'Twas the Heist Before Christmas is the tenth episode of the seventh season of Wings, and the 132nd episode overall in the series.
Synopsis[]
It's Christmas Eve! And while Joe wants to go on a last-minute ski trip to Vermont, Helen insists on throwing her planned traditional Christmas party. Joe eventually agrees on the condition they leave for Vermont the moment the party ends. When Brian informs Casey that he'll be bringing a date, Casey asks Lewis Blanchard to be her date in an act of pure desperation. While Roy is depressed not to be spending Christmas Eve with his mother and Budd awkwardly tries to mingle, Antonio becomes increasingly irritated when that no one got him a gift while he went to great effort to get thoughtful gifts for all of them. When everyone tries to leave, they discover that their wallets have been stolen and begin to accuse each other of the theft.
Credits[]
Main Cast[]
- Tim Daly as Joe Hackett
- Steven Weber as Brian Hackett
- Crystal Bernard as Helen Hackett
- David Schramm as Roy Biggins
- Rebecca Schull as Fay Cochran (credited only)
- Tony Shalhoub as Antonio Scarpacci
- Amy Yasbeck as Casey Davenport
Guest Cast[]
- Gilbert Gottfried as Lewis Blanchard
- Brian Haley as Budd Bronski
- Suanne Braun as Erica
- Robert Craighead as Policeman
- Patricia Yasbeck as Traveler (uncredited)
Quotes[]
- Helen Hackett - "This is going to be an old fashion party just like the ones my parents used to throw. Don't you remember? It was a Chapel tradition. Everyone called us "The Christmas House", and now the we're married, I want to be called "The Christmas House"."
Joe Hackett - "Yeah, but Helen, a friend of ours was in a major skiing accident and how could we not take advantage of that."
- Joe Hackett - "Helen, please don't make me wear this."
Helen Hackett - "Come on, Joe. my mother made it specially for you. My dad always wears a Christmas sweater."
Joe Hackett - "But Helen, I jingle! Men shouldn't jingle!"
Helen Hackett - "My dad was in two wars, he jingled."
Joe Hackett - "But once your in a white belt and white shoes, jingling is the least of your problems."
- Casey Davenport - "Oh! Roy, how long have you been sitting there?"
Roy Biggins - "Oh, I don't know...an hour, maybe two. You know what mommy and I would be doing right now?"
Casey Davenport - "Mommy?"
Roy Biggins - "We'd be watching the Andy Williams Christmas Special and I'd be yelling at her "It's television, that why he's not answering you!""
Casey Davenport - "That's a wonderful memory. I'm alone out here with Roy!"
- Helen Hackett - "What were you thinking?"
Casey Davenport - "Look, I only had two criteria for my date: that he walk erect and he be male. When I couldn't find anyone like that I brought Lewis!"
Helen Hackett - "I know Brian has a date out there that's no reason to sink this low."
Casey Davenport - "Well, I didn't want to show up without a date. That would look pathetic."
Helen Hackett - "Oh, as opposed to now being the envy of every girl at the party?"
- Antonio Scarpacci - "That's not what Christmas is about. Christmas is about giving. Apparently I'm the only who got the memo."
Trivia[]
- The title of this episode is a play on the poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore first published on December 23, 1823.
- This episode takes place on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1995.
- According to Lewis Blanchard, his Uncle Carlton is still live though he does not appear in this episode.
- This episode is the final appearance of Lewis Blanchard.
- Although credited as part of the main cast, Rebecca Schull as Fay Cochran does not appear in this episode because Fay was "on a cruise".
- This is (at least) Fay's second cruise this year as she was returning from a cruise in Burnin' Down the House (Part 2).
- While convincing Joe to wear his Christmas sweater, she mentions that her father served in two wars.
- Antonio had purchased very thoughtful gifts for everyone while no one got him anything. Antonio gave:
- Joe and Helen a handmade music box that plays "Isn't It Romantic?", the first song they danced to at their wedding.
- Roy a box of genuine Cuban cigars.
- Brain a new camcorder.
- This episode was not available for streaming on Netflix in the United States, but in 2015 it was made available for streaming on Hulu and later on Paramount+.
