How can anyone compare this show to Cheers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Meade · 02-08-2005, 11:00 PM

I mean no offense to Cheers fans- but that show was so dull and depressing and unfunny. They're at bar the whole time. I hate bars. Its boring. Wngs on the other hand is at an airport- a little airport where all kinds of exciting things can happen. Its just not fair to compare the two. The only comparison i can make is they take place in New England, and the provincialism that comes from living there. But other than that, they are two totally different shows.

But Wings is so much more interesting than Cheers- and the theme song is much cooler.

McFly121 · 02-09-2005, 10:01 PM

Well, I adore Wings and all...but they never left the airport. There was an occasional episode at someone's house, but they stayed on that set as much as the Cheers gang did theirs.

And if we're being honest, Wings characters are basically clones of Cheers'.

Sam, the womanizer = Brian
Woody, the dolt = Lowell
Carla, outspoken = Roy
Coach, older eccentric = Fay

There were also times Joe would be juggling women, ala Sam. Helen and Diane loved to put guys in their place.

Meade · 02-09-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

Well, I adore Wings and all...but they never left the airport. There was an occasional episode at someone's house, but they stayed on that set as much as the Cheers gang did theirs.

And if we're being honest, Wings characters are basically clones of Cheers'.

Sam, the womanizer = Brian
Woody, the dolt = Lowell
Carla, outspoken = Roy
Coach, older eccentric = Fay

There were also times Joe would be juggling women, ala Sam. Helen and Diane loved to put guys in their place.

Ok, well you could really make that comparison to any tv show, though. I still dont think Wings is at all like Cheers. Cheers is darker and, well kinda dull. It just isn't funny. Wings is brighter and more interesting- the characters are more interesting and funny. Wings does leave the airport. They showed New York City, and Helen's house and then the new location after it burned down. I just dont find Cheers funny at all and fail to see how the shows are similar.

Wings#1ShowPeriod · 02-09-2005, 10:46 PM

I just basically think because of the Cheers comparsions, Wings never got the respect it deserves. It was a show that basically made you laugh each episode, they did a good job introducing new characters, the writing was so brilliant.. Writing a episode about a vacum is just genius. As a fan, you watch the show and basically cared about each character. Each actor and actress did a great job portraying their character. Its just a great show...

Meade · 02-09-2005, 11:24 PM

Amen !

Mr. Television · 02-10-2005, 03:28 AM

I like Cheers and Wings and I never thought the 2 shows had much in common. When I use to watch it, I never said wow thats just like Sam. It never crossed my mind. I agree though that Wings never gets the respect from critics that Cheers always got. I never understood why.

McFly121 · 02-10-2005, 01:42 PM

Darker? Well, to each his own.

Cheers had eps on a boat, at the opera, a bowling alley, Norm and Cliff's Ma ended up on Johnny Carson's show in California. Cheers left the bar. To keep costs down, every show basically sticks to the set. Look at Sam and Diane's and Antonio and Helen's wedding. Instead of a church or a backyard setting, they both took place on the set.

barwars · 02-10-2005, 03:46 PM

Wings is a great show.... but Cheers is 1000 times better.

Chocoholic · 02-10-2005, 04:09 PM

I love both shows, but I enjoy watching Wings more than Cheers. To me, the Wings characters are nicer, more likable, and more enjoyable to watch than the Cheers characters and the atmosphere of the show feels a lot nicer. I find both shows hysterical, but I get a warmer feeling from watching Wings than Cheers.

Wings certainly never did get the attention and respect it deserved. It should be listed alongside great classic shows like Taxi, Cheers, The Simpsons, and The Cosby Show.

Meade · 02-10-2005, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

Darker? Well, to each his own.

Cheers had eps on a boat, at the opera, a bowling alley, Norm and Cliff's Ma ended up on Johnny Carson's show in California. Cheers left the bar. To keep costs down, every show basically sticks to the set. Look at Sam and Diane's and Antonio and Helen's wedding. Instead of a church or a backyard setting, they both took place on the set.

Cheers may have left the bar, but it was still- in a bar. 90% of the time. Wings was in a little airport on an island. Way more interesting than a bar.
It was just more funny, thats all. Cheers is almost as depressing as All In The Family.

And I do think Wings is way underrated.

Adamantium · 02-11-2005, 01:07 AM

I just recently became a fan of "Cheers". I've been a fan of "Wings" for years and find it to be the better show. One thing about "Cheers" is that it's humor seemed more mean spirited than "Wings". Obviously it worked for people, making it a high rated show. But for me, I like the "Wings" humor more.

As far as Brian being a clone of Sam, he wasn't. It was a "type" character. The "Womanizer". Hawkeye Pierce, Jack Tripper, Dan Fielding and Bobby Wheeler are just a few of that type.

Most workplace comedies have the "A-Hole character". Taxi had Louie DePalma, Cheers had Carla Tortelli, Dan Feilding also fit that role on Night Court. Bill McNeal from NewsRadio. And Wings had Roy Biggins.

And alot of workplace comedies have the eccentric, or dumb guy. Cheers had first Coach and then Woody. Taxi had (at first) Tony and then Reverend Jim. Night Court had Bull. NewsRadio had Matthew Brock. And Wings had Lowell.

If you had to compare Wings to another show, I'd compare it to "Taxi".

Alex Rieger / Joe Hackett - Both are the main characters and give advice to their co-workers.

Bobby Wheeler / Brian Hackett - Both are womanizers.

Louie DePalma / Roy Biggins - Both are the Jerks of their shows and they both have authority. Plus both characters use a speaker at work and live with their moms.

Elaine Nardo / Helen Chappel - They're not too similar, other than being one of the few females on their shows.

Latka Gravas / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that he's a mechanic. He's Antonio in that he's new to America. Both Latka and Antonio had to get married to stay in the country.

Jim Ignatowski / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that their both the weird guy. And he's Antonio in that he guest starred on the show and ended up coming back and joining the cast.

spunkygirl · 02-11-2005, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVAdam

I just recently became a fan of "Cheers". I've been a fan of "Wings" for years and find it to be the better show. One thing about "Cheers" is that it's humor seemed more mean spirited than "Wings". Obviously it worked for people, making it a high rated show. But for me, I like the "Wings" humor more.

As far as Brian being a clone of Sam, he wasn't. It was a "type" character. The "Womanizer". Hawkeye Pierce, Jack Tripper, Dan Fielding and Bobby Wheeler are just a few of that type.

Most workplace comedies have the "A-Hole character". Taxi had Louie DePalma, Cheers had Carla Tortelli, Dan Feilding also fit that role on Night Court. Bill McNeal from NewsRadio. And Wings had Roy Biggins.

And alot of workplace comedies have the eccentric, or dumb guy. Cheers had first Coach and then Woody. Taxi had (at first) Tony and then Reverend Jim. Night Court had Bull. NewsRadio had Matthew Brock. And Wings had Lowell.

If you had to compare Wings to another show, I'd compare it to "Taxi".

Alex Rieger / Joe Hackett - Both are the main characters and give advice to their co-workers.

Bobby Wheeler / Brian Hackett - Both are womanizers.

Louie DePalma / Roy Biggins - Both are the Jerks of their shows and they both have authority. Plus both characters use a speaker at work and live with their moms.

Elaine Nardo / Helen Chappel - They're not too similar, other than being one of the few females on their shows.

Latka Gravas / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that he's a mechanic. He's Antonio in that he's new to America. Both Latka and Antonio had to get married to stay in the country.

Jim Ignatowski / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that their both the weird guy. And he's Antonio in that he guest starred on the show and ended up coming back and joining the cast.

Well said I agree! Cheers was alot more mean spirited, if anything Cheers could be compared to Seinfeld which IMO is probably the most mean spirited show out there, funny thing is I hate Seinfeld, and like Cheers

Wings will never get the respect it deserves cause of the Cheers comparisons. I've never thought Wings was anything like Cheers. Yeah there are similarities with how the characters are, but alot of shows are like that.

McFly121 · 02-11-2005, 02:40 AM

Yeah, that's all I meant. Of shows of the time, they had similar characters. The Taxi comparisons are true, but Taxi had been gone about seven or eight years at that point. Night Court, Wings, and Cheers seemed to all be interchangeable in terms of characters. Fortunately, the scripts were different which is what made each show work.

kellynch · 02-11-2005, 11:09 AM

My problem with most US shows is that they go on way too long. They just don't know when to stop. In the UK, most shows only last a couple of years or so. They quit while they're ahead. Here in the US, however, they like to beat dead horses and squeeze every single bit they possibly can out of a concept. This means that most shows outstay their welcome by a lot.

Cheers is one of those shows IMO. I lost all interest after Diane left. Most people don't like her, but I did. Like Diane, I have very little use for stupid people and, like Diane, I have been known to be aggravating.

I am not a fan of sitcoms for the most part. In fact, I don't watch much network TV at all. I mostly watch baseball, BookTV, Fox News Channel, the History Channel or any of the various Discovery Channels. I also read mostly non-fiction, and that should give you some insight into my tastes.

One of the reasons I liked Wings is because its humor can appeal to a wide spectrum. There's some broad slapstick comedy, as well as some throwaway lines that a lot of people might not catch. It's a very smart comedy without being condescending. It's also a broad comedy that's not stupid.

That's why I liked Night Court and Get Smart and also cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Bullwinkle. They offer something for everyone without being all things to all people. It's a fine line, but I believe that these particular shows did this quite well.

02-09-2005, 10:01 PM	#2
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Well, I adore Wings and all...but they never left the airport. There was an occasional episode at someone's house, but they stayed on that set as much as the Cheers gang did theirs. And if we're being honest, Wings characters are basically clones of Cheers'. Sam, the womanizer = Brian Woody, the dolt = Lowell Carla, outspoken = Roy Coach, older eccentric = Fay There were also times Joe would be juggling women, ala Sam. Helen and Diane loved to put guys in their place.
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

02-10-2005, 03:28 AM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	I like Cheers and Wings and I never thought the 2 shows had much in common. When I use to watch it, I never said wow thats just like Sam. It never crossed my mind. I agree though that Wings never gets the respect from critics that Cheers always got. I never understood why.
	__________________ Sonny

02-08-2005, 11:00 PM	#1
Meade Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 279	How can anyone compare this show to Cheers? I mean no offense to Cheers fans- but that show was so dull and depressing and unfunny. They're at bar the whole time. I hate bars. Its boring. Wngs on the other hand is at an airport- a little airport where all kinds of exciting things can happen. Its just not fair to compare the two. The only comparison i can make is they take place in New England, and the provincialism that comes from living there. But other than that, they are two totally different shows. But Wings is so much more interesting than Cheers- and the theme song is much cooler.

02-09-2005, 10:46 PM	#4
Wings#1ShowPeriod Boo Lois, Yay Beer. Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 03, 2005 Location: Inside the Big Brother House Posts: 797	I just basically think because of the Cheers comparsions, Wings never got the respect it deserves. It was a show that basically made you laugh each episode, they did a good job introducing new characters, the writing was so brilliant.. Writing a episode about a vacum is just genius. As a fan, you watch the show and basically cared about each character. Each actor and actress did a great job portraying their character. Its just a great show...

02-09-2005, 11:24 PM	#5
Meade Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 02, 2002 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 279	Amen !

02-10-2005, 01:42 PM	#7
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Darker? Well, to each his own. Cheers had eps on a boat, at the opera, a bowling alley, Norm and Cliff's Ma ended up on Johnny Carson's show in California. Cheers left the bar. To keep costs down, every show basically sticks to the set. Look at Sam and Diane's and Antonio and Helen's wedding. Instead of a church or a backyard setting, they both took place on the set.

02-10-2005, 03:46 PM	#8
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Wings is a great show.... but Cheers is 1000 times better.

02-10-2005, 04:09 PM	#9
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I love both shows, but I enjoy watching Wings more than Cheers. To me, the Wings characters are nicer, more likable, and more enjoyable to watch than the Cheers characters and the atmosphere of the show feels a lot nicer. I find both shows hysterical, but I get a warmer feeling from watching Wings than Cheers. Wings certainly never did get the attention and respect it deserved. It should be listed alongside great classic shows like Taxi, Cheers, The Simpsons, and The Cosby Show.

02-11-2005, 01:07 AM	#11
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	I just recently became a fan of "Cheers". I've been a fan of "Wings" for years and find it to be the better show. One thing about "Cheers" is that it's humor seemed more mean spirited than "Wings". Obviously it worked for people, making it a high rated show. But for me, I like the "Wings" humor more. As far as Brian being a clone of Sam, he wasn't. It was a "type" character. The "Womanizer". Hawkeye Pierce, Jack Tripper, Dan Fielding and Bobby Wheeler are just a few of that type. Most workplace comedies have the "A-Hole character". Taxi had Louie DePalma, Cheers had Carla Tortelli, Dan Feilding also fit that role on Night Court. Bill McNeal from NewsRadio. And Wings had Roy Biggins. And alot of workplace comedies have the eccentric, or dumb guy. Cheers had first Coach and then Woody. Taxi had (at first) Tony and then Reverend Jim. Night Court had Bull. NewsRadio had Matthew Brock. And Wings had Lowell. If you had to compare Wings to another show, I'd compare it to "Taxi". Alex Rieger / Joe Hackett - Both are the main characters and give advice to their co-workers. Bobby Wheeler / Brian Hackett - Both are womanizers. Louie DePalma / Roy Biggins - Both are the Jerks of their shows and they both have authority. Plus both characters use a speaker at work and live with their moms. Elaine Nardo / Helen Chappel - They're not too similar, other than being one of the few females on their shows. Latka Gravas / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that he's a mechanic. He's Antonio in that he's new to America. Both Latka and Antonio had to get married to stay in the country. Jim Ignatowski / Lowell Mather & Antonio - He's Lowell in that their both the weird guy. And he's Antonio in that he guest starred on the show and ended up coming back and joining the cast.

02-11-2005, 02:40 AM	#13
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Yeah, that's all I meant. Of shows of the time, they had similar characters. The Taxi comparisons are true, but Taxi had been gone about seven or eight years at that point. Night Court, Wings, and Cheers seemed to all be interchangeable in terms of characters. Fortunately, the scripts were different which is what made each show work.

02-11-2005, 11:09 AM	#14
kellynch Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 09, 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 177	My problem with most US shows is that they go on way too long. They just don't know when to stop. In the UK, most shows only last a couple of years or so. They quit while they're ahead. Here in the US, however, they like to beat dead horses and squeeze every single bit they possibly can out of a concept. This means that most shows outstay their welcome by a lot. Cheers is one of those shows IMO. I lost all interest after Diane left. Most people don't like her, but I did. Like Diane, I have very little use for stupid people and, like Diane, I have been known to be aggravating. I am not a fan of sitcoms for the most part. In fact, I don't watch much network TV at all. I mostly watch baseball, BookTV, Fox News Channel, the History Channel or any of the various Discovery Channels. I also read mostly non-fiction, and that should give you some insight into my tastes. One of the reasons I liked Wings is because its humor can appeal to a wide spectrum. There's some broad slapstick comedy, as well as some throwaway lines that a lot of people might not catch. It's a very smart comedy without being condescending. It's also a broad comedy that's not stupid. That's why I liked Night Court and Get Smart and also cartoons like Bugs Bunny and Bullwinkle. They offer something for everyone without being all things to all people. It's a fine line, but I believe that these particular shows did this quite well.