Roots ? (serious replies only) (1 Viewer)

[ScottR]

I have been researching
and searching and no one can answer my question. I have faith in your
guys' keen memories, so maybe you can help:

The miniseries Roots ran for eight consecutive nights in Jan. of
1977. The dvd version (and all subsequent broadcasts and video
releases) is six parts. Now I know no footage has been cut, but I am
wondering about the end credits each night. The opening credits
contain the names of the actors for the entire two hours....but I was
wondering if the show was simply cut into two halves for each of the
four hour long broadcasts, and if so, were the closing credits for
two hours simply shown after the first and second hours each time?
The end credits feature the names of all the performers for two
hours, so I am assuming they just reran the same end titles both
nights. Also, the Friday night broadcast took the second hour of what
is now Episode 4 and ran it as the first of two hours, with the
second hour being the first hour of what is now Episode 5 (got
that...lol)...so on that night, were the end titles moved from the
first hour to the end of the second hour? I am not trying to confuse
anyone, and wish for only serious replies to my question....please
help all of you tv lovers! I am trying to piece together part of televsion history...Everyone remembers the show, but these little details have been forgotten.

 

[ScottR]

-- Incidentally, here is a breakdown of what I think the inital broacast looked like....it might help to jog your memories....and help me to correct any mistakes..thanks!


Night One (Two Hours)

ABC Introduction
Opening Credits Appearing Over Film
Part One (two hours)
End Credits (appearing over picture of the Lord Ligonier)
Warner Bros. Logo


Night Two (Two Hours)

Recap of Part One
Opening Credits Appearing Over Film
Part Two (two hours)
End Credits (appearing over picture of Kunta running)
Warner Bros. Logo


Night Three (One Hour)

Roots Opening Logo (Mural)
Recap of Part Two
Opening Credits Appearing Over Film
Part Three (one hour)
End Credits (appearing over picture of Kunta and Belle’s wedding)
Warner Bros. Logo


Night Four (One Hour)

Roots Opening Logo
Part Four (one hour)
End Credits (appearing over picture of Kunta and Belle’s wedding)
Warner Bros. Logo


Night Five (One Hour)

Roots Opening Logo
Recap of Parts 3 and 4
Part Five (one hour)
End Credits (appearing over picture of Chicken George in his new hat)
Warner Bros. Logo



Night Six (Two Hours)

Roots Opening Logo
Part Six (first hour)
Roots Opening Logo
Recap of Parts 5 and 6 (a.)
Part Six (b. second hour)
End Credits (appearing over picture of Chicken George in his new hat)
Warner Bros. Logo


Night Seven (One Hour)

Roots Opening Logo
Part Seven (one hour)
End Credits (appearing over picture of George and his family)
Warner Bros. Logo



Night Eight (Two Hours)


Roots Opening Logo
Recap of Parts 6 (b.) and 7
Part Eight (two hours)
Alex Haley Epilogue
End Credits (appearing over picture of George and Mathilda in the wagon)
Photo Montage of Lead Actors in Roots
Warner Bros. Logo

 

[Jesse Skeen]

Sorry I don't have any answers, but I'll ask if anyone here taped it when it was first broadcast, complete with commercials? VCRs were brand-new at the time. A few years ago I had a lead on a complete original recording, but it fell through. Sad that something like this probably wouldn't be shown with any respect on TV today (with onscreen logos, frequent, long and badly placed commercial breaks, and no full end credits!)

 

[ScottR]

Thanks Jesse...wow, I would love to have a complete recording of the original broadcast!

 

[Chris Lockwood]

Get the DVD set.

 

[ScottR]

I have the dvd set....the film is now officially six episodes with openings, closings, and recaps for all six. I'm just trying to figure out how it was originally presented (I know how the film was broken up, but not how it was "framed" and when the decision came to broadcast which episodes in one hour increments.)

 

[Glenn Overholt]

That was discussed here when the DVD's came out and someone said that if you follow all of the characters (along with the credits) you'll see characters either missing or added that weren't on that actual DVD (VHS tape).

They just added footage (from the next segment) and put the credits when they got close to the 90 minute mark. It's very possible that the disscussion here 'bit it' during an 'accident'.

Glenn

 

[ScottR]

Here's what I do know.....

Episodes 1, 2, and 6 on the dvd are exactly as presented in 1977 because they have always been 2 hour episodes (with opening and closing credits)

Episode 3 on the dvd consists of hour one and hour two of two different one hour episodes.....however, the names at the end of 3 contain names for everyone for both hours(as well as the opening credits.)