it seemed like it become more of a episode by episode show than a storyline show

it became more of a comedy than just a show that would include everything in my opinon

That was the point from the beginning. With Diane off the show, it gave other characters a chance to grow.

I think there were more jokes involving the supporting characters as well, Rebecca's beaux (Colcord, Evan Drake) and definitely a lot more Cliff and Norm banter too!

Which was the biggest advantage with Diane being gone.

It went from being a very good show to just another silly sitcom that wasn't worth watching.

It was better! The show was focused on all of the characters instead of just Sam and Diane. Ranked no. 1 in the 9th season.

After Shelley Long's departure, Cheers became more of an ensemble comedy, similar to the previous show the Charles brothers worked on Taxi.

Exactly.

Well it became more of an ensemble. I don't think Rebecca was a patch on Diane, but I did appreciate the growth of Frasier and Lillith.

I enjoy seasons 6-8 most of the Rebecca years, before she became a bit too annoying after she left Robin. It's certainly somewhere around season 9 where I have trouble paying attention sometimes.

There were still a lot of good in the later years, but ultimately I was still missing Coach and Diane for a long time. Seasons 1-5 have a lot more heart to them.

The authors have said it was a blessing in disguise when Diane left cheer
s. after the shock had settled. (they could not keep running back and forth with Sam and Diane). When Diane stopped. and Rebecca came in. they could "start with many new stories. It's not easy to replace a character, but both Woody and Rebecka have done very well .... I love the first seasons with coach and Diane !! but Woddy and Rebecka are equal good .. and in the late seasons comes Frasier .. do i need to say more. :) cheers from Denmark :) .

The authors have said it was a blessing in disguise when Diane left cheers. after the shock had settled. (they could not keep running back and forth with Sam and Diane).

Agree 200%!!!! Diane/Shelley Long leaving at the end of S05 was THE BEST thing to ever happen to the Cheers series. By S05 I was sick & tired of the whole Diane/Sam "relationship". They kept breaking up & getting back together to the point that it got aggravating to even see them together on screen. That being said, S05 was probably the strongest season up to that point - and had some of the best & funniest episodes (The Thanksgiving episode; the John Cleese episode; The Motion Picture episode; the finale; etc.). However, if Diane hadn't left at the end of S05, the show would have started to go downhill. So, I think the Rebecca Howe arc started exactly when it should have to invigorate the show.

Ie., if Shelley had stayed, the show would have become old quickly. I can't imagine the final 6 seasons of the show with the Diane/Sam relationship continuing to be the highlight of the series. In fact, if Diane had stayed I'm suspect the show would only have lasted a couple more seasons before getting cancelled.

What's interesting about the Diane character is that I had read/heard that Shelley Long wanted to leave the show due to wanting to get more involved in films; most notably, I remember her from The Money Pit w/Tom Hanks (1986), Outrageous Fortune w/Bette Midler (1987), Troop Beverly Hills (1989), etc. This was a good decision on her part, both for her film career & for the series. Cheers lasted for 11 seasons, so for 6 more seasons after Diane left - i.e., there were more seasons with Rebecca & without Diane.