THE BBC SPEAKS...Doctor Who American Edits

[rabid1st]

I'm officially back to being angry at the SciFi channel.

The BBC loves me and tends to answer my questions promptly these days. :hugs the BBC answer folks:

I ranted recently about the cut of a (possibly crucial) scene in the American broadcast of Partners in Crime...and some of my readers felt that I was placing the blame on the wrong people by yelling at the SciFi channel, because both JG and RTD reference cutting the episodes in their commentary for the episodes. Other readers felt that the SciFi channel was, indeed, the culprit in the haphazard cutting.

Being me, and a librarian (we must have source), I decided to go to the source and ask the BBC if they cut it or RTD cut it or if SciFi did.

They answer me: Hi Rae,

This may simply be because the first two eps were unusually long (about
48 minutes)compared with regular ones (43-44 minutes). I believe Sci-Fi
would be cutting them down slightly, as opposed to us.

It was SciFi...man your pitchforks and follow me.

No! I'm kidding. Stand down from pitchfork duty. I'm sure the BBC wouldn't like it if we skewered their partners in the US of A. And I think it was cut much better this season than the last, assuming the editor had no idea about future storyline prospects.

Rae

Comments

[togetheragain21.livejournal.com]

Was it the appearance at the end of Rose and her fading that they cut?

If that's the case then that's so not on.As I live in the UK I didn't have that problem but man if they EVER did that I would be joining you with the pitchfolks.

[measi.livejournal.com]

No, they didn't cut the Rose scene at all.

That scene stayed

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

The cutting was very well done. The scene they cut that I complained about was the scene where the taxi drives up and Donna tells the driver the woman is gone. But they also cut the opening with the Doctor as a lonely figure. So, his remarks about loving Donna to come and wanting someone with him...at the end...didn't have real relevance in the episode anymore.

It would seem, to those who only see this version, like the all of his responses were prompted by Donna's personality alone. Also, I understand they cut some of Donna's talk with her gramps...something I would have cut myself...but which I also suspect may be important long term in the story. That scene is so awkwardly phrased it almost seems it must have some meaning...and I can see an editor thinking "this can go."

And they cut the chasing around sequence from where Donna goes up to check on the woman in the loo. Those are the only things I noticed. I wouldn't have remarked on the taxi cutting at all if CT and DT hadn't brought the scene to my attention and told me to watch for meaning in that scene later in the season.

I am thinking that CT/DT commentary would be on the DVD and make people buying S4 as mad as I was upon buying S1 and finding I'd missed the "You're beautiful" comment in Unquiet Dead...among other things.

Rae

[princessblue791.livejournal.com]

*Grabs pitchfork and torch.Wonders if a stone through their window is too much.

[ladyofgallifrey.livejournal.com]

I hate SciFi for this reason - it's just torture watching anything there (it's one reason I've avoided watching anything there.)

You're a librarian? I probably knew this - or maybe not. Anyway, check out my journal (please?) if you haven't already. I finally got around to baring my inner librarian's soul, so to speak... I'm trying to meet up with our great librarian sub-culture within the D/R ship.

[starlightmoonla.livejournal.com]

My pitchforks and I will be ready if you should ever need our assistance.

I wish I could quit watching Doctor Who on SciFi. But I can't seem to stay away whenever Doctor Who is on TV.

Re: That scene stayed

[togetheragain21.livejournal.com]

I think that scene with Donna's gramps will play a big part later on in the season.I can't remember exactly what it was about but I think it was very emotional.

The part about the Doctor being lonely at the beginning was a big part to that episode and to me when he found Donna or she found him gave it more meaning/significance.When he was talking to someone and then he turned round and there was no-one there that set the story of for that episode.

So yes by them editing/cutting it it lost its whole meaning.

When they do things like that it spoils the enjoyment of it and makes you feel like your missing something.

[chloris.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! I'm actually less annoyed that SciFi did the cuts. I don't expect them to understand what's important to the episode and what's not. It is sad that they cut the Doctor's bit alone in the tardis, I loved that part.

This is why I'll always get the uncut version to watch no matter how quickly the US version is aired.

Re: That scene stayed

[fiducia.livejournal.com]

where the taxi drives up and Donna tells the driver the woman is gone

Hello! I watched the SciFi version too and noticed the cuts, though I thought it was more cuz Amercan television has more commercials than the BBC does. Anyway I was confused about your description of one of the cut scenes. Where in the ep did this take place and what woman is Donna referring to?

Thanks for the info!

Vicky

Well...in a nutshell

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

It is for the commercials. The slot for Doctor Who only allowed for 43 minutes of footage and the episode was 48 minutes long...so 5 minutes of footage had to go. The question I had was: who cut it?

The woman in purple that Donna went to visit. The one that dissolved into baby adipose in the bathroom. She had asked Donna to listen for a cab. The cab shows up as Donna exits to the street and the cab driver asks where the woman is...Donna says she's gone. That scene is mentioned in the commentary by Catherine Tate and David Tennant as being important to a later episode. David remarks on how the production team seeded so much of the show with clues as she season unfolds. And he advises the loyal viewer to pay attention to that scene for a later surprise. But...the scene is cut in the American broadcast.

It has turned out that the scene apparently isn't very pivotal at all...but only refers to a tag on the cab's windshield that is referenced in episode 4. So, it is one of those things that may not be very important in the long run. However, the cut of the Doctor looking sad at the beginning of the episode...is probably more important to an understanding of the character's mindset for this season.

Rae

Re: Well...in a nutshell

[fiducia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explaination! Now that makes perfect sense.

I missed seeing the shots of the Doctor looking lonely and the longer conversation between Donna and her Gramps. I saw the BBC trailers for the ep and they included both of those moments so it's a shame we didn't get to see them in the context of the show.

Same with VotD when we missed the exchange between Astrid and the Doctor when he comments that she should 'see him in the morning' and her 'okay' reply. Again, wanted to see it in the ep context but I guess I'll have to wait for the DVD.

Just one more reson to move to England. I'm just sayin'. :)

Vicky