Friends: A Cheers Copy Cat? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Petrie Malone · 08-28-2004, 12:31 PM

I know I don't post here very often, but I had to share this with you guys! The other day I was thinking about how similar Cheers and Friends are, and the similiarities are almost too much to be coincindental! Here's my list:

1. Sam and Diane had an "on/off" relationship, so did Ross and Rachel.

2. The characters of Cheers hung out at the bar, and the Friends gang hung out at a coffeehouse.

3. Sam Mallone=Joey Tribbiani (Both ladies' mans)

4. In the pilots, Diane was left at Cheers by her fiance, and Rachel left her fiance at the alter. (Diane also left Fraiser at the alter)

5. Both Diane and Rachel became waitresses soon after they dumped their fiances.

6. Frasier Crane=Ross Geller (Both intellectuals)

7. Carla's man hungry attitude is similar to Monica's husband craving attitude.

8. Diane=Rachel (Both come from rich, spoiled backgrounds)

9. Joey's stupidity is very similar to Woody's and Coach's stupidity.

10. Norm and Chandeler (sp?) are both lazy.

11. Cheers spun off into Frasier, Friends spun off into Joey.

Coincedences? You be the judge!

Kurt

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 12:39 PM

very good points DickVanDykeMan. I never thought of it like that.

Chambers · 08-28-2004, 01:06 PM

Interesting points.
But here's where they differ:

1. Sam and Diane were actually funny together; Ross and Rachel were boring.

2. Diane is funny; Rachel is annoying. (to tell you the truth, I think Rachel is a lot more like Rebecca than Diane)

3. The bar was the coolest set ever; Central Perk was just ok.

4. Cheers is the best show ever; Friends is just ok.

(I do like Friends, though.)

Central Perk · 08-28-2004, 01:25 PM

They do have some similarities, which is probably why they're both two of my favorite sitcoms. However, I wouldn't call Friends a Cheers copycat.

Petrie Malone · 08-28-2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
They are very similar, which probably explains why I like both shows.
But Cheers is by far the superior.

Ditto, barswars. I've been a Friends fan longer than I have been a Cheers fan, but I like Cheers much better. That's not to say I don't like Friends, because I enjoy that show very much, but not as much as Cheers!

Chocoholic · 08-28-2004, 05:52 PM

I think Cheers is much, much funnier than Friends. I never understood the hype about Friends.

Friends has ripped off other TV shows too.

CarJackSnyder · 08-28-2004, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Central Perk
They do have some similarities, which is probably why they're both two of my favorite sitcoms. However, I wouldn't call Friends a Cheers copycat.

ChambersVsMalone · 08-29-2004, 03:41 AM

Well, I've been a Friends fan for a while now. I started watching when I was in 9th grade, and I'm in my second year of college now. I have noticed some of the same similarities! I thought it was funny that Cheers spun off into Frasier and Friends into Joey-- both one word sitcoms had spinoffs that are just the character's name, lol. (And yes, Joey does look pretty good, actually! I hope it is.)

The similarities probably explain why I like both shows.

Although, while I was a Friends fan, I was NEVER a Ross and Rachel fan. IMO they were kind of a cheap imitation of Sam and Diane. I've ALWAYS thought that. Just, not quite as opposite, when they weren't together they didn't make fun of the other all the time (which was half the fun of Sam and Diane, which is probably why Ross and Rachel didn't appeal to me!) Oh yeah, and the guy was the nerdy one and the girl was the popular one.

They went on for the whole run of Friends, and they really got old, IMO.

But anyway, they are a lot alike!

08-28-2004, 12:31 PM	#1
Petrie Malone Former Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 20, 2003 Location: PIB Posts: 510	Friends: A Cheers Copy Cat? I know I don't post here very often, but I had to share this with you guys! The other day I was thinking about how similar Cheers and Friends are, and the similiarities are almost too much to be coincindental! Here's my list: 1. Sam and Diane had an "on/off" relationship, so did Ross and Rachel. 2. The characters of Cheers hung out at the bar, and the Friends gang hung out at a coffeehouse. 3. Sam Mallone=Joey Tribbiani (Both ladies' mans) 4. In the pilots, Diane was left at Cheers by her fiance, and Rachel left her fiance at the alter. (Diane also left Fraiser at the alter) 5. Both Diane and Rachel became waitresses soon after they dumped their fiances. 6. Frasier Crane=Ross Geller (Both intellectuals) 7. Carla's man hungry attitude is similar to Monica's husband craving attitude. 8. Diane=Rachel (Both come from rich, spoiled backgrounds) 9. Joey's stupidity is very similar to Woody's and Coach's stupidity. 10. Norm and Chandeler (sp?) are both lazy. 11. Cheers spun off into Frasier, Friends spun off into Joey. Coincedences? You be the judge! Kurt
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08-28-2004, 01:06 PM	#3
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Re: Friends: A Cheers Copy Cat? Interesting points. But here's where they differ: 1. Sam and Diane were actually funny together; Ross and Rachel were boring. 2. Diane is funny; Rachel is annoying. (to tell you the truth, I think Rachel is a lot more like Rebecca than Diane) 3. The bar was the coolest set ever; Central Perk was just ok. 4. Cheers is the best show ever; Friends is just ok. (I do like Friends, though.)
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08-28-2004, 12:39 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	very good points DickVanDykeMan. I never thought of it like that.

08-28-2004, 01:25 PM	#4
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	They do have some similarities, which is probably why they're both two of my favorite sitcoms. However, I wouldn't call Friends a Cheers copycat.

08-28-2004, 05:52 PM	#6
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	I think Cheers is much, much funnier than Friends. I never understood the hype about Friends. Friends has ripped off other TV shows too.

08-29-2004, 03:41 AM	#8
ChambersVsMalone Cheers! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 125	Well, I've been a Friends fan for a while now. I started watching when I was in 9th grade, and I'm in my second year of college now. I have noticed some of the same similarities! I thought it was funny that Cheers spun off into Frasier and Friends into Joey-- both one word sitcoms had spinoffs that are just the character's name, lol. (And yes, Joey does look pretty good, actually! I hope it is.) The similarities probably explain why I like both shows. Although, while I was a Friends fan, I was NEVER a Ross and Rachel fan. IMO they were kind of a cheap imitation of Sam and Diane. I've ALWAYS thought that. Just, not quite as opposite, when they weren't together they didn't make fun of the other all the time (which was half the fun of Sam and Diane, which is probably why Ross and Rachel didn't appeal to me!) Oh yeah, and the guy was the nerdy one and the girl was the popular one. They went on for the whole run of Friends, and they really got old, IMO. But anyway, they are a lot alike!