I've always considered Wings the quiet classic. It never got much respect, and it wasn't a juggernaut hit like Seinfeld or a cult favorite like Arrested Development, but it was actually a nice, funny show and lasted several seasons. The first two seasons have just been released in a DVD set by from Paramount.There are no extras on the set (what, no commentaries or bloopers? This show would be perfect for stuff like that), but the 28 episodes themselves are fun. From the very first episode, where estranged brother Brian (the goofy, devil-may-care one) comes back home to Nantucket to catch up with brother Joe (the straightlaced, ambitious one) after their father leaves them something in his will that says "you're rich," you can see a fine ensemble cast working well together and really defining their characters. This show was by the people who brought you Cheers, and the similarities are obvious but never get in the way. And, like Cheers, this one had a really cool set, the small airport that housed Joe's Sandpiper Air and jerk Roy's Aeromass.
Video quality isn't the greatest. They should have done a better transfer.
Monk's Tony Shalhoub joined the cast in the third season (after a minor role in the last ep of the second season), so I don't know why he's on the cover of the box (other than the fact that he's a star now on Monk). As for me, I was an extra in season 6, but I guess that story will have to wait til they release that season.
The TV Squad Podcast: Vik Sahay of Chuck, Oprah talk, brutal timeslots, and more!
TV Squad Ten: Top Ten ESPN shows from worst to first
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-30-2006 @ 6:51PM
Jlagu said...
i'm a big fan of Wings, i just love it, don't know why but i like that kind of shows that are located in small towns with friendly lovely characters, by the way, i live in latin america and right now re-runs of Wings can be seen on cable (Sony Entertaiment Television) and coincidentally right now they're showing episodes from the 6th season (today was episode 9, If It's Not One Thing, It's Your Mother) would you give me a hint when you appear on the show??
Reply
5-30-2006 @ 7:04PM
elf said...
And of all the actors on the show, who'd ever have thought it would be Thomas Hayden Church who'd be nominated for an Oscar?
Reply
5-30-2006 @ 7:16PM
Bob Sassone said...
Jlagu: you're not going to believe this, but that's the episode I appeared in! Talk about a coincidence...that's funny.
Reply
5-30-2006 @ 7:27PM
Jlagu said...
^^wow!
Reply
5-30-2006 @ 9:19PM
Jake said...
This show was ok, but like many TV shows I don't think it really deserves to be on DVD. Apparently Paramount thinks so too since it is a paltry TV set.
Reply
5-30-2006 @ 9:54PM
davidhales said...
So how bad is the video quality? I have heard from a lot of people that it isn't that great, but no one will tell me for certain how bad it really is. Should I still hold off from buying the set? A comparison of the video quality on DVD versus the syndication broadcast quality would be greatly appreciated.
Reply
5-31-2006 @ 6:33AM
elaine said...
Tony only had one appearance on Wings in season 2
He became a regular in season 3 .
The quality isn't that great but the epis are uncut.
Not the case with some tv shows on DVD
Reply
5-31-2006 @ 2:29PM
Scott H said...
Wasn't "Wings" the original show that would not die? The "According to Jim" of its day? I remember year after year reading that it was renewed again, and thinking, "who in the world watches that?" Critics almost universally hated it. The few times I watched it I found it to be excruciating.
And then didn't USA burn it into the ground a few years back, when they ran like 8 episodes a day? It became the USA-Wings network.
Sorry to interrupt all the fond nostalgia, but I can remember how depressing it was that something that seemed to stink so badly got renewed over and over and over again.
Reply