When does complete-and-uncut mean chopped-and-trimmed? Fans of TV DVD are finding out. As the genre mushrooms, it seems more series sets include not episodes as they originally aired, but shorter versions cut for rights issues, content concerns or, more often, increased commercial time.

“Chappelle’s Show” and “In Living Color” came out on DVD minus some musical performances, while “Family Guy” eliminated a Hitler chant and an airport scene after the Sept. 11 attacks. Viewers noted shorter syndicated episodes on releases for “Too Close for Comfort,” “ALF,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Soap” and “Little House on the Prairie.”

Trims have become so pervasive that the authoritative Web site tvshowsondvd.com started an “alterations list” where fans post omissions they’ve found, now covering more than 350 titles.

Devotees may spot cuts easily, but “the people that work on these sets are not huge fans,” says TV Shows on DVD founder Gord Lacey. “They can’t sit down and go, ‘Oh, there’s 20 seconds missing from that scene.’ They’re relying on properly labeled master tapes,” which aren’t always accurate. “They’ve got so much TV product coming out now, I think they’re just rushing a bit.”

Some distributors who do pay attention have started to label DVD changes, which Lacey says buys them a measure of goodwill with fans. Box notations alerted disc buyers that the second season of “My Favorite Martian” included four syndication prints; the first season of “Profiler” deleted an episode (where music couldn’t be cleared) and the third season of “Married With Children” had a substitute theme song.

“They really like it when the studios are up front,” Lacey says. “Then there isn’t a huge uproar over it.” When there is, studios can learn from their mistakes.

Consumer reaction is most negative when a set is specifically labeled “uncut,” as was the first “Ren & Stimpy” release. Cartoon creator John Kricfalusi claimed he had restored edits he was aware of, but dissatisfied fans found others. Paramount’s package for the “Seasons Three and a Half-ish” follow-up coming out June 28 pointedly avoids any mention of completeness.