Was Wings a rip-off of Cheers and Taxi? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 05-12-2003, 08:59 PM

I know a lot of people who bash Wings complain that it's a bad Cheers rip-off or Taxi in an airport. I do think all three shows have similar qualities, but so do a lot of other shows. Hardly anything is an origional idea anymore. I think Will & Grace is a rip-off of Seinfeld and Friends and people don't complain about that. (Personally, I don't like those three shows at all.)

wingshock · 05-12-2003, 09:08 PM

Hmmmm. Well, I was never fond of Cheers OR Taxi, but I love Wings. So they must be different.

But I guess there is something that all sitcoms kind of have in common...

Love,

Wing<><

Adamantium · 05-12-2003, 09:16 PM

That actually made me mad. In a TV book I have, it lists Wings as just Cheers II. Yeah, there are some similarities bit so what? Cheers was originally about a bartender and a snob in their on-off relationship. Taxi was about cab drivers and their lives. Wings was about two brothers who are pilots and the wacky things that go on in the airport. Three different storylines.

I guess those who think Wings is a rip-off of Cheers and Taxi also believes NewsRadio is a rip-off of WKRP in Cincinatti.

nantucket_wings · 05-12-2003, 09:46 PM

I was into Cheers before Wings hit the air and Taxi, never really watched it but if I did the only reason why is because I loved Andy Kauffman

Quote:

Originally posted by wingshock
Hmmmm. Well, I was never fond of Cheers OR Taxi, but I love Wings. So they must be different.

But I guess there is something that all sitcoms kind of have in common...

Love,

Wing<><

nantucket_wings · 05-12-2003, 09:48 PM

News Radio is totally awesome, my favorite was of course Phil Hartman ... R.I.P Phil ...

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
That actually made me mad. In a TV book I have, it lists Wings as just Cheers II. Yeah, there are some similarities bit so what? Cheers was originally about a bartender and a snob in their on-off relationship. Taxi was about cab drivers and their lives. Wings was about two brothers who are pilots and the wacky things that go on in the airport. Three different storylines.

I guess those who think Wings is a rip-off of Cheers and Taxi also believes NewsRadio is a rip-off of WKRP in Cincinatti.

Chocoholic · 05-12-2003, 10:09 PM

NewsRadio is also one of my favorites. I love Taxi and Cheers too (Although I greatly prefer the Rebecca years of Cheers. I hated Diane.) I think they're all great in their own ways. Sure, they had similar settings, but they were all workplace ensembles, so of course they'll share some similar qualities. They're all great shows though.

blackbeard · 05-13-2003, 12:19 AM

Cheers and Wings shared some of the same creative minds so of course there will be some similarities but so what, I liked Wings better and the main cast of characters stayed together for the whole run with the exception of Lowell. Also read about more behind the scenes difficulties with cheers than with wings.

losthighway · 05-13-2003, 02:39 AM

Yep, that's true.....I think much of the criticism of Wings being a "Cheers" rip off was due to the fact that many of the writers and producers of the show worked on Cheers.

And they didn't shy away from the connection....they had Norm and Cliff make an appearance on "Wings" as well as Frasier of course, and even Rebecca Howe made a brief appearance on the episode when Brian was trying to impress Alex by saying he knew Clint Black.

The setup was similar in that it was a collection of characters that had a familiar hangout where they would all be (the bar for Cheers, the airport terminal for Wings) near the Boston area, and they had a similar relationship tension that ran through the show (Sam and Diane for Cheers and Joe and Helen for Wings) but to me the only thing that mattered was how well the show was executed. And I consider Wings to be one the best written sitcoms ever, period.

But for some reason the show just never got the respect it deserved and I have never understood that. The way NBC has churned out so many new shows that haven't worked since Wings left the air would make you think that NBC would reflect back and realize they had something special with that show. But to this day they still don't show any respect for it.

AgtSkye · 05-13-2003, 03:56 AM

I don't think Wings was a rip-off at all. I used to like Cheers alright...never near what Wings means to me, but it was fun to watch. I've seen it one too many times tho now, and I don't like to watch it anymore.
I used to like Newsradio a lot too. That was a great show. I don't think it really matters what critics say or how well shows do in ratings. Many of the most popular shows are also the worst. Many people including critics have bad taste. Only the few, intelligent find the good ones. Of course where the ratings matter is whether the show has enough of an audience to stay on the air, that's the hard part.

Anne

Adamantium · 05-13-2003, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by losthighway
But for some reason the show just never got the respect it deserved and I have never understood that. The way NBC has churned out so many new shows that haven't worked since Wings left the air would make you think that NBC would reflect back and realize they had something special with that show. But to this day they still don't show any respect for it.

Something that got me furious was about a year ago, NBC had a special about the history of Must See TV Thursdays. They talked about all the shows on Thursdays. They talked about The Cosby Show, Cheers, Night Court, Family Ties, among others. I kept waiting for them to mention Wings. Then finally in the last ten minutes of the special, they had spot for shows that didn't succeed on NBC. And wouldn't you know it, they had Wings in that section.

That was along with The Single Guy, Suddenly Susan, Veronica's Closet and Jesse. They said, "even though it lasted eight years, Wings never caught on." Or something like that. That's why I hate NBC. They gave us some good shows in the past, but you wouldn't catch me watching NBC now.

Chocoholic · 05-13-2003, 05:24 PM

I saw that special too and it really pissed me off!

I'll take Wings over most of the NBC "darlings" like Friends, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace any day.

The only shows I watch on NBC now are Scrubs and ER. NBC does not know good TV anymore. None of the networks do.

nantucket_wings · 05-13-2003, 05:53 PM

for me, I dont have a favorite channel, I actually dont even give them a 1st thought, I just turn the channel to where ever my favorite shows are airing ...

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy
I saw that special too and it really pissed me off! I'll take Wings over most of the NBC "darlings" like Friends, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace any day.

The only shows I watch on NBC now are Scrubs and ER. NBC does not know good TV anymore. None of the networks do.

pilotguy · 05-14-2003, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam

Something that got me furious was about a year ago, NBC had a special about the history of Must See TV Thursdays. They talked about all the shows on Thursdays. They talked about The Cosby Show, Cheers, Night Court, Family Ties, among others. I kept waiting for them to mention Wings. Then finally in the last ten minutes of the special, they had spot for shows that didn't succeed on NBC. And wouldn't you know it, they had Wings in that section. That was along with The Single Guy, Suddenly Susan, Veronica's Closet and Jesse. They said, "even though it lasted eight years, Wings never caught on." Or something like that. That's why I hate NBC. They gave us some good shows in the past, but you wouldn't catch me watching NBC now.

Yes, I've NEVER understood NBC's take on the history of "WINGS"....They always hang their head in shame over it, and treat the series like it was one of their biggest failures!

EIGHT YEARS on network TV is a FAILURE? ESPECIALLY since the show was moved around the network schedule more than a chess piece?
It wasn't always in the cushy timeslot of 9:30 on Thursday nights...in fact, at one point it was on FRIDAY nights, which is SHOULD have been the "kiss of death" for the type of sitcom that "Wings" was, but it stayed alive just the same.

Unfortunately, I'd LOVE to be able to say that although "Wings" was (and still IS) treated like dirt by NBC, at least it has found new respect by stations and cable networks in it's current "rerun" life...but alas, we all know how THAT'S playing out!

05-12-2003, 08:59 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Was Wings a rip-off of Cheers and Taxi? I know a lot of people who bash Wings complain that it's a bad Cheers rip-off or Taxi in an airport. I do think all three shows have similar qualities, but so do a lot of other shows. Hardly anything is an origional idea anymore. I think Will & Grace is a rip-off of Seinfeld and Friends and people don't complain about that. (Personally, I don't like those three shows at all.)

05-13-2003, 03:56 AM	#9
AgtSkye Jedi knightess Frequent Poster Join Date: May 04, 2003 Location: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Posts: 185	I don't think Wings was a rip-off at all. I used to like Cheers alright...never near what Wings means to me, but it was fun to watch. I've seen it one too many times tho now, and I don't like to watch it anymore. I used to like Newsradio a lot too. That was a great show. I don't think it really matters what critics say or how well shows do in ratings. Many of the most popular shows are also the worst. Many people including critics have bad taste. Only the few, intelligent find the good ones. Of course where the ratings matter is whether the show has enough of an audience to stay on the air, that's the hard part. Anne
	__________________ En það besta sem Guð hefur skapað er nýr dagur But the best thing God has created is a new day ~ Sigur Rós

05-12-2003, 09:08 PM	#2
wingshock Way, Truth, Life <>< Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2003 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 308	Hmmmm. Well, I was never fond of Cheers OR Taxi, but I love Wings. So they must be different. But I guess there is something that all sitcoms kind of have in common... Love, Wing<><

05-12-2003, 09:16 PM	#3
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	That actually made me mad. In a TV book I have, it lists Wings as just Cheers II. Yeah, there are some similarities bit so what? Cheers was originally about a bartender and a snob in their on-off relationship. Taxi was about cab drivers and their lives. Wings was about two brothers who are pilots and the wacky things that go on in the airport. Three different storylines. I guess those who think Wings is a rip-off of Cheers and Taxi also believes NewsRadio is a rip-off of WKRP in Cincinatti.

05-12-2003, 10:09 PM	#6
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	NewsRadio is also one of my favorites. I love Taxi and Cheers too (Although I greatly prefer the Rebecca years of Cheers. I hated Diane.) I think they're all great in their own ways. Sure, they had similar settings, but they were all workplace ensembles, so of course they'll share some similar qualities. They're all great shows though.

05-13-2003, 12:19 AM	#7
blackbeard B.O.G. Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 05, 2001 Location: Constitution State Posts: 712	Cheers and Wings shared some of the same creative minds so of course there will be some similarities but so what, I liked Wings better and the main cast of characters stayed together for the whole run with the exception of Lowell. Also read about more behind the scenes difficulties with cheers than with wings.

05-13-2003, 02:39 AM	#8
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Yep, that's true.....I think much of the criticism of Wings being a "Cheers" rip off was due to the fact that many of the writers and producers of the show worked on Cheers. And they didn't shy away from the connection....they had Norm and Cliff make an appearance on "Wings" as well as Frasier of course, and even Rebecca Howe made a brief appearance on the episode when Brian was trying to impress Alex by saying he knew Clint Black. The setup was similar in that it was a collection of characters that had a familiar hangout where they would all be (the bar for Cheers, the airport terminal for Wings) near the Boston area, and they had a similar relationship tension that ran through the show (Sam and Diane for Cheers and Joe and Helen for Wings) but to me the only thing that mattered was how well the show was executed. And I consider Wings to be one the best written sitcoms ever, period. But for some reason the show just never got the respect it deserved and I have never understood that. The way NBC has churned out so many new shows that haven't worked since Wings left the air would make you think that NBC would reflect back and realize they had something special with that show. But to this day they still don't show any respect for it.

05-13-2003, 05:24 PM	#11
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I saw that special too and it really pissed me off! I'll take Wings over most of the NBC "darlings" like Friends, Seinfeld, and Will & Grace any day. The only shows I watch on NBC now are Scrubs and ER. NBC does not know good TV anymore. None of the networks do.