Cheers! (I MET CLIFF AND NORM!)

[MetalJunkie]

Been binge-watching it. Never really watched it much when I was younger, but I'm loving the hell out of it. Great chemistry and it's witty as hell. I'm currently nearing the end of season 3.

[T-ski]

one of the all time great TV shows.  consistently funny til the end.

[hefdaddy42]

Norm!

[jingle.boy]

My favorite TV show of all time.  Got the DVD box-set for Christmas, and gonna have to try and find some time to do a little binge-watching of my own.

So many moments that I absolutely lost my shit.  The Normisms are great.  I used to know dozens of them.  "It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing milk-bone underwear".

I still think Frasier was my favorite character.  Then Woody.

[Prog Snob]

I never really watched it too much, but when I did I have to admit it was pretty good.

[KevShmev]

  The Normisms are great.  I used to know dozens of them.  "It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearing milk-bone underwear".

 

"What are you up to, Norm?"

"My ideal weight if I were 11 feet tall."

[kaos2900]

One of the best. Norm was my favorite as well.

[jingle.boy]

Why do I feel that the first couple of pages could easily be covered with to be Normism's?     No cheating now... go on memory only.

Got room for a beer Norm?
Nope, but I'm willing to add on.

[El Barto]

Eh, guess I gotta be the outcast, yet again, but I never cared for Norm and Cliff. Episodes that featured Norm were usually pretty good; when he was the corporate axeman and when he invented the mean alter-ego to control his painting employees both stand out. The Cliff episodes I often skipped altogether; dude was just too pathetic to watch.

I blasted through the first 10 season here at the shop a while back (but petered out by the 11th). Overall I thought it was generally very good, with some occasional bits of sheer brilliance. Both Diane and Rebecca had their stellar moments. As I've said many times before, Woody's wedding was as good as sitcoms get. Dinner at Eightish was perfectly executed farce. Moreover some of the Bar Wars episodes were awesome; the lat two in particular.

I think where the show lost it was when Rebecca went from a sensible and pragmatic go-getter to just being a ditzy, self-absorbed twat. I gather they were wanting to suggest that the bar beat her down, but when you turn one of the better characters into a depressing loser it's generally not good for the comedy.

And the best Cheers moment was probably when Coach was off dying in real life and they were shooting around him:

Sam: [reading a letter] Got a letter from Coach. He's enjoying his family reunion.
 Norm: Coach went to a family reunion?
 Sam: Sure.  He sent us a photo. [gives it to Norm]
 Norm: [pause] Sam, why is everyone in the photo except Coach black?
 Sam: Well, he got an invite by mistake and didn't want to offend anybody, so he went anyway.
 Norm: Well, they seem to have accepted him.
 Sam: Yeah, he's been going for ten years.  Next year they're holding it at his place.  Look, he signed it "Yours truly, Uncle Whitey."

[jingle.boy]

Woody's wedding was as good as sitcoms get.

Agreed.  It's up there with Seinfeld/The Contest.

"Calling Dr. Daniels!  Dr. Jack Daniels!!!!"

Seriously, with the look on Frasier's face, one of the funniest TV moments ever.

[King Postwhore]

My favorite Normism,


https://youtu.be/weBbZ11d5LM

[senecadawg2]

I've been moving through the series since this past summer. Got through the first five seasons in a couple weeks and have since slowed down a lot. I think I'm on the second to last season now, but it's been almost a month since I've watched.

I'm not a big fan of Rebecca, as a replacement for Dianne. And I agree with The Barto- Cliff is painful to watch. Do like Norm though and I do generally enjoy everyone else. Frasier being my favorite.

Is there any consensus on Frasier vs Cheers?

[jingle.boy]

Frasier (the show) was far more 'intelligently' written... both he and Niles were wonderfully pompous asses.  Frasier is top 5 comedies for me; Cheers is #1 overall.

[kaos2900]

I think both Frasier and Cheers are both equally awesome. If I had to pick one I'd probably go with Frasier.

[El Barto]

I'm not a big fan of Rebecca, as a replacement for Dianne.

I think Rebecca was a perfect replacement for Dianne, in that they went a completely different direction. At least as Rebecca was originally portrayed. The somewhat reinvented the show when Shelly Long split. Woody vs coach was a similar thing.

And I never cared for Frazier (the show--the character was awesome).

[senecadawg2]

Yeah that's a good distinction to make, because I did actually like her in the beginning and was getting a little worn out on Dianne. But it didn't take long for her to get on my nerves.

[El Barto]

I think, as originally conceived, Rebecca was a much better foil for Sam. Rebecca was really hot and completely unobtainable when she first arrived. More precisely, she hated him. Great for the sexual tension the show required. Dianne wasn't bad looking, but certainly out way of Sam's league, and rather than being unobtainable she was mostly just unlikable. I never found her particularly believable in that part. Rebecca could conceivably cause him to lose his mind from wanting something he couldn't have. Dianne could only cause that reaction by being completely batshit insane.


edit: And along with Frazier, Lillith was one of the great characters on that show. Of the regulars I rank them the highest.

Also, as a bit of amazing casting, the kid that played Carla's son Antony was a staggeringly good approximation of a teenage Nick Tortelli. That kid was brilliant. Everytime he was on the show it blew me away how good he was at being Nick Jr.

[Cool Chris]

A rare example of a show being solid from start to finish, especially considering a few significant casting changes.

I think, as originally conceived, Rebecca was a much better foil for Sam.

I agree with this 100%. In fact, I liked the Rebecca "era" much more than the Diane "era." Of course, they were both very good. But as far as it impacted Sam's character (the backbone of the show), Rebecca was indeed one of the best replacements in sitcom history. In fact, sometimes I'd wonder what Sam actually saw in Diane.

And if we want to talk foils for Sam, we have to include the snooty dude who bought the restaurant upstairs. Can't recall his name. And of course, Gary. I loved those episodes.

[lucky7]

Best show of all time for me!     I haven't watched it in a while though, but I do have all ten seasons.
I remember at the time of filming, the later seasons at least, Ted Danson was the highest paid TV actor, this was early 90's.
Also next time you watch Frasier the living/lounge room is the same set where the bar was placed in Cheers.
Great cast, Great Writing, Great TV! 
Just watched Toy Story 3 last night and Ham has lines just like Cliff (voiced by John Ratzenberger) it did make me nostalgic for Cheers. 

[jingle.boy]

I think, as originally conceived, Rebecca was a much better foil for Sam.

I agree with this 100%. In fact, I liked the Rebecca "era" much more than the Diane "era." Of course, they were both very good. But as far as it impacted Sam's character (the backbone of the show), Rebecca was indeed one of the best replacements in sitcom history. In fact, sometimes I'd wonder what Sam actually saw in Diane.

Even when Rebecca porked up and turned all pathetic (after getting fired from her corporate job, and duped by Robin Colcord), I preferred the chemistry between her/Sam over the Sam/Diane years.  There were very few moments that I truly felt Shelly Long was hilarious.  In the Diane-era, it was clear that Long/Dawson were the co-stars, and the writing reflected it.  In the Rebecca-era, Dawson was the clear star, and everyone there was in support of Sam's character.

[KevShmev]

Why do I feel that the first couple of pages could easily be covered with to be Normism's?     No cheating now... go on memory only.

Got room for a beer Norm?
Nope, but I'm willing to add on.

Heh, that was the other one I had in my head to quote yesterday, but I went for the other instead.

As for what else is being discussed...

Cliff: I agree that the episodes that centered around him weren't always the best, but he was an awesome side character.

Rebecca: they changed her character quickly, since he was too cold and unlikable at first, but yeah, they eventually did make her too much of a loser.  The episode in Season 7 (I think) where she flips out when Frasier's doctor friend kept flirting with her and then denying it was awesome.  "And why don't you get yourself some new socks, buster!"

Lilith: undoubtedly a phenomenal character, and brilliantly acted.

Frasier: easily THE funniest person on the show, based solely off of his facial expressions, delivery and comedic timing.  The writers would often give him the worst dialogue, knowing that Kelsey Grammer would make it work with his delivery, and he always did.

Sam and Diane: unmatched on-screen chemistry.  Shelley Long left at the right time, since there was nothing else to do with her character (her and Sam getting married would have so boring for the series).  But the arc of each season with the two played out perfectly:

1: she finds him to be annoying, but slowly starts to like him, and the season ends with them finally kissing
2: they become a couple, fight a lot, and then have a bad break-up at the end of the season
3: she returns to the bar with a new boyfriend (Frasier), and the season features a lot of childish, funny back and forths between the two, who clearly still have a thing for one another
4: she returns to the bar again after dumping Frasier at the alter, and she and Sam have this "just below the surface" sexual energy that bubbles up at times, and the season ends with Diane being jealous of his new relationship with a councilwoman, leading to Sam proposing to Diane on the phone at the end (although at the time, it was unclear if he was proposing to Diane or Janet)
5: Diane, fearing Sam only proposed because he was on the rebound, says no, Sam is angry, and then we get a new dynamic, where Sam is bitter and irritated with Diane, while she is the aggressor for once, trying to win Sam back, culmination in them eventually getting engaged after a series of bizarre and comedic events, but of course the engagement is called off and she leaves town to finish her book, but for only six months...which turned into six years.

Brilliant writing.

[MetalJunkie]

OHMYGOD. I AM OFF ON THIS DAY. THEY ARE DOING A MEET AND GREET/AUTOGRAPH SIGNING. AUUUUGGGHHHHH

[DragonAttack]

The first 'Normism' has always been my most memorable, and favorite...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNP5OEaarjU

[MetalJunkie]

Crosspost from the "post your picture thread." This one was phone quality, taken mid-sentence. The professional shot will be posted Monday.

[hefdaddy42]

 

[El Barto]

That a Sierra Nevada Norm's drinking? Since he's put all the weight back on I'd imagine that it is. He goes through phases where he sobers up and gets down to a reasonable weight.

Did you get to ask them anything interesting?

[MetalJunkie]

That a Sierra Nevada Norm's drinking? Since he's put all the weight back on I'd imagine that it is. He goes through phases where he sobers up and gets down to a reasonable weight.

Did you get to ask them anything interesting?

Didn't have time to, really. Looong line of people waiting.

Me: How you guys doin' tonight?
Them: Good!
John: So what's the weather gonna be like tomorrow?
Me: It's Oklahoma, so no one knows.
(obligatory sensible chuckle)
Me: Guys, thanks for doing this, it's awesome, Cheers has kinda been big in my life lately.
John: As it should be.
Photographer: Look at me! *click*
Me: Thank you guys.
Them: Nod/you're welcome/etc.
*shake both their hands, wish them good night, walk off*


Another cool note: prior to the meet and greet, they were there to host a burger eating challenge at the Hwy 66 Diner in the casino. During the competition, John was walking around greeting patrons. One family's kid brought a toy Hamm from Toy Story. John sat down in the family's booth and talked with the kid for a few solid minutes. SUPER nice guy.

George was just kinda there. Like, he was nice and all, but he seemed tired or worn out. They were both nice, but John was really outgoing and charismatic.

[KevShmev]

Very nice.

I still remember when Cheers ended. It seemed like John Ratzenberger was the most bummed about it coming to an end, and while he has done well post-Cheers, especially as a voice actor, I think he continues to relish what has to have been the role of a lifetime for him.

[Dream Team]

One of my favorites:

What's up Norm?

My nipples, it's freezing out there!

[Dream Team]

A lot of nostalgia with this show. When my wife and I started dating in 86 we watched it all the time at her house. For awhile it was followed by Night Court, a great one-two punch. My father-in-law called them Dirty Sam and Dirty Dan. 

[Calvin6s]

A lot of nostalgia with this show. When my wife and I started dating in 86 we watched it all the time at her house. For awhile it was followed by Night Court, a great one-two punch. My father-in-law called them Dirty Sam and Dirty Dan. 

Being a kid and watching Cheers-Night Court on the same night was heavenly.

Congrats, MetalJunkie.  I think you nailed the "conversation" bit of meeting them (not being sarcastic).

[MetalJunkie]

[Orbert]

Professional quality!