Try to Remember" the original 1-hour version?

Quote:

Is it PAL or NTSC?

The show was shot on videotape, so PAL speed-up shouldn't be an issue.

There are also Japanese sets of season 1:

 アルフ 〈ファースト・シーズン〉 コレクターズBOX [DVD]

and season 2:

 アルフ 〈セカンド・シーズン〉 コレクターズBOX [DVD]

And they also appear to be done by Warner Bros.

Both episodes are shown as one episode, which means just one intro and outtro, with a total running time of 48:12. I have watched half of the box so far, and everything is totally uncut, with every episode running between 24-25min. "Help me Rhonda" for example has all original music intact, and each episode has the original full length intro and outtro (including a "Lorimar" logo at the end). No NBC Stereo Logo or other ridiculous excuses why the syndication masters have been used for the US release.

The discs are PAL, but as some other HTF member already pointed out, they are also released in Japan in NTSC video format. I strongly presume they use the same, uncut masters.
Edited by Oliver_A - 9/2/09 at 6:08pm

I have every episode of Alf on VHS Tapes from their Original Airings. They are really showing their ages too.
The picture jumps up and down in alot of the episodes and some are starting to Blur. But hey, they're 20 to 23 years old.
Every NBC episode is 25 + Minutes in length, making season 1 runtime 625 minutes.
Season 1 DVD runtime says 619 minutes, (Wrong), These episodes all have an aprox runtime of maybe 21 to 21 1/2 minutes, meaning that 2 Hrs of season 1 that are MIA.

Also, Japan and Germany along with Warner Home Video just released Season 1 (Uncut?)
Run Time for Germany says 612 Minutes and the Run Time for Japan says 572 Minutes
That's a 40 Minute difference and a 13 Minute difference between Germany and NBCs Original Airings

Season 2 is also coming soon in these countries
Germany Run Time 553 Minutes And Japan Run Time 624 Minutes
That's a 71 Minute difference and a 1 Minute difference between Japan and NBCs Original Airings

So buyer Beware, Who's really got The Original Uncut Versions?

Also, I'd really like to know if Season 1 episode 16/17 is The Original Try To Remember, where Alf Electrocutes himself in the Bath Tub with Kates Electric Mixer.
Alfs Fur Smoking as he walked into the living room, Priceless.
At the end of the episode Alf did a 1 Minute Lecture about not mixing Water and Electricity.

As i've said before
I have 5 Conditions when buying DVD Movies and Box Sets

1. Movies MUST be WIDESCREEN, Complete and Uncut

2. TV Shows MUST be COMPLETE

3. TV Shows MUST be UNCUT, Just because it says COMPLETE doesn't mean it's UNCUT. See ALL 4 Seasons of ALF, Father of the Pride, Season 1 of Rosanne, ALL 5 Seasons of Two and a Half Men---One of the Season 1s episodes was only 18:30.

4. They MUST be WHOLE Seasons, Not Season 1 Vol 1..See Mister Ed, Lost in Space and Perry Mason

5. I DON'T do Best Ofs


I'll stick with my 23 year old Jumpy VHS Tapes
And my Try To Remember episode is the Edited Version.

I thought the only scene missing from the Geman DVDs was a scene from "For Your Eyes Only" with ALF singing along with "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late)", which was 40 seconds long

And finally, did you not read Oliver A's post? He clearly stated that each episode ran between 24-25 minutes. 24x26 (including the double-length clip show) equals 624 minutes.

BTW, did the uncut Odyssey reruns feature the missing scene from the "For Your Eyes Only" episode?
Edited by vnisanian2001 - 11/3/09 at 3:00pm

Yes i did read Oliver A's Thread.
What i'm going on is the Huge Gap in the Run Times between the Germany 612 Minute and Japan 572 Minute DVDs. A 40 Minute Difference
As far as i know, Telling Time is Universal all the way around Planet Earth
And if you notice on the Season 2 DVD, Japans Run Time is 624 Minutes
And Germanys Run Time is 553 Minutes, A complete reversal.
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Oliver A's Quote
The discs are PAL, but as some other HTF member already pointed out, they are also released in Japan in NTSC video format. I strongly presume they use the same, uncut masters.
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If they used the same Uncut Masters, then why the Huge Gaps in the Run Times.

A Question to Oliver A's
Where did you purchess your Season 1, Japan or Germany
Are there English versions to these sites, I don't speak or read either and i would really trust the Germany DVDs over Japanese, because of the Run Time.

Also, I'd really like to know if Season 1 episode 16/17 is The Original Try To Remember, where Alf Electrocutes himself in the Bath Tub with Kates Electric Mixer.
Alfs Fur Smoking as he walked into the living room, Priceless.
At the end of the episode Alf did a 1 Minute Lecture about not mixing Water and Electricity.

The DVDs i was refering to in my Post Above were the American Lionsgate Releases

 Guess what:

I got the Japanese release of season 2 and every episode is cut. Every single one is around 21:30. Yet the website is claiming otherwise:

http://www.whv.jp/database/database.cgi?cmd=dp&num=9787&UserNum=&Pass=&AdminPass=&dp=

What about Germany?

If that episode were made today, ALF would probably learn an important lesson about not getting wrapped up in internet discussions, and to spend more time in the "Real" world.

I haven't bought any of these Alf seasons yet because as far as I'm concerned they haven't been released yet.

When the real Alf show gets released I'll by them.

Also just one major edit to Victor's list.

As i've said before
I have 5 Conditions when buying DVD Movies and Box Sets

1. Movies MUST be WIDESCREEN,  Original Aspect Ratio, Complete and Uncut

2. TV Shows MUST be COMPLETE

3. TV Shows MUST be UNCUT, Just because it says COMPLETE doesn't mean it's UNCUT. See ALL 4 Seasons of ALF, Father of the Pride, Season 1 of Rosanne, ALL 5 Seasons of Two and a Half Men---One of the Season 1s episodes was only 18:30.

4. They MUST be WHOLE Seasons, Not Season 1 Vol 1..See Mister Ed, Lost in Space and Perry Mason

5. I DON'T do Best Of's

Well, for those who are wondering about the R2 Sets, as I posted on the now defunct "ALF S1 Code 2 Uncut" thread, according to Amazon Germany, their release of ALF S2 runs at about 620 minutes, compared to the US Version's 550 minutes.

Does that sound about right for an uncut set? And, is there any confirmation from German ALF fans anywhere on if this runtime is correct?

Well, Germany has the habit of releasing the original uncut versions of these television shows. I know that when they released the Baywatch DVD sets, their releases were the uncut versions whereas they were released in edited form in the United States and Australia. 

I don't know the average running time for shows from the late 1980's but 620 minutes divided by 26 episodes works out to approximately 23:45 per episode (compared to a little over 21 minutes per episode for the 550 minutes of the U.S. version).

Of course, all that assumes that the listed running times are correct.