In December of 1987, James Cameron wrote an article for Starlog magazine entitled 'Answers about Aliens'. The purpose of the article was to answer questions made by fans regarding the film and the alien itself. Within the article, Cameron talks about the original script and certain deletions that were made. This was the first time an extended version of Aliens was ever mentioned.
TV Promo
These scenes, as well as four or five others, which would certainly be of interest to fans, will be restored for the ABC airings of the film and, if all goes well, in a "special edition" videocassette, running roughly 12 minutes longer than the release of 137 minutes. No confirmed release date is set for either of these, but stay tuned.
-- James Cameron
It would be two years later when the televised extended version of Aliens would be broadcasted. It was the US Network channel CBS and not ABC that broadcasted the special edition with only a few scenes reinserted.
I've managed to, finally, get hold of a VHS to DVD-r recording of the 1989 broadcast and being the geek that I am I had to have it. Below is the list of scenes, which were edited back in:
-Ripley on a park bench. She learns about her daughter's death.
-Robot sentries salvaged from the APC wreckage.
-Prepping/testing the robot sentries.
-Robot sentry battles one and two.
-Ripley and Hicks exchange names.
Not really many scenes as you can see. Furthermore, a lot of violence has been toned down as well as the removal of profanity with either bad cuts, bad re-dubbing or just blanking it out. Watching this version of the film is surely strange, but it reminds me of the early years when I used to watch aliens on TV.
