#64

Cheers

NORM!

Eleven seasons on NBC. Cheers was iconic. Low ratings in its early seasons could not stop it. It became one of the staples for NBC’s comedy lineup in the 1980s-1990s.

Glen Charles & Les Charles and James Burrows created the show about a former baseball relief pitcher who now runs a Boston bar. Sam Malone was a womanizer and admired by all until Diane Chambers walked through the door.

The show was able to survive one of its main leads leaving. In fact, after Shelley Long departed the show, Cheers took off critically and successfully.

The cast was an absolute gem with Ted Danson, Shelley Long, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammar, Kirstie Alley, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, Bebe Neuwirth, and Paul Wilson.

Cheers had a spin off entitled Fraiser, which was perhaps even more successful. It had young magician/comedian Harry Anderson who, while not a direct spinoff, took his basic character to a show called Night Court.

Cheers was always funny. It showed us the lives of a group of characters that we cared about and that we were entertained by. It also had one of the best themes around.