Hey, let’s talk about CHEERS around here. I don’t know what’s happening in your area, but I rarely see reruns of this on TV anymore. It’s mostly FRIENDS, SEINFELD, SIMPSONS, KING OF QUEENS, that kind of stuff.
I’d like to see stuff like NIGHT COURT, NEWHART, and NEWSRADIO get on TV more, as I fear young people today are missing out on some of this classic stuff.
Anyway, to the topic at hand, I prefered the Diane years, but some of the best episodes the show ever did were the Bar Wars series in the later seasons.
What do you guys think? What is your favorite era or episodes?
Oh, no doubt. The Diane episodes–the late Ernie Pantuso to early Woody Boyd ones, especially–encapsulate the show at its finest. The early Rebecca ones weren’t too shabby, either. As for favorites, I was always partial to anything involving Gary’s Old Towne Tavern.
Love the whole run, but I’m gonna throw my support behind the Rebecca era. Doesn’t have much to do with Kirstie Alley, but it just happens that a lot of my favorite eps came during her tenure. Has more to do with loving Kelsey Grammer on the show and how his character “let loose” more once Diane was gone.
Which Gary did you guys prefer? Both were solid but I give the edge to the guy who was in THE THING.
Had a fairly long streak during the 90’s of watching the food fight episode each Thanksgiving.
Had a big junior-high era crush on Shelly Long, so I’m definitely in the Diane Years camp. With the possible exception of the very different Seinfeld, this may be my favorite sitcom ever.
In addition to that amazing Thanksgiving episode, I loved all the times Harry the Hat showed up.
The Harry the Hat ones are classic, dug how he came back one more time toward the end.
Wish Fred Dryer had shown up one more time as well. Always liked his sleazy sportscaster.
Another point for the Kirstie Alley years was Roger Rees. Awesome foil for Malone. The episode with Sam and Robin competing in various games during what was supposed to be Rebecca’s “Perfect Day” is fantastic. Especially the ending.
Check this out. Had a local station here that was showing Cheers in the morning. Was the perfect way to start my day, eating my Cheerios and enjoying time with the gang before work. Now, with the the new fall schedule, they’ve replaced it with Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mornings = fucked now.
I’m a Rebecca-era man. It gave us the Screaming Viking, maybe my favorite sitcom moment ever.
Originally Posted by MoltisantiView Post Another point for the Kirstie Alley years was Roger Rees. Awesome foil for Malone. The episode with Sam and Robin competing in various games during what was supposed to be Rebecca’s “Perfect Day” is fantastic. Especially the ending.
I missed most of the first couple of Rebecca seasons due to starting college and working nights, so someday I’ll have to rectify that. Wasn’t Tom Skeritt on at one time, too?
Diane and Sam’s chemistry was so great that you’d never know that those two kind of hated each other in real life.
Originally Posted by RattyView Post I missed most of the first couple of Rebecca seasons due to starting college and working nights, so someday I’ll have to rectify that. Wasn’t Tom Skeritt on at one time, too?
Yeah, Skeritt was on a half-dozen or so times during Alley’s first season as the guy in charge of the company that bought Sam’s bar and for whom Rebecca had the hots for. Best episode with him was the one where Norm is hired to paint his mansion.
Really the most amazing thing about the show is how consistent it was from start to finish. Right out of the gate in the first season they had that classic episode where Sam and Diane agree to set each other up for dates, and Sam at the last minute has to get that crazy guy.
Another great early one is where Norm decides to have his offices’ annual party at the bar.
Originally Posted by ED209View Post Really the most amazing thing about the show is how consistent it was from start to finish.
The fact that it was on 11 years and never really hit a prolonged rough patch is astounding. Some of the stuff in the last couple years was more over the top/zany than usual but the same was true of Seinfeld in its last couple seasons.
Best one-shot guest star: John Cleese. “I’ve grown to hate them.”
Originally Posted by MoltisantiView Post Yeah, Skeritt was on a half-dozen or so times during Alley’s first season as the guy in charge of the company that bought Sam’s bar and for whom Rebecca had the hots for. Best episode with him was the one where Norm is hired to paint his mansion.
HAHA I just remembered Norm’s brilliant save in the episode of how he “always wanted people to see him carrying a rich guy”.
Local station here is actually showing Cheers again, it’s been great.
Loved this show. The only thing that I can really add to what’s been said already is that I loved the whole Frazier/Lilith character dynamic. The episode where they realize that they’re in love (she puts on makeup and appears on live TV with Frazier) is probably my favorite episode of the entire series.
Originally Posted by MisfitView Post Check this out. Had a local station here that was showing Cheers in the morning. Was the perfect way to start my day, eating my Cheerios and enjoying time with the gang before work.
Same here – I often enjoyed the hour of Cheers/hour of Frazier over coffee and a bagel on a weekday morning. Beat the livin’ shit out of the local news.