Wings original choices for actors

robwa...@webtv.net

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May 3, 2001, 9:30:07 PM5/3/01

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Does anyone here know the other actors that were up for each key role in
Wings when it first started? I thought it would be interesting to try
and picture who might have been in their places. I know for instance
Fred Dryer (Hunter) and the blonde maid from Newhart (can't remember
her name) were beat out for the roles of Sam and Diane in Cheers.

DVeal70704

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May 3, 2001, 11:44:36 PM5/3/01

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>Does anyone here know the other actors that were up for each key role in
>Wings when it first started?

Peri Gilpin was originally set to play the role of Hellen Chappel.

LHAZ 61746

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May 4, 2001, 12:47:58 AM5/4/01

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>Peri Gilpin was originally set to play the role of Hellen Chappel.
>
>

I know this is not about Wings but Lisa Kudrow had the part of Roz on Frasier
but after the first day of filming they gave the part to Peri Gilpin.
Lynne H

Antine

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May 4, 2001, 9:29:35 PM5/4/01

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>Does anyone here know the other actors that were up for each key role in
>Wings when it first started? I thought it would be interesting to try
>and picture who might have been in their places.

I heard the Hackett brothers might have been portrayed by Cassidy
brothers...David and Shaun. Frankly, I think Daly and Weber resemble each
other more than those two half brothers, though they probably don't sing as
good!

All in all, I didn't take it seriously until, not long ago, I came upon a
reference to a prior series Dave Hackel worked on..."Shirley," starring
Shirley Jones. That made the casting of Cassidys sound more like it was a
possibility!

Andy

JWC

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May 4, 2001, 9:49:38 PM5/4/01

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I know this has been mentioned before, but THC originally auditioned for the
role of Brian. Can't imagine what the show would have been like if they'd
gone with that ...

JWC

Ange Fa'toh

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May 4, 2001, 10:22:31 PM5/4/01

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JWC wrote:

> I know this has been mentioned before, but THC originally auditioned for the
> role of Brian. Can't imagine what the show would have been like if they'd
> gone with that ...
>
>

It just woulden't be the same. Steven Weber would have ended up in "George of
the Jungle" as Lyle Van de Groot and in "Ned and Stacey" as Ned Dorsey and so
on... Thomas would have ended up in that Showtime Channel movie (Sorry if I
forgot the title) and other things that SW was supposed to do. That would have
altered the future. What would be weird is if we could go back in time and
change it all *Stares off into the star-lit sky*

Ange Fa'toh
Time Travel fan
Needs to learn more about Steven Weber...

Thomas

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May 5, 2001, 12:30:05 AM5/5/01

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>
>I know this has been mentioned before, but THC originally auditioned for the
>role of Brian. Can't imagine what the show would have been like if they'd
>gone with that ...
>

yep, they liked his style so much, the role of Lowell was created just for him.

Also, as was mentioned earlier, Peri Gilpin was going to play Helen Chappel,
but they got Crystal Bernard to play her . The role of Helen was written
slightly different for Gilpin though. Originally, Helen was going to be Greek
and her last name was Troyankis instead of Chappel. When CB got the role, they
made Helen be from Texas and changed her last name to Chappel, and the rest is
history.

Originally, Antonio was only supposed to be in the Valentine episode where he
played the waiter at Pontrelli's. They liked him so much, they had his
character come back the next season, with a new job, a taxi driver.

Tony Shaloub is actually Lebanese, but he played an Italian as well, in the
film Big Night.

Tom R.

"Chrstianity's greatest strength is Christ. It's greatest weakness is
Christians"--Ghandi

Dream82298

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May 5, 2001, 7:19:05 PM5/5/01

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>Needs to learn more about Steven Weber...
>

Ange,
Yes you do! You're the THC fan right? I think that's cool :). I am a big SW
fan and let me just say that the man is a very talented actor and hopefully won
some of his roles based on his talent, not his character on Wings (the person
who cast him as Jack Torrance in The Shining had never seen Wings!). I did
have a website about him which seems to be down at the moment but should be
back up soon (according to my host!) so check it out if you get a chance:
www.stevenweber.net. =)

Mary Mary

PS: Just so we're clear on this volatile list, I dont' mean anything negative
with this post :) The what-ifs continue....

ButterCupMeadows

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May 5, 2001, 8:05:45 PM5/5/01

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Hey Mary Mary, I think Ive seen your web sight about Steven Weber. I remember
reading that the 2 of you connected somehow and he thanked you and went on to
tell you how flatered he was by your attention. That was back in October when I
saw it, if it was your's. However I do wonder if indeed Stephen King did see
Steven from WINGS. A couple of years after THE SHINING aired, STORM OF THE
CENTURY aired starring Tim Daly. Buttercup