Wings

This show had me from the start when Steve Weber in the first episode complimented the owner of the rival flight company for getting rid of the life jackets to save money and hiring a novice pilot right out of flight school. Just when I think I've caught my breath, a voluptous brunette walks past and he blurts out, "Major Hooters," only to save himself from her wrath by introducing himself as his alter-ego, "Major Bob Hooters." This was the kind of writing and creativity that made this under-appreciated series a hit for almost ten years as NBC floated it all over it's schedule. Yet, the fans continued to follow it. The other thing that made this show was sexpot Crystal Bernard, a survivor from the last season of Happy Days. The show had an incredible ensemble of talent including Bernard, Weber, Tim Daly, David Scramm, Rebecca Schull and Thomas Haden Church who played the slightly annoying mechanic Lowell Mather. Replaced by the dynamic Tony Shalhoub as the haplessly unlucky Antonio Scarpacci, the series even became a cousin to the equally successful Cheers with crossovers with its best talents. Underrated for its time on TV, this incredibly funny and relentless series lasted an enjoyable seven years until Amy Yasbeck joined the cast as Helen's jinxed sister, Casey, possibly named after Bernard's Happy Days character, K.C. Cunningham. Yasbeck's arrival signified the sign that the series had run out of ideas as Daly and Bernard's characters got married for the marriage jokes and millions of Crystal Bernard fans lost their hearts.

IF anyone from Paramount is reading this, PLEASE release this sitcom on DVD!! You will make lots of $$$. IT will make up for the undeserved low ratings/advertising dollars that Wings generated in the 90's. I could never figure that one out. It was the BEST show on the air!! Talk about wacky but believable plot lines that had this viewer spewing milk out her nose at improper times.Better yet, Paramount, coerce the cast of Wings to reunite and do commentary on the goings on- if the old goats can remember that far back(just kidding). That would be priceless.Gawd I hope they all don't hate eachothers guts over trivial TV star stuff. Can't we all just get along? And make lotsa money!!

I am so glad that USA Network continues to rerun the episodes of this great show. With one exception I found this to be among those shows with a once in a lifetime cast. The only exception was Farah Forke, an absolutely terrible actress, who has dragged down every series that she has been a part of. Her character Alex was contentious, had a constant chip on her shoulder, and constantly felt that she had to show everyone how tough she was. BUT, when the shows' producers saw the light and bounced her they hit a home run with the casting of Amy Yasbeck in the role of Helen's sister. IMHO this show was as well written as any sitcom ever was. I hated to see the character of Lowell leave but I can't blame Thomas Hayden Church for trying to make it as the star of his own series (sadly, the series was a dud). And, while I would never want to associate professionally or socially with Roy, he was played perfectly by David Schramm. The final two part episode did a superb job of wrapping things up. It was a real bittersweet moment for me as I imagined what life would be like for Brian who so abruptly gave up his dream life in the islands to keep Sandpiper going while Joe was in Europe with Helen. Who knows if he really got to fulfill that dream one year later. So many things can change in that time frame. This was a show that people like me could get involved in and it all seemed so real. I hoe that USA continues the reruns for many, many years.

A "Cheers" spin-off that started off mediocre (buried in a Friday, 9 o clock time slot) but soon found its wheels to become a truly sharp, perfectly written sitcom. If you catch the reruns on USA you might get lucky and see the show in the middle of its run. Then when you see the early, not so hot episodes you wont be so hard on it. Basically the premise was two brothers, reunited after years of bickering, decide to run an airline together. Tim Daly and Steven Weber were Joe and Brian Hackett, one straight laced, the other an outgoing goofball. Their daily life consisted of gabbing with their longtime friend Helen who worked at the lunch counter, played by the gorgeous Crystal Bernard, plus fending off insults and competition from David Schramms Roy Biggins, owner of the airline one counter away. Others featured were Thomas Haden Church's dummy mechanic Lowell, and sweet-tempered Fay, the brothers ticket agent. After the first season Tony Shalhoub was added as cabby Antonio, and in season 4 the lovely Farrah Forke was brought on for a couple of years as Brians love interest. Most of the time Joe found himself on again off again with Helen, with the rest of the cast dating a myriad of visiting characters. Must see episodes include "Joe Blows," when Daly deals with an unbearable amount of the casts problems, the one where Helen tries to get ready for a date as each of the cast keeps dropping by, and definitely the one where Brian and Joe lose the body of a bitchy rich lady's father. The final episode has some of the gang coming into money, but like its sister show "Cheers" does not give its characters big send-offs. But that last show is still decently written and provides fans with a decent payoff. So if you have the chance, hop on board "Wings," one of the more underrated sitcoms ever. (Biggest sign of that: not one Emmy that I know of to anyone involved with the show. Hissssss.)

I believe this show got better as the years went by, except for the Farah Forke years (thought she was terrible & made the brothers look like fools). Even as I watch the re-runs on USA I believe this to be one of the best sit-coms ever made. I'm not sure any of these characters could have done a spin off and been successful but as a group I don't think you could get much better than this. I'd rather watch these re-runs than most of the new crap that's out there today.