BLOGS

Five Things We'll Miss About Pan Am

After last week's holdover from November, Pan Am aired its season -- and likely series -- finale, "1964," on Sunday night. As the title implies, this final chapter in the saga of the crew of the Clipper Majestic took place at the end of a very eventful 1963, which culminated in the assassination of John F. Kennedy that ended the last in-continuity episode, "New Frontiers."

"1964" picked up roughly a month later with New Year's Eve looming and the characters' lives in various states of flux. Ted agreed to wed Amanda despite her progressive thoughts about marriage, only to back out when he finally woke up and realized his true feelings for Laura -- whose mild annoyance with Ted apparently always masked romantic longing for the puffy co-pilot. But then Amanda went and played the "I'm pregnant" card, sealing Ted's fate until Season 2 forever. CIA recruit Kate protected her mentor against a rogue agent and was informed that the Agency wanted to put her on the path to becoming a for-real agent, complete with a boot camp course at Langley. The trade-off? She'll have to give up her Pan Am gig, but we frankly don't see the downside in not having to serve drinks and food to pushy passengers anymore.

Meanwhile, eternal hellcat Maggie bounced back from the death of her idol (JFK) and the end of her affair with that conservative senator by throwing herself into the international smuggling game, becoming Sky God George Broyles's partner-in-crime and Dean got his license suspended over that Haitian pit stop but managed to save his job thanks to a letter of recommendation from the company's big boss, Juan Trippe. And, finally, our beloved Colette was flying high with her new beau, Prince Omar, but that romance crashed to Earth when a background check initiated by his royal parents revealed that: 1) Her name was changed by the nuns who sheltered her during World War II to hide the fact that she's Jewish and 2) She has a brother somewhere out there who also survived the war. The final shot of the episode found all six core cast members standing on a balcony overlooking Times Square as the ball dropped, ringing in 1964. (In case you were wondering, yes that tradition does date back to the '60s; the first Times Square ball drop occurred in 1907.) While it wasn't the strongest episode to go out on ("New Frontiers" would actually have made a better series finale), "1964" did remind us of some of the things we'll miss about this sure-to-be cancelled series. For example...

5. The Period Details
From '60s icons like Andy Warhol and Bob Dylan to less well-known pop culture artifacts like Under the Yum Yum Tree and I Get Chet, the Pan Am writers mostly did a nice job bringing that era to life without being gimmicky with the name dropping. While it never approached Mad Men levels of incisiveness in its presentation of the '60s, the show had a firmer grasp on the past than its ill-fated fall TV counterpart The Playboy Club.

4. The Clipper Majestic Itself
Early on, we wondered how exactly a series set almost entirely onboard an airplane would avoid cabin fever. But by the end of the show's run, we came to really look forward to grabbing the catbird seat on this gleaming jewel of the Pan Am fleet and flying off into the wild blue yonder along with Dean, Ted and the rest of the gang. Granted, part of that was due to the fact that the various dramas on the ground were generally not as interesting as the stuff that happened at 20,000 feet. But the Clipper Majestic was also a genuinely great set that often had us bemoaning the cattle car layout of modern commercial aircrafts.

3. The Promised Beatles Episode
All season long, we were looking forward to the Beatles-themed hour that Pan Am creator Jack Orman promised us back in the fall. The idea was that the Clipper Majestic would ferry the Fab Four on their first trip to America in February 1964. (Orman also said that he didn't plan to hire actors to play the Beatles, although we know of the perfect ensemble for those roles.) Now, that potentially great episode is almost certainly never to be, which is almost as sad as the whole "Free as a Bird" fiasco.

2. The Times That Would Be A-Changin'
We can only speculate what Orman's plans for Pan Am might have been had the show been a breakout hit, but we would have loved it if he had opted to leap into several years future with each successive season. Just think -- Season 2 could have taken place against the backdrop of the Summer of Love in '68 and Season 3 might have leaped into the early '70s, specifically 1973, when the Pan Am company suffered its first serious setback in the wake of the year's oil crisis. It would have been fun to see how these men and women changed (or didn't change) with the times and, better still, characters that just weren't clicking (Dean, we're looking at you) could easily be written out. Guess we'll just have to pull out our Life on Mars DVDs (the British original, not the American remake) to get our '70s fix.

1. Our Fair Colette
Colette Valois, we'll miss you most of all. Although initially the low woman on the totem pole in a cast stacked with a movie star (Christina Ricci), a glamorous Aussie import (Margot Robbie) and a homegrown starlet (Kelli Garner), French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse quickly became our favorite member of Pan Am's ensemble with her charming accent and spine of steel. (We're still so, so glad that she kicked Dean to the curb and the show not returning at least spares us from having to see her potentially fall back in love with him.) We hope she books a first class ticket on a more successful series soon.

What will you miss most about Pan Am? Sound off in the comments below.

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32 Comments

February 20, 2012 12:46 PM
GeoDiva
Reply

Despite its faults, I liked PanAm. Having grown up in a airline family, I do miss the golden age of flying. Was satisfied with how they wrapped things up. So long the crew of the Clipper Majestic.

February 20, 2012 2:29 PM
asdas
Reply

I loved colette!!! I hope Karine Vanasse finds a better series soon!!!!!

February 20, 2012 3:59 PM
Carla
Reply

The character Maggie could have been. Christina Ricci is amazing, and I still don't understand why they used her character mostly for comic relief or "Look! We're in the 60ies!" moments.

February 20, 2012 3:59 PM
Carla
Reply

The character Maggie could have been. Christina Ricci is amazing, and I still don't understand why they used her character mostly for comic relief or "Look! We're in the 60ies!" moments.

February 20, 2012 4:33 PM
Tom
Reply

I find myself hoping the comments of an early demise for Pan Am to be merely incorrect speculation. The show is set during America's innocent period and is poised to take us on a journey as our nation slowly looses it. The cast of Pan Am is extremely accomplished and some writing tweaks are all that is needed to revitalize an already good premise.

February 20, 2012 5:49 PM
Alex
Reply

I'm sad to see this show go. I too will miss Mlle. Valois most of all. I'll be keeping an eye out for Karine Vanasee.

February 20, 2012 5:53 PM
Alex
Reply
replied to comment from Alex

*Vanasse

February 20, 2012 8:57 PM
prc
Reply

I am so upset about this season ending. I loved the fashion and bits of culture mixed in with the drama. I truly enjoyed watching this show each week, and there's very few shows I feel that way about!

Sad to see it go.

February 21, 2012 1:27 PM
Pan Am Fan
Reply

I loved the show and will miss it. The one thing they don't explain is why Omar's courtship of Collette was over.

February 21, 2012 2:07 PM
Pitchy Dawg
Reply

Sad to see Pan Am go -- granted it has its flaws, ended hastily and Kate was perhaps the WORST. SPY. EVER. -- but it had a lot going for it in charm and nostalgia and was better than 3/4 of what's on network TV these days. Too bad the networks don't dare or dream anymore. Line up another "reality" show or procedural for morons with short attention spans ...

February 21, 2012 2:56 PM
susan
Reply

I never watched Pan Am, despite friends telling me how good it was. The problem? The ads amped up the sex and not the sensibility of the show, which turned many women (including myself) off. Women are the TV demo - this bird didn't fly due to bad marketing.

February 21, 2012 3:17 PM
Rhythmmm
Reply

I actually enjoyed the first few episodes of this quite a lot. If the writing had been better I think it would have had a real shot at something.

But the high point of this show was without a doubt Mlle. Colette Valois. I will watch anything with the charming and versatile actress who played her in it!

February 21, 2012 3:17 PM
Rhythmmm
Reply

I actually enjoyed the first few episodes of this quite a lot. If the writing had been better I think it would have had a real shot at something.

But the high point of this show was without a doubt Mlle. Colette Valois. I will watch anything with the charming and versatile actress who played her in it!

February 21, 2012 8:37 PM
Stormy
Reply

I'm going to miss a show with good female characters. Female characters that can be the moral center of a show, that can work together professionally, stand up for each other, and disagree with each other without ever resorting to slap-sticky (and sexist) pettiness or "hilarious" cat fighting. Women who actually make women look good. A show that every week aced the Bechdel test. Please come back Pan Am.

February 21, 2012 8:37 PM
Stormy
Reply

I'm going to miss a show with good female characters. Female characters that can be the moral center of a show, that can work together professionally, stand up for each other, and disagree with each other without ever resorting to slap-sticky (and sexist) pettiness or "hilarious" cat fighting. Women who actually make women look good. A show that every week aced the Bechdel test. Please come back Pan Am.

February 21, 2012 9:55 PM
Emily
Reply

Oh I hope they announce in may its gonna have a second season I was willing to wait a month for the next episode and I did the reason i like it south because of colette and dean I liked to see them the boring parts was Maggie and kate

February 22, 2012 4:33 AM
hi, just me
Reply

Colette !

February 22, 2012 4:33 AM
hi, just me
Reply

Colette !

February 22, 2012 3:13 PM
Stephen
Reply

I am very sad to see the series end. Although I see no official word that "Pan Am" is grounded forever, all I've seen are obituaries. The entire cast was great, the characters were great and was the writing and production. I am truly sadden by this news.

February 23, 2012 8:47 AM
Diana
Reply

I really hated to see this show being cancelled,it was refreshing to see a show taking place in a different era rather than the same o same o shows of today ! The storyline was great. I'm hoping with enough attention to the sadness of the canceling of the show, will be some miracle give it another shot. The replacement doesn't look promising either ,just another silly sitcom with pretty women and boobs. What a waste !

February 23, 2012 11:00 AM
soccermom918
Reply

I really enjoyed this show. Give it a different time slot and air the episodes in order and the ratings may improve. I wish the network would give it another shot! This show has so much potential!

February 23, 2012 3:32 PM
BA Miller
Reply

Pan Am the series had a wonderful concept....the "golden age of flying"; however, throughout the fourteen episodes, I saw very little of that and what started out to be a great television drama. The characters did not work for me frankly. No B707 pilot for Pan Am or anyone else would have been that young. Most were family, xmilitary men. That were like 'fathers' to us. Yes, I was one of the chosen few, a Pan Am stewardess. And while 'artistic licensing' works for a while, you lost me at CIA so early on. And showing crews in uniform lounging around FICL drinking champagne out of the bottles. Never, or serving alcohol aboard MAC flights. NEVER, EVER, or treating a potential heart attack passenger with a touch of a hand! Nevermind the closest O2 bottle and then leaving the body behind in Haiti on the ramp! NEVER. I was hoping that since one of the producers was a former stewardess that we would see more of the story behind the story; that is, the way we were hired, the weeks of training and all the funny things that went on at 36th Street, first fam flights, seasoned Pursers, exciting flights, more interaction with passengers, incidents on layovers, dealing behind closed doors between our government and Pan Am in an effort to secure domestic routes, terror and heartache when a plane and crew was lost, etc. Still I watched, as many of us and waited. The first episode and the last (finale) were the best and what we had hoped for. Too many impossible senarios, wrong casting, not enough depth to the characters. Hopefully with a new writing team, you can come back in the fall stronger with a better time slot. Being pitted against Sunday night football was a tough act. The set design and costume design are 'spot on'. Well done on concept, now let's bring her back to the gate after a maintenance overhaul and show Clipper Magestic the way to fly! It's great to see that blue ball take flight again!

February 23, 2012 3:33 PM
BA Miller
Reply

Pan Am the series had a wonderful concept....the "golden age of flying"; however, throughout the fourteen episodes, I saw very little of that and what started out to be a great television drama. The characters did not work for me frankly. No B707 pilot for Pan Am or anyone else would have been that young. Most were family, xmilitary men. That were like 'fathers' to us. Yes, I was one of the chosen few, a Pan Am stewardess. And while 'artistic licensing' works for a while, you lost me at CIA so early on. And showing crews in uniform lounging around FICL drinking champagne out of the bottles. Never, or serving alcohol aboard MAC flights. NEVER, EVER, or treating a potential heart attack passenger with a touch of a hand! Nevermind the closest O2 bottle and then leaving the body behind in Haiti on the ramp! NEVER. I was hoping that since one of the producers was a former stewardess that we would see more of the story behind the story; that is, the way we were hired, the weeks of training and all the funny things that went on at 36th Street, first fam flights, seasoned Pursers, exciting flights, more interaction with passengers, incidents on layovers, dealing behind closed doors between our government and Pan Am in an effort to secure domestic routes, terror and heartache when a plane and crew was lost, etc. Still I watched, as many of us and waited. The first episode and the last (finale) were the best and what we had hoped for. Too many impossible senarios, wrong casting, not enough depth to the characters. Hopefully with a new writing team, you can come back in the fall stronger with a better time slot. Being pitted against Sunday night football was a tough act. The set design and costume design are 'spot on'. Well done on concept, now let's bring her back to the gate after a maintenance overhaul and show Clipper Magestic the way to fly! It's great to see that blue ball take flight again!

February 27, 2012 10:27 PM
Janesh
Reply

Deserve praise for this nice article

March 2, 2012 12:07 PM
Sabrina
Reply

I wouldn't mind seeing Collette get a spin off show. She was the most interesting of the four stews. The search for her brother could come up with some very interesting storylines.

March 2, 2012 12:07 PM
Sabrina
Reply

I wouldn't mind seeing Collette get a spin off show. She was the most interesting of the four stews. The search for her brother could come up with some very interesting storylines.

April 2, 2012 2:24 PM
Michael Whalen
Reply

Pan Am was the finest TV drama on the air this season! It had CLASS and STYLE! ABC is NUTS if they let it go! The problems with the ratings can be fixed. A better time slot, Continuous airings ( NO LARGE GAPS THAT LAST FOR WEEKS ),AND running the episodes IN ORDER,which ABC did not do!! SUCH IDIOTS!! Hope fully another network will pick Pan Am up and give it better care!!!

April 3, 2012 11:26 AM
Mickey Duffy
Reply

As we all know, the world is full of many many people with wide varieties of tastes. A really smart and successful company will try to cater to those tastes. When they do, their sales & profits go up! Coca-Cola sells many kinds of drinks,Coca-Cola then becomes NUMBER ONE. Ford sells many types of cars,Ford becomes NUMBER ONE. Southwest Airlines or Jet-Blue offers many flights on differnt aircrafts, to many places at all hours of the day. Southwest & Jet-Blue become NUMBER ONE in their line of business. BUT ABC thinks all of us want to watch JUNK like Wipe-Out,The Bachelor,GCB ect. Dear ABC, some of us have IQ`s over 15. Some of us have style and taste. WE are the people who watch PAN AM!! But,ABC choses to ignore us? THATS WHY ABC WILL NEVER EVER be NUMBER ONE!!Very very sad!! To hell with ABC, here I come CBS and NBC! To answer the question,I will miss Pan Am`s beautiful production looks and Colette!! LONG LIVE CLIPPER MAJESTIC and all its wonderful FANS!!

May 10, 2012 9:37 PM
Runescape Bots 2012
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May 13, 2012 1:14 PM
Jennifer
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May 16, 2012 1:12 AM
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May 19, 2012 10:27 AM
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