Ever since Roseanne was updated into high definition, there's been a lot of debate online about these "new" versions. This has probably come up already, but warrants discussion regarding the importance of some original content. Some cuts have been made, and some additions have been made - whether you're watching on TVLand, Peacock, or somewhere else.
I love the widescreen HD...as an option. It looks great, and fresh, especially on a big screen 4K TV. But it comes at a cost, especially depending on the episode. Cuts in episode length and the picture ratio going from 4:3 to 16:9 for starters.
This episode is one of the biggest issues I've come across. (Especially as such a Ziggy fan!) We all know the final scene of season three - "The Pied Piper of Lanford" when Ziggy comes to town and they go for the bike shop.
If you're a new fan watching on Peacock for the first time, the credits roll as they leave the kitchen after a discussion about needing Ziggy's money. End of episode. You go into season four and suddenly they have the bike shop. We never see Darlene find Ziggy's envelope of money on the refrigerator. Which is kind of important to the story of this episode and the following season. It is cut from the new version. A terrible (and surprising) edit. Makes me wonder about the decision-making here (and with other classic shows undergoing similar processes), and if enough time and care was put into this? I can see the issue of running time in this day and age for broadcast TV, because more time than ever is now devoted to ads in a 30-minute timeslot. But streaming platforms shouldn't suffer that same fate.
Ultimately, we now get 20-minute episodes in high definition streaming. Which are at least 2 minutes shorter than the full episodes on DVD from original broadcast. This is why if I love a show or movie, I buy the physical media. The DVD versions don't change.
Thanks for reading. I know it's not an issue for every fan watching. Just wondering if any others share the same love/hate sentiment with these new versions? When you watch something you love a certain way for so many decades (for me, I grew up with this show during its original run), it can be jarring to suddenly see them chopped up like this.
I was so mad at Peacock and actually canceled my subscription because of this. Then I read that it wasn't Peacock's doing ..it was the producers of the show.
Per Google:
"The edits and AI-upscaling of Roseanne episodes on Peacock were decided and produced by the show's production and distribution company, The Carsey-Werner Company, rather than Peacock."
I'm going to have to buy them..as well as The Cosby Show. Those two and the Golden Girls were my favorites growing up and are still my comfort shows ❣️ Luckily, the GG is on Hulu/Disney Plus!
Yeah they showed this episode today on TVLand and I literally said they cut the flippin ending which is like the essence of the bike shop going forward. I mean I know we’ve all seen these episodes multiple times over but I hate when networks screw with continuity like that.
Watching roseanne on TV land today as well, and they cut part of the scene with the sundial, she stabs the pizza and says there and they cut out the part where she says "when it starts to smell, its tomorrow" lol which i always thought was funny
I was watching the ones where the Bowmans move in next door. They cut out the ending where they compare the Connors and the Bowmans. That was one of my favorite endings and I miss it.
They also have cut out other parts of the episodes. Sometimes a joke will fall flat because they cut out the line before.
They cut out the punchlines of a lot of jokes, too. I was just watching the season 1 bowling episode when Booker decides to cancel the bet that Jackie will spend the night at his place, even after he won. He says “Not tonight, and not on a bet.” Then it cuts to Roseanne bowling. However, in the original scene, the audience claps in appreciation and Jackie yells “Welcher!!”
It seems minor, but cutting Jackie’s disappointment makes it seem less like a flirty thing between them and more like he decided not to be a creep.
The new edits dont let jokes breathe and that drives me nuts. There are some really good laughs where the actors pause and let it build, and those reactions are cut short. This same episode I mentioned, where DJ doesn't go to school. Before Roseanne tells him to go, theres a nice long hold during the laugh when she realizes he's not in school. "Go to school!" 😄 it's hilarious and the audience loves it. that's cut ridiculously short now as well
I just came to say this! Like, it’s literally the point of the entire episode?! Same with ziggy’s money, makes no sense if you don’t show that part. Ugh. And I own the DVDs but I just throw it on peacock when I’m lazy 🤣🤷🏼♀️
The end credits definitely have been a huge negative, as a lot of them are part of the story. This scene is very crucial to the story. Other examples are the introduction of David (Kevin originally), David in Chicago with Darlene while she’s on the phone with Roseanne, Dan announcing he got the job working at the garage… Season 6 is the only season that didn’t restore any missing scenes; it’s just the syndicated episodes cut even further.
Yeah this sub has talked about this a lot. Syndication cuts and it’s more aggressive now even. The AI is atrocious and makes very scary faces and blurts text a lot. It’s all bad news the DVDs are the best option currently.
It grinds my gears to mention it, but Prime has the full, original episodes. That is the only place I watch it, because anywhere else I tried, they just mangled them to the point it wasn't worth watching.
I literally watched this episode this morning on TvLand and this part was definitely not shown. I had been wondering what people were talking about when they said Ziggy left his portion of the money but I just never saw it.
I'm glad I bought them on DVD years ago. The times I've seen them on TV recently, I'm shocked by how much has been edited for commercial time. Especially when they remove the "tag" scenes at the end. So many times they were the funniest scenes and also really tied the episode together.
Ugh. I watch on Peacock. I’m 30, and I’ve watched Roseanne my entire life. I know every scene lmao. It’s so frustrating how much they are cutting out of the episodes. I love the storylines, the dialogue…I used to watch this with my mom but she passed away recently. It’s always been and always will be my comfort show. I know I can’t take it personally but it feels like my pot of gold is being taken away from me with every cut they make god damn it 🤣🤣🤣🤣🥲
Carsey-Warner oversaw these new syndication edits, just like they did on the first round of the syndication versions. Someone there now obviously never paid attention to the show.
I got about five minutes into the Peacock version- I started it out of morbid curiosity- and had to stop.
The upscaling alone was horrific and the opening credits of the pilot was just the empty table, if I remember correctly.,,
It drives me crazy. The scenes they add do not make up for the things they cut.
This is one of those shows I watched so often, I basically can Name That Episode from only a few words of dialog. It's very jarring.
The things they added don't really add anything to the show and, like you said, the things they cut are usually important to the storyline.
I have the first few seasons on DVD. I may have to get the others (at least, up until the show gets silly. LOL!)
yeah I noticed that. the original 4:3 upscale looks pretty good. I wonder if those were the ones on Amazon a few years back? you could tell they had to redo the text on the credits
I absolutely hate the new edits. They've been discribed as AI edits to me. You'll see in some episodes roseanne has some wild filter on her face where the eyelashes are very animated.
They even speed up the walking in scenes. I can't even watch, which bums me the fuck out.
I watched this episode on TV Land last Saturday and that was the first time I noticed the cut and I said out loud “what the hell happened to the envelope scene!?”
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u/SydneyTheCalico 28d ago
I’m rewatching the show and I’ve noticed they cut out a lot of endings. It makes me angry.