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Anonymous writes...
Greg,
As you may or may not know, Gargoyles reruns are now showing on USA
cable network. However, USA has a really idiotic intro that they show
before and after each commercial break. In order to make time for it, they have
taken the liberty to cut out parts of the episodes that they consider to be
unimportant. I will admit the parts that are cut out are usually not
essential (I stress the word USUALLY), but it makes the episodes look
choppy. Can they do that? From a legal standpoint, I mean. Does USA have the
right to edit your work?
Greg responds...
I assume they do, or they wouldn't. Keep in mind, it's not
legally "my work". Gargoyles was written and produced as "Work for
Hire" and the official, legal author of the program is the Walt Disney
Company. So USA can do anything within the limits of their deal with
Disney. Having said that, you of course must know that editing reruns
for extra commercials (and etc.) isn't exactly new. Absolute TV
classics like THE HONEYMOONERS, I LOVE LUCY, THE SIMPSONS and HILL
STREET BLUES among others (many, many others) have all been edited in
this way. So at least I'm in good company.
I don't get USA, so I haven't seen their cuts, but I already
know they'd annoy me. Sometimes that's just a fact of life in this
business. Oh, well.
(GDW / 4-21-98)