Say Uncle, Carlton - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 06-03-2003, 01:52 AM

I just watched this episode, and to my surprise, I found it very depressing to watch....

I believe that this episode was William Hickey's final "Wings" appearance as Carlton Blanchard, and he passed away from emphysema a couple of years after this episode was first broadcast. Sadly, I found Mr. Hickey to be very frail and appearing to be in ill health in this episode....He seemed to have deteriorated badly from his last "Wings" appearance (the one where he falls and gets hurt at Helen's house).

It seemed like in this episode Mr. Hickey had difficulty delivering some of his lines, and the old feisty snappiness just didn't seem to be there.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it almost seemed as if they were bringing in Gilbert Gottfried to be the NEW "annoying character" because they all knew that William Hickey's health was failing.

I was really looking forward to this episode, but it just didn't cut it for me. It was nobody's fault....everyone in that episode was trying hard, but the whole "Annoying Carlton" thing just didn't work as well as it did the first two times.

losthighway · 06-03-2003, 02:29 AM

Pilotguy, I think your disappointment is fair. This episode was an example of going "once to the well too often." Having the old annoying guy that asks ridiculous questions is funny once, but it can't be repeated too much and get the same results. I suppose this was sort of true with the 'Sandy' character that obsessed about Joe. I know she showed up two or three times, and once again, I felt the writers tried to go down that road a bit too much.

I did enjoy the Gilbert Gottfried character, but part of that is probably because he makes me laugh with his quirks and voice. The writing for him probably could have been stronger, but I still enjoyed his work with Crystal. I think he only made an appearance in one other episode but I can't remember for sure.

c5guy · 06-03-2003, 03:20 AM

Two Words.......Lewis Sandwich!

Yeah, he shows up in a couple more, one even during the Casey years.

I guess I'm on the flipside cuz I luv this episode!! Seeing Lowell in the back seat next to Roy, with Roy's hands over his mouth asking about the blowtorch reminds me a lot of Laurel & Hardy.

Introducing a new annoying personality in Lewis, who takes the baton and runs with it a few episodes I feel is a good transition.

And finally, here in Carlton's last screen appearance, having the gang finally get back at him in the very end. I thought that was very appropriate!

"CA-SA-BLAN-CA, CASABLANCA!!!!!! You people are driving me crazy!"

Oh well, guess we all like Wings for different reasons. I love Carlton, but on the other hand can't stand Sandy. I've been around annoying people who in their own way remind me a little of Carlton, but can't say I've been around someone who's crazy, so I can't relate. Maybe it's because she's supposed to be in a position of high responsibility in her job, but she's crazy Fatal Attraction-style and that's presented as to be funny. Or probably what bothers me the most is Joe's closest people in his life suddenly don't believe him & think he's a liar when he's trying to tell them what's going on. A complete about-face in their trust in him. None of those scenarios appeals to me in a funny way.........her whole storyline makes my skin crawl.

HaskellGirl · 06-03-2003, 11:39 AM

I can't stand the Sandy episodes either. I can't believe they brought her back 3 times!!!! Yuck!

I don't mind that they bring Carlton and Lewis back though, I think they are pretty funny.

Krista2882 · 06-03-2003, 01:04 PM

That's too bad that that was William Hickey's last "Wings" episode. I thought he was hilarious as Carlton.

Gilbert Gottfriend is awesome. His voice, and the way he talks is hilarious!! I laugh at everything he says just because he's so outrageously obnoxious!!
I'm not sure, but I think he does the voice of the Aflack duck on the commercials, which is funny because in the episode when Carlton falls down Helen's stairs, and he yells "empty!!" every time he wanted more water, I remember saying that he sounded like the Aflack duck... then they got Gilbert Gottfried to play his obnoxious nephew, and he actually did the voice of the Aflack duck! lol! I'm not 100% sure about that tho.. does anyone know?

Lowell's biking suit was sooooooo hilarious!!!

~Krista

phoebe7165 · 06-03-2003, 06:30 PM

Yeah, Lowell got a rash, but not from the biking suit. I don't think I want to know!!

AgtSkye · 06-03-2003, 07:36 PM

I thought it was an okay episode. Not one of my favorites. However Gilbert Gottfried does such a good job of being annoying that I actually can't stand watching him at all. Must be the sign of a true character actor, or just actor period. I loathe watching him in ANYTHING. If I saw someone like him in real life I would run in the opposite direction!

Anne

Ice Cream Man · 06-04-2003, 01:19 AM

Another great episode. The best dialog was (IMO) -

Alex: "I was in the marines, I can hurt you."

Carlton's nephew: "I'm a salesman, no you can't!"

Krista2882 · 06-04-2003, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ice Cream Man
Another great episode. The best dialog was (IMO) -

Alex: "I was in the marines, I can hurt you."

Carlton's nephew: "I'm a salesman, no you can't!"

lol yeah!! That was one of the lines that made me laugh the most!

06-03-2003, 01:52 AM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Say Uncle, Carlton I just watched this episode, and to my surprise, I found it very depressing to watch.... I believe that this episode was William Hickey's final "Wings" appearance as Carlton Blanchard, and he passed away from emphysema a couple of years after this episode was first broadcast. Sadly, I found Mr. Hickey to be very frail and appearing to be in ill health in this episode....He seemed to have deteriorated badly from his last "Wings" appearance (the one where he falls and gets hurt at Helen's house). It seemed like in this episode Mr. Hickey had difficulty delivering some of his lines, and the old feisty snappiness just didn't seem to be there. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but it almost seemed as if they were bringing in Gilbert Gottfried to be the NEW "annoying character" because they all knew that William Hickey's health was failing. I was really looking forward to this episode, but it just didn't cut it for me. It was nobody's fault....everyone in that episode was trying hard, but the whole "Annoying Carlton" thing just didn't work as well as it did the first two times.

06-03-2003, 07:36 PM	#7
AgtSkye Jedi knightess Frequent Poster Join Date: May 04, 2003 Location: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Posts: 185	I thought it was an okay episode. Not one of my favorites. However Gilbert Gottfried does such a good job of being annoying that I actually can't stand watching him at all. Must be the sign of a true character actor, or just actor period. I loathe watching him in ANYTHING. If I saw someone like him in real life I would run in the opposite direction! Anne
	__________________ En það besta sem Guð hefur skapað er nýr dagur But the best thing God has created is a new day ~ Sigur Rós

06-04-2003, 01:19 AM	#8
Ice Cream Man DieHard Wing Fan Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2003 Posts: 107	Another great episode. The best dialog was (IMO) - Alex: "I was in the marines, I can hurt you." Carlton's nephew: "I'm a salesman, no you can't!"
	__________________ But seriously, let's talk about jocularity.

06-03-2003, 02:29 AM	#2
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Pilotguy, I think your disappointment is fair. This episode was an example of going "once to the well too often." Having the old annoying guy that asks ridiculous questions is funny once, but it can't be repeated too much and get the same results. I suppose this was sort of true with the 'Sandy' character that obsessed about Joe. I know she showed up two or three times, and once again, I felt the writers tried to go down that road a bit too much. I did enjoy the Gilbert Gottfried character, but part of that is probably because he makes me laugh with his quirks and voice. The writing for him probably could have been stronger, but I still enjoyed his work with Crystal. I think he only made an appearance in one other episode but I can't remember for sure.

06-03-2003, 03:20 AM	#3
c5guy Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 16, 2003 Location: Lone Star Posts: 75	Two Words.......Lewis Sandwich! Yeah, he shows up in a couple more, one even during the Casey years. I guess I'm on the flipside cuz I luv this episode!! Seeing Lowell in the back seat next to Roy, with Roy's hands over his mouth asking about the blowtorch reminds me a lot of Laurel & Hardy. Introducing a new annoying personality in Lewis, who takes the baton and runs with it a few episodes I feel is a good transition. And finally, here in Carlton's last screen appearance, having the gang finally get back at him in the very end. I thought that was very appropriate! "CA-SA-BLAN-CA, CASABLANCA!!!!!! You people are driving me crazy!" Oh well, guess we all like Wings for different reasons. I love Carlton, but on the other hand can't stand Sandy. I've been around annoying people who in their own way remind me a little of Carlton, but can't say I've been around someone who's crazy, so I can't relate. Maybe it's because she's supposed to be in a position of high responsibility in her job, but she's crazy Fatal Attraction-style and that's presented as to be funny. Or probably what bothers me the most is Joe's closest people in his life suddenly don't believe him & think he's a liar when he's trying to tell them what's going on. A complete about-face in their trust in him. None of those scenarios appeals to me in a funny way.........her whole storyline makes my skin crawl.

06-03-2003, 11:39 AM	#4
HaskellGirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Posts: 590	I can't stand the Sandy episodes either. I can't believe they brought her back 3 times!!!! Yuck! I don't mind that they bring Carlton and Lewis back though, I think they are pretty funny.

06-03-2003, 01:04 PM	#5
Krista2882 Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 10, 2003 Location: CT Posts: 1,370	That's too bad that that was William Hickey's last "Wings" episode. I thought he was hilarious as Carlton. Gilbert Gottfriend is awesome. His voice, and the way he talks is hilarious!! I laugh at everything he says just because he's so outrageously obnoxious!! I'm not sure, but I think he does the voice of the Aflack duck on the commercials, which is funny because in the episode when Carlton falls down Helen's stairs, and he yells "empty!!" every time he wanted more water, I remember saying that he sounded like the Aflack duck... then they got Gilbert Gottfried to play his obnoxious nephew, and he actually did the voice of the Aflack duck! lol! I'm not 100% sure about that tho.. does anyone know? Lowell's biking suit was sooooooo hilarious!!! ~Krista

06-03-2003, 06:30 PM	#6
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	Yeah, Lowell got a rash, but not from the biking suit. I don't think I want to know!!