Pan Am...did anyone watch?
- Thread starter Warped9
- Start date
I thought the pilot look at a bit young but then came up with the theory he could of been ex-air force and possible having flown jets in Korea though could also have been a WWII pilot
I'm glad you mentioned it, that was what made me decide I wasn't going to stick around for the next act. Getting an airliner in the air, even a new one, is serious business and they're supposed to be old hands, but they were grinning like two goofy teens who just got the keys to dad's Thunderbird.
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But it was a brand new jet on it's first flight, Guess you could equate it to Kirk's line about there only being 12 ships like the Enterprise in Star Fleet, yeah Pan Am has lotsa plane but these are brand new Jets and there's alway a bit of thrill to be the first on something.
I recognized that Pan Am bag - one of my older sisters had one! I've forgotten that all these years...
Seeing the new fall TV lineups usually makes me want to Destroy All Humans, too.
But this year, we've got two promising series already (Person of Interest and Pan Am) and the most interesting sounding shows are not even debuting till October.And the reason the pilot is young and hunky is because ABC depends on the female demo for their core audience. As ever, realism takes a back seat to sex and ratings in the TV biz. Hasn't everyone gotten used to that by this late date?
First regularly-scheduled commercial flight, perhaps. Like I said, it's silly to think the plane had never been in the sky before or that these two pilots hadn't done training flights on the type.
Still, I suppose there is an element of "it's showtime" which could excuse it. I'd just be happier if there were nothing to excuse.
I watched it and thought it was decent. Definitely some good looking eye candy... and I had NO idea that Christina Ricci was in it. They should have promoted that more. Everybody loves her.
Can't say I was bowled over. I only tuned in for Christina Ricci and the 60s flair anyway.
The show made me do some reading on Pan Am. Learned about the Worldport and the fact that they called their planes "clippers".
The show made me do some reading on Pan Am. Learned about the Worldport and the fact that they called their planes "clippers".
I caught that too.
I refuse to watch it for all the for-mentioned problems with its aviation reality.
Well, to be fair, at least the pilots are part of the show. Something I've noticed is that too often, the "public face" of air travel is the flight attendants, check-in clerks, and baggage handlers. Take the NetJets commercial with Roger Federer, for instance. It's like mass media doesn't realize that a good pilot is the most important part of any flight. They're taken for granted, and frankly, not paid enough.
I'd still like it if there were more TV coverage of other-than-airline aviation. Things like Angel Flight, Pilots and Paws, Air Care Alliance, even just $100 hamburger practice flights, etc. Most people don't even know that there are scores of airports within 50 miles of them that have zero TSA presence. I don't expect Pan Am to do much of this (it is an airline show, after all), but something would be nice.
I think it's kind of funny that some don't like the show because it doesn't accurately portray commercial flights and pilots. Since when were TV dramas meant to be realistic?? If that is your criteria then you can't watch any cop, lawyer, or medical shows or any other show for that matter depicting any profession, because I'm sure they are not at all accurate. Also, I think some are making the mistake of seeing this as a show about aviation. Really, this is a show about stewardesses and their personal lives, so correct aviation details are hardly necessary.
As for my personal opinion...I guess it was okay, but nothing special. I will give it another shot. There was a little too much romance in the first episode; if it's basically going to be all about relationships and lovey stuff I will give it a pass.
As for my personal opinion...I guess it was okay, but nothing special. I will give it another shot. There was a little too much romance in the first episode; if it's basically going to be all about relationships and lovey stuff I will give it a pass.
True. On the other hand, accuracy usually goes over well and doesn't require a whole lot of effort, so why not call them on it up front?
It's a bit about both, but yes, I did notice that focus.
Probably an intresting time for those people flying too. We take jets for granted but back then I guess it would be change from going from the aircraft like the DC-4 to travelling on the 707s - as the pilot's announcement went.
But just think - these days we fly with portable media devices, computers, inflight entertainment systems - none of that on the Clipper "Majestic".
Btw which variant of the 707 where they depictiing given the engine design (with what looked rocket nozzels) on the back?
Also gather some had water injection like the B-52s which I gather would to the smoke on take off (and just thinking - it could be a production cost thing for them clean take offs - that smoke could be expensive to animate).
Win for the thread title!!
Although it was mostly enjoyable for me, the secret agency subplot seems silly and I although the concept itself (of a secret agency working an airline in the 60s) is cool, I'm worried it won't be dark enough for my tastes.
But there's a lot I like about it too... Ricci's good. The scenery/decor/props etc look fantastic and I like that my wife and I will have something to watch together.
MY WIFE: That's Christina Ricci? I couldn't tell it was her at all.
ME: That's because Tim Burton had nothing to do with this. You'd recognize her if she were dressed as a marionette in striped black and white all over in front on an eerie nightmare castle.
Another thing that surprised me was the lack of importance the male characters will have, this is certainly a female-centered show and should be interesting. I hope there are Evil Spies and catfights with lasers and shit.
Although it was mostly enjoyable for me, the secret agency subplot seems silly and I although the concept itself (of a secret agency working an airline in the 60s) is cool, I'm worried it won't be dark enough for my tastes.
But there's a lot I like about it too... Ricci's good. The scenery/decor/props etc look fantastic and I like that my wife and I will have something to watch together.
MY WIFE: That's Christina Ricci? I couldn't tell it was her at all.
ME: That's because Tim Burton had nothing to do with this. You'd recognize her if she were dressed as a marionette in striped black and white all over in front on an eerie nightmare castle.
Another thing that surprised me was the lack of importance the male characters will have, this is certainly a female-centered show and should be interesting. I hope there are Evil Spies and catfights with lasers and shit.
I'm set to record it on Friday.
There was an apparent air of romance to air travel then. It was a time when air travel was beginning to be seen as accessible to the ordinary folks. Distant locales were now becoming within acceptable reach in terms of time and expense.
Today air travel for most seems like a protracted and cramped affair, but then the simple prospect that you could fly to a distant destination made it feel wonderful and having a sense of adventure.
But those pilots should have flown the same type aircraft for hundreds of hours, what would be so exciting about this one aside from the new plane smell? Commercial pilots try to be all business, they don't get giddy about stuff like that, that just rang false. Not to mention the fact that they were about to rotate and should have had their eyes on the instruments instead of giving each other shit-eating grins.
Some more than others. But for me, doing a period piece raises the whole level of commitment to authenticity. The less realistic, the less I'm interested. Such are my tastes.
That was supposed to be a 707-121 with JT3C engines. The tubes were for noise suppression. Which also raises the question of why that aircraft was such a big deal: The 100s were old news by then, the Intercontinentals were the hot new thing. I don't even know if PA was still buying 100s that late. Anyway... I wonder if they'll use any CGI DC-8s?
And yes the 707 with water injection was quite the smog machine, as in this AA example. Love the Astro-Jet livery, though!
--Justin
I flew on rival TWA during the '60s when I was eight, and the show captures that time well. I remember being allowed in the cockpit of the 707 and being presented with my "pilot wings". Heady stuff for an eight year old.
I remember the stewardesses (as they were called then) being darn near perfect-looking, but tired, at the end of the New York to London flight.
I remember the stewardesses (as they were called then) being darn near perfect-looking, but tired, at the end of the New York to London flight.
from what I read in wiki pilots pretty much transitioned direct from the the prop driven to the 707s and there weren't exactly lots of jets to train up on (this direct transition resulted in a one fatal crash and as well as other near accidents).
Pan-Am flew a total of 128 707s and Boeing had delivered 388 of them by the of 1963. Factor in the surplus of pilots from the U.S.A.F who flew in WWII and Korea so would have hundreds of flight hours.
On top of that the the captain has been newly promoted (hence the co-pilot joking about not being able to call him captain") and the co-pilot newly promoted to jets it could easily be the be the sort of big event that leads to shit-eating grins.
After missing the premiere episode last week this evening I got a look at the second episode of The Playboy Club. Not as horrible as I had thought it would be (based on the reviews and comments I'd read), but not as good as Pan Am.
And neither are in Mad Men's league, but in fairness they are going for a different type of show. I hated the Nick Dalton character in TPC who was so obviously channeling Don Draper. It impressed me as cheap and unimaginative.
And neither are in Mad Men's league, but in fairness they are going for a different type of show. I hated the Nick Dalton character in TPC who was so obviously channeling Don Draper. It impressed me as cheap and unimaginative.
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