Question For You "NBC Old-Timers".... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 01-29-2004, 02:58 AM

Since I didn't watch "Wings" during it's NBC network days, I didn't pay much attention to it's final season, and particularly it's final episode.....

For those of you who DID follow the series back then, I was wondering....

How did NBC handle "Wings" ending it's run? Was there much (or even a LITTLE) fuss or hype?
I realize that there wasn't anywhere NEAR the hoopla that NBC is making over "Friends" ending (or even "Frasier" for that matter), but you would think that SOMETHING would be made over a series that ran for 8 seasons.

So what was the general "Wings" atmosphere like during it's final NBC days? Was the end at least respectfully acknowledged, or was it treated with an "Aw, it's no big deal" attitude?

Chocoholic · 01-29-2004, 11:22 AM

I remember seeing a few commercials announcing that Wings was ending. Also, during the ending credits, they showed clips of the show while playing the theme song and the whole cast waved goodbye. I don't think NBC made too big a deal about the finale, but at least it didn't go unnoticed.

Speaking of unhyped series finale, Becker ended its run last night. I don't think it got any recognition at all, although I saw some critic write somewhere "It's about freakin' time!"

Mariel · 01-29-2004, 11:58 AM

At least, Wings got a better treatment than Just Shoot Me. I didn't follow the latter religiously throughout its run, but I watched it for a few seasons. Anyway, the show was canceled last season and I don't think anyone knew that it was actually ending. I think NBC even bumped off the series finale from their May schedule and didn't air the episode until August...along with the reruns of other sitcoms. How sad is that?

Adamantium · 01-29-2004, 05:36 PM

I don't remember what NBC did, but somehow I knew. Because, as I've mentioned before, I saw the final episode in it's original run. And I didn't watch the last season, so I must have seen a commercial for it or something.

Plus, I just found that my sister has saved an article from a 1997 issue of TV Guide talking about the shows ending that season (Wings, Coach, Married ... With Children, Roseanne). Both Crystal and Tony were interviewed.

AngeFaitore · 01-29-2004, 05:48 PM

Another one that went unnoticed was Spin City, at least I think.
It was probibly because Michael J. Fox left and nobody cared anymore.

Krista2882 · 01-29-2004, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Snoopy

Speaking of unhyped series finale, Becker ended its run last night. I don't think it got any recognition at all, although I saw some critic write somewhere "It's about freakin' time!"

yeah, I didn't even know this was the last season of "Becker" until I happened to read about it in the TV Guide about 5 days ago. Last night was the last episode? I didn't even know that!
It got no recognition at all!
I wasn't a regular viewer, but I liked that show, and it's annoying how little recognition it gets. ...I actually thought that the show ended about 2 years ago until I read that little thing in the TV guide a few days ago, because I've only been watching it in syndication.

Krista2882 · 01-29-2004, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mariel
At least, Wings got a better treatment than Just Shoot Me. I didn't follow the latter religiously throughout its run, but I watched it for a few seasons. Anyway, the show was canceled last season and I don't think anyone knew that it was actually ending. I think NBC even bumped off the series finale from their May schedule and didn't air the episode until August...along with the reruns of other sitcoms. How sad is that?

I thought "Just Shoot Me" ended about 3 years ago!!

losthighway · 01-30-2004, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pilotguy
Since I didn't watch "Wings" during it's NBC network days, I didn't pay much attention to it's final season, and particularly it's final episode.....

For those of you who DID follow the series back then, I was wondering....

How did NBC handle "Wings" ending it's run? Was there much (or even a LITTLE) fuss or hype?
I realize that there wasn't anywhere NEAR the hoopla that NBC is making over "Friends" ending (or even "Frasier" for that matter), but you would think that SOMETHING would be made over a series that ran for 8 seasons.

So what was the general "Wings" atmosphere like during it's final NBC days? Was the end at least respectfully acknowledged, or was it treated with an "Aw, it's no big deal" attitude?

As I recall, NBC did very little to promote the final episode. The show was never given any respect by NBC and that carried through all the way to the end. They did run a few adds as the final episode got close to being aired, but nothing much. Certainly NOTHING like you will see with Friends or Frasier. Or you did see with Cheers.

But, I guess you have to be thankful for small favors, because they at least didn't treat Wings like other sitcoms that have been mentioned in this post.

As a huge fan of the show I was disappointed with the coverage, but I was also disappointed with how the end of the show was handled. The show did not end on its own terms, it was cancelled. At some point during what would be the final season NBC just announced that Wings would not be brought back for another season.

As I've mentioned in other posts I still give the writers alot of credit because they didn't have a great deal of time to prepare a closure for the show and come up with an ending, yet they did a fine job.

I wish that NBC had just announced that the next season would be Wings last, then the writers and producers could have built an entire story line in the final season that could have been devoted to bringing the show to closure. All the characters could of had their own kind of sub-plots going on and it would have been fun to watch everything build and progress throughout the final season and end with a bang so to speak.

I've read articles that Tony may not have come back for a final season, so maybe it all worked out for the best. But as a fan of the show, I still felt cheated. I think they deserved better from the critics and NBC.

pilotguy · 01-30-2004, 06:45 AM

Considering that "Wings" was cancelled by NBC and the finale was basically a "rush job", now I REALLY think that they did a great job with the finale!

Do any of you here watch "Ed"? I've enjoyed this quirky series for a while, but NBC's shabby treatment of it reminds me of it's treatment of "Wings"!

Eddie Haskell · 01-30-2004, 08:10 AM

I never understand the networks actions. Wings was one of the best sitcoms on television in my lifetime (and I'm pretty old). You can't get it on DVD or VHS. USA doesn't show the reruns anymore. I would buy every season if I could.......all, what 172 episodes if they were made available. Networks suck.

I feel better..........

Mariel · 01-30-2004, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krista2882
I thought "Just Shoot Me" ended about 3 years ago!!

That's how badly NBC treated the show.

This is really sad.

Chocoholic · 01-30-2004, 12:22 PM

I never knew Wings was cancelled. I thought the cast decided they didn't want to do the show anymore. I'm glad it ended when it did though, unlike some other certain TV shows that stayed long past their welcome.

It still deserved a bigger send-off and better treatment.

01-29-2004, 02:58 AM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Question For You "NBC Old-Timers".... Since I didn't watch "Wings" during it's NBC network days, I didn't pay much attention to it's final season, and particularly it's final episode..... For those of you who DID follow the series back then, I was wondering.... How did NBC handle "Wings" ending it's run? Was there much (or even a LITTLE) fuss or hype? I realize that there wasn't anywhere NEAR the hoopla that NBC is making over "Friends" ending (or even "Frasier" for that matter), but you would think that SOMETHING would be made over a series that ran for 8 seasons. So what was the general "Wings" atmosphere like during it's final NBC days? Was the end at least respectfully acknowledged, or was it treated with an "Aw, it's no big deal" attitude?

01-29-2004, 11:58 AM	#3
Mariel cool beans Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 04, 2003 Location: New Jersey Posts: 97	At least, Wings got a better treatment than Just Shoot Me. I didn't follow the latter religiously throughout its run, but I watched it for a few seasons. Anyway, the show was canceled last season and I don't think anyone knew that it was actually ending. I think NBC even bumped off the series finale from their May schedule and didn't air the episode until August...along with the reruns of other sitcoms. How sad is that?
	__________________ Please check out: Amy Yasbeck Online Miranda: I just realized -- maybe it's maturity or the wisdom that comes with age, but the witch in Hansel and Gretel, she's very misunderstood. I mean, the woman builds her dream house and these brats come along and start eating it. *~Sex and the City*

01-29-2004, 05:48 PM	#5
AngeFaitore This Week's Logo Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 30, 2002 Location: Something somewhere, in some way at some point and time Posts: 690	Another one that went unnoticed was Spin City, at least I think. It was probibly because Michael J. Fox left and nobody cared anymore.
	__________________ Ange Faitore The Closing Logo of the Week: The Viacom "V" of Death. Thomas Haden Church: The Power of a Laugh http://www.geocities.com/thc3_31_60/Thomas.html

01-30-2004, 08:10 AM	#10
Eddie Haskell Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 11, 2002 Location: Mayfield Posts: 645	I never understand the networks actions. Wings was one of the best sitcoms on television in my lifetime (and I'm pretty old). You can't get it on DVD or VHS. USA doesn't show the reruns anymore. I would buy every season if I could.......all, what 172 episodes if they were made available. Networks suck. I feel better..........
	__________________ "That's a lovely sweater, Mrs. Cleaver"

01-29-2004, 11:22 AM	#2
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I remember seeing a few commercials announcing that Wings was ending. Also, during the ending credits, they showed clips of the show while playing the theme song and the whole cast waved goodbye. I don't think NBC made too big a deal about the finale, but at least it didn't go unnoticed. Speaking of unhyped series finale, Becker ended its run last night. I don't think it got any recognition at all, although I saw some critic write somewhere "It's about freakin' time!"

01-29-2004, 05:36 PM	#4
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,840	I don't remember what NBC did, but somehow I knew. Because, as I've mentioned before, I saw the final episode in it's original run. And I didn't watch the last season, so I must have seen a commercial for it or something. Plus, I just found that my sister has saved an article from a 1997 issue of TV Guide talking about the shows ending that season (Wings, Coach, Married ... With Children, Roseanne). Both Crystal and Tony were interviewed.

01-30-2004, 06:45 AM	#9
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Considering that "Wings" was cancelled by NBC and the finale was basically a "rush job", now I REALLY think that they did a great job with the finale! Do any of you here watch "Ed"? I've enjoyed this quirky series for a while, but NBC's shabby treatment of it reminds me of it's treatment of "Wings"!

01-30-2004, 12:22 PM	#12
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I never knew Wings was cancelled. I thought the cast decided they didn't want to do the show anymore. I'm glad it ended when it did though, unlike some other certain TV shows that stayed long past their welcome. It still deserved a bigger send-off and better treatment.