Which characters could have had the same success as Frasier? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chambers · 07-18-2004, 09:38 PM

Frasier was the perfect candidate for his own spinoff. He was complex enough to hold his own. I bet the creators realized this when they saw the excellent Cheers episodes that revolved around his character.

I honestly could never see Norm, Cliff or Carla having their own shows. They're hilarious, but they just don't have that depth. George Wendt himself once claimed that he never liked the episodes that were focused on Norm - they seemed outlandish. I agree. Norm was a perfect supporting character but hardly active enough to support the weight of his own show.

Sam had enough depth, but his spinoff would have been more like a sequel to Cheers and therefore...pretty pointless.

Diane has the potential to hold her own...but I'm not sure how far her character could go. She was already starting to lose some of her charm in season 5 in my opinion. I was never quite sure if the change in her character was due to the writers and producers being mad at Shelley...or if that was really the Fate of Diane Chambers. But still, it would have been interesting to see Diane as a struggling writer in L.A. battling the city's superficiality, trying not to be confused with those stick-thin platinum blond wanna-be actresses who exercise every muscle except the brain... and finding that in the West Coast most of her New England pretensions are irrelevant.

Rebecca...well her whining was reincarnated in Veronica from Veronica's Closet...and we all know how successful that was.

I would have loved to see Lilith have her own show (separate from Frasier as I explained over at the Frasier board), but that would require her character to develop more. She would have to go beyond "Ice Queen."

Brian Damage · 07-18-2004, 09:41 PM

Your idea about a Diane spinoff sounds the best to me. She definitely had enough depth to carry her own show.

Frasier'sHairyMan · 07-19-2004, 08:13 AM

A Diane spin-off would have been a good idea, but Cheers ran for what, 6 years after she left? Do you think people still would have been interested in her character? Or do you think a Diane spin-off could have co-existed with Cheers? I personally don't think it would have met the same success as Cheers and Frasier. I completely agree about Norm, Carla, and Cliff though.

Chambers · 07-19-2004, 11:01 AM

Well, I don't know how successful it would have been - assuming that it would have even been possible, figuring in the fact that the producers were all mad at Shelley.

The fact that she was gone from the show for 6 years would only have produced more interest in her character - most people weren't tired of Diane. And in a new setting in a new show, the character would have remained fresh - just as Frasier did. If there had been a spinoff, it would probably have taken place after Cheers ended.

Brian Damage · 07-19-2004, 11:38 AM

I always imagined Cliff getting his own show. Maybe moving down to Florida in a retirement community and hilarity ensues.

Chambers · 07-19-2004, 11:54 AM

Cliff in Florida? That would have been funny! Don't know how long it would last; it could've have a short but sweet run.

Moondance · 07-19-2004, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
Cliff in Florida? That would have been funny! Don't know how long it would last; it could've have a short but sweet run.

I agree about Diane having her own show! LOL

Cliff in Florida - hmm....he could have lived next door to the GOLDEN GIRLS (most shows need annoying neighbors - hahaha!!!)

I just got a scary imagine of CLIFF learning how to surf!

Feen

barwars · 07-19-2004, 04:16 PM

Could've Had A Spinoff
Frasier
Lilith
Diane
Cliff
Carla
Woody ("Back in Hanover", anyone??)

Couldn't Have Had A Spinoff
Sam
Rebecca
Norm (he NEEDS to be at Cheers)

Moondance · 07-19-2004, 05:16 PM

Lilith should have had something!! She was an interesting/unique character, and they deserve something and IMO, Lilith is far more interesting than JOEY from Friends!

Feen

Chambers · 07-19-2004, 05:29 PM

Ah, yes, forgot about Woody, barwars.

barwars · 07-19-2004, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
Ah, yes, forgot about Woody, barwars.

Indeed you have.

ThirteenInchEscape · 07-21-2004, 02:41 PM

someone on tvtome got an idea that I thought was really great.

Imagine the Odd Couple except with Norm and Cliff living together and Vera leaves Norm and Cliff's mother passes away.

CliffClavin · 07-21-2004, 02:54 PM

Sounds cool to me .

I know know its bad pic , but I like it.

07-18-2004, 09:38 PM	#1
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Which characters could have had the same success as Frasier? Frasier was the perfect candidate for his own spinoff. He was complex enough to hold his own. I bet the creators realized this when they saw the excellent Cheers episodes that revolved around his character. I honestly could never see Norm, Cliff or Carla having their own shows. They're hilarious, but they just don't have that depth. George Wendt himself once claimed that he never liked the episodes that were focused on Norm - they seemed outlandish. I agree. Norm was a perfect supporting character but hardly active enough to support the weight of his own show. Sam had enough depth, but his spinoff would have been more like a sequel to Cheers and therefore...pretty pointless. Diane has the potential to hold her own...but I'm not sure how far her character could go. She was already starting to lose some of her charm in season 5 in my opinion. I was never quite sure if the change in her character was due to the writers and producers being mad at Shelley...or if that was really the Fate of Diane Chambers. But still, it would have been interesting to see Diane as a struggling writer in L.A. battling the city's superficiality, trying not to be confused with those stick-thin platinum blond wanna-be actresses who exercise every muscle except the brain... and finding that in the West Coast most of her New England pretensions are irrelevant. Rebecca...well her whining was reincarnated in Veronica from Veronica's Closet...and we all know how successful that was. I would have loved to see Lilith have her own show (separate from Frasier as I explained over at the Frasier board), but that would require her character to develop more. She would have to go beyond "Ice Queen."
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank Last edited by Chambers; 07-18-2004 at 10:22 PM.

07-19-2004, 08:13 AM	#3
Frasier'sHairyMan Three Cheers Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 27, 2004 Location: New York Posts: 140	A Diane spin-off would have been a good idea, but Cheers ran for what, 6 years after she left? Do you think people still would have been interested in her character? Or do you think a Diane spin-off could have co-existed with Cheers? I personally don't think it would have met the same success as Cheers and Frasier. I completely agree about Norm, Carla, and Cliff though.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ****ing cool" Fan Club Sternin/Crane '04

07-21-2004, 02:41 PM	#12
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	someone on tvtome got an idea that I thought was really great. Imagine the Odd Couple except with Norm and Cliff living together and Vera leaves Norm and Cliff's mother passes away.
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

07-21-2004, 02:54 PM	#13
CliffClavin Yada Yada Yada Senior Member Join Date: May 04, 2004 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,403	Sounds cool to me . I know know its bad pic , but I like it. Attached Images
	__________________ We owe a lot to Thomas Edison - if it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight. - Milton Berle

07-18-2004, 09:41 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Your idea about a Diane spinoff sounds the best to me. She definitely had enough depth to carry her own show.

07-19-2004, 11:01 AM	#4
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Well, I don't know how successful it would have been - assuming that it would have even been possible, figuring in the fact that the producers were all mad at Shelley. The fact that she was gone from the show for 6 years would only have produced more interest in her character - most people weren't tired of Diane. And in a new setting in a new show, the character would have remained fresh - just as Frasier did. If there had been a spinoff, it would probably have taken place after Cheers ended.

07-19-2004, 11:38 AM	#5
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I always imagined Cliff getting his own show. Maybe moving down to Florida in a retirement community and hilarity ensues.

07-19-2004, 11:54 AM	#6
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Cliff in Florida? That would have been funny! Don't know how long it would last; it could've have a short but sweet run.

07-19-2004, 04:16 PM	#8
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Could've Had A Spinoff Frasier Lilith Diane Cliff Carla Woody ("Back in Hanover", anyone??) Couldn't Have Had A Spinoff Sam Rebecca Norm (he NEEDS to be at Cheers)

07-19-2004, 05:16 PM	#9
Moondance MCR Moderator Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Posts: 4,008	Lilith should have had something!! She was an interesting/unique character, and they deserve something and IMO, Lilith is far more interesting than JOEY from Friends! Feen

07-19-2004, 05:29 PM	#10
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Ah, yes, forgot about Woody, barwars.