Edited for television

Back to the Future 2 & 3 Tv Edited Versions

What do we become jerks or something?

When a motion picture is shown for all audiences, such as on broadcast television, or on an airplane flight, the film might be edited to remove dialogue, sound effects, or images that might be deemed offensive, extensive, or unnecessary.

Edited dialogue in Part I

After its release in the theaters, on videocassettes, and on cable television, Back to the Future made its television broadcast debut on Sunday, November 13, 1988, on the NBC network. With the process of looping, the film actors redub lines that include profanity or might be offensive, and a "clean" version has been shown on television for nearly twenty years. Although words like "damn", "hell", and "bastards" were tame enough by the late 1980s, Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and the other players re-recorded some of their lines for redubbing, although the scenes themselves were not reshot. Among the lines that were redubbed:

• (Radio Spokesman): "...on all 1985 model (Toyotas)." ("Toyota" is cut from the ad but not blurred on the banner on the side of the truck.)
• On the television in Doc's lab they cut out "Libyan terrorists claimed responsibility".
• Jennifer's grandmother phone number is changed to 555-0123 instead of 555-4823.
• George's line at the dinner table is shortened: "What?" (instead of "What, Lorraine, what?")
• (Doc): "If my calculations are correct, when this baby hits 88 miles per hour, you're going to see some serious stuff" (instead of "shit")

  

  Back to the Future Tv edited version

  Yes, terrorists no longer exist.

• (Marty): "Geez Louise! Geez Louise, Doc, you disintegrated Einstein!!" (instead of "Jesus Christ")
• (Marty, when he sees the Libyans): "Holy jeez"! (instead of "shit")
• Marty after Doc actually invented something the works: "Yeah it works alright (Instead of "Bet your ass it works").
• (Biff's gang, before crashing into the manure truck): "Aaaaaa!" (instead of "Shiiiiit!")
• (Biff, after crashing into the manure truck): "I'm gonna get that stinkin' punk!" (instead of "son of a bitch")
• (Marty): "Yes, definitely, damn it, George, swear!" (instead of "goddammit")
• (Biff, grabbing Marty): "You caused 300 bucks worth of damage to my car, you son of a butthead, and I'm gonna take it out of your hide." (instead of "son of a bitch" and "ass")
• (Marty reading his letter): Dear Dr Brown, on the night I go back in time you'll be shot. Please PLEASE take ...." ("by terrorists" is not spoken, and has been digitally erased from the letter.)
• (Marty): "What happens to us in the future, do we become like jerks or something?" (instead of "assholes")

Part II and III

Likewise with Back to the Future Part II and Back to the Future Part III certain words are either dubbed or omitted altogether, and some scenes have been completely removed.

• (Griff's gang member, to Marty Jr.): "What's wrong, McFly, you got no scrot?" (line is cut out)
• The scene of Wild Gunman gameplay is omitted, so that it appears as if the kids are judging him before playing the game.
• Mr. Strickland to Marty: "So you're the stinking punk who keeps stealing my newspapers". (Instead of "son of a bitch")
• Biff in 1985A: "You're dead, you little snot nosed brat!" (instead of "little son of a bitch")
• Marty after Doc explains the Alternate reality: Holy Geez! (instead of "Holy Shit!").
• Biff: "That's bullcrap Terry! Terry: No Biff that's horsecrap!" (instead of "bullshit" and "horseshit").
• Marty before telling Doc the story: Holy Shoot Doc! (instead of "Holy Shit")
• Marty in the Palace Saloon: He's a idiot! (instead of "Asshole")
• Marty before jumping out of the DeLorean: Oh shoot! (instead of "Oh shit!")
• Marty to Jennifer: Do you think I'm stupid enough to race that Butthead? (instead of "Asshole")
• Biff in 1985A :"All the money in the world wouldn't do jack for that lazy bum". (Instead of "jack-shit")

Cut scenes

After the events of September 11th, 2001, nearly every broadcast of Back to the Future has the entire "Escape To The Past" scene in the beginning abridged quite heavily, resulting in discontinuous background music. Omitting the scene of Doc being shot (the sound effect is heard in the next scene), and any Libyan face shots or dialogue, the entire sequence is about 40 seconds, rather than 3-5 minutes as in the film. Curiously though, at the end where Marty returns to see himself at the mall, it is shown in its entirety. In AMC's trilogy marathon "Can't get enough Back to the Future" for New Years, the Libyan Chase and Doc's death are unedited. The only edits that are made are the censor of "shit" and "C'mon move Dammit, Jesus!" Marty's letter now reads "by terrorists" and he says it. The morning newscast is also left alone.

Another reason the film may be edited for television is to allow time for commercials. Back to the Future runs for 117 minutes (1 hour, 57 minutes), just three minutes short of a two-hour time slot, but more than just three minutes is usually needed for the commercials that provided the financial support for the film to be shown on television.

Scenes that have been cut to allow time for commercials include the following:

• Doc wakes Marty to remind him to bring his video camera.
• Marty talks with George in the school cafeteria.
• Marty tries to tell Doc about his future just before he writes the letter.
• The closing credits.