1x06
1x06 running time: 39:12
number of segments: 4
number of tips: 1
sketches/plot pieces: 1
guest appearances: 4
segment categories: programming, beginner mod, gray hat, sysadmin
segment lengths: 4:40, 8:16, 6:10, 4:52
show elements: 17
Episode Breakdown:
00:00
01:24 (1:24) Intro Plot/Sketch
02:02 (0:38) Guest Intro, Leo Laporte
02:54 (0:52) Intro Theme, music/graphics
03:33 (1:27) Cold Open
08:03 (4:40) Segment: Programming
08:13 (0:10) Bumper: Amber Mac
16:29 (8:16) Segment: Mod
17:04 (0:35) Bumper: Mike Laz
23:14 (6:10) Segment: Security
23:22 (0:08) Disclaimer: Hack responsibly
25:04 (1:42) Glue: Trivia
26:12 (1:08) Sketch: Microshaft Web 2.0
28:22 (2:10) Tip: Programming
31:06 (2:44) Glue: Questions
35:58 (4:52) Segment: Sysadmin
37:00 (1:02) Glue: Wrap up
39:14 (2:14) Credits/Bloopers
3x06
3x06 running time: 38:21
number of segments: 4
sketches/plot pieces: 0
guest appearances: 0
segment categories: gray hat, beginner mod, software hack, homebrew gaming
segment lengths: 11:00, 9:17, 4:58, 6:17
show elements: 9
Episode Breakdown:
00:00
00:23 (00:23) Intro Theme, music/graphics
11:23 (11:00) Segment: Gray Hat
20:40 (09:17) Segment: Homebrew Gaming
21:04 (00:24) Advertisement: GoDaddy
22:40 (01:44) Glue: Trivia
27:38 (04:58) Segment: Mod
33:55 (06:17) Segment: Software Hack
38:00 (04:05) Glue: Wrap up
38:32 (00:32) Credits/Bloopers
Observations:
Contrary to popular belief and based on this small comparison I notice that season 3 segments are actually longer than season 1 segments by an average of 3 minutes. I'd also say the depth of material has stayed about the same as well.
The omission of sketches and plot seem to play a huge role in the personality and character departments. This episode of season 3 didn't have a lot of extras, merely the required segments and glue bits (trivia, wrap up) to make an episode. The lack of things like cold opens, tips, question and answer segments, and little "wtf" moments like the "hack responsibly" non sequitur seem to hinder the episode's character and personality as well.
These things cannot be quantified in charts or graphs yet as far as I see they seem to be the biggest missing ingredient from season 3. What do you think?