Edited out Earl Hamners only on screen appearance. Why?

[Ron E.]

Just watched The Journey (season 2, episode 1) and noticed that Earl Hamners only on screen appearance in an episode was literally cut out of the show! The scene he was in was when John boy was dancing with Maggie McKinsey and the was replaced with Earl Hamner and her dancing in a flashback to when she was first married.
Did anyone else notice this as well? I wonder why it was cut, for time perhaps?

[Brenda]

I've noticed that the last couple of times I've watched that episode. I think it's INSP if I'm not mistaken. I would guess it is for time and all the commercial breaks, because they edit out scenes in other episodes too. I don't know why they chose that particular scene to edit out though. What were they thinking???

[Ron E.]

Yes Brenda, it was in fact INSP. Of all the things to cut though, ridiculous.

[flyaway]

First time I realized they cut that part I was so angry........it's all about money.
I wonder how many other scenes are cut out of, not only the Waltons, but other shows as well

[Uncle Coaster]

In addition to cutting scenes, some networks somehow increase the speed at which they play back the shows. I've only watched this without sound, but this is a youtube video claiming to show a scene from Seinfeld that aired 11 years ago running side by side with a recent showing on TBS showing how the TBS airing is sped up so that they can get in extra commercials.

[ForeverWaltons]

When I was growing up it was rare for the radio DJ to not tell you the artist and name of a song right before it was played and then again afterwards. Now it is rare they tell you the name of the song or the artist. If I want to know I have to google or youtube some of the words in order to find out. Nowadays they have to have every available second on TV and the radio for advertising.

[e knight]

This has been going on throughout television history.

1. They need more money, they pack in more commercials.
2. At some point, the show itself suffers, loses appeal.
3. Viewership drops off.
4. Revenues go down.
5. The solution? More commercials and less show!
6. Go to Step 3.

Eventually, the viewer will pronounce a plague on all their houses. Watch it on home video, or record it and skip the commercials, etc.

If just once they could think differently -- maybe improve the package just a bit, give the viewer a bit more ... then viewership would go up.

(I know in advance that any movie I watch on a commercial-ridden channel will be cut, interrupted and have bugs running on-screen all the while. I just consider it a long trailer. If the film looks interesting, I'll seek it out in better form elsewhere.)


I'd guess that The Waltons ran something like 50 minutes plus commercials in the 1970s. They must be cutting the episodes down to closer to 40 minutes now. I note that the package running on Hallmark had specially designed, briefer credit sequences when it began a few years. I note that recently they've trimmed the credits further (the lesser names are missing, and you can easily hear the break in the music track). No doubt to get more commercial time!

Regarding The Journey, that's inexcusable. They certainly could have found a couple more minutes to cut elsewhere.

[clyde]

I agree that the edited scene was actually one of the most poignant in The Journey. I understand that if INSP didn't have sponsors, I would have never had the privilege of seeing The Waltons at all. Nevertheless, I don't like it!!

On a related topic - I think INSP, which is the only channel showing The Waltons on my cable, gets carried away editing out "curse words". In one episode they edoted out "jack donkey", when in fact the person was talking about an actual mule. Too much censorship!

[Heather]

I've noticed things missing on several episodes and while it is disappointing, I'm thankful that the show is being aired at all.

That said, come on, INSP, bring back our Earl.

[dave]

I never knew that was Earl! Just be glad the show isn't on TV Land. They got so bad (when they do show a classic show) I refuse to watch anything on that station., It sucks that these stations hack away at the old shows just to make room for more commercials, but that's what DVDs and VCRs are for I guess.

[ForeverWaltons]

Oct 5, 2015 22:57:19 GMT -5 dave said:

I never knew that was Earl! Just be glad the show isn't on TV Land. They got so bad (when they do show a classic show) I refuse to watch anything on that station., It sucks that these stations hack away at the old shows just to make room for more commercials, but that's what DVDs and VCRs are for I guess.

Here's a picture of Earl from that episode. He was fifty years old at the time:

waltons.steve-p.org/seas2.php#01journ

[cinlou]

The beginning theme song and opening credits run by so fast now that I wonder why they have them at all!

[nedandres]

At least the Waltons DVDs are not edited as they did with the original DVD release of "Little House on the Prairie." They are in the process of rereleasing LHOTP in unedited versions.

[TomV]

The Waltons has been edited for time ever since the days of the Family Channel in the 1980's, although they did it mostly by speeding the show up. That method just makes everyone's voice a little higher and the music a little faster. They did show the entire opening and closing theme songs that you could read and enjoy the wonderful theme music.
Today what they do makes me shake my head....why? Both INSP and the Hallmark Channel show short, edited opening theme songs and no closing theme songs at all. Plus it's extremely difficult to read the credits. I've seen :30 seconds cut out here and there and 1 minute or more at other times throughout entire episodes. All this to get a 52 minute show down to around 42 minutes. It's crazy. I'm so thankful for the season sets on DVD to watch the episodes in their entirety! I guess the daily cable episodes are fine if you don't mind the digested versions of the show. After all, an edited Waltons is better than no Waltons at all. Right? Just my two cents worth.

[sambda]

I think people are assuming INSP *knew* that was Earl Hamner. The guy doing the editing probably had no idea! It's a kind of geeky thing to know.