Parents' Guide to

Wings

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Jokes take flight in airport-set '90s sitcom.

TV TV Land Comedy 1990
Wings Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

matthewc
matthewc Adult
November 10, 2016
age 12+

If "Cheers" is okay then so is "Wings"

Even though most people don't recommend it for 12 years and under it's an innocent sitcom. Rarely any coarse language mild TV-PG language, sexual situations are at a minimum, the characters are seen drinking alcohol, and at times it can get slapstick but nothing direct or very physical. But, overall this is a great work sitcom and if you let your children watch "Cheers" then they should be able to handle "Wings" okay.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Created by the folks behind Cheers, WINGS is a sitcom about odd-couple brothers Joe and Brian Hackett, operators of Nantucket's fictitious Sandpiper Airlines. When intelligent-but-reckless womanizer Brian (Steven Weber) returns to Nantucket after running off with his brother's fiancée, organized (and rather neurotic) Joe (Tim Daly) finds himself rebuilding their once-close relationship while they work together to keep their company airborne. The Hackett brothers are in constant competition with AeroMass airlines, which is run by smug Roy Biggins (David Schramm). Also working at the airport is the Hacketts' childhood friend Helen (Crystal Bernard), an aspiring concert cellist who runs the airport lunch counter; batty Sandpiper ticket handler Fay Cochran (Rebecca Schull); the slow-but-talented handyman Lowell Mather (Thomas Haden Church); kind-but-unusual taxi driver Antonio Scarpacci (Tony Shalhoub); pilot Alex Lambert (Farrah Forke); and Helen's older sister, Casey (Amy Yasbeck). Over time, the Wings group evolves from simple airport terminal colleagues into a quirky-but-loyal extended family, exchanging lively banter and the occasional sarcastic insult, and supporting each other through even the craziest of situations.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Wings is often quite funny, but some of its themes -- including sexual relationships, infidelity, and, on one occasion, coping with a son's sexuality -- may be too strong for younger viewers. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining sitcom that reminds us that even the most eccentric of people can come together and become an extended family.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how people at work can become a "family" over time. Does that happen in real life? What defines a family? Which other shows feature nontraditional families like this one? Parents and kids can also talk about becoming a pilot and running an airline. What kind of training do pilots need? How much work is it to run even the smallest airline?

TV Details

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