Comparison between the TV-Version (taken from the Blu-ray) and the Extended Version (taken from the British DVD)


- 12 alterations, 8 of those including alternative footage
- Difference in running time: 57.6 sec


Almost every episode of this sitcom classic were released in an extended version on the US DVDs. For TV some cuts were done in order to trim the episodes to the usual format, however, some censoring can be found as well. In Great Britain, only the TV versions were released on DVD at first yet the newer "15th Anniversary Edition" contains the extended episodes as well and was used as a comparison here.

The new Blu-ray release is identical all around the world and contains – only the TV Versions, the extensions can also not be found in the bonus material. People interested in buying the series now have to decide: Longer episodes or better picture quality? The latter is really great on Blu-ray, rescanning of the original 35mm tape led to a brilliant picture and it is now also in the 16:9 format with more information on the side of the picture. On the other hand, about 2 minutes are missing per episode.

The here compared episode 1x09 ("The One Where Underdog Gets Away") contains several differences as well but they are not really worth mentioning this time. The final scene, when it looks like thanksgiving went completely wrong, is the reason for most of the alterations. It transfers a alightly different mood.
Conspicious are two altered scenes that are probably a result of the HD transfer.

01:49-01:51

Longer black screen right after the opening credits.

+ 1.7 sec




Alternate
04:43-04:48

During the leading over night shot, there's another extraordinary discrepancy probably resulting from the HD transfer.
In the TV Version on Blu-ray, the camera tracks upwards while it tracks the other way around in the Extended Version.

TV Version (Blu-ray)	Extended Version

06:18

Before Ross sceptically asks whether Susan talks about him to the baby, the scene starts earlier in the Extended Version. He says "Well, that's just..." with a smile in his face.

5.3 sec

08:39

After Chandler elaborated his thanksgiving trauma, the scene at the appartment continues in the Extended Version while the TV Version fades to the subway immediately. Ross and Phoebe are discussing traditional thanksgiving circumstances.

Ross: "Ohhh, what's this? I never saw this at mom's."
Phoebe: "It's a yam."
Ross: "Hello? This isn't a yam. Yam comes in a... purple cans. They don't...they don’t come in these."
Phoebe (a bit more upset now): "OK, Ross, don't take this the wrong way or anything but... Back off!"

22.3 sec

Alternate
11:01-11:06

In the TV Version on Blu-ray, Joey's ad on the bord pops into the image from bottom to top while it's the result of several pixels in the Extended Version.

TV Version (Blu-ray)	Extended Version

11:23-14:25

While the Extended Version smoothly fades to the next scene, the TV Version sticks in the room for an extended period before it fades to black.

+ 1.8 sec




Alternate
17:19-17:20

The scene in the hallway starts earlier in the Extended Version. Rachel complains, Phoebe wants to cheer her up but she reacts edgy after several venomous answers.
Rachel: "Oh, this is just really great! 5 o'clock, my plane is pulling away from the gate."
Phoebe: "Maybe you can take a later flight."
Rachel: "There is no later flight."
Phoebe: "Oh, maybe you can go tomorrow."
Rachel: "But tomorrow is not Thanksgiving!"
Phoebe: "OK, look, if I’m going to try to cheer you up, you're going to have to meet me half way."

The TV Version on the other hand simply shows the following scene slightly longer (no screens).

Extended Version 15.8 sec longer

Alternate
18:44-18:49

When the group enters the appartment filled with smoke, an alternate take has been used here. The following first distance shot in the room is different as well.

The reason for that is quite simple: only in the Extended Version, Joey says to Chandler "All right, don't lose this." at the end of the first shot. He carelessly tosses the key in the drawer carried by Chandler who says in shock: "No, no, no..."

Extended Version 7 sec longer

TV Version (Blu-ray)	Extended Version

Alternate
19:12-19:14

In the Extended Version, Ross responds to Monica's nagging: "Oh, don't yell at me, you're the one who burnt dinner."
Phoebe slightly hits him on the shoulder and says in anger: "Hey! Don't make her squeak again!"

The TV Version contains a different take of Ross and Phoebe which is basically similar but Ross remains silent here (no screens).

Extended Version 5.1 sec longer

Alternate
19:44-19:53

The start at the appartment is different.

In the Extended Version, the TV is running and Rachel makes a comment about skier: "Oh, skiing. Shoop, shoop..."
Monica turns it off: "Shoop!"

The TV Version contains several shots of the gloomy group without any dialog.

Extended Version 2.3 sec longer




Alternate
19:58-19:59

After Phoebe mentioned that "Ugly Naked Guy" was getting the turkey out of the oven, the Extended Version continues with Joey and Chandler at the table while the previous distance shot is longer in the TV Version (no screens).

Extended Version 0.6 sec longer

Alternate
20:00-20:02

After the shot of Phoebe, the TV Version also continues with the shot of Joey and Chandler from the previous extended scene (no screens).

As compensation, the Extended Version contains a first shot of Phoebe at the window. She says: "Oh, he's adding gravy...".
A shot of gloomily-looking Ross follows. It's also in the TV Version; it was one of the shots of the group being gloomy. But it fits very well as reaction to Phoebe's comment, too.

Extended Version 2.8 sec longer