MovieChat Forums > The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950) Discussion > 3 filmed episodes missing from Antenna T...

3 filmed episodes missing from Antenna TV's run

posted 12 years ago by thextguy
6 replies | jump to latest

If you are a fan of Burns and Allen, you probably know that Antenna TV has been broadcasting all 6 of the filmed seasons of B&A (Seasons 3-8). There were a total of 239 episodes filmed in these 6 seasons.

In May of 2012, I started DVR'ing episodes of B&A, then transferring the episodes to computer, editing out the commercials and converting the files to DVD-compliant mpeg-2/ac-3 files to burn to DVD-R.

I didn't finish up recording until Jan. 2013. During these months, most of the seasons were shown at least twice.

There seem to be 1 episode missing from each of Seasons 4, 6 and 8. They are:

S5E6-George Trying To Keep Dr. Appt.
S6E28-Night Of Vaudeville
S8E23-Ronnie's Fan Club

Seasons 3, 4 and 7 aren't missing any episodes.

When Antenna TV repeats the seasons, these particular episodes are always 'skipped' even though Antenna TV is showing the episodes in order.

I read online that there were a few episodes of B&A missing from Antenna TV's run. Apparently they are not in the syndication package, as there also were episodes missing from the CBN and Nick At Nite broadcasts of the 1980's and 90's.

(This post edited to correct error in information.)

[–] LadyMondegreen 12 years ago

I'm pretty sure I saw "George Resting for Insurance Examination" recently on Antenna TV. George was supposed to stay in bed and rest the day before his insurance examination. The episode basically consists of the doorbell going off every few seconds, multiple repairmen walking over George in bed and Harry Morton really screwing up the house wiring. Is this the right episode?

On another topic, on tonight's episode (Gracie gets a Ticket 'Fixed' by the Judge), Gracie envisions herself as Barbara Stanwyck talking to her husband with only an hour to live. I've seen a lot of Stanwyck but not whatever performance she was referencing. Can you help me out there?

[–] thextguy 12 years ago

Lady Mondegreen, you are absolutely correct! I have edited my post above to reflect the correct information.

Yes, Antenna TV did broadcast the "George Resting For Insurance Examination" episode recently However, they broadcast it right in order between episodes 5 and 7 of Season 5 and as I recall, had it titled as Episode 6 of Season 5!

That episode ("George Trying To Keep Doctor Appointment") was another missing episode and I thought that Antenna TV had finally broadcast it after it was not shown in any Season 5 runs of 2012. I only had watched the first few minutes of it until a couple days ago, then I watched the entire episode and realized it really was the "Insurance Examination" episode and Antenna TV's listing of this episode was wrong!

So, the real missing episode is "S5E6 George trying to keep Doctor appointment" and not "S4E32 George Resting For Insurance Examin ation".

This is the first time this has happened with Antenna TV's broadcasts of Burns and Allen (I've taped all the other 235 episodes without an error like that.) I was intending to come back here and edit my post to reflect the correct info, but you beat me to it! I am glad there is someone else who is watching B&A with as much interest as I :)

[–] thextguy 12 years ago

Lady Mondegreen, you are absolutely correct! I have edited my post above to reflect the correct information.

Yes, Antenna TV did broadcast the "George Resting For Insurance Examination" episode recently However, they broadcast it right in order between episodes 5 and 7 of Season 5 and as I recall, had it titled as Episode 6 of Season 5!

That episode ("George Trying To Keep Doctor Appointment") was another missing episode and I thought that Antenna TV had finally broadcast it after it was not shown in any Season 5 runs of 2012. I only had watched the first few minutes of it until a couple days ago, then I watched the entire episode and realized it really was the "Insurance Examination" episode and Antenna TV's listing of this episode was wrong!

So, the real missing episode is "S5E6 George trying to keep Doctor appointment" and not "S4E32 George Resting For Insurance Examination".

This is the first time this has happened with Antenna TV's broadcasts of Burns and Allen (I've taped all the other 235 episodes without an error like that.) I was intending to come back here and edit my post to reflect the correct info, but you beat me to it! I am glad there is someone else who is watching B&A with as much interest as I :)

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] mike-nauta 11 years ago

I'd like to know more about your process for recording the episodes. I've been looking for them on DVD and haven't had luck finding them. Your solution might be a great way to get around this problem. Can you email me at mike.nauta at gmail.com?

[–] VinnieRattolle 11 years ago

The "Doctor's Appointment" episode is puzzling since they're running the "Insurance Exam" in its place (in the wrong season) and with its title. The other two omissions are downright disappointing, as the show had become so serialized. "Burlesk" picks up the morning after "The Night of Vaudeville," with everyone lauding George's performance (what in the world did he do to deserve such high praise and inspire Ronnie to pursue comedy?!), and "Ronnie's Fan Club" establishes both the club and Edie Westrope's character. I guess I can't gripe too much; I was aware of the show but had never seen it until I got Antenna TV -- and now I'm slightly obsessed with it (and thoroughly baffled as to why it wasn't widely syndicated during my childhood). There seem to be a lot of 16mm copies of the filmed seasons flying around, so I hope the 3 missing episodes eventually find thier way to You Tube... along with more episodes of George's spinoff.