"Early Episode" Nostalgia

[pilotguy]

This is going to sound really crazy, but when I watch these early episodes of "Wings" (which are now being rerun on NICK), I get a strange feeling that I just don't get when watching later episodes (I'd say from Season 3 on).

I can't really explain what it is....Maybe it's the opening theme....maybe it's the fact that these early episodes were the ones that I was watching on NICK when I became hopelessly hooked on "Wings" (remember that I was a "late bloomer")....maybe it's just the freshness that the characters and the series as a whole seem to have during the first couple of seasons....Whatever it is, these early episodes seem to have a special something all their own.

Again, I know that it sounds weird, but I just get a warm, nostalgic feeling watching these early episodes that I don't get when watching (and enjoying) the later ones....which IS weird, because I started watching "Wings" less than a year ago!

Is anyone here affected that way?

[AngeFaitore]

I started during USA Networks' great Thomas Haden Church blitz of 2000. Remember when 'Wings' and 'Ned and Stacey" (not in that order) were shown back-to-back on USAM?
I remember I anitially got hooked on 'Ned and Stacey' because I found "that blonde guy" cute. Of course, in the opening credits of 'Ned and Stacey', Thomas' name is the first to come up on screen.
Anyway, one day my mother had left USAM on and went to do some work or something. I saw the beginning of the episode where Lowell has his radio controlled blimp.
"Thomas Haden Church was on THIS show?" I said to myself.
I went to IMDB, found the 'Ned and Stacey' cast list, clickity clicked on Thomas' name and the rest... is history.

[pilotguy]

Originally posted by AngeFaitore
I started during USA Networks' great Thomas Haden Church blitz of 2000. Remember when 'Wings' and 'Ned and Stacey" (not in that order) were shown back-to-back on USAM?
I remember I anitially got hooked on 'Ned and Stacey' because I found "that blonde guy" cute. Of course, in the opening credits of 'Ned and Stacey', Thomas' name is the first to come up on screen.
Anyway, one day my mother had left USAM on and went to do some work or something. I saw the beginning of the episode where Lowell has his radio controlled blimp.
"Thomas Haden Church was on THIS show?" I said to myself.
I went to IMDB, found the 'Ned and Stacey' cast list, clickity clicked on Thomas' name and the rest... is history.

Ange, you're one of those rare viewers who became accustomed to seeing Thomas Haden Church on "Ned and Stacey" FIRST, and THEN seeing him on "Wings". (Most people experienced the reverse order).

I'm curious....What were your thoughts when you saw him as a somewhat slow, dim-witted guy on "Wings" after you were used to seeing him as an urbane, glib executive on "Ned and Stacey"?

[pilotguy]

My special fondness for the early episodes is also strange because "Wings" was actually better-written and funnier (with additional characters like Antonio) from Seasons 3-6....but those early ones just have a certain "something"!

[AngeFaitore]

Originally posted by pilotguy
Ange, you're one of those rare viewers who became accustomed to seeing Thomas Haden Church on "Ned and Stacey" FIRST, and THEN seeing him on "Wings". (Most people experienced the reverse order).

I'm curious....What were your thoughts when you saw him as a somewhat slow, dim-witted guy on "Wings" after you were used to seeing him as an urbane, glib executive on "Ned and Stacey"?

"Man, that guy can ACT!".

At the time, I was into Steve Guttenberg of "Short Circuit" and "Police Academy". You probibly know that Steve only plays one character, the nice guy.
It was so nice to see somebody actually go from one personality to another in each different piece of work.
My alltime FAVORITE Thomas Haden Church character is Larry from "Free Money". Larry is slow-witted like Lowell, he's a bit gullible and has a north-of-the-boarder accent (Saying stuff like 'yer' and 'eh?'). Obviously Thomas hung out around people with the accent for a while and it really showed in the film.

Even if I fall out of infatuation with Thomas, I don't think I'll stop being a fan. There's just no way because it's so hard to find good talent like him in movies and TV now. Everybody clones the same personalities for their characters (the nerotic one, the nagging one, the paranoid husband [Paul on "Mad About You" and Ray on "Everybody Love Raymond" anyone?]. It just gets annoying, you know?).

[Skywalker]

I've seen bits and pieces of some of the early episodes before, but that was when I was just a casual viewer. I look forward to seeing the first 3 seasons as a fan. For instance, I've seen Return to Nantucet before and I never laughed. This morning I saw the show and lol at that scene where the man delivers flowers to Brian and gives him a message. When I became a fan of Wings in Oct. I didn't care too much for Lowell, but watching the 1st season, I'm starting to find him amusing.

[Adamantium]

Originally posted by pilotguy
Whatever it is, these early episodes seem to have a special something all their own.

Again, I know that it sounds weird, but I just get a warm, nostalgic feeling watching these early episodes that I don't get when watching (and enjoying) the later ones....which IS weird, because I started watching "Wings" less than a year ago!

Is anyone here affected that way?

Maybe it's just that the show was new and the characters were unaware of what was to happen to them in the years to come. Maybe an innocence in a way. Also, they seem to fixate more on that fact that Joe and Brian are opposites, where as in the later years, it's all so natural by then.

Plus, Lowell's back, so they have their token dumb guy back.

[AngeFaitore]

Originally posted by TVAdam

Plus, Lowell's back, so they have their token dumb guy back.

Lowell is the "Milhouse" of the series. Almost everybody likes Milhouse from "The Simpsons" and I don't really understand why. People can't understand why some"Wings" fans like Lowell, either.
Another famous "Milhouse" is Eric "Rico" Moyer of "Ned and Stacey".

[pilotguy]

Originally posted by TVAdam
Maybe it's just that the show was new and the characters were unaware of what was to happen to them in the years to come. Maybe an innocence in a way.

Adam, I think that you may have hit on something...."An innocence"...THAT'S what I think those early episodes have that the later ones don't.

Even though Joe and Helen are full-grown adults, there's a shyness and awkardness to their early flirting and attraction to each other. That could have looked embarrassingly STUPID if other actors were playing those roles and acting that way, but somehow Tim and Crystal were able to pull it off.

[Adamantium]

Originally posted by AngeFaitore
Lowell is the "Milhouse" of the series. Almost everybody likes Milhouse from "The Simpsons" and I don't really understand why. People can't understand why some"Wings" fans like Lowell, either.
Another famous "Milhouse" is Eric "Rico" Moyer of "Ned and Stacey".

I'm not a big Milhouse fan. I do, however love Rico from "Ned & Stacey". And I can honestly say that if Lowell was never in the series, "Wings" wouldn't be in my top ten. I might still like the show, but it was Lowell that kept me tuning in every morning on USAM. And I'm not talking about seasons 7 and 8, I'm saying that if he was never in the show to begin with, then I probably wouldn't like it as much.

I think Matthew Brock (Andy Dick on NewsRadio) would qualify as another "Milhouse". I like Matthew, and I thought he carried the show in the post-Phil Hartman season. But many fans of the show hate him. I'm not a big fan of the actor, but I always liked the nerdy reporter, Matthew.

[Janice]

I'm enjoying the early episodes, but I really feel Antonio's absence. I think he was a GREAT addition to the show. I keep waiting for him to walk into the terminal, but of course, he doesn't.

The actors look younger....8 years is a long time. Fay has blonde hair, Roy is underutilized now, but we know that changes.

I guess I'm watching the show in reverse, which is okay, but it spoils the suspense. No mind, terrific show. No complaints.

[Krista2882]

Originally posted by pilotguy


Even though Joe and Helen are full-grown adults, there's a shyness and awkardness to their early flirting and attraction to each other. That could have looked embarrassingly STUPID if other actors were playing those roles and acting that way, but somehow Tim and Crystal were able to pull it off.

I LOVE that Joe/Helen awkwardness they had going on in the first season. It's wicked cute.

[pilotguy]

Originally posted by Janice
I'm enjoying the early episodes, but I really feel Antonio's absence. I think he was a GREAT addition to the show. I keep waiting for him to walk into the terminal, but of course, he doesn't.

The actors look younger....8 years is a long time. Fay has blonde hair, Roy is underutilized now, but we know that changes.

I guess I'm watching the show in reverse, which is okay, but it spoils the suspense. No mind, terrific show. No complaints.

Yes, Antonio's absence is a nagging feeling in those early shows....You DO really feel his absence.
Just for the record, I've mentioned this before, but when Antonio DOES come aboard as a regular, it's amazing how quickly and how well he fits into the show and blends in with the rest of the cast. You'd never know that he was the "new kid".

The actors DO look younger....especially Lowell. One person on this message board said that when he first saw Lowell in the pilot episode (during the last NICK cycle), he had to look twice to make sure that Lowell wasn't being played by another actor!

That's interesting about you watching "Wings" "in reverse". I suppose that it WOULD make a difference when watching the early episodes. When I first watched "Wings" during it's first NICK cycle (which was when I first started watching the series), I had a pretty good idea of how things were going to end up....I knew that Joe and Helen would get married, I knew that Brian and Casey would start fooling around, etc....but I didn't know the various twists and turns that the show's plots would take to GET there!

One thing about watching those early episodes again...Knowing what we know about the ex-Mrs. Biggins, it really seems strange to hear Roy talk about his "late" wife!

[AngeFaitore]

Originally posted by Janice

The actors look younger....8 years is a long time. Fay has blonde hair, Roy is underutilized now, but we know that changes.

Thomas Haden Church has no creases on his face (except for a little one when he smiles). He looks REALLY young. From his birthdate on IMDB and the year that the show premered, I found that he was about 31. So THAT explains it!

Anyway, has anybody seen the "Death Takes A Holiday On Ice" episode of 'Cheers'? Thomas didn't look as round in the face as he did in the first few episodes of 'Wings', which is kind of weird.

[capt_doug]

First I'd like to thank all for the great welcome here! I do
agree that for me,the early episodes provide a rush of
nostalgia as well. For me,it has to do with what was going
on in my life at that time.
I was moving into a house that I lived in for almost
12 years when the first episode of Wings aired in April 1990.
Sounds silly I guess,but those memories of that time when I
was setting up house when the show was just getting started.

I bought my first vcr for the main purpose of taping Wings
(and Northern Exposure.) Being an aviation fan too was
just another reason for me to tune in. Oh,and of course
being from Texas that certain gorgeous young lady
named Crystal Bernard made it easy too!...


Cheers,
Doug