Was playing w/ my new screen capture software, and churned these out, I haven't really even watched these in a couple years... :D

Season 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpG_X-uDyEs&fmt=18)

The unremastered version is the original theme as-seen. The chorus part of the audio is how this theme was meant to be heard.

Seasons 6-9,11 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sYMiisfpvA&fmt=18)

Personally, for seasons 6-11, I think the remastering process ruined the opening theme visuals. They should've commonized to the more-vibrant colors in the unremastered version here, than the dull, bland version that all remastered episodes have.

Interesting. It's like they tried to turn up the contrast by turning the color richness. I prefer the originals in both instances.

But a quick question: What are the sources for the mastered and remastered? Are they different DVDs, or is the "unremastered" a VHS transfer?

remastered = the Cheers DVD's, season 1 & season 11. Verse is the original audio, the chorus is actually the same audio but in stereo.

unremastered = Paramount US-release VHS tapes (season 1 & 6). the framing is cropped more in this edition, I believe (at least for the season 6 version). IMHO, if they had remastered the theme visuals with the colors of the original season 6 quality, that would've been the best.

I think I'm going to put together an 'evolution' of the Cheers theme next...

Did u know that John Ratzenberger's pic on the opening credits is called "Saturday Night at a Saloon" by photographer Russell Lee?

I found three of the original pics from the opening credits