27-12-2023, 10:39 PM
There were quite a lot of early HD US productions we only ever got in 4:3 at the time, even on the main terrestrials. When it comes to the likes of The King Of Queens and Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as the final season of Frasier, Channel 4 are still using SD 4:3 cut outs of many of the HD seasons.
I guess the difference between the framing of 8 Simple Rules and Friends is that while 8 Simple Rules was shot 4:3 safe, the full 16:9 versions would have been shown on HD outlets as well, so they would have frames things so both versions looked right, whereas with Friends they wouldn't have had any intention at the time that the extra picture on the sides would have been seen, so they wouldn't have made any consideration to it, which is why the 16:9 versions look so odd and have the edge of sets creeping in at times.
I guess the difference between the framing of 8 Simple Rules and Friends is that while 8 Simple Rules was shot 4:3 safe, the full 16:9 versions would have been shown on HD outlets as well, so they would have frames things so both versions looked right, whereas with Friends they wouldn't have had any intention at the time that the extra picture on the sides would have been seen, so they wouldn't have made any consideration to it, which is why the 16:9 versions look so odd and have the edge of sets creeping in at times.