The "Character Shock" Of Thomas Haden Church - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 06-27-2003, 12:57 AM

I didn't watch "Wings" when it was first on NBC, and I never watched "Ned & Stacey", either during it's original run on Fox or any of it's rerun airings (I have yet to see an episode of the latter series)....

However, I can understand how "Ned & Stacey" didn't go over big with viewers. I know that Mr. Church wanted to show his versatility as an actor, but going from dense, overalled Lowell Mather to suit-and-tie, witty and urbane (and from what I've heard, somewhat smart-mouthed) Ned was probably just TOO much of a jolt for Church fans.

I'd be interested in hearing from "Wings" fans who were around to catch Lowell's departure from "Wings" and the premiere of "Ned & Stacey" during their original network runs....It must have been very difficult to accept Mr. Church in that completely different role so soon after leaving "Wings"!

Kris10m · 06-27-2003, 02:09 AM

Yeah, I know what you mean. I actually watched Wings a lot when it was on NBC, but I had pretty much stopped watching it by the time Lowell left, and not having watched it at all when it was on USA, I was shocked when I watched the N@N marathon to find that Lowell had left! I never knew that Lowell had left the show (or if I did, I had forgotten!). But I can imagine that it would be weird to see Thomas Haden Church in such a different role. The show Ned and Stacey sounds really familiar, but I don't think I ever watched it. I agree, the shock of seeing him in such a different role might be one of the reasons that the show didn't last.

losthighway · 06-27-2003, 02:41 AM

Being a huge fan of Wings from the very beginning...... (gee how can you tell, lol!)......I've tried to watch at least some of everything cast members went on to do, so I did see some episodes of "Stark Raving Mad" with Tony and I did watch most of "Cursed/The Weber Show" and yes, I did watch "Ned and Stacy". I never did see Tim Daly's Fugitive series for some reason.

Anyway, as for Thomas and the Ned and Stacy show, when he chose to leave Wings I was disappointed, because I knew he was an important part of the ensemble and would be missed. (and he was) But I also read various reports (and I don't know how accurate they were) that he had become a little difficult on the Wings set and that he was frustrated with a minimal role. He wanted to have more to do.

My guess is he got his Agent on the horn and tried to take advantage of his exposure thanks to Wings and land something for himself, and FOX was a network that was looking for things. I don't really blame him for wanting a more prominant role and more to do, but I also think he fell into the trap of really not understanding what a great role he had and what an opportunity it was to work with such good actors and writers as Wings had. Wings was not going to run for many more seasons regardless, so I wish he had stuck it out.

At any rate, I actually liked Ned & Stacy. I felt it was pretty well done. Debra Messing (sorry not sure about the spelling) from Will and Grace was really good with Thomas and Greg German, who went on to do Ally McBeal was funny as well. It wasn't a great show, but it had its moments.

And it was interesting to see Thomas play a different role. I thought he pulled it off because I never felt like I was watching "Lowell". But obviously it didn't quite work since I think the show only lasted for one season. It's odd how he's just disappeared from the TV scene. I don't know if he just decided to not do TV work anymore or what.

I just discovered he did a guest spot on "Lucky" so I guess he does some minor TV work still, but obviously not much.

Adamantium · 06-27-2003, 06:44 PM

I watched the sixth season of "Wings" because "NewsRadio" followed it on NBC. So I really found that season to be Lowell's best. I also watched the first few episodes of "Ned & Stacey" in it's original run. I liked it. I can't remember if I couldn't except him as Ned. Then in 2000, when I watched Wings on USA, I also watched Ned and Stacey. I found N&S to be a great show. I wish I had taped all the episodes, but I didn't. Ned mentioned Wings in one episode. He was watching TV and laughing, and then said "Wings, what a zany show."

BTW Ned and Stacey lasted for two seasons, which is as long as Wings lasted without Lowell.

Also, BTW Pilotguy, have you ever seen "NewsRadio"? It starred Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) and Phil Hartman (SNL) amongst others. Just curious, since it's my favorite show and you mentioned Just Shoot Me! in another post.

losthighway · 06-27-2003, 08:37 PM

Huh, I didn't remember it being on the air that long, but I went to a TV website and discoverd why. Fox actually only aired 35 episodes, which is only about 11 episodes over a typical season. Several of the other episodes never aired on FOX as explained in this write-up

-----------
This was the last episode broadcast by the Fox network before the show's cancellation. The remaining shows were seen in some foreign markets including Australia and New Zealand, if my information is correct. American audiences had to wait until the USA Network started showing the series Monday through Friday as part of its daytime comedy lineup, then they were seen in their regular rotation.
----------

I never watched the show on USA so that explains why it felt like it was on for a shorter time to me. Most sitcoms don't run much beyond 6 or 7 years so Wings wasn't going to be on much longer when Church left the show. When Joe and Helen were married after season 5 I knew it was winding down, so I was happy it lasted 2 seasons after the marriage.

pilotguy · 06-27-2003, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam

Also, BTW Pilotguy, have you ever seen "NewsRadio"? It starred Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) and Phil Hartman (SNL) amongst others. Just curious, since it's my favorite show and you mentioned Just Shoot Me! in another post.

Yes, I have watched and enjoyed "NewsRadio"....a well-written comedy with good characters (although it was never quite the same after Phil Hartman's death).

Phil Hartman was just PERFECT for the role of Bill McNeal on that show....Just like David Spade is PERFECT for the role of Finch on "Just Shoot Me". Strangely, Finch is my favorite character on "Just Shoot Me" (with Nina running a close second)....and I can't STAND Spade in just about anything else that he does!

"NewsRadio" achieved true cult status in my office workplace....Our boss looks and acts JUST like Dave Foley! He's one of those 30-40 year old guys who looks like he's 12....When NewsRadio started on NBC, my co-workers started alerting other co-workers about the show: "You've GOT to see that boss on 'NewsRadio'....he looks and acts just like Bob!" (not his real name).....and he DOES!

Adamantium · 06-28-2003, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pilotguy
Yes, I have watched and enjoyed "NewsRadio"....a well-written comedy with good characters (although it was never quite the same after Phil Hartman's death).

Phil Hartman was just PERFECT for the role of Bill McNeal on that show....Just like David Spade is PERFECT for the role of Finch on "Just Shoot Me". Strangely, Finch is my favorite character on "Just Shoot Me" (with Nina running a close second)....and I can't STAND Spade in just about anything else that he does!

"NewsRadio" achieved true cult status in my office workplace....Our boss looks and acts JUST like Dave Foley! He's one of those 30-40 year old guys who looks like he's 12....When NewsRadio started on NBC, my co-workers started alerting other co-workers about the show: "You've GOT to see that boss on 'NewsRadio'....he looks and acts just like Bob!" (not his real name).....and he DOES!

Boy, I wished my co-workers liked the shows I do. A while back, Snoopy mentioned how the people at her job all like "Wings." I can only find one person at my job that has seen and likes "Wings." At least I can come here to talk about the show. My sister, who also likes "Wings" is getting bored with my discussions about the show.

06-27-2003, 12:57 AM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	The "Character Shock" Of Thomas Haden Church I didn't watch "Wings" when it was first on NBC, and I never watched "Ned & Stacey", either during it's original run on Fox or any of it's rerun airings (I have yet to see an episode of the latter series).... However, I can understand how "Ned & Stacey" didn't go over big with viewers. I know that Mr. Church wanted to show his versatility as an actor, but going from dense, overalled Lowell Mather to suit-and-tie, witty and urbane (and from what I've heard, somewhat smart-mouthed) Ned was probably just TOO much of a jolt for Church fans. I'd be interested in hearing from "Wings" fans who were around to catch Lowell's departure from "Wings" and the premiere of "Ned & Stacey" during their original network runs....It must have been very difficult to accept Mr. Church in that completely different role so soon after leaving "Wings"!

06-27-2003, 02:41 AM	#3
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Being a huge fan of Wings from the very beginning...... (gee how can you tell, lol!)......I've tried to watch at least some of everything cast members went on to do, so I did see some episodes of "Stark Raving Mad" with Tony and I did watch most of "Cursed/The Weber Show" and yes, I did watch "Ned and Stacy". I never did see Tim Daly's Fugitive series for some reason. Anyway, as for Thomas and the Ned and Stacy show, when he chose to leave Wings I was disappointed, because I knew he was an important part of the ensemble and would be missed. (and he was) But I also read various reports (and I don't know how accurate they were) that he had become a little difficult on the Wings set and that he was frustrated with a minimal role. He wanted to have more to do. My guess is he got his Agent on the horn and tried to take advantage of his exposure thanks to Wings and land something for himself, and FOX was a network that was looking for things. I don't really blame him for wanting a more prominant role and more to do, but I also think he fell into the trap of really not understanding what a great role he had and what an opportunity it was to work with such good actors and writers as Wings had. Wings was not going to run for many more seasons regardless, so I wish he had stuck it out. At any rate, I actually liked Ned & Stacy. I felt it was pretty well done. Debra Messing (sorry not sure about the spelling) from Will and Grace was really good with Thomas and Greg German, who went on to do Ally McBeal was funny as well. It wasn't a great show, but it had its moments. And it was interesting to see Thomas play a different role. I thought he pulled it off because I never felt like I was watching "Lowell". But obviously it didn't quite work since I think the show only lasted for one season. It's odd how he's just disappeared from the TV scene. I don't know if he just decided to not do TV work anymore or what. I just discovered he did a guest spot on "Lucky" so I guess he does some minor TV work still, but obviously not much.
	Last edited by losthighway; 06-27-2003 at 12:22 PM.

06-27-2003, 02:09 AM	#2
Kris10m Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Posts: 95	Yeah, I know what you mean. I actually watched Wings a lot when it was on NBC, but I had pretty much stopped watching it by the time Lowell left, and not having watched it at all when it was on USA, I was shocked when I watched the N@N marathon to find that Lowell had left! I never knew that Lowell had left the show (or if I did, I had forgotten!). But I can imagine that it would be weird to see Thomas Haden Church in such a different role. The show Ned and Stacey sounds really familiar, but I don't think I ever watched it. I agree, the shock of seeing him in such a different role might be one of the reasons that the show didn't last.

06-27-2003, 06:44 PM	#4
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	I watched the sixth season of "Wings" because "NewsRadio" followed it on NBC. So I really found that season to be Lowell's best. I also watched the first few episodes of "Ned & Stacey" in it's original run. I liked it. I can't remember if I couldn't except him as Ned. Then in 2000, when I watched Wings on USA, I also watched Ned and Stacey. I found N&S to be a great show. I wish I had taped all the episodes, but I didn't. Ned mentioned Wings in one episode. He was watching TV and laughing, and then said "Wings, what a zany show." BTW Ned and Stacey lasted for two seasons, which is as long as Wings lasted without Lowell. Also, BTW Pilotguy, have you ever seen "NewsRadio"? It starred Dave Foley (The Kids in the Hall) and Phil Hartman (SNL) amongst others. Just curious, since it's my favorite show and you mentioned Just Shoot Me! in another post.

06-27-2003, 08:37 PM	#5
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Huh, I didn't remember it being on the air that long, but I went to a TV website and discoverd why. Fox actually only aired 35 episodes, which is only about 11 episodes over a typical season. Several of the other episodes never aired on FOX as explained in this write-up ----------- This was the last episode broadcast by the Fox network before the show's cancellation. The remaining shows were seen in some foreign markets including Australia and New Zealand, if my information is correct. American audiences had to wait until the USA Network started showing the series Monday through Friday as part of its daytime comedy lineup, then they were seen in their regular rotation. ---------- I never watched the show on USA so that explains why it felt like it was on for a shorter time to me. Most sitcoms don't run much beyond 6 or 7 years so Wings wasn't going to be on much longer when Church left the show. When Joe and Helen were married after season 5 I knew it was winding down, so I was happy it lasted 2 seasons after the marriage.