What if Cheers was being filmed now? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Pirate Jenny · 10-21-2004, 01:49 AM

Do you think the show would have been different if it had started in 2004 instead of 1982? Have the the social norms and political situations have changed enough to make the show noticeably different? If so, how?
Would it have still been a bar? Or maybe a coffee shop?
And if it were a bar, would it serve the same type of clientele?

Would Sam still be depicted as such a womanizer? Or would overzealous political correctness in this day and age have prevented such a character development from occuring?

Just a few thoughts.

barwars · 10-21-2004, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pirate Jenny
Do you think the show would have been different if it had started in 2004 instead of 1982? Have the the social norms and political situations have changed enough to make the show noticeably different? If so, how?
Would it have still been a bar? Or maybe a coffee shop?
And if it were a bar, would it serve the same type of clientele?

Would Sam still be depicted as such a womanizer? Or would overzealous political correctness in this day and age have prevented such a character development from occuring?

Just a few thoughts.

It wouldn't work.
I'm not exactly sure why, but Cheers would not work if it had started today.

I'll eventually have a reason, but for now.... it just wouldn't work.

slackermonkey · 10-21-2004, 05:03 PM

I'll say more later, but I'm sure Sam would still be allowed to be a womanizer. Joey on "Friends" is a womanizer (though not a sexual-compulsive like Sam) and no one really ever has a problem with that.

ThirteenInchEscape · 10-21-2004, 06:05 PM

I think it must be harder to find situations for sitcoms now that cell phones are around so there is less miscommunicating to be done

though, that wouldnt destroy plotlines for Cheers as much as for some other shows.

and most things on Cheers arent that "un-PC" imo

CheersChild4life · 10-21-2004, 06:42 PM

It wouldn't work. It just wouldn't.

Chambers · 10-21-2004, 06:51 PM

I think the producers would have discarded the idea for the show simply because they knew it would have a hard time getting ratings. Today's shows call for a bright, colorful set and a more attractive cast (ala Friends). But who knows...

ThirteenInchEscape · 10-21-2004, 07:13 PM

It should be mentioned that Lilith and Diane were both very attractive

And what about Everybody Loves Raymond, it is popular, it has an unattractive cast, as well as subpar writing....

well, my point was about the unattractive cast. Seinfeld didnt have an attractive cast either...

Chambers · 10-21-2004, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
It should be mentioned that Lilith and Diane were both very attractive

And what about Everybody Loves Raymond, it is popular, it has an unattractive cast, as well as subpar writing....

well, my point was about the unattractive cast. Seinfeld didnt have an attractive cast either...

That's true, yes. I was just noting that producers seem less willing to take chances these days. I think Cheers would have done well now, just not sure if producers would have given it a chance. Especially because it was always set in a bar, whereas some of these other sitcoms have a bit more action.

Brian Damage · 10-21-2004, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
And what about Everybody Loves Raymond, it is popular, it has an unattractive cast, as well as subpar writing....

Them's is fighting words!

Chambers · 10-22-2004, 12:40 PM

This thread made me realize how timeless Cheers actually is. All the characters are fully developed, believable universal types (without being parodies or stereotypes). The show didn't peg the stories to current events like Will & Grace often does. Even the language isn't very dated since they never used any obscure 80s slang. So future generations won't have any trouble comprehending their patterns of speech (I mean, unless future generations really screw up the English language, in which case - screw them). But my point is that Cheers will never go out of style.

Petrie Malone · 10-22-2004, 06:15 PM

I think if Cheers were on NBC today, it would be cancelled because of its low first season ratings. (That's assuming 2004-first season ratings were as low as the 1982-first season ratings.)

And Chambers, you are so right, Cheers is GODDAM timeless! (Well, I added the goddam cuz I think it sounds cooler!)

Pirate Jenny · 10-22-2004, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
This thread made me realize how timeless Cheers actually is.

And on my first thread, too!

Some of the hairstyles were a little dated though.

So whether or not it would have existed...would it have been the same show?

ChambersVsMalone · 10-23-2004, 02:18 AM

I totally agree about it being understandable for all generations. Sometimes even shows that aired later than Cheers, The Nanny, for example, make some jokes that I don't get because they're related to a current event I was too little to know about at the time. But with Cheers I never had that problem.

ThirteenInchEscape · 10-23-2004, 02:33 AM

It annoys the **** out of me everytime someone says "I guess I must just be too young to get that show", especially because the person is normally older than me.

barwars · 10-23-2004, 09:40 AM

I don't think it would be the same, because the producers would take a whole different look at the aspect of the bar.

Rather than have Norm and Cliff as barflies, they'd have two obnoxious college drunks.

Instead of Coach and Carla as employees, they'd have a young buff guy and a young chick with a huge rack.

Instead of the occassional war or words between Cliff and (well basically anyone), there'd be fistfights every episode.

It would try too hard to appeal to the young crowd, and in the end it wouldn't work out.
Timeless as Cheers is, it would have only worked at the time it did, give or take about 5 years.

10-21-2004, 01:49 AM	#1
Pirate Jenny StrangeLittleGirl Senior Member Join Date: Nov 25, 2003 Location: Hangin' out with the DREAM king Posts: 1,128	What if Cheers was being filmed now? Do you think the show would have been different if it had started in 2004 instead of 1982? Have the the social norms and political situations have changed enough to make the show noticeably different? If so, how? Would it have still been a bar? Or maybe a coffee shop? And if it were a bar, would it serve the same type of clientele? Would Sam still be depicted as such a womanizer? Or would overzealous political correctness in this day and age have prevented such a character development from occuring? Just a few thoughts.
	__________________ "The illusion is upon me that something adheres for a moment, has roundess, weight, depth, is completed. This, for the moment, seems to be my life. If it were possible, I would hand it you entire. I would break it off as one breaks off a bunch of grapes. I would say, 'Take it. This is my life.'" President, Founder, Demon Bitch and Head Pirate of the "God, Lilith is so ing Cool" Fan Club The paths that ghosts follow are written on the land in old words. Ghosts don't take the interstate. They walk. Is that what I'm following, here? All we are saying...is give peace a chance.

10-21-2004, 05:03 PM	#3
slackermonkey the big yellow joint Senior Member Join Date: Oct 05, 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 1,779	I'll say more later, but I'm sure Sam would still be allowed to be a womanizer. Joey on "Friends" is a womanizer (though not a sexual-compulsive like Sam) and no one really ever has a problem with that.
	__________________ ...Derek TV on DVD Checklist: 05/09 - Scrubs: The Complete Third Season 05/30 - Joey: The Complete First Season 06/13 - Cheers: The Complete Eighth Season 06/13 - Frasier: The Complete Eighth Season 06/20 - Justice League: Season 2 07/25 - Animaniacs: Volume 1 10/?? - Scrubs: The Complete Fourth Season 12/06 - Animaniacs: Volume 2

10-21-2004, 06:05 PM	#4
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	I think it must be harder to find situations for sitcoms now that cell phones are around so there is less miscommunicating to be done though, that wouldnt destroy plotlines for Cheers as much as for some other shows. and most things on Cheers arent that "un-PC" imo
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

10-21-2004, 06:51 PM	#6
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	I think the producers would have discarded the idea for the show simply because they knew it would have a hard time getting ratings. Today's shows call for a bright, colorful set and a more attractive cast (ala Friends). But who knows...
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

10-22-2004, 06:15 PM	#11
Petrie Malone Former Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 20, 2003 Location: PIB Posts: 510	I think if Cheers were on NBC today, it would be cancelled because of its low first season ratings. (That's assuming 2004-first season ratings were as low as the 1982-first season ratings.) And Chambers, you are so right, Cheers is GODDAM timeless! (Well, I added the goddam cuz I think it sounds cooler!)
	__________________ Proud member (not a lurker) of PIB message boards!

10-21-2004, 06:42 PM	#5
CheersChild4life Absolutely Fabulous Senior Member Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Somwhere Fabulous Posts: 2,814	It wouldn't work. It just wouldn't.

10-21-2004, 07:13 PM	#7
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	It should be mentioned that Lilith and Diane were both very attractive And what about Everybody Loves Raymond, it is popular, it has an unattractive cast, as well as subpar writing.... well, my point was about the unattractive cast. Seinfeld didnt have an attractive cast either...

10-22-2004, 12:40 PM	#10
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	This thread made me realize how timeless Cheers actually is. All the characters are fully developed, believable universal types (without being parodies or stereotypes). The show didn't peg the stories to current events like Will & Grace often does. Even the language isn't very dated since they never used any obscure 80s slang. So future generations won't have any trouble comprehending their patterns of speech (I mean, unless future generations really screw up the English language, in which case - screw them). But my point is that Cheers will never go out of style.

10-23-2004, 02:18 AM	#13
ChambersVsMalone Cheers! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 125	I totally agree about it being understandable for all generations. Sometimes even shows that aired later than Cheers, The Nanny, for example, make some jokes that I don't get because they're related to a current event I was too little to know about at the time. But with Cheers I never had that problem.

10-23-2004, 02:33 AM	#14
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	It annoys the **** out of me everytime someone says "I guess I must just be too young to get that show", especially because the person is normally older than me.

10-23-2004, 09:40 AM	#15
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I don't think it would be the same, because the producers would take a whole different look at the aspect of the bar. Rather than have Norm and Cliff as barflies, they'd have two obnoxious college drunks. Instead of Coach and Carla as employees, they'd have a young buff guy and a young chick with a huge rack. Instead of the occassional war or words between Cliff and (well basically anyone), there'd be fistfights every episode. It would try too hard to appeal to the young crowd, and in the end it wouldn't work out. Timeless as Cheers is, it would have only worked at the time it did, give or take about 5 years.