Differences between the DVDs / original broadcasts

[prometheus74]

I often wonder what are the differences, exactly, between the DVDs and the original broadcasts?

I rediscovered the series a few years ago as an adult. I was too little when the episodes were originally broadcast to know what has been changed in the DVDs, regarding the songs and other things which may have been modified.

Do any of you know which songs on the DVDs are the same as they ever were, and which songs have been changed / replaced, and why?

[MelMac]

Mostly, it's the song changes. While some were at least passible changes, and some pretty good (I personally like the instrumental instead of "Pinball Wizard" in "Wizards and Warlocks"), a lot didn't make sense. A couple, such as the replacement for "Help Me Rhonda" are obviously NOT from the 1980s - they sound like a pop band.

This also caused ONE story - "Classical Gas" to now be about 2-4 minutes short due to the cuts. There are longer scenes of Rhonda singing, and a better one of the concert in the latter version that you see ALL the band, and not just Rhonda's back.

"Operation: Spoilsport" is also partially ruined because while they changed the song, Ralph still refers to "Eve of Destruction." This is also the ONLY song I wish that SJC would've shelled the money out - doubly so when you find out it IS in the "A-Team" story it's in on the DVDs.

The only song I know of that still is intact that was originally used that could have royalties on is "Greatest Love of All" from Whitney Houston on "GAHeroine."

Also different is the bumpers to and back from commercials are not there. There were four scenes, I think all from the pilot, that were used. I know one was the infamous crash into the billboard.

The some of the stories in the second season had opening titles that also featured Don Cervantes (Paco) in addition to Faye Grant and Michael Pare. All but one of these are removed, and oddly enough the ONLY one to have these titles Paco (nor the kids) are in it (It's all Downhill from Here).

Third season Connie Sellecca had "Pam Davidson" (then changed to Hinkley) after her name is listed in the credits. This too has been removed in the third series collection. I don't think Katt's title card every had "Ralph Hinkley" after it.

A list of the stories that had the music changed... well, there was thread here somewhere that had all the stories. Ones I know off top of my head (mostly ones that are popular): Pilot, Hit Car (missing Rocketman, turned into I think some sort of heroic type music), Classical Gas, Don't Mess Around with Jim (though it's not missed), Operation Spoilsport, Pinball Wizard (the one I like the change), I think the song played at Station House in "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll," Devil in the Deep Blue Sea, and I think MAYBE Chicken in every Plot - again songs sung by Rhonda.

Hope this helps out.

[prometheus74]

Thanks for the information, Mel. I didn't know the changes were quite that drastic and widespread. That's too bad-----I hate when classic shows or movies are tampered with.

So were those songs you mentioned also sung by Stephen Geyer, or were they the original songs ("Help Me Rhonda", by the Beach Boys, "It's Only Rock N' Roll", by Huey Lewis And The News, etc....)

So does that mean that Mike Post and Stephen Geyer were called in to write a whole slew of new songs for the DVD release, then? Or were the changes already in effect during the years of syndication on TV?

[MelMac]

Any song that Stephen Geyer created, i.e. Sum of My Old Friends in "Best Desk Scenario" remained because they were written for the show. Since they're created for the show, they belong to the show.

Others, such as "Help Me Rhonda" (Beach Boys), "Eve of Destruction," etc. that were covers were removed because nowadays you must pay royalties to the owners of the music thanks to musicians complaining they aren't getting their fair share (this is debatable).

The replacement songs, such as the ill-fitting "This is not your town" and the very first songs they replaced in the pilot, are probably garage bands or new bands or just songs that don't have that copyright/royalty issue and can be used royalty free.

The song replacements to the best of my knowledge were replaced only for the DVDs and any current syndication. I did notice this when they showed "The Greatest American Hero" on SyFy last year during the Fourth (Which'd be nice if they're doing this again this year), but I can't say if they did or didn't in the years between the original airing of the shows and the DVD release. The last time I had seen the show prior to the DVD release was during the last year the series ran - 1983.

[herald7]

Jul 2, 2011 9:05:50 GMT -5 MelMac said:

Any song that Stephen Geyer created, i.e. Sum of My Old Friends in "Best Desk Scenario" remained because they were written for the show. Since they're created for the show, they belong to the show.

Yeah I'm really glad those songs are at least still included; they're such a signature of the show.

Actually the other day I used a line from one of their songs in my signature and to my surprise someone instantly recognized it, lol. Yay!

"You wonder why you try, but only you know why. Cause sometimes things work out just like you planned."

[MelMac]

Sometimes is one of my favorite songs, as also Dreams, which was the only song to be used instead of the instrumental "GAH" theme as the closing credits.

BTW - Pinball Wizard isn't an episode - it's the song that was replaced. The episode was "Wizards and Warlocks," which to this day I get a kick out of because Ralph is playing the Intellivision game "Dungeons and Dragons" (which I never did well playing). This scene is also where the song was played, but replaced by an Instrumental, and IMHO worked well with "D&D" which never had a soundtrack to the game.

[prometheus74]

I guess it's very difficult for me to know which songs were removed and which songs are the same, since I wouldn't know what was where in the first place. LOL

[herald7]

Jul 2, 2011 11:35:11 GMT -5 MelMac said:

also Dreams, which was the only song to be used instead of the instrumental "GAH" theme as the closing credits.

Oh yeah that was a great moment!

The episode was "Wizards and Warlocks," which to this day I get a kick out of because Ralph is playing the Intellivision game Dungeons and Dragons

Plus it has Bob Saget! Lol

I guess it's very difficult for me to know which songs were removed and which songs are the same, since I wouldn't know what was where in the first place. LOL

After awhile the Geyer songs started to become apparent to me because they often have that retro late '70s feel. It's hard to explain, it just takes some practice, lol. The "replacement" songs are often more subdued for some reason.

[prometheus74]

Yes, that's a very young Bob saget! LOL

The replacements songs are more subdued? But are they still sung (covered) by Geyer?

[herald7]

Jul 3, 2011 3:22:53 GMT -5 prometheus74 said:

The replacements songs are more subdued? But are they still sung (covered) by Geyer?

Well subdued isn't a great word, I'll have to think more about how to describe that, lol. It was just my impression that the original songs were very bouncy or had that kind of soaring vocal, while the replacements songs felt more muted, at least to me.

I don't think he did the replacement covers, unless someone knows better.

[MelMac]

Jul 3, 2011 3:22:53 GMT -5 prometheus74 said:

Yes, that's a very young Bob saget! LOL

The replacements songs are more subdued? But are they still sung (covered) by Geyer?

They're not sung by Geyer. At least three replacements too were songs that Rhonda sang when LA Freeway/the kids were performing.

As far as subdued - Pilot replacements were not, though they did try to choose a subdued version for "Rocket Man" and "Space Oddity" (When Ralph gets the suit), with the "This is not your town" bit, but it doesn't work. Personally, I think "It's my life now" sung by Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees would've been a better fit, though they'd had to pay royalties for it I think. (BTW, I love that song, but it's a bit sarcastic as it'd only relate to Ralph not wanting to wear the suit.)

"Classical Gas" you can almost tell clearly that they've been cut and edited. The replacement song she sings on I think "Devil in every plot" at least has a song choice that allowed her to have the "Bah bah bahs" and be in sync. It also helps that her mouth was mostly covered by the microphone there.

The song replaced in "It's only rock 'n' roll" here you have a guy who I think is supposedly singing, and it's mostly instrumental. This is one I'm not certain about though because it was one of the four that was not originally aired and I didn't see the story until the DVDs came out.

THe instrumental in "W&W" is NOT real subtle, but given that it's played during an arcade game being played, it can be seen as part of the arcade's music and I didn't find it real intrusive. In fact, I had to be told that it's not the original music.

"Reseda Rose's" isn't too noticeable because it was a brief snippet while Ralph is flying to save Rose.

"Jim's" replacement wasn't that noticeable.

"Operation: spoilsport" - OH YEAH it's not subtle. They did at least used a decent replacement, but they SHOULD'VE removed Ralph's comment about the greenguys playing a "Eve of Destruction." The end song was also noticeable - they're playing "You saved the day..." which was OK, until you hear the song saying "I'll love you for ever and ever..." It's a frickin' romance song. "It's a beautiful morning" was a much better song.

These of course are my opinion. Many people are purists and the changes are seen as uncalled for. My case - if they were ones that had a serious impact on the story itself - "O:SS," or "Classical Gas," I wasn't happy, nor was I on the Pilot because the choices were not well made for the replacemetns. Others were not bad and some I didn't even know they were changed.

[prometheus74]

Thanks for all the info.

[MelMac]

You're welcome, though greenguy and others have far more information than I do.

OH, there is one other thing missing - the teasers that showed snippets of what was going to be shown in that episode. That said, I'm not surprised these are missing because in a couple of cases, such as "Classical Gas," you'd heard covered songs in the clip instead of the replacements. By teasers, here is an example from "Falcon Crest" (I apologize for the "previously" part - "Falcon Crest" was a night soap opera):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7RVCXu65X0


I personally wish that they had kept the bloopers instead of deleted them so many years ago. Even if we had more extras/features, such as the teasers or bumpers, this wouldn't have been a feature because of them being gone.

I'd like to have seen them, but there is only one known one out there - from "It's all Downhill from Here" where Katt has trouble buttoning the cape around his neck and finally just gives up and jumps out to chase whatever he needs to be chasing.

[herald7]

Jul 3, 2011 23:51:30 GMT -5 MelMac said:

I personally wish that they had kept the bloopers instead of deleted them so many years ago. Even if we had more extras/features, such as the teasers or bumpers, this wouldn't have been a feature because of them being gone.

Yeah it's always annoying nowadays when DVDs lack extra features. Though there are still little things like during the ending credits of "The One the Suit was Meant For" you can see a slightly alternate take of the scene with Ralph fighting off the other woman, lol. I don't know if there's more like that in the credits but you never know; sometimes you have to search for these things, but they're there.

OOPS! I CLICKED MODIFY INSTEAD OF QUOTE![glow=red,2,300][/glow]

[greenguy]

Jul 1, 2011 14:48:42 GMT -5 MelMac said:

Mostly, it's the song changes. While some were at least passible changes, and some pretty good (I personally like the instrumental instead of "Pinball Wizard" in "Wizards and Warlocks"), a lot didn't make sense. A couple, such as the replacement for "Help Me Rhonda" are obviously NOT from the 1980s - they sound like a pop band.

This also caused ONE story - "Classical Gas" to now be about 2-4 minutes short due to the cuts. There are longer scenes of Rhonda singing, and a better one of the concert in the latter version that you see ALL the band, and not just Rhonda's back.

"Operation: Spoilsport" is also partially ruined because while they changed the song, Ralph still refers to "Eve of Destruction." This is also the ONLY song I wish that SJC would've shelled the money out - doubly so when you find out it IS in the "A-Team" story it's in on the DVDs.

The only song I know of that still is intact that was originally used that could have royalties on is "Greatest Love of All" from Whitney Houston on "GAHeroine."

Also different is the bumpers to and back from commercials are not there. There were four scenes, I think all from the pilot, that were used. I know one was the infamous crash into the billboard.

The some of the stories in the second season had opening titles that also featured Don Cervantes (Paco) in addition to Faye Grant and Michael Pare. All but one of these are removed, and oddly enough the ONLY one to have these titles Paco (nor the kids) are in it (It's all Downhill from Here).

Third season Connie Sellecca had "Pam Davidson" (then changed to Hinkley) after her name is listed in the credits. This too has been removed in the third series collection. I don't think Katt's title card every had "Ralph Hinkley" after it.

A list of the stories that had the music changed... well, there was thread here somewhere that had all the stories. Ones I know off top of my head (mostly ones that are popular): Pilot, Hit Car (missing Rocketman, turned into I think some sort of heroic type music), Classical Gas, Don't Mess Around with Jim (though it's not missed), Operation Spoilsport, Pinball Wizard (the one I like the change), I think the song played at Station House in "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll," Devil in the Deep Blue Sea, and I think MAYBE Chicken in every Plot - again songs sung by Rhonda.

Hope this helps out.

Mel has listed many of the changes found on the DVD sets. I can make a few additions. She is right about the fact most of the altered material is the music.

Rocket man was used after the pilot not in The Hit Car, but in Reseda Rose. It has been replaced with a standard sorta super hero like music. Plus for those of you not familiar with the pilot's original broadcast, the cover tune is heard when Ralph and Pam drive after his escape from the hospital. Also when Ralph fly's over the wall at the Corey Estate looking for Bill the tune is heard again briefly. The music heard now on the DVD set is some of the standard GAH music normally heard in the show.

When I wrote the trivia questions that were included in the 2nd season Anchor Bay release I had no idea Eve of Destruction was to ripped out of Operation: Spoilsport. Had I known I would not have included that specific question. In current syndication, Eve of Destruction is the ONLY cover tune that was inserted BACK INTO the show. All other episodes now have the current music as found on the DVD sets.

Other changes were made as well correcting some mistakes while allowing others to show. In Fire Man, Ralph rescues the homeless lady from the burning theater. In the show originally broadcast on ABC and early syndication one cannot tell where he's taking her after picking her up. Now the brightness has been turned up to reveal that he's carrying her up to the roof. In Reseda Rose Ralph crashes against the submarines tower surrounded by the night sky he shakes the sub. On the DVD one can clearly see the black tarp draped around the tower mock up to depict the night sky. This could not be seen in the original broadcast version.

Many of the non-music changes were made when Cannell had new prints of the episodes ran off the masters about 12 years ago.

The Shock Will Kill You is missing the "shave and a haircut" bit, not to mention the horn on Maxwell's car constantly blaring while the electricfied Ralph is riding inside.

This topic has giving me the idea of adding some clips of the non-music changes to the main website. They would just be examples lasting a few seconds long that fans could compare and see what they are missing.

Oh most important to me missing from the episodes are the teasers. I never expected the 1st season teasers with the Ernie Anderson voiceovers to be included, but I did totally expect the 2nd and 3rd seasons Cannell produced version to be intact. I was really disappointed when they weren't.

[greenguy]

Jul 1, 2011 22:25:35 GMT -5 prometheus74 said:

Thanks for the information, Mel. I didn't know the changes were quite that drastic and widespread. That's too bad-----I hate when classic shows or movies are tampered with.

So were those songs you mentioned also sung by Stephen Geyer, or were they the original songs ("Help Me Rhonda", by the Beach Boys, "It's Only Rock N' Roll", by Huey Lewis And The News, etc....)

So does that mean that Mike Post and Stephen Geyer were called in to write a whole slew of new songs for the DVD release, then? Or were the changes already in effect during the years of syndication on TV?

Actually Geyer never sang any music heard on the show. It was Joey Scarbury that sang both the cover tunes and the original Geyer written songs.

Although Geyer can be heard singing The Game Goes On in a ABC promo for the 2nd season premiere. The network laid the temp track in for their promo as one can assume Scarbury had not recorded the version heard in the finished episode at that time.

All the non-vocal music was composed by Mike Post and Pete Carpenter. As far as I'm aware Post was not involved in any of the new music heard on the DVD sets. I've talked to Stephen Geyer several times and I know he wasn't involved at all.

The music changes did not take place until 2005 when the first DVD set was released. Up until that point all syndicated episodes had the original music.

[greenguy]

Jul 3, 2011 23:51:30 GMT -5 MelMac said:

You're welcome, though greenguy and others have far more information than I do.

OH, there is one other thing missing - the teasers that showed snippets of what was going to be shown in that episode. That said, I'm not surprised these are missing because in a couple of cases, such as "Classical Gas," you'd heard covered songs in the clip instead of the replacements. By teasers, here is an example from "Falcon Crest" (I apologize for the "previously" part - "Falcon Crest" was a night soap opera):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7RVCXu65X0


I personally wish that they had kept the bloopers instead of deleted them so many years ago. Even if we had more extras/features, such as the teasers or bumpers, this wouldn't have been a feature because of them being gone.

I'd like to have seen them, but there is only one known one out there - from "It's all Downhill from Here" where Katt has trouble buttoning the cape around his neck and finally just gives up and jumps out to chase whatever he needs to be chasing.

My apologies Mel for mentioning the teasers in my post above. I had not scrolled down yet as I was commenting as I rolled downed the screen. Had I realized you brought the subject up I wouldn't have mentioned it as if you did not give an explanation.

My thoughts are always if any of the cut material was actually kept. In the promos for the pilot I'm sure I remember the kid in the alley having the line "you sure are a funny kind of Superman" that did NOT make the final broadcast pilot.

[greenguy]

Jul 4, 2011 7:36:41 GMT -5 herald7 said:

Jul 3, 2011 23:51:30 GMT -5 MelMac said:

I personally wish that they had kept the bloopers instead of deleted them so many years ago. Even if we had more extras/features, such as the teasers or bumpers, this wouldn't have been a feature because of them being gone.

Yeah it's always annoying nowadays when DVDs lack extra features. Though there are still little things like during the ending credits of "The One the Suit was Meant For" you can see a slightly alternate take of the scene with Ralph fighting off the other woman, lol. I don't know if there's more like that in the credits but you never know; sometimes you have to search for these things, but they're there.

You make a good point, some of the teasers do in fact have alternate angles and in some cases scenes not seen in the finished episode.

That's one of the reasons I'm disappointed that they aren't included.

[prometheus74]

Thank you so much for all the great, insightful info, Greenguy.

You've answered a lot of the questions that I had had for some time, since I had never seen the show again since childhood before the DVDs came out. My memory is very good, but not that good. LOL

[prometheus74]

Jul 4, 2011 17:52:33 GMT -5 greenguy said:

As far as I'm aware Post was not involved in any of the new music heard on the DVD sets. I've talked to Stephen Geyer several times and I know he wasn't involved at all.

So it was Joey Scarbury all by himself who wrote AND sang the new songs, then?