What is the biggest mistake Cheers ever made? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Central Perk · 08-28-2004, 01:49 PM

IMO, the biggest mistake Cheers ever made was not giving Nicholas Colasanto a fitting tribute. He was so hilarious as Coach and he deserved a lot more than just the mentioning of Coach passing away. I would have liked to see a separate memorial episode where the cast and crew talked about their favorite memories or if Coach's funeral was written into one of the episodes. The show did mention Coach several times though in later years which was a nice thing to do, but they still could have put more effort into paying tribute when Nicholas/Coach initially passed away.

ThirteenInchEscape · 08-28-2004, 01:59 PM

I think they talked about it on the 200th episode special or something

but yeah, Sam and Coach were best friends, he would have been absolutely heart broken.

But the thing about Cheers is that 6 monthes or so would pass between seasons, so I mean, there is a good chance that the memorial service would have been between seasons

Chambers · 08-28-2004, 02:13 PM

I've always struggled with this...
If Cheers were a drama, then making a show just about Coach's death would be a natural decision. But Cheers is a comedy - not a dark comedy, just a comedy. It would have been disrespectful to have an episode about Coach's death, because it would have had to be funny. The show can't just ignore its genre. My theory is that everybody who worked on the show was so distraught that they couldn't emotionally handle making an episode about his death. They could, however, have taped some type of special as you suggested.

ThirteenInchEscape · 08-28-2004, 02:18 PM

they could have had a "The Best of Coach" half hour special...

Petrie Malone · 08-28-2004, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
I personally thought they couldve pulled off a show about Coach's death, much like the MTM episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"

I was just gonna say that! You beat me to it barswars! Great minds think alike, I guess!

Kurt

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
they could have had a "The Best of Coach" half hour special...

agreed they did it on Barney Miller when Jack Soo passed away.

Brian Damage · 08-28-2004, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
I personally thought they couldve pulled off a show about Coach's death, much like the MTM episode "Chuckles Bites The Dust"

They did that with the death of Eddie LeBec.

NORM · 08-28-2004, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
Anyways, my personal opinion of the biggest mistake Cheers ever made was that they totally abandoned the storyline of Carla becoming a grandmother.
It was done in one episode -- Anthony and Annie tell Carla that Annie is pregnant, Carla goes into depression about becoming a grandmother -- every other episode of the series acts as if it never happened.
As this was early on, Season 6 or 7, because Eddie was still alive.

Yeah good point Tim, they never again mentioned Annie and Anthony after that episode. I wouldnt call it a mistake, it kinda leaves a bit of mystery to that aspect of the series.

In reference to Coach, yes a tribute would have been nice but I think they handled it in a nice way. Hanging the picture he kept in his dressing room up was really cool of them, I always notice it in the back everytime I watch. They did keep it comical though. During the period when Nick was ill, he was not able to film for episodes but they still managed to put him in there. Like how he went to the family reunion with all black people, and going to get his drivers licence renewed in Vermont because he heard the test was easier LOL. RIP Nick Colasanto.

AKA · 08-28-2004, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
I've always struggled with this...
If Cheers were a drama, then making a show just about Coach's death would be a natural decision. But Cheers is a comedy - not a dark comedy, just a comedy. It would have been disrespectful to have an episode about Coach's death, because it would have had to be funny. The show can't just ignore its genre. My theory is that everybody who worked on the show was so distraught that they couldn't emotionally handle making an episode about his death. They could, however, have taped some type of special as you suggested.

In 1998, NewsRadio proved it can be done, and done well. "Bill Moves On" was a great episode. Funny and touching.

Central Perk · 08-28-2004, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
In 1998, NewsRadio proved it can be done, and done well. "Bill Moves On" was a great episode. Funny and touching.

That was such a good episode. It was a really fitting tribute to Phil Hartman and the character of Bill.

Mr. Television · 08-28-2004, 11:09 PM

Both Night Court and Gimme A Break had tribute shows to Selma Diamond and Dolph Sweet and they died the same time Nick did. I think Cheers could have pulled it off.

ChambersVsMalone · 08-29-2004, 04:26 AM

Yeah, I always wished they had kind of done something special in an episode after Coach/Nicholas passed away, but after thinking about it I assumed that it was too hard for the actors/writers/producers, etc. to have to go through an entire episode "acting" how they really felt. If you notice in "Birth, Death, Love and Rice," when Sam goes to visit Diane in the convent, as soon as she says "I was so sorry to hear about the Coach," she's near tears. I'm pretty sure that was Shelley, not just Diane. So whenever I see that I realize why they may not have wanted to do an entire "Coach Passes Away" episode. I always did like that they hung the picture from his dressing room in the bar, though. Nice touch.

Janice · 08-31-2004, 03:01 PM

To me, there's no excuse for not having a tribute show to Nicolas Colasanto. It's always irked me beyond words. The man deserved a fitting sendoff. Terrible judgment, in my opinion.

TMC · 04-17-2017, 09:46 PM

Depending on your point of view, the way that they treated Lilith in final season. It seemed like sloppy writing and totally against her character to suddenly have an affair and leave Frasier (in fairness, they needed a way to get around Bebe Neuwirth doing Chicago at the time) and her child to go live in an underground bunker. They could've just left it unsaid regarding why she wasn't appearing at the bar anymore. Or if they did address it, say she was at a seminar, suddenly got more patients or that she went to tend her sick mother.

70s show watcher · 04-19-2017, 07:34 PM

the whole sam and rebecca trying to have a baby storyline was jusr dumb

08-28-2004, 01:49 PM	#1
Central Perk ~~~~~ Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 10, 2002 Posts: 4,553	What is the biggest mistake Cheers ever made? IMO, the biggest mistake Cheers ever made was not giving Nicholas Colasanto a fitting tribute. He was so hilarious as Coach and he deserved a lot more than just the mentioning of Coach passing away. I would have liked to see a separate memorial episode where the cast and crew talked about their favorite memories or if Coach's funeral was written into one of the episodes. The show did mention Coach several times though in later years which was a nice thing to do, but they still could have put more effort into paying tribute when Nicholas/Coach initially passed away.

08-28-2004, 01:59 PM	#2
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	I think they talked about it on the 200th episode special or something but yeah, Sam and Coach were best friends, he would have been absolutely heart broken. But the thing about Cheers is that 6 monthes or so would pass between seasons, so I mean, there is a good chance that the memorial service would have been between seasons
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

08-28-2004, 02:13 PM	#3
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	I've always struggled with this... If Cheers were a drama, then making a show just about Coach's death would be a natural decision. But Cheers is a comedy - not a dark comedy, just a comedy. It would have been disrespectful to have an episode about Coach's death, because it would have had to be funny. The show can't just ignore its genre. My theory is that everybody who worked on the show was so distraught that they couldn't emotionally handle making an episode about his death. They could, however, have taped some type of special as you suggested.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

08-28-2004, 11:09 PM	#11
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,133	Both Night Court and Gimme A Break had tribute shows to Selma Diamond and Dolph Sweet and they died the same time Nick did. I think Cheers could have pulled it off.
	__________________ Sonny

04-17-2017, 09:46 PM	#14
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,010	Depending on your point of view, the way that they treated Lilith in final season. It seemed like sloppy writing and totally against her character to suddenly have an affair and leave Frasier (in fairness, they needed a way to get around Bebe Neuwirth doing Chicago at the time) and her child to go live in an underground bunker. They could've just left it unsaid regarding why she wasn't appearing at the bar anymore. Or if they did address it, say she was at a seminar, suddenly got more patients or that she went to tend her sick mother.
	Last edited by TMC; 04-25-2017 at 01:22 AM.

08-28-2004, 02:18 PM	#4
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	they could have had a "The Best of Coach" half hour special...

08-29-2004, 04:26 AM	#12
ChambersVsMalone Cheers! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 125	Yeah, I always wished they had kind of done something special in an episode after Coach/Nicholas passed away, but after thinking about it I assumed that it was too hard for the actors/writers/producers, etc. to have to go through an entire episode "acting" how they really felt. If you notice in "Birth, Death, Love and Rice," when Sam goes to visit Diane in the convent, as soon as she says "I was so sorry to hear about the Coach," she's near tears. I'm pretty sure that was Shelley, not just Diane. So whenever I see that I realize why they may not have wanted to do an entire "Coach Passes Away" episode. I always did like that they hung the picture from his dressing room in the bar, though. Nice touch.

08-31-2004, 03:01 PM	#13
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	To me, there's no excuse for not having a tribute show to Nicolas Colasanto. It's always irked me beyond words. The man deserved a fitting sendoff. Terrible judgment, in my opinion.

04-19-2017, 07:34 PM	#15
70s show watcher Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: between point place and studio 8 h Posts: 4,549	the whole sam and rebecca trying to have a baby storyline was jusr dumb