# Question about syndicated shortening of Simpsons episodes **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 9, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138 "2006-06-09T23:41:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Don\_Logan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Don\_Logan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Logan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/1 "2006-06-09T23:41:26Z")
Is this done by the Simpsons, each individual network, editing house? How are they usually shortened- whole missing scenes, shortening of all scenes, etc? ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/2 "2006-06-09T23:57:28Z")
I don’t kmnow who does it, but I suspect it may be one company, because I can tell you that every episode I have seen on both CBC and my local ABC afiliate are edited in the exact same way, and have been for several years (almost a decade.) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/3 "2006-06-10T00:40:53Z")
It’s probably done by the syndicator – makes it easier for the station. However, the statiom might be allowed to make further cuts. As to how they decide, it depends on the episode. It’s not likely they’d remove an entire scene – it would confuse the plot – but individual jokes can be removed. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/4 "2006-06-10T06:23:27Z")
The DVD commentaries reveal that the Simpsons people are often surprised or disgusted by what gets cut out, so it’s not them. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/5 "2006-06-10T06:35:36Z")
> [@Don Logan](#): > > How are they usually shortened- whole missing scenes, shortening of all scenes, etc? All the ones I’ve _noticed_ have been shortened by having the opening sequence removed entirely. Many Simpson’s episodes have an absurd scene a minute or so long at the beginning that isn’t crucial to the rest of the episode. That seems to be the most commonly cut piece. ---
**Author:** ![soul\_radiation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@soul\_radiation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soul_radiation)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/6 "2006-06-10T06:36:22Z")
Wait wait wait, The Simpsons have gone into syndication? When did this happen and on what channels? It’s too good to be true. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/7 "2006-06-10T07:51:44Z")
As long as we’re on the topic, can anyone explain why they cut off literally seconds at the ends of scenes? I’ve given up hope of ever seeing the complete “you don’t win friends with salad” conga dance scene, but I really don’t get why so many episodes are cut in the middle of words. The editor is saving two seconds at most. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/8 "2006-06-10T07:56:49Z")
Two seconds fifteen times is another 30-second commercial. I’ve never seen things deliberately cut in the middle of words, though. That would be annoying. The most common techniques include: cutting up the theme sequence, cutting out non-essential jokes, sight-gags, etc., moving dialog over establishing shots, and slightly increasing the playback speed of the whole episode. ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/9 "2006-06-10T15:31:46Z")
> [@soul radiation](#): > > Wait wait wait, > The Simpsons have gone into syndication? > When did this happen and on what channels? > It’s too good to be true. It depends- where do you live? _The Simpsons_ has been syndicated for years. In my area- New York Cityish area- they air on the local Fox affliate, WNYW channel 5. As for who edits it, I think it’s the syndicator. Every television show in syndication is edited to make room for more ads. For some reason, only _The Simpsons_ fans have really noticed anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/10 "2006-06-10T15:43:23Z")
> [@soul radiation](#): > > Wait wait wait, > The Simpsons have gone into syndication? I want to say that it’s been in syndication for at least 10 years now. In Chicago, it’s on WFLD, the Fox affiliate here. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Logan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Don\_Logan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Logan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/11 "2006-06-10T19:59:34Z")
Either they do such a good subtle editing job or I am slow, I have watched in syndication since day one and only noticed editing a week or so ago, the episode where they go to Ned’s cabin and Ned has post it notes everywhere, that scene is shortened by a few seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/12 "2006-06-10T19:59:53Z")
Either **soul radiation** is an alien, or y’all have to be getting whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![carterba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@carterba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carterba)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/13 "2006-06-10T20:12:26Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > For some reason, only _The Simpsons_ fans have really noticed anything about it. It’s because so many of the memorable jokes on _The Simpsons_ are “throwaway” lines that aren’t related to the plot and thus can be cut rather easily. On other shows (e.g. _Friends_) they can just cut some sitcom cliche and the canned laughter following it and no one will know the difference. ---
**Author:** ![soul\_radiation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@soul\_radiation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soul_radiation)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2006, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/14 "2006-06-10T23:56:15Z")
> [@Troy McClure SF](#): > > Either **soul radiation** is an alien, or y’all have to be getting whooshed. Sorry, I was being serious but I had a brain fart and thought “syndication=on other channels” It just did not occur to me that Simpsons being on Fox was syndication. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/15 "2006-06-11T01:05:41Z")
Just to chime in, I think the cutting may be related to the networks that are showing it. The Simpsons is syndicated on two networks here in Aus - Channel 10, which is a free-to-air station that has presumably purchased the rights and Fox8, who are (obviously) a Fox affiliate on cable. The Channel 10 episodes are often cut and chopped and horrible with bits that are missing. The episodes on Fox8 are more often the full versions, and they’re less likely to fade into an ad while dialogue or visual gags are still going ahead (which 10 are very, very prone to doing). ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/16 "2006-06-11T01:27:16Z")
> [@Don Logan](#): > > Either they do such a good subtle editing job or I am slow, I have watched in syndication since day one and only noticed editing a week or so ago, the episode where they go to Ned’s cabin and Ned has post it notes everywhere, that scene is shortened by a few seconds. I’ve noticed that they have a tendency to cut the last few seconds of scenes infuriatingly to cut off the punchline for the joke that has been built up. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/17 "2006-06-11T01:27:28Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > As long as we’re on the topic, can anyone explain why they cut off literally seconds at the ends of scenes? I’ve given up hope of ever seeing the complete “you don’t win friends with salad” conga dance scene, Or “well, duh.” ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/18 "2006-06-11T19:04:28Z")
In Southern Ontario, many different channels show the syndicated Simpsons episodes… Off the top of my head; CBC, Global, CFMT, Fox and Comedy… And I think there’s some more. The only station that shows the full episode is Global, all the rest use the shorter/edited versions. Global is the only one I can count on to see the episode I saw the first time it was aired. ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/19 "2006-06-11T20:43:51Z")
Individual stations have the ability (equipment) to compress each episode. Compression is speeding up the video and relaying the audio. This can be done more than once but in real (not animated) series the characters noticeably move too fast. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2006, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-syndicated-shortening-of-simpsons-episodes/360138/20 "2006-06-11T20:48:52Z")
Which reminds me: what exactly are the rules for commercials? No more than 8 minutes per half hour in prime time? As many as you can force viewers to stomach in other time slots?