Y'all know that Cheers is now on TVLand, right?
It airs: Weekdays @ 2PM & 7:30PM
Everynight @ 11:30PM
Sunday-Thursday @ 12AM
Weekends @ 7 & 7:30PM

I have been watching the first season again, and I just totally have fallen in love with this show all over again. I forgot how much Shelley Long and Ted Danson had such great chemistry.

Maybe this is Classic Sit-com Blasphemy, but I much prefer the Rebecca years.

I love the Rebecca Years but I also love the Diane Years. The show had different dynamics with different lead actresses but they were both good.

I have to say I far prefer the Rebecca years. I think Kirstie Alley is more talented as both a verbal and a physical comedian. I thought it was fun when you first see Rebecca, you think she's just a ball-busting corporate type, but once you peel the layers away she's kind of a klutz.

I think my favourite Rebecca episode is the one where she gets drunk at Kelly's dad's party and starts singing along with the opera singer who's providing the entertainment. I was just cracking up in the episode.

I've just watched one of the last few eps where Sam attends the sex addicts therapy group. I love when Sam starts an argument with another guy about who has had more women.

'OK buddy, I'm writing down a number!'


I preferred the 'Diane' years BTW.

The main problem I have with the Rebecca years is that Sam lost any semblance of nuance. I found him a much more interesting character in the Diane years, particularly in the first 3 seasons when Coach was around.

As for talent, I think Kirstie Alley was great at broad comedy, but that Shelley Long had more depth and subtlety. I've been watching the first season on DVD recently and am amazed at her range. Watch Let Me Count the Ways, in which Diane explains to Sam why she's so upset that her family cat died. She ping-pongs from comedy to pathos in one of the most realistic and touching ways I've ever seen.

I liked the Diane years and the Rebecca years equally I think. I liked it when Diane was on because Sam and she had this great chemistry that was just magic. I loved their whole relationship; the bartender and his waitress -- he the jock, she the intellectual.

Coach was great, and it was sad when he died. Rebecca probably was more funny, just because Kirstie Alley is a better comedic actress than Shelley. But they are both good actresses IMO.

I'm not sure if I'd call Shelly Long great; it seems to me that she always plays the same type of character, which seems like herself in real life.

I used to think that about Shelley Long too but after she nailed a Florence Henderson impression in the Brady Bunch Movie, I began to rethink that. And I had thought it was ludicrous when I first heard she was going to be playing Carol Brady.

Indeed they did. On the S1 DVD, Ted Danson talks about auditioning for the show. He was paired up with Shelley; there were two other sets of actors in the running. I've read that one of the other pairs was Fred Dryer (who turned up as Dave the sportscaster a few times) and Julia Duffy (who palyed Diane's friend Rebecca, the Russian poetry translator). I've never been able to find out who the third pair was.

On the DVD, Danson also gives Shelley high praise as an acting partner. I recall when she won an Emmy for the first sesason of Cheers (very well deserved), she expressed real disappointment that the voters had not similarly honored Ted, saying "Sam and Diane are a team!"

I don't know about a pair, but I remember hearing that William Devane was in the running, but, for some bizarre reason, he did his audition barefoot and cut his foot on some broken glass.

So glad to find Cheers back on regularly, though now on TV Land rather than at my favorite 11 PM slot on Nick at Night.

Last night, Diane told Norm he was a true ladies man because he wouldn't cheat on Vera -- Awwwe. Then he went into the bar to started to say every nasty thing about Vera that he could think of. I like it that constantly being wrong never stopped Diane from dispensing her advice. She's one of my most favorite TV characters ever.

I have come upon an upsetting discovery.

There is a Norm quote from the final episode (One for the Road) that I could not remember. It's his final conversation with Sam. So what did I do? I pulled out my 11 year old tape of the final episode, of course. It occurred to me that I had not watched this tape in quite some time. I pop the tape in the old VCR and what to my wondering eyes should appear? A bunch of crap from MTV circa 1998/1999. I KNEW I should not have left any valuable tapes at home when I went away to college! Pesky little brothers.

Now I am left scouring the internet for this quote or a transcript or anything - to no avail. So I come here to fellow Cheers lovers asking for help.

After consulting TV Land and TV Guide, this particular episode does not appear to be airing anytime soon and I must have this quote.

Any help filling in the blanks would be greatly appreciated and I could maintain my sanity (or at least continue in that pursuit).

Here is what I can remember (paraphrasing):

Norm: Everyone has one true love, Sam. It could be a person. It could be a thing. It doesn't matter. As long as you love it completely and without judgment...You know what I love, Sam?
Sam: Beer, Norm?
Norm: Sure, I'll have one
(Sam pours him a beer)
Norm: I love that stool. If there is a heaven, that stool will be there. And let me tell you, not even God better be sitting in it.....(yadda, yadda, yadda)...You always find yourself coming back to your one true love. You always come back to her.
Sam: Who?
Norm: Figure it out.
(Norm leaves)

That is a great quote and a great ending to a great show. Norm was great there.

Call me crazy, but I think it would have been cool to see Sam and Lilith hook up. Frasier and Rebecca hooked up for one episode after Lilith dumped him and she came back and caught them. Sam and Lilith had nothing in common (like Diane) but they had good banter and I think they could have done something. She was hardly on last season, when they split and divorced so he could be single for his show.

Edited to add: I mean Sam and Lilith for one ep. They try it and realize they are wrong for each other and go back to before. I mean just one episode.

Sorry, but . . . eww. Eww eww eww eww. This wouldn't have worked, in my mind. It would have been the same as Sam and Diane getting together.

One of the reasons why Shelley Long left was because of the introduction of Lilith's character. Long wasn't happy that there was another female intellectual character in the bar getting laughs.

The reason why Bebe Neuwirth (Lilith) wasn't around much in the last season was because she asked to be let out of her contract so she could pursue other projects, and she wasn't thrilled with the cast's work ethic.

What didn't Bebe like about their work ethic? Dish!

If I recall the E! program correctly, things got very relaxed on the set during the show's final seasons, which probably wouldn't go well with someone with a more proffessional mindset, as Bebe seems to be.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Lilith try to use Sam to make Frasier jealous? I seem to remember something about her trying to tempt him when she was dancing on a bed and Sam being like "Ohhh let's not do.. that.. wow..." or something to that effect. I loved Lilith she was fabulous, and one of the best things about Frasier (for me) is that it kept Cheers alive. I got to see what Woody, Sam, Norm, Carla, Diane, and Lilith were up to. Good stuff.

I also remember when Lilith had to sing and she sang "Sonny Boy" and all the patrons started calling their moms. My grandpa was watching the show with me and he kept saying how amazing her voice was and that she must be a singer. Suddenly, after that she's winning Tonys.

The gentleman playing Robin Colcord was also always on time. He said it would be him, Bebe and all the guest players. They came from the theater and hadn't been there forever. The cast eventually was able to be late because they knew they were part of a hit. Usually they drank beer and played foosball.

Yes, in the charity auction episode in season 6, Bidding on the Boys.

O well, I just wanted to see what other people thought. I know it wouldn't have worked, I just meant one episode and then it was over. Frasier and Lilith did work good together. I like the quote in the tea room episode when he admitted in front of the guys he was whipped.

Speaking of tea room, Rebecca won the bet. But Sam had the explosion and then it was back to normal with the pool room. Did Rebecca give up because of the explosion ? And chili was never mentioned again. I guess Sam's explosion and car windows broken was worth it.

And last night, when Carla and Rebecca left pool room and entered bar, the cut away was so obvious the pool room set was not there and they did not directly walk in from pool room to main bar.

I LOVE the tea room/chili episode. It was one of very few laugh out loud TV moments. Even just thinking about it now I'm cracking up at work.

I preferred the Rebecca years. Something about the Diane years were dated & more boring. However, when I see them now in syndication [as opposed to earlier on in syndication] I have more of an appreciation for them. I always saw myself as a Rebecca type character [as pointed out to me by my friends in grade 8] so maybe that's why I liked them more. Rebecca also brought in a lot of memorable characters from outside the bar.

I would love to see the final episode again. I'm pretty sure I've just seen it once. I remember watching it & crying...it was really the last show that I remember watching with both my friends & parents. When it was over, it was okay because we still had Seinfeld...but now there's nothing. And right now where I live they aren't showing Cheers on any channel...and haven't for years & years.

Over next few weeks will be last 2 seasons on Nick and TvLand.

Watching the one with Sam when John Hill 1st comes is classic. The way Sam goes crazy trying to break the wall and mat is great acting. No wonder Ted Danson was nominated for an emmy every single year Cheers was on.

Yeah, what everyone already said about Bebe Neuwirth's unhappiness with the work ethic.

I do think she genuinely enjoyed her time at Cheers and is grateful for it, I think she just got out before she started hating the entire experience. She and Kelsey Grammer had great chemistry. I'm glad she wasn't on Frasier though, her guest appearances were good enough.

Hey all,
I loved the Diane years because I loved Sam and Diane. Does anyone know why Shelly and the cast, particulary Ted didn't get along? It doesn't seem like this was always the case. I loved their chemistry and wished they had ended up together but I could see why they didn't.

From what I've read, Shelley Long became difficult to work with. She got an Emmy very early on and really wanted her way around the set. Plus she started making (bad) movies and I think she kind of developed an "I'm better than this and you" attitude. When she decided to not renew her contract, the cast REALLY turned their back to her. When she came back for the 200th episode (the special panel discussion with John McLaughlin) and when she came back for the final episode, she remarked how the cast barely acknowledged her.

I prefer the Diane years.... something about her timing and comedic input. She was a great play off of Carla. Also the fact that I can SO totally relate to her experience of having to work with such characters. They gave her some great lines that I STILL refer to.
I liked the first few Rebecca years. Then it turned into a series of Bed-Roulette with everyone sleeping around and the writing got WAY lame!
I loved the episode after Eddie died and the girls all had a slumber party over at Carla's. Lillith brought her friend, Dorthy, Dorthy. And they said the first one to fall asleep, they were going to put their bra in the freezer. Carla says to Lillith, "or we could let you wear it for 10 mins). LOL!!
(Lillith SO totally owned me when she was on!).

IMHO, the show went on about 3-4 yrs too long.
And I LOVED. LOVED. LOVED this show!! NEVER. NEVER. NEVER missed it.

It's hilarious to watch the old episodes with Coach.
He really had some great lines and was such a wonderful character.

Glad to find this thread!!

It's been awhile since I've seen it, but they talked about Shelly on ETHS! (back when it was worth watching). I seem to recall she's exactly like her character IRL and yes, she got big-head syndrome and decided to leave because she was about to become a big movie star.

I remember this! She made movies like Troop Beverly Hills and the Money Pit, which didn't do too well if I remember correctly. ETHS had a clip they showed where she was trying to joke and be funny but she just came across as reallly snippy and bitchy she said something like "Do I regret leaving Cheers? No. No ok? I don't regret leaving Cheers! I mean everyone asks me that, so do me a favor don't ask me that question ok? Ok? [snippy laugh like she's making a joke]" and she smiled the whole time. It was just... creepy, she probably feels like the guy who gave up the Beatles.

And despite her not regretting it she's reprised the role of Diane on Cheers (final eppie) and also on Frasier. I think twice on Frasier. That must really sting. Has she done anything since?

She played Carol Brady on the Brady Bunch movies and did pretty good imatations. The last one in the White House was terrible, no surprise.

I would have liked Rebecca if she wasn't so whiny! Gah! Most of the time I wanted to strangle her. My favorite character was Norm, of course. I just loved his quips. I'm pretty sure that I watched most of the time just to see him.

This description is hilarious because it's so true.

Those one-liners as he came in the bar were wonderful. I saw one the other day that I'd forgotten:

"Norm, how would a beer feel?"
"Pretty nervous if I was in the room."

That was from the episode where Robin Colcord was out picking up trash along the highway. I've always loved the bit where Sam starts playing "I Fought the Law" on the jukebox to taunt Rebecca. Rebecca tries to change it to "Stand By Your Man", but Sam's rigged the jukebox to play just "I Fought the Law". Rebecca comes back and unplugs the jukebox altogether, but that doesn't stop Sam - he just pulls out a boombox and keeps playing the song as she retreats to the office.

Thanks for the answers guys. Now I have a question that will prolly be hard to answer. I was watching an eppy of Cheers last nite (Sunday June 13) on Nick at Nite. The announcer said something about Sam having to choose between his girlfriend and the love of his life. I didn't get to see all the episode. The only part I saw was with Cliff fighting with his mom about a girl he liked. Does anyone know who the two women they were talking about in relation to sam? I figured it was Diane but I think she was already off the show at the time. Could it be Rebecca? I don't get it cuz I think Diane was the love of his life which made me confused. Also, did Sam and Rebecca ever have sex or date? For some reason I can't remember. Thanks!

I think Rebecca was making Sam wear frozen underwear in that episode and he had to give up coffee. Whatever the love of his life was, it wasn't a person. But, Rebecca wasn't really his girlfriend. She and Sam were trying to make a baby.

If I'd known you were going to ask this question, I'd have paid more attention. ;)

edited: Obviously, yes, Rebecca and Sam had sex. Even before they tried to make a baby, they had sex in the office after Rebecca thought Robin had fled the country.

thanks so much. I thought the announcer was saying Rebecca was the love of his life and I was mad cuz I am such a HUGE Diane and Sam fan. Thanks!

Was "the love of his life" the Corvette?

I thought the love of Sam's life was his hair. Or his reflection. That was one egotistical dude. He managed to make it endearing, though.

I always thought the "love of his life" was the bar. Remember the finale? Ted Danson said one of his children once asked "Why is he called Sam Alone?" and it just broke his heart.. but then he remembered Sam had Cheers.. he wasn't really ever alone.

I'm glad they left Sam single. It was a nice change from the usual "pair everyone off" schtick. Especially since Rebecca finally got the man she never knew she always wanted (Don the plumber).

Sam wasn't single. he got married to Diane, who then immediately ran off somewhere to work on a book or something, followed by a weird "Farewell/Goodbye", and Sam thinking about them in the future...

For the life of me I do not remember what became of Rebecca.

They didn't get married - they decided to wait until Diane wrote her book but she decided to stay in LA instead. I think they said on Fraiser later that Rebecca and Don broke up (but that I am not certain of).

Ironic that he was wearing a toupee, which I think came out in one episode.

It did - when Carla told him her big secret of having slept with Paul (it was Paul wasn't it?) he showed her the toupee.

Since I hate the later Buffys and the early Morning shows have been awful lately, I've been watching the 7:30am episodes.

These are some of the funniest moments on tv.

Sam: What are you up to Norm?
Norm: My ideal weight if I was 11 feet tall

Norm: It's a dog eat dog world out there Sammy and I'm wearin' milkbone underwear.

I loved how Fraisier's son's first word was "NORM!!"

"What's up, Norm?"
"My nipples -- it's freezing out!"

Yes. When Sam Malone came to Seattle to see Frasier, he said Don had left her for another woman (I think) and said she was back in the bar. When Frasier asked, "Managing?" Sam responded with "No, she's just back in the bar." I remember this annoyed me because I liked Rebecca's character and was glad how they finished her part on Cheers, then ruined it on Frasier.

The karaoke ep was on last night. It concludes tonight. The sight of Frasier singing the old tunes cracks me up. Especially the part where you hear the music, then Frasier appears from the hallway with a lounge-singer smile for his entrance. Too funny.

"What's shakin', Norm?"
"Four cheeks, three chins . . . "

Anyone remember the rest of the quote?

This might have something to do with the fact that Kirstie would never guest-star on "Frasier". It had something to do with her mind-boggling belief in Scientology and how they do not validate psychologists of any kind.

But did Kirstie ever actually say she would never guest star on Frasier or was it just assumed? I remember reading an article a few years ago saying Kirstie was the only Cheers cast member that hadn't guested on Frasier but it was doubtful that she would want to.

Not that it's a bad thing. I can't imagine why Rebecca would happen to be in Seattle just to see Frasier. Even Woody being there was something of a stretch.

Snip from an Entertainment Weekly article..


Gotta love those Scientologists.

"I don't condone ... helping people with drugs." You mean, like asperin or chemotherappy? Or like, "I don't want to help people with addictions." 'Cause either way it's loopy and downright mean.