Wings (1990–1997)

Brothers Brian and Joe Hackett and friend Helen attempt to run a Cape Cod-based airline while surrounded by their various wacky friends and employees.

Creators:

David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee

Stars:

Tim Daly, Steven Weber, Crystal Bernard

Nominated for 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Tim Daly	...	Joe Montgomery Hackett (172 episodes, 1990-1997)
Steven Weber	...	Brian Michael Hackett (172 episodes, 1990-1997)
Crystal Bernard	...	Helen Chapel (172 episodes, 1990-1997)
David Schramm	...	Roy Biggins (172 episodes, 1990-1997)
Rebecca Schull	...	Fay Evelyn Schlob Dumbly DeVay Cochran (172 episodes, 1990-1997)
Tony Shalhoub	...	Antonio Scarpacci (144 episodes, 1991-1997)
Thomas Haden Church	...	Lowell Mather (123 episodes, 1990-1995)
Amy Yasbeck	...	Casey Chapel Davenport (74 episodes, 1994-1997)

Storyline

Brothers Brian and Joe Hackett and friend Helen attempt to run a Cape Cod-based airline while surrounded by their various wacky friends and employees.

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Plot Keywords:

sitcom | aviation | airport | one word title | brother brother relationship | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alas

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Grub Street Productions, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (172 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character name Carlton Blanchard, played by William Hickey (I), was taken from a character in the movie Wings, where he was played by William Hickey (II). (Coincidentally, William Hickey (I), who appeared in this series, was born the year the movie was released.)

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Goofs

Sandpiper only has one airplane, and Joe always reads its call number as "Nevada-One-Two-One-Papa-Papa" or N121PP. However, there are a few episodes where the Sandpiper plane's tail shows N121PB and several more (mostly exterior shots) where it shows N160PB.

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Quotes

Roy Biggins: I'm going to teach that kid everything I know.
Helen: What's he going to do the second half of the day?

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Jerry Seinfeld/David Bowie (1999)

User Reviews

Wonderful And Underrated

This show had me from the start when Steve Weber in the first episode complimented the owner of the rival flight company for getting rid of the life jackets to save money and hiring a novice pilot right out of flight school. Just when I think I've caught my breath, a voluptous brunette walks past and he blurts out, "Major Hooters," only to save himself from her wrath by introducing himself as his alter-ego, "Major Bob Hooters." This was the kind of writing and creativity that made this under-appreciated series a hit for almost ten years as NBC floated it all over it's schedule. Yet, the fans continued to follow it. The other thing that made this show was sexpot Crystal Bernard, a survivor from the last season of Happy Days. The show had an incredible ensemble of talent including Bernard, Weber, Tim Daly, David Scramm, Rebecca Schull and Thomas Haden Church who played the slightly annoying mechanic Lowell Mather. Replaced by the dynamic Tony Shalhoub as the haplessly unlucky Antonio Scarpacci, the series even became a cousin to the equally successful Cheers with crossovers with its best talents. Underrated for its time on TV, this incredibly funny and relentless series lasted an enjoyable seven years until Amy Yasbeck joined the cast as Helen's jinxed sister, Casey, possibly named after Bernard's Happy Days character, K.C. Cunningham. Yasbeck's arrival signified the sign that the series had run out of ideas as Daly and Bernard's characters got married for the marriage jokes and millions of Crystal Bernard fans lost their hearts.