Abstract: In a videocassette recorder including "VCR PLUS+.TM." videocassette recorder programming system capability and TIMER PROGRAMMING capability, it is herein recognized that the respective menu for programming in each of the two available systems should automatically be selected in response to the pressing of the PROGRAM key by a user, and in response to which of the two systems was last used for programming the VCR.

Abstract: A television receiver, provides a hierarchy of menus for controlling functions affecting the display of the video image. A "fetch" menu which can be customized by a user, which is absent from the screen during normal program viewing, and which is easily accessible by means of a single key, holds a given number of the user's favorite commands. The user may add commands to the fetch menu which normally reside any position in the menu hierarchy. The user may thereafter cause display of his list of favorite commands via a remote control key, and cause the execution of his desired command without having to find that command at its normal position in the hierarchy.