On demand TV program search

Is there no way to watch something on demand when you've got a copy of it on DVR???  We've been a customer of Direct TV for many years.  Some time back the menus for on demand changed.  Now the only way I can find on demand shows is the search function.  But it also returns my DVR recordings.  If I have a recording, I can't access the same episode on demand.  THIS IS STUPID!  

When I'm missing part of the recording because of a special report that usurped the broadcast, I want to watch on demand only for that part.  On demand won't let me fast forward through commercials.  So once I'm past the part where the special report ended, I want to go back to the DVR.  But I can't because I have to delete the DVR before I can access the on demand.  It didn't used to be that way.  This is NOT an improvement.