Wings/Taxi similarities - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 08-18-2003, 01:21 PM

I've noticed a lot of similarities between Wings and Taxi. I like Wings better, although Taxi is a great show too.

#1. Both are set in the transportation industry.

#2. Both had cast members that were supposed to be only on one episode, but were so well received that they became series regulars the next season.

#3. Both had main characters from foreign countries, and both characters were played by actors born and raised in the United States.

#4. Lowell must be Reverend Jim's illegitimate son.

#5. Roy and Louie are both sleazebags who are very attached to their mothers.

#6. Antonio and Latka both were in danger of deportation and had to marry an American to stay in the country.

#7. Louie hadn't seen his brother in 6 years, the same amount of time that Joe and Brian hadn't spoken.

I'm sure there are a few others I missed. I hope Taxi also gets released on DVD soon.

Adamantium · 08-18-2003, 04:04 PM

Everyone always went to Alex for advice.
Everyone always went to Joe for advice.

Not only do Roy and Louie stay close to their mothers, but they still have a soft spot for their co-workers. (Although they wouldn't admit to it.)

Also, both Louie and Roy would use a microphone (or speaker, whatever they were) to say witty things for the crowd to hear. Usually insults towards the other characters.

The Taxi ending credits showed a cab driving away. The Wings credits showed a plane flying away.

Both were very funny and deserve more credit than they got.

****
The main difference: Taxi's foreign character ended up getting married. Whereas, Antonio ... well, you know.
****

pilotguy · 08-18-2003, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TVAdam
Everyone always went to Alex for advice.
Everyone always went to Joe for advice.

Also, both Louie and Roy would use a microphone (or speaker, whatever they were) to say witty things for the crowd to hear. Usually insults towards the other characters.

At least when Louie insulted people on-mike, the insults were only heard by the co-workers....but when ROY did it, the entire waiting area heard it, including the passengers!

I think that Roy was at his on-mike WORST when Helen was dating Davis Lynch, and she would fly out to NYC to spend weekends with him.
Roy would make announcements like "All those leaving for New York City to have sex, please board now!"...and Helen would start running to catch her flight.....that is, until she realized how that looked to the crowd in the waiting area!

losthighway · 08-18-2003, 09:32 PM

I always thought Wings was alot more like Taxi, then Cheers, yet it got beat up by the meida a bit for being too much like Cheers.

I think most of that came from the creators having ties to Cheers and Wings airing right after Cheers and of course using Cheers characters at times since the setting of the show was so close to Boston.

Chocoholic · 08-19-2003, 09:13 PM

I think Wings is much more similar to Taxi than Cheers too. I think all three shows are great.

With al the TV shows that have come out in the past 50 years, I'm sure you'll find more than a few that are similar. Nothing is origional anymore.

losthighway · 08-19-2003, 10:17 PM

Quite true Snoopy. There is nothing that hasn't been put on paper before...the trick is what kind of originality or slant is there to give a story line some freshness.

08-18-2003, 01:21 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	Wings/Taxi similarities I've noticed a lot of similarities between Wings and Taxi. I like Wings better, although Taxi is a great show too. #1. Both are set in the transportation industry. #2. Both had cast members that were supposed to be only on one episode, but were so well received that they became series regulars the next season. #3. Both had main characters from foreign countries, and both characters were played by actors born and raised in the United States. #4. Lowell must be Reverend Jim's illegitimate son. #5. Roy and Louie are both sleazebags who are very attached to their mothers. #6. Antonio and Latka both were in danger of deportation and had to marry an American to stay in the country. #7. Louie hadn't seen his brother in 6 years, the same amount of time that Joe and Brian hadn't spoken. I'm sure there are a few others I missed. I hope Taxi also gets released on DVD soon.

08-18-2003, 04:04 PM	#2
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,839	Everyone always went to Alex for advice. Everyone always went to Joe for advice. Not only do Roy and Louie stay close to their mothers, but they still have a soft spot for their co-workers. (Although they wouldn't admit to it.) Also, both Louie and Roy would use a microphone (or speaker, whatever they were) to say witty things for the crowd to hear. Usually insults towards the other characters. The Taxi ending credits showed a cab driving away. The Wings credits showed a plane flying away. Both were very funny and deserve more credit than they got. ** The main difference: Taxi's foreign character ended up getting married. Whereas, Antonio ... well, you know. **

08-18-2003, 09:32 PM	#4
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	I always thought Wings was alot more like Taxi, then Cheers, yet it got beat up by the meida a bit for being too much like Cheers. I think most of that came from the creators having ties to Cheers and Wings airing right after Cheers and of course using Cheers characters at times since the setting of the show was so close to Boston.

08-19-2003, 09:13 PM	#5
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I think Wings is much more similar to Taxi than Cheers too. I think all three shows are great. With al the TV shows that have come out in the past 50 years, I'm sure you'll find more than a few that are similar. Nothing is origional anymore.

08-19-2003, 10:17 PM	#6
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Quite true Snoopy. There is nothing that hasn't been put on paper before...the trick is what kind of originality or slant is there to give a story line some freshness.