Hear, hear, Wich.

I didn't watch this one "live" last night, as I sometimes do prior to Sven, but couldn't last night. I capture all the TOS episodes on DVR though just in case that happens, and typically watch most TV shows on DVR so I can FF through the ads. I did see this one last time Me-TV aired it though.

I'll go on record as saying I actually liked the changes to the effects in this one. Not all the episodes are effective with that, but this one, with the DD machine and the wrecked starship worked well, I thought.

The cuts to the scenes/dialogue are unforgiveable in this particular episode. The entire sequence where Decker and Spock parry on the bridge (which takes place over a period of time/action sequences) is one of the best in any Trek, let alone TOS, and for me is one of those quintessential TOS moments. To cut that? Well, it's a crime, IMO. It ruins the entire dramatic effect of the scene. If you ever get one TOS episode uncut on DVD or other source, this one is one of those to have and cherish. I used to have a lot of these on VHS tapes years ago, and this was one I wore out. I never tire of this episode. It has just about everything you could ask for in a sci-fi series, and has what I feel is a definitive sequence which makes TOS what it was for me.

Me-Tv, like every other channel cuts for ad time. And speeds stuff up. The HAWAII FIVE-O theme is the one I recognize being sped up the most, but I'm sure they do others. At least they show the opening and closing credits. Many other cable channels don't even do that anymore. I watched a PERRY MASON marathon on the Hallmark Channel a couple weeks ago and I could never tell when each episode was starting as they pretty much cut out both the opening and closing credits and defining theme. I still enjoyed the marathon, but these stations don't seem to get that one of the many guilty pleasures many fans have of these classic shows is the theme music.