I still remember my very first episode of WINGS. It was about this guy who gave
his mother's brooch to a pretty girl on her birthday. Something about the
episode touched a chord within me. Little did I know that I would be following
the couple through thick and thin for seven years - a period of time that seems
all too short at this moment.
All the characters on WINGS somehow seemed real. They became our friends and
neighbors, who invited us to a party every week. The actors blossomed into
their roles with a chemistry between them so realistic, that it actually seemed
as though they lived this pre-written odyssey, rather than acted out scripts.
We were offered a glimpse into their lives every week. The show became a lot
more than the sum of its parts. We exulted in the spells conjured up by miracle
workers like Philip LaZebnik, David Lloyd, Christopher Lloyd, Dave Hackel,
Steven Levitan and oh so many others who have come and gone. We wondered when
Joe and Helen would finally get together; we sighed when the bond between the
musketeers was explored; we wondered whether we would ever really see Edna, or
Roy's mom; whether Lowell came out of a hole in the universe, and whether Roy's
wife went into a hole in the ground in the first place. Heck, we saw the seven
deadly sins explored to great effect! We laughed, we cried...
Any number of adjectives fail to do justice to this show. All that matters is
we loved it. We somehow became protective of the show - as though each episode
became "ours" in an unique way. The critics of WINGS know nothing, we said. Ah,
the arrogance! With the departure of Thomas Haden Church, the show lost a
little of its lustre. But with Tony Shalhoub announcing that he is leaving as
well, a hole will be formed that just cannot be filled. A cosmic pothole
perhaps, as Lowell might say. To quote the immortal words of Joe Hackett,
"maybe it's all for the best". Not that I still wouldn't give anything to bring
the show back.
There have been many great shows before, and there will be many hence, but
WINGS will always have its own unique place. Many years down the road, it'll
probably be the only show that will elicit a fond and nostalgic sigh from me -
a "those were the days" kind of a feeling. Much the same way some people feel
about Cheers. Or Newhart. Or the Mary Tyler Moore show. You *had* to be there
to know what it meant.
I want to thank all the cast and crew members who have worked on WINGS since
its inception, and have brought us seven glorious years of episodic television.
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, whatever they may be. I am
sure we'll be seeing a lot more of Crystal's music and TV career, and Tim,
Steven and Tony's big screen careers. I hope we'll all be kept informed about
immediate plans of all the writers, producers and actors, after WINGS. I also
wish we all can keep the newsgroup alive after May, and hope for occasional
visits by the then "ex" producers of WINGS. And of course, dissect each episode
until eternity! After all, what are our tapes and syndication reruns for?
Finally, David, my thanks to you and your partners for creating one of the
richest shows in television history. I am privileged to have been part of the
ride, and I'll always cherish the memories.
In the end, when all is said and done, I made a number of new friends, became a
huge fan of some of the finest actors on television, and just had a ball.
Good wishes and God bless,
Here's looking at you, WINGS,
Yours truly,
Arun
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