Roots (TV miniseries)

[Doctor Q]

I see that Apple announced that the Roots miniseries, based on Alex Haley's book, is now in the iTunes Store.

It was first shown in January 1977, and broke all kinds of ratings records at the time. I wonder if it still stands up.

I find the "Viewers Also Bought" list to be a little strange, but maybe it's just a list of what's best selling in the store's TV section, unrelated to Roots.

But if it's a 12-hour series, why are there 6 episodes, each 95 minutes long? My calculator says 12 x 60 is not equal to 6 x 95.

 

[plinden]

It also moved out of our Netflix saved queue to the main queue last week. Netflix says it has 6 DVDs totalling 580 minutes, same as iTunes.

Perhaps the 12 hours of the original series included commercial breaks?

 

[TheAnswer]

But if it's a 12-hour series, why are there 6 episodes, each 95 minutes long? My calculator says 12 x 60 is not equal to 6 x 95.

My guess is twelve hours in the original broadcast - commercials = the iTunes run time. More curious is that Wikipedia says there were 8 episodes, but iTunes has only six, but the iTunes run time is equal to the IMDb run time of 573min.

 

[Doctor Q]

My guess is twelve hours in the original broadcast - commercials = the iTunes run time. More curious is that Wikipedia says there were 8 episodes, but iTunes has only six, but the iTunes run time is equal to the IMDb run time of 573min.

Perhaps the original broadcast was 6 two-hour episodes, with 95 minutes of content per hour, and then when the series was rebroadcast it was split into 8 episodes of 90 minutes, each with 71 minutes of content?

Or maybe IMDB is including some kind of review or summary episodes.

 

[TheAnswer]

Perhaps the original broadcast was 6 two-hour episodes, with 95 minutes of content per hour, and then when the series was rebroadcast it was split into 8 episodes of 90 minutes, each with 71 minutes of content?

Or maybe IMDB is including some kind of review or summary episodes.

Since the # of episodes is the same as the # of discs in the DVD set...I'm thinking your guess of 6 two-hour episodes is right, and that Wikipedia is wrong (or is including summary or sequel episodes).

 

[Lyle]

But if it's a 12-hour series, why are there 6 episodes, each 95 minutes long? My calculator says 12 x 60 is not equal to 6 x 95.

Maybe they cut out all of the depressing slavery-related stuff?

 

[mlw1235]

Maybe they cut out all of the depressing slavery-related stuff?

Ehhh....maybe just the part where OJ Simpson makes an appearance!




or the slavery stuff, whatever works

 

[scottieboy2013]

hey can any one summarize kuntas life from birth to breaking

 

[Unspeaked]

hey can any one summarize kuntas life from birth to breaking

Are you writing a book report?

 

[dr.moe]

interesting !

I was loking for the same information

Originally broadcast on ABC as eight one-hour and two-hour episodes as follows: Episodes 1,2,6, and 8 were two hours; Episodes 3,4,5, and 7 were one hour. Presented on VHS, DVD, and rebroadcast as six two-hour episodes.

I found this at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075572/trivia

 

[Sun Baked]

Seems about right.

Each hour of commercial filled broadcast is about 45 minutes (+/- a couple few) when converted to a single commercial free file.

So 6 * 95 is close enough to 12 * 45 ....