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Buffy - the musical episode replays tonight
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Posted by: T-Wolves

At least in the Twin Cities area, the musical episode of Buffy is being re-run again tonight on UPN. IMO, one of the best hours of TV this season.

Check your local listings.

Posted by: kdmorse

Note that it will be the edited version, and is a less coherent than the original. But still worth watching.

-Ken

Posted by: skruggie

If only it wasn't on against Gilmore Girls, and if only I had a dual reciever!

Really, this time of year it doens't matter, but it's going to be a bitch to tape both shows come the fall.

Damn the WB.....

Posted by: harvscar

Can anyone tell me exactly what was edited out from the original airing? My usual source of info, www.buffyguide.com , doesn't seem to have anything.

Posted by: billypritchard

Well, off the top of my head I can tell you some of the stuff that's missing. I guess I'll put it in spoiler tags with all the buffy newbies hanging around...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
The long version contains an overture which was missing from the replay.

During the song "I've got a Theory", the edited version ends at Anya's bunnies rant, while the long version contains another verse where Buffy sings about how they can get through it together. IMO, very important as a bookend with the song at the end.

Spike's rocker, "Rest in Peace", is missing a verse in the edited version. It sounds good and makes sense, but I'm not sure it was a major cut where you would miss it.

I think there were some other cuts, but nothing big. I think the worst thing is the section from I've got a theory...

Posted by: billypritchard

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
ANYA: (back to original melody)
Or maybe midgets.
WILLOW: (quickly sits down beside Giles and opens a book)
I've got a theory we should work this fast.
WILLOW/GILES:
Because it clearly could get serious before it's passed.

Giles gets up, starts to climb the stairs to the loft.

BUFFY: I've got a theory. It doesn't matter.

Giles pauses, turns back. Everyone looks at Buffy.

BUFFY:
What can't we face if we're together?
What's in this place that we can't weather?
Apocalypse?
We've all been there.
The same old trips
Why should we care?
ALL EXCEPT GILES:
What can't we do if we get in it?
We'll work it through within a minute.

Buffy looks at Giles throughout this. He watches her too and finally joins in.

ALL:
We have to try
We'll pay the price
It's do or die
BUFFY:
Hey, I've died twice.

Giles smiles, comes down off the ladder.

ALL: What can't we face if we're together?
GILES: (descant) What can't we face...
ALL: What's in this place that we can't weather?
GILES: ...if we're together...
ALL: There's nothing we can't face.
ANYA: (sits) Except for bunnies.

Posted by: kdmorse

There are some verses from a few songs missing, but mostly it's the scene's between songs that were wacked. No big deal, unless you're watching it for the first time, in which case it sorta looks like a bunch of unrelated songs edited together. Without some of those little scene's in between, it just jumps into a song from time to time without a setup, and doesn't have quite the same flow as the original.

The original (unedited) version was amazingly well done, from start to finish. The editing added a few rough edges that weren't there originally.

-Ken

Posted by: JimSpence

I just posted in one of the other Buffy threads that my affiliate had the letterbox format offset to the right. Anyone else have this problem?

Posted by: Bryanmc

quote:
Originally posted by JimSpence
I just posted in one of the other Buffy threads that my affiliate had the letterbox format offset to the right. Anyone else have this problem?

Well, mine seemed offset to the left, meaning that there was black on the right of the picture.

Also, was this letterboxed the first time? It must have been, I just don't remember.

The aspect ratio also seemed to be close to 2.35:1 as opposed to how most TV programs do letterbox, which is close to 1.85:1.

Posted by: Bryanmc

I forgot to mention, not only was it off a bit to the left, it also was off a bit downwards.

When I tried to use the zoom function, the picture should have filled the screen but there was black on the right and the top.

Not sure why that was screwed up like that. To test it, all the commercials worked fine, just not the program.

Posted by: unoriginal

I haven't been able to bring myself to delete the original version, recorded when it first aired.

I wish they would hurry up and put out a DVD with that episode.

Posted by: rhobite

Feel free to ignore this rant...

They butchered it! Argh! They could have cut that whole damn Xander and Anya song, and I wouldn't have cared. Come on, all Xander has to say is "Gee, I'm having second thoughts about getting married." But they don't cut that, they cut some of my favorite parts.. the overture, the end of "I've Got A Theory". They even cut Dawn's line about giving birth to a pterodactyl.

Also - I just don't like TV shows that are letterboxed.. if it's produced exclusively for a 4:3 screen, why do they feel the need to leave a large chunk of that screen unused? First people had to fight to get letterboxed movies on VHS.. now we've come full circle and letterboxing is suddenly trendy. TV producers feel the need to lop off the top and bottom of the picture for no reason. It's more excusable for Buffy, since they only did it for one episode and it's purposeful - they tried to capture the feel of an old movie musical. But when shows like ER and The Sopranos do it, it's simply annoying.

Posted by: unoriginal

quote:
Originally posted by rhobite

Also - I just don't like TV shows that are letterboxed.. if it's produced exclusively for a 4:3 screen, why do they feel the need to leave a large chunk of that screen unused? First people had to fight to get letterboxed movies on VHS.. now we've come full circle and letterboxing is suddenly trendy. TV producers feel the need to lop off the top and bottom of the picture for no reason. It's more excusable for Buffy, since they only did it for one episode and it's purposeful - they tried to capture the feel of an old movie musical. But when shows like ER and The Sopranos do it, it's simply annoying.

You have it backward. Those shows are all filmed in 16:9. They loped the sides off to make it 4:3.

Posted by: doom1701

I've got to get ahold of the unedited version someday. A lot of people in the midwest missed chunks of it because of a satellite feed issue. I darn near gave a death threat to our local UPN station because of it (I apologized profusely the next day to their GM. I guess a lot of people made angry calls, but I was the only person to apologize for being such an a$$).

The only version that I've seen is the edited version; sounds like I'm missing some greatness.

Posted by: unoriginal

quote:
Originally posted by doom1701
I've got to get ahold of the unedited version someday. A lot of people in the midwest missed chunks of it because of a satellite feed issue. I darn near gave a death threat to our local UPN station because of it (I apologized profusely the next day to their GM. I guess a lot of people made angry calls, but I was the only person to apologize for being such an a$$).

The only version that I've seen is the edited version; sounds like I'm missing some greatness.

It would not be great quality but you could download the uncut version off of some file-sharing network.

Posted by: Lori

quote:
Originally posted by doom1701
I've got to get ahold of the unedited version someday. A lot of people in the midwest missed chunks of it because of a satellite feed issue. I darn near gave a death threat to our local UPN station because of it (I apologized profusely the next day to their GM. I guess a lot of people made angry calls, but I was the only person to apologize for being such an a$$).

The only version that I've seen is the edited version; sounds like I'm missing some greatness.

I could probably be convinced to send you a VHS copy...send me your info in a PM and I will see what I can do over the holiday. It wouldn't be super quality--it would be a dub from my SA with analog cable as the source. Recorded at best, though, so it's not too, too awful.

I would have preferred that they cut or edit the dance number with Dawn and the puppets. It creeped me out, one, and I didn't think that it added much to the story. Keep the duet with Sweet, sure, but axe the dancing. And put back in Buffy's "what can't we face" solo. That was one of the most important moments in the whole thing, imho.

Posted by: John Kador

I've got a VCD copy of the complete, un-edited version I downloaded off USENET a while back. It's actually pretty decent quality, at least until the dvd comes out.
You can probably find it floating around on the net somewhere.

And if you're REALLY desperate and have money to burn, there is an academy screener DVD version for sale on Ebay of the complete un-edited version. It was sent out to Daily Variety subscribers in LA last month and the disks promptly ended up on Ebay for $100 and up.

Posted by: DanT

I've got three different SVCD versions of varying qualities, all the original full-length cut. One isn't that great, one (the C00ki3 encode) has an awesome menu structure and evne has some bonus stuff, but the picture is still pretty soft, and the "Texas" encode is the best quality, but it's just the mpeg. I tried combining C00ki3's menus with the Texas video, but ran into some trouble, and haven't revisited it to try again. The Texas encode is also too big to add the C00ki3 extras to.

So if you're looking around online, I'd suggest the Texas encode, assuming you can play SVCDs. And it was just reposted a couple days ago to the Buffy repost group on Usenet.

Posted by: JYoung

If I'm not mistaken, they did cut out most of Dawn's silent dance number with the puppets.
Originally, it was very chilling.
They also cut the bit where Sweet tells Xander that he's not his type.

Posted by: dmdeane

quote:
Originally posted by JYoung
If I'm not mistaken, they did cut out most of Dawn's silent dance number with the puppets.
Originally, it was very chilling.
They also cut the bit where Sweet tells Xander that he's not his type.

D_mn! D_mnit!!!

I saw the musical for the first time the other night and loved it; I regret that I was not watching Buffy when this first aired, otherwise I would still have it on my TiVo.

In spite of the cuts, I enjoyed it; the only part that was not clear to me was what Xander had done to summon the demon, and why/when he had done it. That part was not clear; I wonder if the full version explains this better.

I wonder why some people here wanted different parts cut....

I don't understand why anyone would want to cut any of the dancing with - Sweet? (the name Sweet is mentioned on websites, but I don't remember the name being mentioned in the musical). Frankly, I loved the singing/dancing scene with Sweet and Dawn.

I also liked the Anya/Xander song/dance scene. It is rather important, too, considering what later happens to them. Plus I just love Anya's character; Emma Caufield is wonderful ("look at me! I'm dancing crazy!") portraying her rather loopy, insensitive, needy, clingy, but bubbly and funny personality. No, you can't cut the Anya/Xander scene.

Posted by: GoldenTiger

Anyone have the full (uncut) version on an FTP server I can download from? I'm dying to see it, I loved the cut version and really want to see the uncut. How long was it originally??

Also, can someone tell me if...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)

During the episode, even in the cut version, they keep saying that "none of this is real". Does this tie in with "Normal Again"? Does Buffy know that her world isn't really real and that she's just a psycho in a mental hospital imagining everything? Is it a plain fact that none of it is supposed to be real inside of the show, or is it something tossed up in the air? Or could they be referring to the songs and how they aren't really singing because they want to? Did the creator of the show ever answer about whether the show's events were supposed to be real inside of that world?

Posted by: David Platt

quote:
Originally posted by dmdeane

In spite of the cuts, I enjoyed it; the only part that was not clear to me was what Xander had done to summon the demon, and why/when he had done it. That part was not clear; I wonder if the full version explains this better.

That part wasn't explained any better in the uncut version. It was kind of lame, and I didn't really understand it either.

quote:

I don't understand why anyone would want to cut any of the dancing with - Sweet? (the name Sweet is mentioned on websites, but I don't remember the name being mentioned in the musical). Frankly, I loved the singing/dancing scene with Sweet and Dawn.

The part Lori was referring to actually took place right before Sweet's song; there was a little instrumental interlude with Dawn dancing with Swee'ts henchmen. The entire thing isn't in the cut version. I would have been highly upset if they cut any of Sweet's song, though-- that guy is such a fantastic singer and dancer. An interesting bit of trivia: the guy that played Sweet (Hinton Battle) originated the role of the Scarecrow in 'The Wiz' on Broadway.

Posted by: Lori

Yeah, but...Sweet may be talented and all, but he ain't Buffy. I would have rather seen all of Sweet's stuff cut before they touched a Buffy note.

Posted by: JYoung

quote:
Originally posted by DPlatt

The part Ann was referring to actually took place right before Sweet's song; there was a little instrumental interlude with Dawn dancing with Swee'ts henchmen. The entire thing isn't in the cut version. ...

If I'm not mistaken, there was no music for that dance scene, part of what made it so chilling.....

Posted by: billypritchard

Also, can someone tell me if...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)

During the episode, even in the cut version, they keep saying that "none of this is real". Does this tie in with "Normal Again"? Does Buffy know that her world isn't really real and that she's just a psycho in a mental hospital imagining everything? Is it a plain fact that none of it is supposed to be real inside of the show, or is it something tossed up in the air? Or could they be referring to the songs and how they aren't really singing because they want to? Did the creator of the show ever answer about whether the show's events were supposed to be real inside of that world?

[/B][/QUOTE]

Goldentiger - Not sure if this is really spoilery, but what the heck...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think the line you're talking about "This isn't real, but I just want to feel" is more about Buffy's struggle to accept that she is no longer in heaven and stuck on earth. The life she is living does not seem 'real' in that sense.

Posted by: David Platt

quote:
Originally posted by billypritchard
Also, can someone tell me if...

Goldentiger - Not sure if this is really spoilery, but what the heck...

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)
I think the line you're talking about "This isn't real, but I just want to feel" is more about Buffy's struggle to accept that she is no longer in heaven and stuck on earth. The life she is living does not seem 'real' in that sense.

Here's my take on that line:

Spoiler Alert! (highlight to read)

She was telling Spike what to expect from any 'relationship' that might arise from her kissing him. She spoke (sang) this line as she was approaching him to kiss him; she was basically telling him that the only reason she was about to kiss him was because she was sick of not feeling anything at all. She's using sex as a substitute for real emotion.

Posted by: dmdeane

quote:
Originally posted by Lori
Yeah, but...Sweet may be talented and all, but he ain't Buffy. I would have rather seen all of Sweet's stuff cut before they touched a Buffy note.

If they had cut Sweet's scenes, the episode would have made no sense at all. Besides which, the fellow playing Sweet added an awful lot of talent to this show; I don't think it would have worked without it.

Which reminds me, no one has answered my question: why are we calling him "Sweet"? Was the demon's name mentioned somewhere in this episode? If it was, I missed it.

Posted by: ILoveMyTiVo

quote:
Originally posted by dmdeane
Which reminds me, no one has answered my question: why are we calling him "Sweet"? Was the demon's name mentioned somewhere in this episode? If it was, I missed it.

It's never mentioned in the episode. It is mentioned in the credits at the end which says "Sweet" makeup created by... (The man that plays Sweet is listed in the beginning credits as a guest star, so they don't list his character name there). Probably also comes from articles about the episode where writers mention him by name.

Posted by: doom1701

Well, it took me 3 hours last night, but I've created a CD of all the music from the episode (uncut, of course). I listened to it on the drive to work, and now I've got that Tara/Giles Medley stuck in my head...

Posted by: GoldenTiger

Care to send a copy of the mp3 files my way??

Posted by: barclay

You can download the MP3 files from here:

http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/music/

Posted by: doom1701

quote:
Originally posted by barclay
You can download the MP3 files from here:

http://www.buffyworld.com/buffy/music/

Boy, all that work I did editing the MPG to get all the audio, and now I find out that somebody already did it... :)

Posted by: GoldenTiger

Awesome site... 80mb of files in about 30 seconds flat! 700-800kbytes/sec :). (yes bytes, NOT bits).

Posted by: GatorDeb

I had it recorded but didn't see it until now.

It was the most brilliant Buffy EVER. I am just speechless. Wow.