4DTHOmnibusThursday, April 27, 1989
Edited for Television
Cheers to the '80s Number 1 TV
By WIX5TON LLOYD
Staff Writer
1.CHZDS(K2C
On Sept 30, 1982, the debut of
my pick for the best show of the
"80s was destroyed in the ratings
by Too Close For comfort" and
"Simon and Simon." After four
episodes, it ranked 60th out of
only 66 programs, but critics loved
it, and more importantly, so did
NBC Entertainment President
Brandon Tartikoff, who commit
ted to a full season. Wise decision.
The show is set in a Boston bar,
a perfect place where characters
can enter and exit the story in an
uncontrived fashion. But the show
is about characters and not about
a bar. Diane sums it up well
"And where better than here to
study life in all its facets? People
meet in bars, they part. They
rejoice, they suffer. They come
here to be with their own kind."
"Cheers" is essentially the story
of Sam MaSone (Ted Danson) and
Diane Chambers (Shelley Long).
Sam, a former relief pitcher for the
Boston Red Sox, bought the bar
while he was an alcoholic and held
on to it for "sentimental reasons"
after conquering his problem. On
the premiere episode, he hires
Diane after she is dumped by her
fiance. Sumner Sloan. Over the
next five years a stormy relation
ship ensues.
This relationship was the
strength of "Cheers." Producers
Gen Charles, Les Charles and James
Burrows agreed that the charac
ters should develop from first
episode to last episode, unlike
most sitcoms. By serializing the
romantic story line, the show has
a sense of history, with each
season being unique. The series is
not just a bunch of strung
together gags, and the plots are
Andrew
Major Characters
Jason Matthews and Courtney
Daniels (Interracial Couple)
Anne Burns and
Tessa Davenport (Enemies)
Ken Bullock and
Violet Jenkins (Couple)
Billy Castle and Paige Ryan
(Couple)
Alex Whitney and
Jack Christian (Couple)
Meg Ryan and Kyle Donovan
(Therapist-patient)
Brendan and Mary Catherine
Grasty (Married couple)
not melodramatic Instead, the
quality of writing is sometimes so
good there is very little need for
situational conflict, and ail the
humor can come out of the
characters.
While casting for the show, the
producers went "through
hundreds of actors and actresses
for the main two roles, including
William Devane of "Knots Landing"
and Fred Dryer of "Hunter." Dan
son and Long were chosen because
of their excellent chemistry; the
two assumed the personas of Sam
and Diane excellently, and the
show was built around them.
But Sam and Diane are also one
of the major points of criticism for
the show. Neither character is
entirely likable. Sam Is a woman
izer; Diane is an obnoxious intel
lectual For some, it is hard to
believe that they could have a
relationship, but this should be one
of the strong points. Sam is not
really as uncaring and shallow as
he would have us believe, and
Diane is not always that bright.
As we begin to see the depths
of the characters, we only like
them more. Their motivations
make sense, and their conflicts are
understandable. Although Diane
teases Sam about being stupid, she
does admit that he isnt. "Sam
happens to have a great deal of
intefiiqence. If you could see behind
his coarse facade ... he pretends
to be dumber than he is. some
times as a defense, and sometimes
to provoke me."
Sam, on the other hand, wond
ers, "Do, you know what its like
to be attracted to someone who
makes you sick?"
During the first season, Sam and
Diane build a strong platonlc
friendship. They date during the
second season, but split up at the
Lawler's
Current Storyline
Hiding out in S.C. on suspicion
of murder; love deepening
Tessa convinces amnesiac
Anne, that Anne shot Trevor
Violet's ex-pimp Damon black
mails her into prostitution
Happy; but troubled by Billy's
brother, dating a Davenport
Trisha Davenport is trying to
drive Alex mad
Kyle gets therapy from Meg,
and they begin to fall in love
Separated;
the mystery of Sarah deepens--
?
end. Diane quits Cheers and goes
to a nice little hospital in the
country. There, she meets Dr.
Frasier Crane, and they become
the 'item' at the bar for season
three. Then, she dumps Crane in
Europe.
After leaving Frasier. Diane tours
Europe in a mad dash of lovemak
ing, then repents in a Massachu
setts convent Sam persuades her
to return to cheers, and season
four features Sam and Diane
almost getting back together
before Sam becomes serious with
a local coundlwoman. Leaving the
coundlwoman, Sam asks Diane to
marry him in the fifth season. She
finally says yes. and they buy a
house, pick out a china pattern and
General
Supporting Cast
Mark and Randy: ex-racists.
Grandma: S.C. inn owner
Savannah: accomplice
Trevor: victim
Damon: pimp
Gabriell: hooker
Chaz: Billy's brother
Tara: dating Chaz
Trisha and Priscilla: Jack's ex
Trip: Alex's ex
None really
Sarah: M.C.'s "friend"
SimoneJtenclan's ex-lpver
- bam "Cheers" is number three
out of more than 70 shows.
But since Shelley Long decided
to leave the show, Diane walks out
of the wedding after Sam calls it
off. She finally has the chance to
have a book published, and he tells
her to have a good life even
though she swears. "Ill be back."
That was "Cheers" for five years
- but then came Rebecca, played
by Wrstie Alley. After five years of
developing the Sam and Diane
story, it is terrible that it has to
be totally forgotten. Rebecca
doesnt work as Diane's replace
ment; there is no chemistry
between her and Sam.
Dont get me wrong. "Cheers" is
still an excellent program, but it
College Overview
Recently
Dating led to violent dissent
from members of both races
Tessa shoots Trevor after
learning he fell for Anne
Ken and Violet met recently
but quickly fell in love
Perennially troubled couple
After series of misunderstand
ings they are finally reconciled
Ex-jock Kyle lost his legs after
a drunken accident
M.C. loses baby; Brendan had
affair with Simone ;
Show
is not as good as it was. The show
was essentially about Sam and
Diane, not about Sam and a bar
owned by a large corporation.
Long needs to return, and for the
sake of the show, it should end
with their marriage.
However, the funny writing and
the character development keep
the show consistently nominated
for Emmys. And Alley is able to
make her character funny and
entertaining, even though the
writers dont seem to know what
to do with her.
The supporting characters, who
are all unique, interesting and
See CHEERS page 11
Jason: ex-philanderer
(Meg, Paige, Steve?)
Tessa dealt coke to Anne and
Courtney; Anne was addicted
Ken was Kyle's roommate and
knows nothing of Violet's past
Paige used to be bulimic and
(unknowingly) dated a rapist
Alex had multiple personality
problems
Meg was raped by Paige's
boyfriend
(Future Hint) Simone's search
. v . : will trouble all .