what is up with Hell Is Other Robots censored vs. uncensored?

There's apparently two versions of this episode. Why? How? What? Huh?

2? Why?

WJ

Matthew Miller schreef in berichtnieuws [email]...

Yeah, that's my question.

PS: it really helps continuity if you reply to posts *after* the original (appropriately-trimmed) quoted text. It makes usenet a nicer place. :)

There's a censored version of "A Flight To Remember" floating around too, where they've cut out all the "rude" bits. Presumably so they could show it at an earlier time - but it's a bit irritating for the rest of us... I guess it helps DVD sales though ;-)

Adam.

Matthew Miller schreef in berichtnieuws [email]...

Yeah? Can you give an example of a part that's cut?

"Matthew Miller" wrote in message news:[email]...

it

In the censored version, they cut the explicit sex scene with Fry and Leela.

:-)

In article , "Matthew Miller" wrote:

Where did you learn about it? Did you see the censored version yourself? What are the differences? Can you elaborate on this?

A friend has a tape of the "censored" version, which in fact begins with the word "Censored" in big letters for a few seconds while flames dance in the background, and then goes on to the actual episode. The original version that aired, as I remember it, didn't have this. Furthermore, there are parts where bits of the dialog seems clipped -- punchlines removed, and so forth. Oddly, I don't remember that the removed parts were anything more offensive in any way than anything else in the episode might have been. As my friend says, it seems as if they desperately wanted to shave a minute off the runtime so they could fit in a new commercial.

I'll try to find the original version somewhere so I can do a detailed comparison.

"Matthew Miller" schrieb

It's on the DVD everyone should have. :)

Stupid region encoding.

The DVD version is definitely the original?

"Matthew Miller" schrieb

Definately, at least the one that first aired on TV. For region code problems check the database at vcdhelp.com, it may help.

Interesting. Any idea why?

My friend's copy is NTSC, I'm pretty sure. Wonder how that happened.

"Matthew Miller" wrote in message news:[email]...

They cut all the drug addiction gags for the 6pm broadcast. Though IIRC they did leave in the 'jacking on' joke, quite appropriate given that Channel 4 censors are a bunch of wankers.

Ahh. How silly.

Did this happen to any other futurama episodes?

Ok, I was a bit bored, so I spent some time comparing the censored version of S01E09 "Hell is Other Robots" with the original. Here's the (I think) definitive list of changes.

There's five scenes that have lines cut, and a new "warning" screen at the beginning. All of the edits are either references to drugs (specifically, "jackin' on", "lying stoned in the gutter", or "takin' drugs") or to pornography. Oh, and one line about booze and hookers.

The cut-out bits about pornography were pretty tame -- I'm sort of surprised they were censored. Since they weren't really the main focus of the episode (even though it's a shame to throw away perfectly good humor), their removal doesn't make that much of an impact. The electricity/drug references, however, are crucial to the whole plot, so chopping them out is noticeably damaging to the continuity of the story. Pretty stupid to show the episode at all, really, if you're going to cut it up like this.

Anyway, without further ado, the list of changes:

• Right before the intro:

           Bender sings "B-E-N-D-E-R Bender!" as the word "Censored" is
           displayed in big orange flickering letters while flames dance in
           the background.

• At the "real party" after the show:

           Right after Bender and Fender enter the room, this bit has been
           completely deleted:

               Bender: "Hey, what kind of party is this? There's no booze,
                        and only one hooker."
               Fender: "Don't be drag, man, we're jackin' on."

[Fender plugs into the electric bong]

               Fender: [In slightly jittery electroshock voice] Awwwwwwww
                        yeah.

Scene continues in sync for a bit, then:

               Bender: Well, if <<jackin' on will make>> strangers think I'm
                       cool, I'll do it.

           The "jackin' on will make" bit isn't actually cut, but the audio
           is replaced by total silence while Bender's mouth moves. Real
           slick guys.

• Bad neighborhood, outside "Sparkey's Den":

Bender is in the gutter, talking to robot priest:

                Bender: Hey, do I preach to you <<while you're lying stoned
                        in the gutter?>> No! So beat it!

           The phrase "While you're lying stoned in the gutter?" is chopped,
           definitely including the question mark -- the cut messes up the
           inflection completely.

• Back at the office:

Leela knocks on bathroom door and says:

               Leela: Bender, why are you spending so much time in the
                      bathroom?

           Censored version immediately cuts to next scene, while orginal
           goes on for two lines:

Leela: Are you jacking on in there?

Bender: No! Don't come in!

• Later, back at the office again:

          In the midst of an Intervention. As above, bits marked with <<>>
          are those that have been cut out. And again, I've included
          punctuation that feels missing.

              Leela: Bender, we didn't mind your drinking, or your
                     kleptomania <<, or your pornography ring>> ....
              Zoidberg: In fact, that's why we loved you.
              Leela: But this electricity abuse has gone to far. You almost
                     killed us.
              Bender: [looks ashamed]
              Fry: And you made me feel like a jerk for trusting you. Just
                   like when my friend Ritchie swore he wasn't takin' drugs,
                   <<and then he sold me my mom's VCR, and then later I found
                   out he was takin' drugs.>> You make me ashamed to be your
                   friend.
              Bender: Aw, you're right. I'm a lost cause. [Walks out.]

• In robot hell:

In the midst of the complicated song-and-dance number:

              Beelzebot: [sings] Fencing diamonds, fixing cockfights,
                           <<publishing indecent magazines>>

          Cut removes shot of lurid purple magazine entitled "Bender's Big
          Butt Fembots", featuring a cover shot to match the title.  I
          unfortunately can't make out the article titles -- anyone?

And there you have it.

On 15 Mar 2002 05:21:02 GMT, [email] (Matthew Miller) wrote:

I have the original in MPG / VCD format. If you're interested, drop me an e-mail. Resident at bigfoot dot com.

--Larry