Cheers: plot-driven or character-driven? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chambers · 10-12-2004, 06:37 PM

I think Cheers is more of a character-driven show. Their interaction is what propels an episode from start to finish, especially because they take place in a contained environment. You can't get a lot of action, but you can get a lot of great lines.
In contrast, Frasier seems to be more plot-driven. I tend to remember what happened to the characters rather than what they said. Again, this may have to do with the fact that Frasier had more freedom with sets.

ThirteenInchEscape · 10-12-2004, 07:02 PM

I prefer character driven shows, movies, books etc, just in general.

That is actually what I liked about Cheers, the stationary set caused for it to be character driven.

I think Seinfeld actually achieved the perfect balance, because there was little central story, though every episode had a very complex storylines, the characters insane behavior is what really caused the humor.

slackermonkey · 10-12-2004, 07:17 PM

Definitely character-driven.

Any show that can stay on 11 years using primarily one setting, is without a doubt a character-driven show.

It's always the dialogue and interactions between the characters that people remember, or what the characters did, rather than what kinds of stories they were involved in. When you think about it, the plots on "Cheers" were always extremely thin and any other sitcom could have wrapped them up in 10 minutes, but "Cheers" took 22-25 minutes to tell because they deliberately told stories that allowed for plenty of character interaction and development.

"Seinfeld" was definitely plot-driven. Yes, the characters were memorable, but it was the plots that were the center of the show. If you think about it, if you interchanged Jerry, George or Elaine in stories, there wouldn't be much of a difference because those three were basically the same type of character, just with different dominating characteristics (Jerry's a smartass, George is a neurotic liar, Elaine's kind of a bitch).

Brian Damage · 10-12-2004, 09:55 PM

character driven, no doubt.

spunkygirl · 10-12-2004, 10:14 PM

Def. character driven, I usually don't like character driven shows, but for sitcoms it works better, for Dramas it doesn't work as well.

barwars · 10-12-2004, 10:45 PM

I think it is very character driven, moreso than any other series.
Each character (even the much deplored Rebecca) was well thought out and very funny in their own right. (somehow, each of them could hold a series on their own)

Speaking of the stationary set.
Over the first 2 and a half seasons, the only sets used were the bar, the poolroom, the office, and Diane's apartment (and even that was only used 5 or 6 times, and all we saw was the living room)

slackermonkey · 10-12-2004, 11:24 PM

Yeah, and the office and pool room were still part of the bar, so you can fudge it and say they only used two sets in the first two or three years. Wow.

I almost wish they kept that up and never introduced other sets (although some, like the street outside and Melville's would still have been okay). It really gave the show a unique feel, almost like a one-act play each week, that fit with the tone and style of the bar itself. And since the star of the show was technically the bar, it made sense to keep the focus there. That may have gotten boring after awhile, though.

Chambers · 10-12-2004, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slackermonkey
Yeah, and the office and pool room were still part of the bar, so you can fudge it and say they only used two sets in the first two or three years. Wow.

I almost wish they kept that up and never introduced other sets (although some, like the street outside and Melville's would still have been okay). It really gave the show a unique feel, almost like a one-act play each week, that fit with the tone and style of the bar itself. And since the star of the show was technically the bar, it made sense to keep the focus there. That may have gotten boring after awhile, though.

Yeah, I always felt like the episode got a little lost when they moved out of the bar - mostly because that meant they had to ignore the other characters. I hated how in "Yacht of Fools," for example, the writers ignored the rest of the bar for half of the episode. (Though that happened quite a bit when they focused too much on Sam and Diane in the second season.)

Brian Damage · 10-12-2004, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
Yeah, I always felt like the episode got a little lost when they moved out of the bar - mostly because that meant they had to ignore the other characters. I hated how in "Yacht of Fools," for example, the writers ignored the rest of the bar for half of the episode. (Though that happened quite a bit when they focused too much on Sam and Diane in the second season.)

I agree, alot of times it would get a little convoluted when they would venture to say Norm's office or Gary's Old Towne Tavern.

Petrie Malone · 10-13-2004, 10:11 AM

Cheers was definately character driven. IMO, sitcoms are better if they are character driven than plot driven. Think about it: a plot lasts for 22 minutes, but a character lasts for years!

There were certain episodes that were only funny because of the Cheers characters. If it were any other people, it wouldn't be nearly as funny. The show, like many of the best sitcoms, got its humor from character interactions.

slackermonkey · 10-13-2004, 06:25 PM

Yes, character-driven is always the way to go. Every one of my favorite shows is character-driven, except maybe "Seinfeld," which I still believe was plot-driven.

spunkygirl · 10-13-2004, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slackermonkey
Yes, character-driven is always the way to go. Every one of my favorite shows is character-driven, except maybe "Seinfeld," which I still believe was plot-driven.

Really? I've always thought of Seinfeld as being character driven

slackermonkey · 10-13-2004, 07:17 PM

It was the plots that drove the show. The characters were memorable, sure, but the stories were what made the show about "nothing."

barwars · 10-13-2004, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by slackermonkey
It was the plots that drove the show. The characters were memorable, sure, but the stories were what made the show about "nothing."

Exactly.

Jerry in Episode 1 was Jerry in Episode 100
same goes for Elaine, George and Kramer.... you could basically air any episode of the series in any order, and it all makes sense. (for the most part)

slackermonkey · 10-13-2004, 07:43 PM

Not to mention if you interchanged Jerry, George or Elaine in stories, you'd get the same outcome. Those three were basically the same character with slightly different characteristics.

10-12-2004, 06:37 PM	#1
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Cheers: plot-driven or character-driven? I think Cheers is more of a character-driven show. Their interaction is what propels an episode from start to finish, especially because they take place in a contained environment. You can't get a lot of action, but you can get a lot of great lines. In contrast, Frasier seems to be more plot-driven. I tend to remember what happened to the characters rather than what they said. Again, this may have to do with the fact that Frasier had more freedom with sets.
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10-12-2004, 07:02 PM	#2
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	I prefer character driven shows, movies, books etc, just in general. That is actually what I liked about Cheers, the stationary set caused for it to be character driven. I think Seinfeld actually achieved the perfect balance, because there was little central story, though every episode had a very complex storylines, the characters insane behavior is what really caused the humor.
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10-12-2004, 07:17 PM	#3
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	Definitely character-driven. Any show that can stay on 11 years using primarily one setting, is without a doubt a character-driven show. It's always the dialogue and interactions between the characters that people remember, or what the characters did, rather than what kinds of stories they were involved in. When you think about it, the plots on "Cheers" were always extremely thin and any other sitcom could have wrapped them up in 10 minutes, but "Cheers" took 22-25 minutes to tell because they deliberately told stories that allowed for plenty of character interaction and development. "Seinfeld" was definitely plot-driven. Yes, the characters were memorable, but it was the plots that were the center of the show. If you think about it, if you interchanged Jerry, George or Elaine in stories, there wouldn't be much of a difference because those three were basically the same type of character, just with different dominating characteristics (Jerry's a smartass, George is a neurotic liar, Elaine's kind of a bitch).
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10-12-2004, 09:55 PM	#4
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	character driven, no doubt.
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10-12-2004, 10:45 PM	#6
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Re: Cheers: plot-driven or character-driven? I think it is very character driven, moreso than any other series. Each character (even the much deplored Rebecca) was well thought out and very funny in their own right. (somehow, each of them could hold a series on their own) Speaking of the stationary set. Over the first 2 and a half seasons, the only sets used were the bar, the poolroom, the office, and Diane's apartment (and even that was only used 5 or 6 times, and all we saw was the living room)

10-12-2004, 10:14 PM	#5
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Def. character driven, I usually don't like character driven shows, but for sitcoms it works better, for Dramas it doesn't work as well.

10-12-2004, 11:24 PM	#7
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	Yeah, and the office and pool room were still part of the bar, so you can fudge it and say they only used two sets in the first two or three years. Wow. I almost wish they kept that up and never introduced other sets (although some, like the street outside and Melville's would still have been okay). It really gave the show a unique feel, almost like a one-act play each week, that fit with the tone and style of the bar itself. And since the star of the show was technically the bar, it made sense to keep the focus there. That may have gotten boring after awhile, though.

10-13-2004, 10:11 AM	#10
Petrie Malone Former Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 20, 2003 Location: PIB Posts: 510	Cheers was definately character driven. IMO, sitcoms are better if they are character driven than plot driven. Think about it: a plot lasts for 22 minutes, but a character lasts for years! There were certain episodes that were only funny because of the Cheers characters. If it were any other people, it wouldn't be nearly as funny. The show, like many of the best sitcoms, got its humor from character interactions.
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10-13-2004, 06:25 PM	#11
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	Yes, character-driven is always the way to go. Every one of my favorite shows is character-driven, except maybe "Seinfeld," which I still believe was plot-driven.

10-13-2004, 07:17 PM	#13
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	It was the plots that drove the show. The characters were memorable, sure, but the stories were what made the show about "nothing."

10-13-2004, 07:43 PM	#15
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	Not to mention if you interchanged Jerry, George or Elaine in stories, you'd get the same outcome. Those three were basically the same character with slightly different characteristics.