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


- 16 alterations, 9 of those including alternative footage
- Difference in running time: 97.4 sec (= 1:37 min)


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 episode 1x02 ("The One With The Sonogram At The End") compared here has about 1.5 minutes of new footage to offer, almost entirely consisting of short extensions of more small gags for each scene. Nothing really special, the only thing standing out is that the cuts makes some of the scene appear in a different context in the TV-version. Notable is the reaction of Ross and Monica during the conversation with her parents and Rachel's discussion with Barry about the wedding ring.



A cut report for episode 1x01 can be found in our archive.


Connotation:

In the opening credits, at least two shots (one of Monica, one of Joey) differ in a few frames - basically, the same shot was used but starting a few frames later on the Blu-ray and ending just as many frames later, too. Same goes for the exterior shot of the Central Perk-Café that is shortly shown after each episode's opening credits. Since these are minor details, which possibly happened during the HD-conversion, these will not be mentioned again in the following comparisons.

01:56-01:59

Directly after the opening credits, only the TV-version shows a black screen shortly, then the following shot is faded in earlier.

+ 3 sec




Alternative
02:15-02:17

In the Extended Version Marsha replies: "Try living with Mr. 'Hey, I am evolving'."
Cut to Ross.

In the TV-version Ross is at first shown earlier and then Marsha few insignificant frames earlier.

Extended Version 3.4 sec longer




02:43

Carol has entered the shop. Before Marsha leaves, she only asks in the extended version: "Can I stay?"
Ross: "That would be no..."

1.7 sec

Alternative
03:06-03:10

In the TV-version the shot is longer and only here Carol says: "So?"
Ross is then shown earlier and says: "You look great."

The Extended Version switches to another shot of Carol and she asks more extensively: "So? Is this a bad time?"
Ross replies: "No, no, it's... it's…..the Stone Age."
At that, he is shown in a long shot pointing at the Stone Age man. In this shot, he adds, as he does in the TV-version: "You look great."

EV 5.4 sec longer



Alternative
04:38-04:39

In the TV-version Chandler goes further aside in the same shot. The following shot starts a few insignificant frames earlier.
(Not pictured)

The Extended Version switches to another perspective and you can see Joey talk to Monica.
Joey: "Would you relax? You do this every time they come. The place looks great."
He discovers a lasagna and says: "You got a beautiful lasagna here that looks good enough to..."
Monica hits Joey's hand just in time and so he completes his sentence differently: "...avoid touching."

EV 12.5 sec longer

Alternative
05:57-05:58

In the TV-Version the shot is half a second longer, then another shot of Monica turning aside.

The Extended Version switches to another shot and there is some dialogue.
Monica: "It's going to be ok. You're going to give it back to him and it will all be over. And we'll eat a lot of ice cream."
Rachel: "Ok ok, it's... it's a little pair-shaped diamond..."
Monica interrupts: "I'll tell you what? Any diamond ring we find, we'll run it by you."
The following shot then also starts earlier and Monica steps outside the frame.

EV 9.4 sec longer




Alternative
07:49-07:50

The shot of Ross having sat down is nearly half a second longer in the TV-version.
(Not pictured)

The Extended Version wechselt zu Joey, der noch einen eher unpassenden Kommentar zu Chandlers Feststellung abgibt, dass Ross mit dem Schwängern von Carol ja den wichtigsten Part erledigt hätte switches to Joey, who makes a rather unfitting remark to Chandler's finding about Ross having done the most important Part by getting Carol pregnant:
Joey: "And the most enjoyable..."
Being the only one to laugh, everybody looks at him, and Joey tries to talk his way out: "Phoebe, say something!"

EV 5.6 sec longer

07:55

Ross is shown longer and Rachel says off-screen: "Wow!"
Ross: "Yeah, remember back when life was simpler and she was just a lesbian."
The following shot starts earlier and Chandler remarks: "God, those were the days!"

9.1 sec

Alternative
09:12

In the TV-version, Mrs. Geller is shown less than half a second longer.
(Not pictured)

The Extended Version shows irritated Monica for the first time, trying to explain: "Actually, we were going to have lasagna."
Mr. Geller: "Oh, I love lasagna."
Monica: "Well we're not having it."
Mrs. Geller: "Then why did you bring it up? You know how he latches on."
The following shot of Ross and Monica starts insignificantly earlier.

EV 10.3 sec longer

10:26

Mr. Geller speaks longer: "They're happy with what they have. Basically, they’re content like...cows."
Ross points at Monica, looking sceptically: "Cows, dad?"
Mr. Geller says towards his wife: "She knows how much I like cows."

12.6 sec

10:35

First shot of Monica, then Mr. Geller goes on: "I'm telling you, sweetheart, you're going to be fine."
Monica: "Thank you, daddy."
In the background, Mrs. Geller has grabbed a hand-held vacuum cleaner and surprisedly says: "Oh, so this does work!"

This is the statement at which Monica and Ross' simulatenous facepalm was directed during the following shot, which is contained in the TV-version. IN the background you can see Mrs. Geller with the device in her hand.

10.6 sec

11:26-11:32

While the extended version cross-fades to the next scene, the TV-Version shows Monica much longer and then fades to black. When it fades-in the following scene of the Central Perk Café, the shot starts much earlier, too.

+ 6.8 sec

Alternative
12:14

In the Extended Version Joey double-checks at the topic of Phoebe's twin sister: "Identical?"
Phoebe: "Yeah, people say we look alike but I don't see it."

In the TV-version, Rachel is shown half a second earlier in the following shot.
(Not pictured)

EV 5.4 sec longer

Alternative
16:40-16:44

In the Extended Version Ross asks for the first time: "How's this, uh, how's this all going to work?"
Susan: "Well the baby grows in a special place inside the mommy’s..."
Ross interrupts and wants to get the discussion back into the right direction: "Thank you. I mean, I mean... how is this going to work? You know, with us?"

The TV-Version starts earlier at the following shot of Ross and here, he says the last few words from the extended-version scene: "How is this going to work? You know, with us?"

EV 6.8 sec longer




Alternative
19:13-19:17

In the Extended Version the dialogue is longer - Parts in parentheses are also contained in the TV-version. It is about the ring Rachel returns.

Rachel: "(I guess this belongs to you.) Or... hey maybe someday Mindy."
Barry derogatively says: "Yeah, like she'd settle for that."
Rachel laughs forcedly: "Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah, that’s true. Umm, but I think it's a... I think it's a nice ring. (And thank you for giving it to me.)"

The TV-version starts earlier with the following shot and here, Rachel says: "And thank you for giving it to me."

EV 13.8 sec longer



21:15

The TV-version has a slightly longer black screen before the end-credits.

+ 0.5 sec



In this, as well as in all following episodes, only the TV-versions on the blu-rays show logos of Bright Kauffman Crane and Warner. This was not included in this or any following comparisons' length or number of cuts.