The Finishing Touch - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 08-04-2003, 09:26 AM

I've just watched Episode #2 of "Wings", and it's AMAZING how so many of the "finishing touches" that made this series the show that we know and love just fell into place with this episode.

We've noted how different Episode #1 was (mainly as far as the characters went), but in Episode #2 Helen becomes the cello-playing "Helen" that is familiar to us, Fay comes across as more than just a ditzy bubble-brain, and Lowell actually starts dispensing with his vast knowledge of little-known trivia! As early as Episode #2 we discover that Lowell isn't just some thick-headed dolt....there's more between those ears than meets the eye!

However, I can't wait for Brian to shave....that shadowy stubble that he sports in the first couple of episodes makes him look like a real BUM!

phoebe7165 · 08-04-2003, 12:31 PM

I agree about Brian shaving. I've never been much for facial hair, especially 3 day stubble. I guess the writers wanted to really give us a picture of the difference between Joe & Brian. I think just the way Brian wore his shirt & tie slovenly, you knew he wasn't like Joe.

I actually watched this episode last night when it aired and it was a while, too, since I've seen it. I still cracked up when Helen was talking about having conversations consisting of one syllable words and Lowell says, "Good soup. Hot." HaHa!! Oh, that Lowell. And I've got a comment about that dress. Rather short, huh? I know that was the whole point, but in reality, makes one wonder how a woman could really play cello.

Krista2882 · 08-04-2003, 01:17 PM

speaking of the writers trying to show the difference between Joe and Brian, I remember in the first few seasons of the show (well, I don't think it was in the first season.... well, or the second. huh, I don't remember, but I remember when there was a time, for a few seasons of the show when Joe always wore nice khaki pants, and a nice shirt and tie to work

, and Brian always wore these really loud shirts with these bizarre ties that didn't even match his shirt. lol

~Krista

Adamantium · 08-04-2003, 07:03 PM

Actually this was filmed as episode #05. Here's the Production order for season one:

01. Legacy
02. There Once Was a Girl from Nantucket
03. There's Always Room for Cello
04. All for One and Two for Helen
05. Around the World in Eighty Years
06. Return to Nantucket (1)
07. Return to Nantucket (2)

That's the order I knew it as, seeing as USA showed it that way, and that's how I've taped it.

phoebe7165 · 08-04-2003, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
Actually this was filmed as episode #05. Here's the Production order for season one:

01. Legacy
02. There Once Was a Girl from Nantucket
03. There's Always Room for Cello
04. All for One and Two for Helen
05. Around the World in Eighty Years
06. Return to Nantucket (1)
07. Return to Nantucket (2)

That's the order I knew it as, seeing as USA showed it that way, and that's how I've taped it.

I thought so!! The reason I thought so is because I remember at the beginning of 'There Once Was a Girl', Brian mentions how it's his 2nd week of working for Joe. I also thought the 2-parter with Carol was a little later than the 3rd or 4th episode. I can't wait for that episode. Helen is so funny, especially when she's drunk.

Jencbfan1 · 08-04-2003, 08:31 PM

The scene when Helen confronts Carol in the hotel room and is completely plastered is one of my all-time faves!!

Jen

pilotguy · 08-04-2003, 08:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krista2882
speaking of the writers trying to show the difference between Joe and Brian, I remember in the first few seasons of the show (well, I don't think it was in the first season.... well, or the second. huh, I don't remember, but I remember when there was a time, for a few seasons of the show when Joe always wore nice khaki pants, and a nice shirt and tie to work , and Brian always wore these really loud shirts with these bizarre ties that didn't even match his shirt. lol

~Krista

Yes, it gave Joe and Brian a real "Odd Couple" appearance...in fact, in those early shows they WERE kind of like Oscar and Felix.

I remember the show where young Kenny first showed up for work as a Sandpiper pilot....He was dressed in a very professional-looking pilot's uniform and Joe said to his gaudily-dressed brother, "Take note, Brian!".

losthighway · 08-04-2003, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
Actually this was filmed as episode #05. Here's the Production order for season one:

01. Legacy
02. There Once Was a Girl from Nantucket
03. There's Always Room for Cello
04. All for One and Two for Helen
05. Around the World in Eighty Years
06. Return to Nantucket (1)
07. Return to Nantucket (2)

That's the order I knew it as, seeing as USA showed it that way, and that's how I've taped it.

That may have been how USA ran the show, but that is not the original order on NBC. The way Nick is running them is correct. In other words

1. Legacy
2. Around the world in 80 years
3. Nantucket part (1)
4. Return to Nantucket (2)
5. There once was a girl from Nantucket
6. All for one and two for Helen

Here is a synopsis of each episode, as well as the original air dates on NBC.

April 19, 1990: Legacy: In the series opener, one-plane airline owner Joe Hackett (Timothy Daly) is reunited with his fun-loving brother (Steven Weber) when their late father bequeaths them a strange box.

April 26, 1990: Around the World in 80 Years: Helen gets her first callback for a symphony audition; Fay encourages a flier to complete his global journey.

May 3, 1990: Return to Nantucket, Part 1: Brian wants to rendezvous with his ex, Carol, who has developed a habit of dumping boyfriends.

May 10, 1990: Return to Nantucket, Conclusion: Brian talks Carol (Kim Ulrich) into a few days on the island, where the Hackett brothers find that history repeats itself.

May 17, 1990: There Once Was a Girl from Nantucket: Joe may be the only man on the island who hasn't gone out — or stayed in — with the girl Brian fixes him up with.

May 24, 1990: All for One and Two for Helen: Joe gets tied up in an emergency meeting, leaving Brian and Helen to go to a Celtics game without him.

wingshock · 08-04-2003, 09:49 PM

So maybe they taped in one order and aired in another? I know that happens with shows a lot.

losthighway · 08-04-2003, 10:51 PM

When Wings first premiered I was a big fan of Cheers and I heard about this new show that NBC had called 'Wings' that was created by some of the folks that worked on Cheers so that perked my interest. Then they started running the promotional adds for the show and I liked what I saw. I have a real specific memory of NBC running adds with the scene where Brian says "check out those Hooters" and then goes "Major Bob Hooters, at your service...." and it just made me laugh.

I had never sceen Steven Weber before but the way he delivered the line in the promotional add for the show just caught my attention. Plus the look of the show in the promotional adds just appealed to me. So I watched the premiere episode, liked what I saw and just kept watching.

I also remembered very clearly that the episode where Joe spys on Brian and Helen "All for One and two for Helen" was the final episode of the first season, so when I saw this topic discussion I figured I would jump in. I don't know what USA did with the schedule, but I knew that this was the correct order as far as how the show ran on NBC.

spunkygirl · 08-05-2003, 12:10 AM

Yeah shows tape one way and air another, but I felt like the show was out of order myself watching last night's episode. I dunno, maybe not, but it just felt like I had missed somethings.

pilotguy · 08-05-2003, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krista2882
speaking of the writers trying to show the difference between Joe and Brian, I remember in the first few seasons of the show (well, I don't think it was in the first season.... well, or the second. huh, I don't remember, but I remember when there was a time, for a few seasons of the show when Joe always wore nice khaki pants, and a nice shirt and tie to work , and Brian always wore these really loud shirts with these bizarre ties that didn't even match his shirt. lol

~Krista

I think that it's somewhat ironic that "Wings" portrayed Brian as a sloppy or bizarre dresser in the earlier episodes, since Steven Weber is a very stylish and impeccable dresser in real-life.....After he became famous in "Wings", he posed for suit ads which appeared in "GQ", "Esquire" and similar men's fashion magazines, and always looked VERY sharp and well-groomed.

Krista2882 · 08-05-2003, 09:05 AM

yeah, with TV shows sometimes they show episodes out of the order that they were originally intended to be shown. I know this happened with "Babylon 5" My Dad has the DVD's, and if you look at the production number at the end of the closing credits, sometimes it's not in the order they show it. like, the very first episode is actually episode number 003: the one they filmed to be the 3rd episode (or it might have been 004... i don't remember).
and with "Farscape", there was an episode in the second season that was supposed to be a two-parter, but for some reason, they showed it out of order of the rest of the episodes, AND and only showed part 2. it's not even noticeable until someone points it out.
but they do do that sometimes with TV shows.

that interesting that with Wings, USA showed it in it's production order instead of the order that they originally showed it in on NBC...

~Krista

Adamantium · 08-05-2003, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by losthighway
That may have been how USA ran the show, but that is not the original order on NBC. The way Nick is running them is correct.

NBC doesn't always air their shows in the correct order. I'm not saying that's the correct order (although that's how I prefer to watch the show), I'm just saying the order I listed is the order they filmed them in. And you can tell that "There's Always Room for Cello" wasn't part of the second season. It was originally aired that way on NBC, but clearly it was a season one episode.

I know that FOX also airs shows out of their produced order. They aired Andy Richter Controls the Universe's second episode as the fourth. And it was even titled "The Second Episode". NBC aired NewsRadio's 50th episode (Titled "Our Fiftieth Episode" as episode 48). There are other mistakes in the order for NewsRadio, but I'll stick to Wings.

losthighway · 08-05-2003, 11:06 PM

It could be just because it was how I was introduced to the show, but I like the order that NBC ran them in. I thought it was good to end the first season on a note where it was obvious Joe had some real feelings for Helen.

As for production order, I know some episodes of a series may be shot before others, but it doesn't necessarily mean that is the order they were meant to be seen in. (And that is exactly what you pointed out). This seems to be especially true with sit-coms.

TV is driven so much by ratings these days and sometimes when TV producers panic, they will change which episode they are going to premiere for a show because they think it will have a better chance of drawing in an audience, cause if the ratings aren't good enough within a couple weeks the show can be gone. The days of shows like Cheers ranking last in the ratings and still surviving for another season are long gone.

08-04-2003, 08:31 PM	#6
Jencbfan1 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Posts: 86	The scene when Helen confronts Carol in the hotel room and is completely plastered is one of my all-time faves!! Jen
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08-04-2003, 09:49 PM	#9
wingshock Way, Truth, Life <>< Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 30, 2003 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 308	So maybe they taped in one order and aired in another? I know that happens with shows a lot.
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08-04-2003, 09:26 AM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	The Finishing Touch I've just watched Episode #2 of "Wings", and it's AMAZING how so many of the "finishing touches" that made this series the show that we know and love just fell into place with this episode. We've noted how different Episode #1 was (mainly as far as the characters went), but in Episode #2 Helen becomes the cello-playing "Helen" that is familiar to us, Fay comes across as more than just a ditzy bubble-brain, and Lowell actually starts dispensing with his vast knowledge of little-known trivia! As early as Episode #2 we discover that Lowell isn't just some thick-headed dolt....there's more between those ears than meets the eye! However, I can't wait for Brian to shave....that shadowy stubble that he sports in the first couple of episodes makes him look like a real BUM!

08-04-2003, 12:31 PM	#2
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	I agree about Brian shaving. I've never been much for facial hair, especially 3 day stubble. I guess the writers wanted to really give us a picture of the difference between Joe & Brian. I think just the way Brian wore his shirt & tie slovenly, you knew he wasn't like Joe. I actually watched this episode last night when it aired and it was a while, too, since I've seen it. I still cracked up when Helen was talking about having conversations consisting of one syllable words and Lowell says, "Good soup. Hot." HaHa!! Oh, that Lowell. And I've got a comment about that dress. Rather short, huh? I know that was the whole point, but in reality, makes one wonder how a woman could really play cello.
	__________________ Rest in Peace to my Penny-pie. You really were a GREAT dog. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Penny 9/1/97-12/9/09 Rescued animals make the best pets. Opt to Adopt!!

08-04-2003, 01:17 PM	#3
Krista2882 Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 10, 2003 Location: CT Posts: 1,370	speaking of the writers trying to show the difference between Joe and Brian, I remember in the first few seasons of the show (well, I don't think it was in the first season.... well, or the second. huh, I don't remember, but I remember when there was a time, for a few seasons of the show when Joe always wore nice khaki pants, and a nice shirt and tie to work , and Brian always wore these really loud shirts with these bizarre ties that didn't even match his shirt. lol ~Krista

08-04-2003, 07:03 PM	#4
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Actually this was filmed as episode #05. Here's the Production order for season one: 01. Legacy 02. There Once Was a Girl from Nantucket 03. There's Always Room for Cello 04. All for One and Two for Helen 05. Around the World in Eighty Years 06. Return to Nantucket (1) 07. Return to Nantucket (2) That's the order I knew it as, seeing as USA showed it that way, and that's how I've taped it.

08-04-2003, 10:51 PM	#10
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	When Wings first premiered I was a big fan of Cheers and I heard about this new show that NBC had called 'Wings' that was created by some of the folks that worked on Cheers so that perked my interest. Then they started running the promotional adds for the show and I liked what I saw. I have a real specific memory of NBC running adds with the scene where Brian says "check out those Hooters" and then goes "Major Bob Hooters, at your service...." and it just made me laugh. I had never sceen Steven Weber before but the way he delivered the line in the promotional add for the show just caught my attention. Plus the look of the show in the promotional adds just appealed to me. So I watched the premiere episode, liked what I saw and just kept watching. I also remembered very clearly that the episode where Joe spys on Brian and Helen "All for One and two for Helen" was the final episode of the first season, so when I saw this topic discussion I figured I would jump in. I don't know what USA did with the schedule, but I knew that this was the correct order as far as how the show ran on NBC.

08-05-2003, 12:10 AM	#11
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Yeah shows tape one way and air another, but I felt like the show was out of order myself watching last night's episode. I dunno, maybe not, but it just felt like I had missed somethings.

08-05-2003, 09:05 AM	#13
Krista2882 Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 10, 2003 Location: CT Posts: 1,370	yeah, with TV shows sometimes they show episodes out of the order that they were originally intended to be shown. I know this happened with "Babylon 5" My Dad has the DVD's, and if you look at the production number at the end of the closing credits, sometimes it's not in the order they show it. like, the very first episode is actually episode number 003: the one they filmed to be the 3rd episode (or it might have been 004... i don't remember). and with "Farscape", there was an episode in the second season that was supposed to be a two-parter, but for some reason, they showed it out of order of the rest of the episodes, AND and only showed part 2. it's not even noticeable until someone points it out. but they do do that sometimes with TV shows. that interesting that with Wings, USA showed it in it's production order instead of the order that they originally showed it in on NBC... ~Krista

08-05-2003, 11:06 PM	#15
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	It could be just because it was how I was introduced to the show, but I like the order that NBC ran them in. I thought it was good to end the first season on a note where it was obvious Joe had some real feelings for Helen. As for production order, I know some episodes of a series may be shot before others, but it doesn't necessarily mean that is the order they were meant to be seen in. (And that is exactly what you pointed out). This seems to be especially true with sit-coms. TV is driven so much by ratings these days and sometimes when TV producers panic, they will change which episode they are going to premiere for a show because they think it will have a better chance of drawing in an audience, cause if the ratings aren't good enough within a couple weeks the show can be gone. The days of shows like Cheers ranking last in the ratings and still surviving for another season are long gone.