WESTERN737800 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 662 posts, RR: 1 Posted (3 months 3 weeks 1 day ago) and read 1359 times:
Hey gang. I've watched every episode of the great bar in Boston. I've been daydreaming about the show lately (yes I need to get a life.) For example, how long after Sam's retirement from baseball did it take for him to buy the bar? Did he work in the bar before he bought it? Or did he just use his baseball pension to buy it? Did Coach tell him during his baseball days that he should consider owning a bar? Was the first episode the first day of Sam's operating Cheers? Or had he owned it for a while/and for how long?
Did Sam know Norm and Cliff while he was playing baseball? Or Did he meet them when he bought the bar? What did Vera really look like? Then after the show. Would've everyone keep on working there? Would Norm and Cliff be sitting on the same stools for eternity? Would Woody be elected mayor of Boston someday? Would Sam and Rebecca get married someday? Would Sam keep owning Cheers? Would Woody end up owning Cheers? Would Carla ever settle down and get married?
I've just been wondering about these critically important issues. What would happen? Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Have a cold one and think about this. There's no right or wrong answers. Thanks again.
No offense, but for someone who's watched every episode, many of your questions have "Newbie" written all over them. Either that or you weren't following the show too closely.
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter): how long after Sam's retirement from baseball did it take for him to buy the bar? Did he work in the bar before he bought it? Or did he just use his baseball pension to buy it? Did Coach tell him during his baseball days that he should consider owning a bar?
While there is no direct answer to the above-questions, some history regarding Sam's bar ownership and baseball career was explained in the fore-mentioned Pilot episode. It is presumed that he bought the bar during his his baseball career (which ended due to his alcoholism - he also was married once before as well, his alcoholism cost him his marriage as well). When Sam mentioned all this to Diane (when she first walked into the bar with her then-fiance, Sumner Sloan); she asked why he still kept the bar in spite of his alcoholism, he stated for 'sentimental reasons'.
In one episode during the 5th season, she comes into Carla's home but her face is covered by a pie that Diane threw towards Sam as he was heading towards the front door (it was either open or Sam just opened it). Sam ducked and (off camera) Vera gets hit in the face while approaching the door from outside. That's the most one sees of Vera. Another episode shows merely her legs and feet while walking up the outside stairs of the bar.
Rebecca gets married in the show's final episode to a guy who came to the bar to fix the beer keg taps (played by Tom Berenger). One of Rebecca's final lines (paraphrased) was "I was seeking Donald Trump and I got Ed Norton."
In one episode of Frasier, Sam visits Frasier and mentions that Cliff moved away and that some previous patrons that left the bar because of him (Cliff) have since returned.
TOMMY767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5203 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (3 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1275 times:
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter): Hey gang. I've watched every episode of the great bar in Boston. I've been daydreaming about the show lately (yes I need to get a life.) For example, how long after Sam's retirement from baseball did it take for him to buy the bar? Did he work in the bar before he bought it? Or did he just use his baseball pension to buy it? Did Coach tell him during his baseball days that he should consider owning a bar? Was the first episode the first day of Sam's operating Cheers? Or had he owned it for a while/and for how long?
It's one of the best sitcoms. Up there for me with Seinfeld and Wings for sure. Cheers puts a show like the Office (american version) to complete shame.
IIRC, Sam owns the bar then sells it off and gets it back numerous times during the course of the show. I'm with you on the confusion, it's hard to keep track of especially when Robin gets involved in the later seasons. I believe in season 8 or 9 Sam buys it back from the company that owns it (who Rebecca works for) and by the end of the show Sam owns Cheers but contemplates leaving it for LA with Diane (see the amazing 3 part season finale.)
Personally I'm a bit unfamiliar with some of the earlier seasons. I got into it more when Frasier joined the cast in season 4-5 (and I own seasons 6-12 on DVD). And when Woody Harrelson joined the cast it got even better. They were at the top of the ratings by season 9-10. It was THE sitcom to watch circa 1987-1993.
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter): Did Sam know Norm and Cliff while he was playing baseball? Or Did he meet them when he bought the bar? What did Vera really look like? Then after the show. Would've everyone keep on working there? Would Norm and Cliff be sitting on the same stools for eternity? Would Woody be elected mayor of Boston someday? Would Sam and Rebecca get married someday? Would Sam keep owning Cheers? Would Woody end up owning Cheers? Would Carla ever settle down and get married?
He definitely didn't know Norm or Cliff while he was playing ball. That's the point, the were (and assumed to always be) bar dwellers. In the season finale it's revealed that Cheers would continue to operate in this form:
--Sam would obviously run and operate cheers
--Woody would become mayor of Boston, indicating he's leaving his bar tender gig but not ditching the establishment or characters.
--Rebecca gets married to the plumber guy which is probably the most ridiculous outcomes of the show
--Norm, Carla, and Cliff don't change. Arguably Frasier doesn't change either but it's assumed he left Boston for Seattle in the spinoff. But in the finale, it's those 4 who are the last to leave the bar and it's justified that they are the mainstays for eternity at Cheers.
The finale really does contemplate what the meaning of life really is. Sam finally realizes his fate is running the bar at cheers being with the people who genuinely care about him.
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 6974 posts, RR: 31 Reply 4, posted (3 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 3): I believe in season 8 or 9 Sam buys it back from the company that owns it (who Rebecca works for)
Sam sold the bar during the hiatus between Seasons 5 & 6. He buys it back for 85 cents at the end of Season 8. The bar burns down at the opening of Season 11.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 3): I got into it more when Frasier joined the cast in season 4-5
Frasier first appeared in Season 3 (Diane met him while she was institutionalized at Goldenbrook during the Season 2-3 hiatus - she had a nervous breakdown after breaking up with Sam); though the actor's name, Kelsey Grammer, didn"t start appearing in the Opening Credits until Season 5. Throughout Season 3, Diane is dating Frasier. Half-way through the season, Diane & Fraiser leave for Italy. Since Shelley Long was pregant (and it was starting to show) at the time and did not want her Diane character to be pregant; the writers used the move to Italy to minimize the situation.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 3): Woody Harrelson joined the cast it got even better.
At the beginning of Season 4, Woody first shows up at the bar looking for Coach (they were pen-pals) only to find out that he passed away several months earlier.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 3): It was THE sitcom to watch circa 1987-1993.
Many of the purists like the earlier seasons (1-5, 1982-1987) better. It's worth noting that Cheers nearly got the axe before Season 7 when Ted Danson (Sam) comtemplated leaving the show; the supporting cast successfully persuaded him to do otherwise. People magazine had that story on their front cover at the time.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
WESTERN737800 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 662 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (3 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1189 times:
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): many of your questions have "Newbie" written all over them. Either that or you weren't following the show too closely.
I own every episode on dvd and have watched them at least twice. I pretty much know what happened during the episodes, but was curious about before and after. I know Rebecca married the plumber guy, but I just cant see her staying married to someone like that. I thought Woody was elected to the city counsel, and maybe someday would become mayor.
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): Well she was remarried to Eddie LeBec for a brief period but later widowed.
I remember Eddie. Again I was just thinking about after the final season.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 3): It's one of the best sitcoms. Up there for me with Seinfeld and Wings for sure
It is one of the greatest of all time. I think it set the benchmark for all other sitcoms to measure up to. I have some younger friends that I've tried to get to watch it, they just don't seem to appreciate great comedy like I do. Its too bad they just didn't keep it going for another generation to enjoy.
dragon-wings From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 3844 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1183 times:
I always wondered what Norm and Cliff are drinking in all those show. I know it wasn't real beer, so what was it? A non aloholic beer? Something that looked like beer?
EA CO AS From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 11864 posts, RR: 67 Reply 7, posted (3 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1179 times:
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter): Would've everyone keep on working there? Would Norm and Cliff be sitting on the same stools for eternity? Would Woody be elected mayor of Boston someday? Would Sam and Rebecca get married someday? Would Sam keep owning Cheers? Would Woody end up owning Cheers? Would Carla ever settle down and get married?
These, and many other questions will be answered in the next episode of...."Soap"..
"In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem - government IS the problem." - Ronald Reagan
TOMMY767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5203 posts, RR: 10 Reply 9, posted (3 months 2 weeks 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1116 times:
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Reply 5): I have some younger friends that I've tried to get to watch it, they just don't seem to appreciate great comedy like I do. I
Most of my friends (24-26 range) don't get it either. I only have one friend that I can watch cheers with and he's from college.
Quoting zanl188 (Reply 8):
What I want to know is how did the OP get thru the opening post of a thread about Cheers without mentioning Diane?
Quite possibly because she sucked? lol She was funny to laugh at and was a core part of the show but everything about her character was the worst: mental, over educated, Boston elitist. Need I say more?
Beside the departure of Coach and Long was well compensated by the additions of Rebecca, Woody, Lilith, and Frasier. Towards the end of the show some of the best episodes had plot lines revolving around Frasier and Lilith.
zanl188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2991 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 months 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 1095 times:
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 9): Quite possibly because she sucked? lol She was funny to laugh at and was a core part of the show but everything about her character was the worst: mental, over educated, Boston elitist.
But that's what made her funny...
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WESTERN737800 From United States of America, joined Feb 2008, 662 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (3 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1071 times:
Quoting zanl188 (Reply 8): What I want to know is how did the OP get thru the opening post of a thread about Cheers without mentioning Diane?
Sorry I forgot to metion, what did Carla call her? Ghostface. She was funny, I liked her better than Rebecca.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 9): Beside the departure of Coach and Long was well compensated by the additions of Rebecca, Woody, Lilith, and Frasier. Towards the end of the show some of the best episodes had plot lines revolving around Frasier and Lilith.
Coach was awesome! I really liked Woody as well. Its amazing how when someone left, the show never missed a beat. Some of those Frasier/Lilith scenes were pretty good.
Airstud From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 1474 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 896 times:
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Reply 5): I have some younger friends that I've tried to get to watch it, they just don't seem to appreciate great comedy like I do. Its too bad they just didn't keep it going for another generation to enjoy.
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 9): Most of my friends (24-26 range) don't get it either. I only have one friend that I can watch cheers with and he's from college.
The reason young folks don't find it funny is that they don't understand that the show actually pioneered a number of comic devices & literary constructs that were aped by hundreds of later shows. The young folks see originality on Cheers and think they're looking at something derivative. Sigh....
There were a few others; The Stick, Whitey and Bone Butt are some that I remember.
Quoting WESTERN737800 (Reply 5): I pretty much know what happened during the episodes
With all due respect, some of your earlier questions were poorly-worded then.
Examples:
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter):
Was the first episode the first day of Sam's operating Cheers?
No. Re-watch the Pilot episode.
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter):
how long after Sam's retirement from baseball did it take for him to buy the bar? Did he work in the bar before he bought it? Or did he just use his baseball pension to buy it? Did Coach tell him during his baseball days that he should consider owning a bar?
While there is no direct answer to the above-questions, some history regarding Sam's bar ownership and baseball career was explained in the fore-mentioned Pilot episode. It is presumed that he bought the bar during his his baseball career (which ended due to his alcoholism - he also was married once before as well, his alcoholism cost him his marriage as well). When Sam mentioned all this to Diane (when she first walked into the bar with her then-fiance, Sumner Sloan); she asked why he still kept the bar in spite of his alcoholism, he stated for 'sentimental reasons'.
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): Quoting WESTERN737800 (Thread starter):
Would Norm and Cliff be sitting on the same stools for eternity?
In one episode of Frasier, Sam visits Frasier and mentions that Cliff moved away and that some previous patrons that left the bar because of him (Cliff) have since returned.
Granted, this tid-bit was revealed on the Frasier series.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
ER757 From Cayman Islands, joined May 2005, 1945 posts, RR: 9 Reply 15, posted (3 months 2 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 833 times:
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 2): Rebecca gets married in the show's final episode to a guy who came to the bar to fix the beer keg taps (played by Tom Berenger). One of Rebecca's final lines (paraphrased) was "I was seeking Donald Trump and I got Ed Norton."
In an episode of Frasier where Sam comes to Seattle, Sam mentions that her husband dumped her after he invented some gizmo that made him rich.
Great show overall, I think I saw every episode, but I think it ran a bit too long. There are only so many story lines that writers can come up with. Really jumped the shark with that whole Sam and Rebecca trying to have a baby story line.
FX1816 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1357 posts, RR: 5 Reply 17, posted (3 months 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 613 times:
Quoting TOMMY767 (Reply 13): Quoting Airstud (Reply 12):
Yeah very true. My personal favorite complaint I heard one time "how can you watch a show that ONLY takes place in a bar? It's like a play!" (idiot)
You all are so right, I love Cheers and I'm only 31. I love watching the reruns when ever I can. It's kind of like Seinfeld too, most young people don't seem to get it.
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