I've always loved Cheers, but now as I watch reruns alternately with the Diane and Rebecca years I find that the Diane years are far superior.

The writing, the chemistry, the characterization.

I think Sam became an idiot, they changed his character, when Rebecca arrived. He basically begged her and followed her around, very different than the ladies man we saw before she arrived.

And it was just more fun because Sam and Diane both loved each other but at the same time drove each other nuts. And the supporting cast got to play off that great scenario as well.

Rebecca was just there to be chased by Sam and whine over her life and endlessly look for a sugar daddy.

Pretty boring when the episodes concentrated on Sam and Rebecca.

The supporting cast saved Cheers after Diane left, in my opinion.

So does anyone have an opinion on this?

Which years did you like better and why?

Originally posted by dlemond
So does anyone have an opinion on this?

Which years did you like better and why?

I think the supporting cast was better in the Rebecca years and I didn't mind Rebecca being whiny and neurotic that much...Sam did care a lot more about his hair in the later years.

i love his hair jokes tho lol..like when the gang figures out he has hair insurance

I like the Rebecca years better, Diane was far too annoying and Lilith wasn't in the Diane years (or was she? I dunno, that's just what I thought -shrug-). Anyways, I like Rebecca better.

Yes Lilith was around at the end of the Diane years, but is far better represented in the Rebecca Years.

I enjoy the Rebecca Years more, because of the expanded importance of the great supporting cast. I found the Diane years to be too much just Sam and Diane, and Diane at times can be a brilliant character, but at other times can just be annoying.

I only started watching Cheers reruns on a regular basis within the past year, and based on what I've seen so far, I think the Diane years are much better! I agree that the supporting cast saved the show after Diane left!

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JOEY: Ok, buddy boy, here it is: you hide my clothes, I'm wearing everything you own!
CHANDLER: OH MY GOD! That is so not the opposite of taking somebody's underwear!
JOEY: Look at me, I'm Chandler! Could I BE wearing any more clothes?

I think the Rebecca years are funnier, and Lilith and Frasier are in them more, but I've only seen around 20 episodes.

I like the Rebecca years better. The Rebecca years are much funnier in my opinion.

The Diane years were soooo much better as far as I'm concerned. Rebecca was good, but their was that great chemistry between Sam and Diane.

As far as I am concerned, The Diane years, were way better.
During the Rebecca years, the writing was not fresh and they recycled many of the gags over again. With Rebecca.

Lets face it, Sam was lonely without diane so the writers chose to havehim latch on to Becca. At first his come ons to her were hilarious, then after the seventh season. They were just recycled again duds.

With Rebeccathere wasno such thing as intelligent conversation inthe bar.

I think my point is made.

i'm gunna hava say the becs years were farrrr better

I like both time periods. I like the chemistry between Sam and Diane in the Diane years. I thought it was entertaining and kept everyone on their toes. I also like the Rebecca years because I think that Kirstie had some really funny moments. Also, as previously stated, there were better Frasier/Lilith episodes then. I think in the Diane years the show was consumed so much by the Sam and Diane characters, where as in the Rebecca years, it was more of a group effort. Everyone had their moments.

The Sam/Diane relationship definitely over shadowed the supporting cast. Once Diane left, the rest were given the chance to shine. I don't think I have to state that Frasier and Lilith were my favorites, therefore, the Rebecca years are in my favor. That's not saying I don't enjoy the Diane years. In fact, I wish there had been more eps of Diane and Lilith interacting. They worked well together and it was interesting to watch. Abnormal Psychology and Dinner at Eightish, I'm referring to.

Anyway, I think both eras were wonderful ones. I enjoyed watching the historic romance of Sam and Diane, but at the same time, I preferred when it turned into the ensemble show what made the show what people think of today. Let's face it, the Rebecca years made Cheers classic. There was a character for everyone to relate to in that era of Cheers. Everyone was given their fair share, and everyone had their moment to shine, and every fan had their character to cling to. In the Diane years, you couldn't connect to the supporting cast, because they were basically only there to push the Sam and Diane relationship along. They were merely still figures in the world that was Sam and Diane.... later they grew into their characters and became more appealing, IMO. Frasier especially. I hate how he was the sap, always wallowing in self pity over what Diane did to him. Once Lilith came around, he was given the opportunity to grow into the wonderful character he's become. And the same goes for the rest of the characters as far as I'm concerned. :)


And that's my take on the topic. Both great eras of eps, just depends on whether you watch the show mainly for Sam and Diane or for the cast as an ensemble. :)

Originally posted by Dr. Lilith Sternin
The Sam/Diane relationship definitely over shadowed the supporting cast. Once Diane left, the rest were given the chance to shine. I don't think I have to state that Frasier and Lilith were my favorites, therefore, the Rebecca years are in my favor. That's not saying I don't enjoy the Diane years. In fact, I wish there had been more eps of Diane and Lilith interacting. They worked well together and it was interesting to watch. Abnormal Psychology and Dinner at Eightish, I'm referring to.

Anyway, I think both eras were wonderful ones. I enjoyed watching the historic romance of Sam and Diane, but at the same time, I preferred when it turned into the ensemble show what made the show what people think of today. Let's face it, the Rebecca years made Cheers classic. There was a character for everyone to relate to in that era of Cheers. Everyone was given their fair share, and everyone had their moment to shine, and every fan had their character to cling to. In the Diane years, you couldn't connect to the supporting cast, because they were basically only there to push the Sam and Diane relationship along. They were merely still figures in the world that was Sam and Diane.... later they grew into their characters and became more appealing, IMO. Frasier especially. I hate how he was the sap, always wallowing in self pity over what Diane did to him. Once Lilith came around, he was given the opportunity to grow into the wonderful character he's become. And the same goes for the rest of the characters as far as I'm concerned. :)


And that's my take on the topic. Both great eras of eps, just depends on whether you watch the show mainly for Sam and Diane or for the cast as an ensemble. :)

You are absoultely correct with your evaluation. The supporting cast was called up to fill in for the void created by the absence of the Sam/Diane conflict. And I think the stories that revolve around the supporting cast are better and more prevelant at that point. But the Sam and Rebecca thing, it was never any good. Funny at points for sure, but ultimately pathetic for how they made Sam become a wuss pining for a failed golddigger.

The Diane years were a lot better, Diane and Sam actually had sumthing going. I watched the Rebecca episodes there wasnt one single spark between them. I think Diane and Sam were just ment to be in the first place, and bringing Rebecca into it just screwed it all up.

Originally posted by dlemond


You are absoultely correct with your evaluation. The supporting cast was called up to fill in for the void created by the absence of the Sam/Diane conflict. And I think the stories that revolve around the supporting cast are better and more prevelant at that point. But the Sam and Rebecca thing, it was never any good. Funny at points for sure, but ultimately pathetic for how they made Sam become a wuss pining for a failed golddigger.

God..I could i not agree anymore!!!!

I definitely like the rebecca years better. Although I like Diane, and know that Sam had a better relationship with her than he did with Rebecca, I really like the way everyone interacted when Rebecca came. Also, as mentioned before, it was about the whole cast, not just sam and Diane. I think it was funnier then too. :lol:

No question, I LOVE the Rebecca years! Oh my goodness she rocked. And I think that she and Sam had a lot of chemistry, she just did her best to ignore it, in her search for what she deemed better (ie Robin). I can tolerate Diane/Shelly Long, after Woody came on, but any episodes before that, I can't stand her at all. I love watching these old shows like Cheers in any event. The crap that is on primetime now, just makes me want to throw up. Cheers is proof that there was, at one time, TV worth watching. I miss Thursay nites! Cosby show, Family Ties, Cheers and Moonlighting. Ahh those were a good few years. Sorry to deviate so much. Cheers is the BOMB! :)

I haven't really seen a lot of later episodes yet, but I like the chemistry between Sam and Diane. It is more about just them in the Diane years though. So I want to see the later years where it focuses on the supporting cast too so I can compare.

Diane Years!
James Burrows mentioned in one interview that they wrote cheers as 50% Sam and Diane then 50% bar. When Diane left, naturally the rest of the cast got more screen time and storylines to fill the void.

I also enjoyed the storylines involving the supporting cast during the Diane years. Norm standing up to his boss to protect Diane and eventually getting fired. Norm staying by his wife's side and turning down a job offer. Cliff and Tinkerbell. Coach and his daughter. You, Me and coach makes three. Carla and Nick episodes. Dinner at Eightish. Abnormal Psychology. Those were good episodes from the Diane Years. It wasn't just about them being silly.

Rebecca Year's

I personally enjoyed both eras of the show, but I prefer the Rebecca years because there was much more with the supporting cast and the show became more well-rounded whereas earlier it was mostly Sam and Diane.

I like the Rebecca years of the show better. I can not stand Diane. Rebecca, I didn't love but could tolerate. I also like how the show involved the supporting cast more in the later years.

I do love Coach in the early years and wonder what it would have been like if he hadn't passed away.

I will have to go with the Rebecca years. I loved Coach and I feel without him, even though Woody was a great character, the show was lacking something. But, with that said I despised Diane. Her stupid laugh and all the dumb story lines that were thrown out there with her and sam were just annoying; as was she. If it wasn't for Coach, Norm, Cliff, Carla and Sam I would of hated Cheers. Rebecca wasn't much better than Diane, but I loved that Frasier and Lilith's roles were expanding and the show didn't always seem to be centered around Sam and his love interests. The other characters got more of a role in a show that was at first based around Sam and Diane.

I agree with a lot that was already said. Both era's were good in their own way. Cheers was never the same without Coach. He was the one supporting character in the early years who could steal the spotlight from Sam and Diane just by walking into a scene. As far as the lack of romance between Sam and Rebecca that was a very definite choice by the producers. They did this to avoid any direct comparisons between Diane and Rebecca (and between Shelley and Kirstie). They thought this would make it easier for Kirstie as a new cast member to fit in to an already established cast.

I simply find the Rebecca years more fun, though the entire series is fantastic. Diane was a good character, but at times she could grate (not often though).

I personally enjoyed both eras of the show, but I prefer the Rebecca years because there was much more with the supporting cast and the show became more well-rounded whereas earlier it was mostly Sam and Diane.

These are my feelings exactly. Not to mention I loved the way they slowly broke Rebecca down. She started out so confident and shrewd and eventually they all got her to become one of the gang, and fit in. That was brilliant.

For the reasons stated, both eras had their pros and cons. Perdoanlly, I enjoy Diane more than Rebecca- though Rebecca had some good moments, too. I can see how some might find Diane annoying, though (moreso near the end of her run)- but same goes for Ms. Howe.

Rebecca years definitely, especially around seasons 6-8. I found Diane overbearing at times. Still, Cheers was a quality show for most of its run, although not really amongst my absolute all-time faves.


Whoever made the comment about utilising the support cast more during Rebecca years, for me this made the show more enjoyable and the best episodes were the mid-period ones. Some quality episodes during the first 5 seasons too of course, but the Sam Diane off-on saga got tiresome for me.

No question, I LOVE the Rebecca years! Oh my goodness she rocked. And I think that she and Sam had a lot of chemistry, she just did her best to ignore it, in her search for what she deemed better (ie Robin). I can tolerate Diane/Shelly Long, after Woody came on, but any episodes before that, I can't stand her at all. I love watching these old shows like Cheers in any event. The crap that is on primetime now, just makes me want to throw up. Cheers is proof that there was, at one time, TV worth watching. I miss Thursay nites! Cosby show, Family Ties, Cheers and Moonlighting. Ahh those were a good few years. Sorry to deviate so much. Cheers is the BOMB! :)

Moonlighting? Thursday?:confused:

I prefered the Diane years. The show wasn't the same after Coach died and Diane left.

Moonlighting? Thursday?:confused:

Yeh, I'm pretty sure Moonlighting was on Tuesdays after Growing Pains.

Back on topic, I've only seen 2 episodes of the Rebecca years, but I've got a feeling they just might surpass the Diane years, this being said, the Diane years were still very enjoyable, although Shelley Long left at the right time in my opinion.

I'm more of a fan of the Rebecca years but some of the Diane episodes were pretty funny.

I've always loved Cheers, but now as I watch reruns alternately with the Diane and Rebecca years I find that the Diane years are far superior.

The writing, the chemistry, the characterization.

I think Sam became an idiot, they changed his character, when Rebecca arrived. He basically begged her and followed her around, very different than the ladies man we saw before she arrived.

And it was just more fun because Sam and Diane both loved each other but at the same time drove each other nuts. And the supporting cast got to play off that great scenario as well.

Rebecca was just there to be chased by Sam and whine over her life and endlessly look for a sugar daddy.

Pretty boring when the episodes concentrated on Sam and Rebecca.

The supporting cast saved Cheers after Diane left, in my opinion.


Can't add anymore to the above. You summed it up in a nutshell.

if I had to choose one, i'd pick the Diane years. I feel the best overall writing was during those seasons. But when I think of my personal funniest episodes, a good number of the episodes during Rebecca's years come to mind.

The originals always best, after Diane left i lost interest in the show.

I prefer the Diane over the Rebecca years from 'Cheers', mainly because the storylines overall were more believable. if I had to choose one, i'd pick the Diane years. I feel the best overall writing was during those seasons. But when I think of my personal funniest episodes, a good number of the episodes during Rebecca's years come to mind.

The Diane years Or the Rebbecca years? They we're both great.I think Sam and Diane Probably had a slightly better chemistry though.

I've always loved Cheers, but now as I watch reruns alternately with the Diane and Rebecca years I find that the Diane years are far superior.

The writing, the chemistry, the characterization.

I think Sam became an idiot, they changed his character, when Rebecca arrived. He basically begged her and followed her around, very different than the ladies man we saw before she arrived.

And it was just more fun because Sam and Diane both loved each other but at the same time drove each other nuts. And the supporting cast got to play off that great scenario as well.

Rebecca was just there to be chased by Sam and whine over her life and endlessly look for a sugar daddy.

Pretty boring when the episodes concentrated on Sam and Rebecca.

The supporting cast saved Cheers after Diane left, in my opinion.

Your post is dead on. I could not agree with you more. I so love the Diane and Sam years and that's what I watch every night before I go to be. I just love them together. I have the first five years.

I love the Diane years but I find the Rebecca years more rewatchable, actually season 4-11 are ensemble seasons and I can watch the episodes anytime I want because they focus on different characters. Diane even had a few episodes that focused on her dreams without a romance center (Diane, Dance, Diane, Art Imitates Life)


The first 3 seasons work better in order for me to watch because it's more like a drama.


Admittedly without someone to challenge Sam, he became the surrogate leader, never changing although his friendship with Rebecca, an attractive woman he ended caring about, actually backing off a woman during a bet in season 11 and him wanting a child showed some growth only to be forgotten near the end of the show.

The Diane years were gutsy showing the fallout of Sam's career and relapse of alcohol abuse, this is what made the first 3 so strong but that type of storytelling can't be duplicated year after year.

I always felt that during the first three Diane years('82-'85)the actors were all working prodigiously at character devolpment.Largley because of this practice,the process was really hitting its stride around the time she left.Also,Kirstie Alley is funnier than Shelley Long.Period.

Diane years - hands down. But I may be biased because I'm not a Kirstie Alley fan.

I prefered the Diane years. The show wasn't the same after Coach died and Diane left.
Exactly, after Diane left the show I was not that invested in it at all because I love Diane and Sam together even though I still love Ted. In my opinion Rebecca was just awful.

Like someone said after Diane left it seems as though his character changed he became so stupid (for lack of a better word). Like I mentioned before I am watching the first five years and coming on to the end Sam seemed so much more smarter and mature. It seems as though he got more intelligent as the show went on and I believed it probably had to be that way because of Diana and the part she played on the show. It seems as though sam got more intelligent as the show went on, but as soon as Diane left and Rebecca came on board he reverted back to his old self.

As a character, Diane is indeed better than Rebecca. However, if we're talking the overall two eras of the show, I much prefer the Rebecca era. I like that they broke away from focusing on the couple of the show and moved it towards more ensemble comedy. There was great comedy to be found from exploring the characters of Cliffy, Frasier, Norm, Carla and Woody. By exploring all of these diverse, eccentric characters, the show really live up to its tagline of "Where Everybody Knows Your Name". Sam and Diane had great chemistry, but there's only so many seasons of "will they, won't they?" that you can take.

I liked both eras very much, but if I have to pick one over the other, it would have to be the Rebecca years. That era showed so much character growth that just wasn't shown much during the Diane years.

I agree, the Dianne years are much better. I do really like how the rest of the cast had more stories after Dianne left though.

I don't understand why people say that the Diane years primarily focused on Sam and Diane as if there were no episodes that featured the other characters. Sam and Diane were the ongoing story arc, but every episode had a story focusing on a different member of the cast. Carla episodes, Norm episodes, Cliff episodes, Coach episodes, Frasier episodes... they all had their own story and their own episodes.

For me, the Diane years are far superior. Cheers focused on the Sam/Rebecca relationship just as much as it did the Sam/Diane relationship. The difference is that Sam and Rebecca had no chemistry, and the writing for their characters (Sam's especially) was horrid. I watched Sam transform from a character that I liked and was sympathetic to into a desperate womanizer whose every thought and motive was sexually inspired. The loss of that Sam/Diane chemistry left a gaping void that the writers tried to fill with Sam/Rebecca, and failed.

Personally, I liked Rebecca, but the chemistry and writing behind her and Sam was so bad that I tended to zone out when either of them were the focal point. The other characters were far more interesting, which I believe is why people see them as more of a focal point in later years... not because they were written better of featured more prominently, but because they shined brighter than the main characters or the main story arc, and thus became more prominent in our minds.

I am currently watching through this series for about the 4th time, in Season 8. Rebecca's first season, season 6, was pretty strong. Season 7 and 8 so far have been the weakest for Cheers. Watching Sam crawl on his belly to win Rebecca is not only no longer funny, but it's gotten annoying. Whereas I laughed frequently for the first six seasons, I now find myself sitting through entire episodes without a single chuckle.

http://www.denofgeek.us/tv/grimm/243009/16-late-arrival-female-tv-characters-we-cant-live-without

Rebecca Howe – Cheers

When she arrived: season six episode one, "Home Is The Sailor."

Losing a central cast member often sounds the death knell for a TV show, but not Cheers. When Shelley Long’s Diane bid Sam adieu at the end of season five, she was replaced in the season six opener with gold-digging yuppie Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) and the show never looked back. The Diane-to-Rebecca transition was perhaps the smoothest of any cast change in the history of sitcom, perhaps because Rebecca was an entirely different animal to Diane. An '80s power-dresser who treasured her Mercedes, the newcomer was nothing like Diane’s pretentious, fussy academic dilettante (though like everyone in Cheers, they were both loveable losers).

I never liked the chambers woman and i felt Sam was always so obsessed with her in a creepy way, I find the episodes with Rebecca more entertaining she didn't drive me crazy like she did.

I enjoyed Cheers as a whole. However I did like the Rebecca years better. Diane started to get old after awhile. I will say that Kirstie Alley gets under my skin today. I liked her much better during Cheers years and not so much today.

The season with both Shelly Long and Woody Harrelson on it is my favorite. Guess that's another vote for 'the Diane years'. The Rebecca years had the best one-liners by far though.

Personally, I wouldn't compare the two. Both actresses brought a uniqueness to their characters
and broadened the aspect of the show on many levels. One was never a "replacement" for the
other; rather a separate and specific addition to the cast.

http://i.imgur.com/yyBaT3K.jpg (http://lunapic.com>)

Sam and Diane were great, and the supporting cast really came into their own when Rebecca came along, but we can't forget the great Ernie Pantusso (Coach!) in the early years, may Nicholas Colasanto rest in peace!

While I do like the Rebecca years a lot, the Diane years will always be the pinnacle of Cheers for me.

The chemistry between Danson & Long was amazing.

Personally, I wouldn't compare the two. Both actresses brought a uniqueness to their characters
and broadened the aspect of the show on many levels. One was never a "replacement" for the
other; rather a separate and specific addition to the cast.

http://i.imgur.com/yyBaT3K.jpg (http://lunapic.com>)

I do agree.

They were wise not to bring in a Diane clone and regurgitate the past.

The Diane years

I prefer the Rebecca years. I particularly love the Robin Colcord episodes.

I too prefer the Diane years, mostly the first two seasons when Nicholas Colasanto was still with the cast and creators Glen and Les Charles and James Burrows were all working together as equal show runners. The later seasons, particularly the last ones with Tom Anderson and Dan O'Shannon as show runners, are just too goofy and too lowbrow.

The Shelley Long/Diane years were somewhat sophisticated, adult fare. The Kirstie Alley/Rebecca years Cheers was slapstick.

I strongly prefer the Rebecca years, hands down. I found Diane a grating, irritating, pretentious, over-educated jerk & was glad when she left the show.

The Shelley Long/Diane years were somewhat sophisticated, adult fare. The Kirstie Alley/Rebecca years Cheers was slapstick.

True, but I still enjoyed it.

Just a different dynamic.

I don'tike either actress, but I thought the Rebecca years were much better.

The Rebecca years definitely allowed more characters growth amongst all the main characters.

The Rebecca years definitely allowed more characters growth amongst all the main characters.

True.

Like I've said before, I do like the Rebecca years, but the Diane years will always be my favorite -- much like the Trapper John/Colonel Blake years of M*A*S*H will always be my favorite, even though I did like the Colonel Potter era as well.

I strongly prefer the Rebecca years, hands down. I found Diane a grating, irritating, pretentious, over-educated jerk & was glad when she left the show.

When you get right down to it though, wasn't Rebecca actually a more detestable character than Diane? I mean, Rebecca was basically, a social climbing gold digger, who could be pretty testy with Cliff and Norm, even Woody. Other than being a pseudo-intellectual, was there anything truly annoying about Diane as a person? I mean, didn't Diane always try to lend a hand when she could, including to those who were always nasty to her, like Carla?

When you get right down to it though, wasn't Rebecca actually a more detestable character than Diane? I mean, Rebecca was basically, a social climbing gold digger, who could be pretty testy with Cliff and Norm, even Woody. Other than being a pseudo-intellectual, was there anything truly annoying about Diane as a person? I mean, didn't Diane always try to lend a hand when she could, including to those who were always nasty to her, like Carla?

I don't think Rebecca was "detestable." Kirstie Alley did a great job portraying her as a shallow social climber and when you consider that everyone was worried that the show wouldn't survive Shelley Long's departure -- a very real concern in 1987 when Alley joined the show -- she comes off even better.

Top 10 Favorite “Post-Diane” Cheers Episodes (and Five I Hate) (http://www.manic-expression.com/top-10-favorite-post-diane-cheers-episodes-and-five-i-hate/)

I strongly prefer the Rebecca years, hands down. I found Diane a grating, irritating, pretentious, over-educated jerk & was glad when she left the show.

The thing about Cheers was that during the Diane years, the show was very much a "will they/won't they" show for Sam and Diane. They had basically taken that about as far as it could go when Shelley Long left. With her gone the show became much more of an ensemble cast and arguably, really breathed new life into it. That allowed a very talented cast to do their thing.

I do like some of the Rebecca years, though I prefer the Diane years, of which I probably saw more of.