Some of the Cheers characters were wonderfully written and defined from the very beginning. Others were more of a product of the actor's input. Obviously the entire cast was great, but which actors had more impact in defining their characters? Can you see any other actors playing these characters?

I think the most obvious one is Cliff, since John came up with the idea himself. He truly was the one who breathed life into this character.

Sadly, Kirstie Alley's crying "ability" was the reason they made her character whine so much.

I also think George Wendt had a big part in making Norm a prominent character.
Look at early publicity shots, its just Sam, Diane, Coach and Carla.

The character of Norm was only supposed to have on line ("Beer") in the pilot.


From what I understand, the Carla character was custom made for Rhea Perlman.


I've read that the writers would deliberately give Kelsey Grammer bad lines, because he could still make them funny. So in that case its definately the actor.



The writers played a more important role in the characters of Sam, Diane, Coach, Woody, and Lilith.
Although they definately were needed for the other characters.

Agree on all points.

Along the lines of Kirstie's whine, both Rhea and Shelley are responsible for their characters' signature laughs.

Kelsey made Frasier what he is today. NOBODY could've pulled him off as good as he did.

Originally posted by Chambers
Along the lines of Kirstie's whine, both Rhea and Shelley are responsible for their characters' signature laughs.

I wonder if they naturally laugh like that.

Watch any movies w/Shelley & Rhea in them & then see if they laugh like that (the funny movies would work better for this) & then watch Cheers and see if their laughs compare to their characters on the show. :D

Tiff7

3 days til (~~)! (halloween)

Originally posted by barwars
I wonder if they naturally laugh like that.

I bet both Rhea and Shelley exaggerate it for the part.

But some people really do laugh like Diane (like...my mother...well, she isn't as bad, but it sounds very similar).

In my opinion, Sam Malone is the best written part of the show.

Obviously it takes a talent to deliver the lines as well as Ted Danson did, but how can you dispute that fact that originally he is the most fleshed out character?

That is why it kills me when Rebecca comes along and all of a sudden Sam is a boob.

Originally posted by dlemond
In my opinion, Sam Malone is the best written part of the show.

Obviously it takes a talent to deliver the lines as well as Ted Danson did, but how can you dispute that fact that originally he is the most fleshed out character?

That is why it kills me when Rebecca comes along and all of a sudden Sam is a boob.

I understand what you mean. (especially about him becoming a boob).... but I think Frasier was the best written part of the show. Followed by Diane and maybe Woody.

Originally posted by barwars
I understand what you mean. (especially about him becoming a boob).... but I think Frasier was the best written part of the show. Followed by Diane and maybe Woody.

I did not mean to dismiss Frasier. Frasier is killer.

It's just me, but a show with Sam and Frasier would have been great. Just rewatch all their early scenes alone together.
Great stuff.

Lilith was another well written character - I would imagine that she would be very hard to write for...

Originally posted by dlemond
That is why it kills me when Rebecca comes along and all of a sudden Sam is a boob.

Ugh, I know, I hate that part of Sam. :rolleyes:

I'm with you guys on Frasier, though! I often hear Kelsey deliver a line, and it makes me laugh so much, but the line isn't that funny, it's how he says it. (Which is why I'm sure that giving him bad lines to see if he could make them funny thing could be true!) An example that comes to mind is in Tan N Wash when Diane says, "Frasier? Sunburned?" and he says "No, Diane, I'm doing my impression of a blood blister." On any other show, with any other character, I probably wouldn't laugh, but I was DYING when I heard that.

Then, of course, Diane-- I could never picture anyone but Shelley playing her, she had her nailed from the beginning, IMO.

Originally posted by ChambersVsMalone

Then, of course, Diane-- I could never picture anyone but Shelley playing her, she had her nailed from the beginning, IMO.

I agree. Even Shelley's unique physical look was essential in making Diane a great character. I mean her flatness was a must - and I can't imagine many blonde, good-looking actresses being comfortable with that.

Originally posted by dlemond
I did not mean to dismiss Frasier. Frasier is killer.

It's just me, but a show with Sam and Frasier would have been great. Just rewatch all their early scenes alone together.
Great stuff.

That's when I liked Sam best.... his scenes alone with Frasier.

you know I never would have noticed her breast size if they hadnt made jokes about it on the show.


Oh...and it is kind of ironic that Carla makes fun of her about it, since Rhea Pearlman isnt exactly huge

The best thing is when an actor's physical appearance or certain quirks get implemented into the character. It helps flesh the character out even more.

For example, on "Will & Grace," Jack always puts down Will's appearance compared to his. But Eric McCormack, who plays Will, is obviously better-looking than Sean Hayes, who plays Jack. In casting Sean Hayes, we get a narcissist who isn't even that attractive. It makes him a little more interesting than simply the pretty boy always dissing the average-looking guys.

Originally posted by slackermonkey
The best thing is when an actor's physical appearance or certain quirks get implemented into the character. It helps flesh the character out even more.

For example, on "Will & Grace," Jack always puts down Will's appearance compared to his. But Eric McCormack, who plays Will, is obviously better-looking than Sean Hayes, who plays Jack. In casting Sean Hayes, we get a narcissist who isn't even that attractive. It makes him a little more interesting than simply the pretty boy always dissing the average-looking guys.

Good point. That's pretty much what happens with Diane and Carla only on a more obvious level of irony.

George Wendt gained 75 pounds each season to play Norm. (some seasons you can see him weighing relatively less)

He would then work it off.
He's gotten even bigger in recent years, I wonder if he could still work it off.


And Wendt had a professional trainer, and had to follow a strict diet to gain that much weight. Although being overweight is unhealthy, I supposse this was done as healthful (wrong term, I know) as possible.

Originally posted by barwars
George Wendt gained 75 pounds each season to play Norm. (some seasons you can see him weighing relatively less)

He would then work it off.
He's gotten even bigger in recent years, I wonder if he could still work it off.


And Wendt had a professional trainer, and had to follow a strict diet to gain that much weight. Although being overweight is unhealthy, I supposse this was done as healthful (wrong term, I know) as possible.

I guess as long as he remained fit he was ok (kinda like those huge football players). But, yes, that was impressive.

Originally posted by barwars
George Wendt gained 75 pounds each season to play Norm. (some seasons you can see him weighing relatively less)

He would then work it off.
He's gotten even bigger in recent years, I wonder if he could still work it off.


And Wendt had a professional trainer, and had to follow a strict diet to gain that much weight. Although being overweight is unhealthy, I supposse this was done as healthful (wrong term, I know) as possible.

Damn... that's impressive.

Quite Frankly, with the exception of Cliff, I really don't think the actors had anything to do with the writing of their characters. I mean, in several interviews (including season 2 DVD) Ted Danson has said that he isn't as outgoing as Sam Malone, and Shelley Long hinted that the character of Diane was a challenge for her. Not the comedic dimensions of her (long being a Comedy veteran), but she mentions that her vocabulary certainly expanded while on Cheers. Rhea Pearlman seems like the sweetest person in the world in every interview I've seen with her. George Wendt may be the only one that is really like their character, or at least admits it.

George is Norm.
Norm is George.
There is no difference.



Other than that, I agree with Maria (DianeChambers87 for the "newer" people, but thats way too damn long to type out, as I sit here wasting my time explaining it)

Kelsey Grammer is the most laid back person in the world, polar opposite of Frasier.


BUT.... Rebecca was a bitch, and Kirstie is a bitch.... so I guess its two out of ten.

Originally posted by barwars
George is Norm.
Norm is George.
There is no difference.



Other than that, I agree with Maria (DianeChambers87 for the "newer" people, but thats way too damn long to type out, as I sit here wasting my time explaining it)

Kelsey Grammer is the most laid back person in the world, polar opposite of Frasier.


BUT.... Rebecca was a bitch, and Kirstie is a bitch.... so I guess its two out of ten.

Yea for Kelsey, Don't be so hard on Kirstie! lol

Another one is Bebe, she's a freakin' broadway performer! I would say the Antithesis of Lilith

Originally posted by DianeChambers87
Don't be so hard on Kirstie! lol

There's no going back now.
At least last year at this time.... she still had a last minute oppurtunity to go on Frasier, but nope.... now Kirstie Alley is nothing to me.

It's against her religion to support psychiatry -- in this case, a TV show where the star is a psychiatrist.

At least she had a reason instead of just being stubborn about it, in which case, yeah, she'd probably be a bitch.