NBC Kills Super-Sized Episodes




Following in the footsteps of McDonald's once again, NBC has announced that they will no longer offer super-sized programming. The network began offering extra minutes (and a few extra commercials) during "Friends" in the 2000-2001 TV season. Today, viewers are often tuning in too late or missing those precious few minutes thanks to off-TiVo times. Apparently, NBC thinks the gimmick has lost its magic.

And like those giant overflowing packages of crispy fries, I will miss a few extra minutes of "The Office." However, the comedy is planning a few hour-long episodes next season, says Zap2it. -- Rachel Cericola





I got this from USA Today. I'm sad, but looking forward to any hour-long epis we can get...

I agree, for all of the hour long episodes they're giving us, it would be the equivalent of supersizing 15 of the episodes, which they would never do. I think we're definately getting the larger end of the stick!

TWSS!!!

(I couldn't resist )


I agree... as long as they keep the hour-long ones, I'm good.

Plus, it seemed like the super-sized ones had way more commercials than normal. I mean, the show would have an extra ten minutes, but it seemed like seven of them were commercials! I'm okay with this decision. Not that anyone cares, but I am!

NBC knows they have a lot of time shift viewers and/or probably got a lot of complaints about DVR malfunctions. I concur with everyone that I'm happier with the 5 full hour eps planned.

I'm fine with it, too! I've been known to miss the ending of the show because of DVR malfunctions! 30 epis is way better!

With 30 episodes for season 4 and 5 of them being hour long, I really don't mind them getting rid of the "super-sized" episodes. Plus it will be easier to keep up with the times.

My DVR made me want to arm wrestle it whenever it cut my Office time short.
I'm all for more hour long eps! =)

with that being said...is it september yet???

I adjusted my DVR settings a few months back to start recording a minute EARLIER and end recording a minute later after the episode ends. Sometimes it would start at 8:29pm *hmph*

Good one! Also, great catch Receptionist

I like having the hour long episodes better than a few super sized as well. Remembering if they are starting early or going late is difficult with a busy schedule. Of course I don't want to miss one second of the show either.

I'm sad because I love the pacing of supersized episodes, many regular length episodes this season felt rushed. But then again, the pacing of season 2 was perfect even with just one supersized episode, so it might be a sign that they were simply trying to do too much in S3.

But I understand why they're not going to do it anymore, the only people who really appreciated it were the devoted fans who are going to make sure to catch the show no matter when it's on. The Office needs to rope in some casual viewers, and I believe the way to do that is be consistent with the time. ABC is pretty good at this, even though I don't watch many of their shows, I know when they're on. FOX is probably the worst offender ever in mucking with their schedule, but once they stopped doing that, at least with a few of their shows, they finally scored some hits.

Also there's going to be, what, 5 hour-long episodes next season? I think I'll survive without super-sizing.

PMS, I think it's 25 shows total 5 of which will be an hour long?

Nope- they extended season 4. It's 30 episodes- 5 being hour long. So that = 25 regular episodes and 5 hour long

They ordered "30 half-hours," and 5 episodes will be an hour long. I assumed that meant there's 20 regular episodes and 5 hour long ones for a total of 25 episodes. Like in season 3 there were 25 half-hours but 23 episodes (and they numbered Benihana as episode 10 and 11, etc). But I don't know, they don't make it very clear in the NBC press release, I'm more than fine with 30 episodes.

I think you're right, Ladama, as much as I'd love 30 weeks worth of new eps, I think its 25.

Season 4 having 5 one hour long episodes is more than enough to make up for any lost super sized ones. very good, is right we're getting the larger end of the stick. I'm so childish that it makes me laugh everytime I read that.

Never claiming to be the biggest fan ever and always loving the variety that fills my life- I am suprised to see little to no complaint about the supersizing cutting into other programs (god forbid on other networks.)

I looooove this show its true I do, I will take anything I can get to see more and I do agree that there is a better pace to the show when everything is not crammed into the regular half hour mold, BUT I DON'T HAVE A DVR AND I MISS WhAT I MISS AND I SEE WHAT I SEE.

Any pity from anyone? Will being a newbie cause me to face this agony alone?

Its a tough trade off to see extra of your number one show to miss the beginning of your number two show (tee hee I just made my second favorite show sound like doodie!) I am already concerned about the shift in the Thursday line up and the problems that may cause for me...

one word:

iTunes!



p.s. if you know this great! if you dont know this you do not need an iPod to use/watch on iTunes

Yikes, I am instantly saddened as the term iTunes brings back terrifying memories of the two hours it took my man and I to watch the final episode this season (three or four days after it happened) and the shameful act we committed to finally watch it.

Now I have to justify my snails pace computer and the deep seated hatred I have for
i-anything.

Thank you for the suggestion. I am technologically unadvanced and it is killing my love for tv and many things pop culture.




Stay home from work sick and catch up on your message boards-yay summer cold!

I think it's a good thing that they're getting rid of the super-sized episodes. As much as I like those extra minutes, the commercials take up more time than the extra show stuff and it turns a lot of people off with the different times. I know that my parents would tune it at the normal time, it wouldn't be on and they'd move on to something else (I would try to remind them but they didn't always pay attention). The problems with DVR and TiVo I'm sure were very disappointing to those people who have them (not me though). Plus, I'd rather have a few hour episodes rather than a few 40 minute episodes.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As long as they still have the hour-long episodes, I'm okay with it.

For years I've done that with ANY shows I tape - I never set it for exactly 8:30-9 p.m. (or whatever the start/end times were for the show I was recording). I'd always do 7:58-9:02 for an 8-9 show, for example. Took care of little discrepancies between my clocks, my TV time setting, and the networks.

For supersized episodes, I'd just tape for the full hour, just to be on the safe side. I'd rather fast-forward through the end of Earl for a few minutes rather than miss a single second of The Office.