Always impressed me... - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ChambersVsMalone · 01-01-2005, 01:02 AM

One thing (well, one of many!) that always impressed me on Cheers was their great continuity with Sam and how he didn't drink. On so many shows, especially these days, continuity is lost in much more obvious ways. But on Cheers just about every time (maybe once they messed up) everyone was drinking, Sam would have that seltzer (or whatever it was, that's always what I assumed, seltzer or water) bottle. It always impressed me that they always remembered he didn't drink.

Two examples that come to mind are in "Dinner at Eightish" and "The Proposal." In the first, Frasier offers Sam and Diane drinks while he goes to get Lilith out of the bathroom. Sam pours a glass of wine-- and gives it to Diane, then takes the bottle for himself. In "The Proposal" when he and Diane are on the boat, he pours Diane champagne and then pulls one of the bottles of seltzer out of the cooler for himself.

I just always loved that they never messed that up. I think of so many shows these days with a lot of continuity errors and know they never would have pulled that off.

MaydayMalonesGirl · 01-01-2005, 01:38 AM

Mhmm, Cheers did very well with continuity. There are only two continuity errors on the show that I can recall...

1. Frasier says in a later season that he dislikes dogs because his parents never let him keep one, yet in season three there is an entire episode based around the fact that he had a dog. (Dianes Allergy)

2. In one episode Diane states that she was delivered a month premature. Yet in an episode in the next season (I think) she says she was born late.

Both of those are pretty small and most people wouldn't notice them. Compared to some other shows (haha, boy meets world) Cheers did very well with keeping their stories in line.

tiff7 · 05-20-2005, 02:42 PM

Does anyone know how old Carla's kids are in each season? Gino is 7 & a half in the episode where Carla makes Diane an Open Grave drink & she tells Diane she & Sam had Gino together

) What is the name of that episode? I'm brain-dead again today (yes, even on Friday! Hmm.)

Tiff7

P.S. Have a gr8 weekend y'all!

Norm's Stool · 06-08-2005, 05:02 PM

I was watching Diane Chambers Day again today, and at some point I seemed to notice that in the last scene -with Sam and Diane having a drink together at the bar- Sam was actually taking a few sips of cognac. I said to myself "It can't be! The writers couldn't have made that big a mistake!". So I replayed that scene and then I noticed that, once Sam had poured Diane's cognac, he took some bottle of soda or whatever soft drink he has from the fridge (his pouring is off camera, that's why I didn't see it and got confused). So, there wasn't any continuity error in this episode, either.

More continuity: In Norman's conquest, Norm says that his marriage is his most precious possesion "next to his Honda Civic". One season later, in King of the Hill he mentions his Civic again when he tells the gang about his mother-in-law's visit.

I agree: the writers were more than succesful at keeping their stories in line. I usually picture these huge blackboards in the writers' room filled with the less obvious facts about every character in order to keep their continuity.

For instance:
Sam:
-Divorced / Wife's name: Debra / Had a dog at some point
-Enjoys sailing
-Has a Flintstones toothbrush
-Had the chicken pox
...and so on.

Norm's Stool · 06-10-2005, 01:59 PM

One more continuity bit: the Picquod (forgive my spelling), the inn Sam and Diane spent a weekend in at some point during their relationship in Season 2 (Battle of the Exes) is mentioned again in Season 3 (An American Family). The writers could have picked any name and it would have virtually worked, but they preferred to choose that specific place instead, just to keep the story in line (it's funny that both episodes featured Nick Tortelli's character. Coincidence?

Bravo.

tiff7 · 06-10-2005, 02:14 PM

Maybe the producers wanted it that way (continuity) Thanks producers 4 providing us w/the wonderful comments made by our beloved Cheers gang

Tiff7

Norm's Stool · 06-19-2005, 01:48 PM

More continuity bits (once you get started...

): In Battle of the Exes, Sam mentions drawing underarm hair on the models in Vogue Magazine as one of Carla's hobbies. In I'll Be Seeing You (2), Carla's reading Vogue with a black marker in her hand.

Also, Dr.Bennett Ludlow is mentioned several times throughout the series.

tiff7 · 08-01-2005, 02:58 PM

Dr. Ludlow was Frasier's mentor & Carla had her son Ludlow w/Dr. L

Tiff7

McFly121 · 08-03-2005, 02:11 AM

Well, of course the biggest gaffe ever was Frasier stating his father was dead, then on FRASIER the writers implausibly cleaning it up with Frasier being upset with his dead, hence telling people he was dead. I think Frasier saying he was just ashamed of his father would've been more believable.

Little stuff I like to catch is like Woody addressing everyone Mr., Mrs., or whatever. Once he finally slipped and called Lilith by her first name. Can't remember the ep, but remember posting here about it.

I believe they kept the continuity right with Rebecca's sister, and her being from San Diego.

One I noticed from tonight actually: as Frasier wakes up from his nightmare about Woody setting off a nuclear bomb, you'll notice Frasier is *alone* in bed. This was after he took Lilith back, yet she wasn't there. Her mother is local so I don't know why she'd be spending a night away from home. Plus, Frasier apparently sleeps with the lights on

.

Norm's Stool · 08-03-2005, 07:28 AM

The thing that always stroke me as pretty unbelievable was that, for some reason, I never quite pictured Martin and Hester together as a marriage.

barwars · 08-03-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norm's Stool

The thing that always stroke me as pretty unbelievable was that, for some reason, I never quite pictured Martin and Hester together as a marriage.

Hester (on Cheers) was made out to be a total bitch, and seemed much older than Martin.... almost a decade earlier!

McFly121 · 08-04-2005, 01:49 AM

Very true, Hester on Cheers looked like someone's grandmother. Yet on Frasier Rita Wilson, a real looker, played her. I guess over a matter of years she lost her looks and turned cold as ice personality wise

Bob Mcbob · 10-24-2005, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McFly121

One I noticed from tonight actually: as Frasier wakes up from his nightmare about Woody setting off a nuclear bomb, you'll notice Frasier is *alone* in bed. This was after he took Lilith back, yet she wasn't there. Her mother is local so I don't know why she'd be spending a night away from home. Plus, Frasier apparently sleeps with the lights on

.

I beleive fraiser said in a previous episode (where sam wanted to spend the night at fraisers house because he was locked out of his own) that lileth was sleeping in the basement, because she was so used to sleeping in similar conditions in the ecopod.

Nice bit of continuity- cliff said in an episodes' pre-credits opening that he wanted to live in the ecopod, and fraiser mentioned it was run by dr pascal, a friend of lileths. A few episodes later a whole episode revolved aroung lileth leaving fraiser to live in the ecopod with her new lover pascal.

One slightly annoying thing though, it probably doesn't count as a continuity error but - why is lileth never seen after fraiser takes her back when she leaves the pod? She is mentioned by him in later episodes, and she appears many times in his spinoff, but she is absent from the final ten or so episodes of cheers for some reason.

You'd think they would bring her back for at least a cameo appearance in the final ever ep, but no.

McFly121 · 10-26-2005, 03:21 AM

I know she originally wanted out of the last season to work on Broadway, and when they brought her back I think it basically for the second part of that two-parter. I don't remember her much after that, and surprised she didn't resurface in the finale.

Brian Damage · 10-28-2005, 11:22 AM

I just think they wanted a happy ending for Frasier's character.

01-01-2005, 01:02 AM	#1
ChambersVsMalone Cheers! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 125	Always impressed me... One thing (well, one of many!) that always impressed me on Cheers was their great continuity with Sam and how he didn't drink. On so many shows, especially these days, continuity is lost in much more obvious ways. But on Cheers just about every time (maybe once they messed up) everyone was drinking, Sam would have that seltzer (or whatever it was, that's always what I assumed, seltzer or water) bottle. It always impressed me that they always remembered he didn't drink. Two examples that come to mind are in "Dinner at Eightish" and "The Proposal." In the first, Frasier offers Sam and Diane drinks while he goes to get Lilith out of the bathroom. Sam pours a glass of wine-- and gives it to Diane, then takes the bottle for himself. In "The Proposal" when he and Diane are on the boat, he pours Diane champagne and then pulls one of the bottles of seltzer out of the cooler for himself. I just always loved that they never messed that up. I think of so many shows these days with a lot of continuity errors and know they never would have pulled that off.

06-08-2005, 05:02 PM	#4
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	I was watching Diane Chambers Day again today, and at some point I seemed to notice that in the last scene -with Sam and Diane having a drink together at the bar- Sam was actually taking a few sips of cognac. I said to myself "It can't be! The writers couldn't have made that big a mistake!". So I replayed that scene and then I noticed that, once Sam had poured Diane's cognac, he took some bottle of soda or whatever soft drink he has from the fridge (his pouring is off camera, that's why I didn't see it and got confused). So, there wasn't any continuity error in this episode, either. More continuity: In Norman's conquest, Norm says that his marriage is his most precious possesion "next to his Honda Civic". One season later, in King of the Hill he mentions his Civic again when he tells the gang about his mother-in-law's visit. I agree: the writers were more than succesful at keeping their stories in line. I usually picture these huge blackboards in the writers' room filled with the less obvious facts about every character in order to keep their continuity. For instance: Sam: -Divorced / Wife's name: Debra / Had a dog at some point -Enjoys sailing -Has a Flintstones toothbrush -Had the chicken pox ...and so on.
	__________________ "These pretzels are making me thirsty"

08-03-2005, 02:11 AM	#9
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Well, of course the biggest gaffe ever was Frasier stating his father was dead, then on FRASIER the writers implausibly cleaning it up with Frasier being upset with his dead, hence telling people he was dead. I think Frasier saying he was just ashamed of his father would've been more believable. Little stuff I like to catch is like Woody addressing everyone Mr., Mrs., or whatever. Once he finally slipped and called Lilith by her first name. Can't remember the ep, but remember posting here about it. I believe they kept the continuity right with Rebecca's sister, and her being from San Diego. One I noticed from tonight actually: as Frasier wakes up from his nightmare about Woody setting off a nuclear bomb, you'll notice Frasier is alone in bed. This was after he took Lilith back, yet she wasn't there. Her mother is local so I don't know why she'd be spending a night away from home. Plus, Frasier apparently sleeps with the lights on .
	__________________ "That was Bob's donut!"

10-28-2005, 11:22 AM	#15
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 just think they wanted a happy ending for Frasier's character.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

01-01-2005, 01:38 AM	#2
MaydayMalonesGirl ACID! POLICEHHHH! Forum Star Join Date: Apr 24, 2003 Location: in a van down by the river. Posts: 18,393	Mhmm, Cheers did very well with continuity. There are only two continuity errors on the show that I can recall... 1. Frasier says in a later season that he dislikes dogs because his parents never let him keep one, yet in season three there is an entire episode based around the fact that he had a dog. (Dianes Allergy) 2. In one episode Diane states that she was delivered a month premature. Yet in an episode in the next season (I think) she says she was born late. Both of those are pretty small and most people wouldn't notice them. Compared to some other shows (haha, boy meets world) Cheers did very well with keeping their stories in line.

05-20-2005, 02:42 PM	#3
tiff7 wdwdisneylandnut4life Senior Member Join Date: Jul 26, 2001 Location: Erie, IL Posts: 2,012	Does anyone know how old Carla's kids are in each season? Gino is 7 & a half in the episode where Carla makes Diane an Open Grave drink & she tells Diane she & Sam had Gino together ) What is the name of that episode? I'm brain-dead again today (yes, even on Friday! Hmm.) Tiff7 P.S. Have a gr8 weekend y'all!

06-10-2005, 01:59 PM	#5
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	One more continuity bit: the Picquod (forgive my spelling), the inn Sam and Diane spent a weekend in at some point during their relationship in Season 2 (Battle of the Exes) is mentioned again in Season 3 (An American Family). The writers could have picked any name and it would have virtually worked, but they preferred to choose that specific place instead, just to keep the story in line (it's funny that both episodes featured Nick Tortelli's character. Coincidence? Bravo.

06-10-2005, 02:14 PM	#6
tiff7 wdwdisneylandnut4life Senior Member Join Date: Jul 26, 2001 Location: Erie, IL Posts: 2,012	Maybe the producers wanted it that way (continuity) Thanks producers 4 providing us w/the wonderful comments made by our beloved Cheers gang Tiff7

06-19-2005, 01:48 PM	#7
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	More continuity bits (once you get started... ): In Battle of the Exes, Sam mentions drawing underarm hair on the models in Vogue Magazine as one of Carla's hobbies. In I'll Be Seeing You (2), Carla's reading Vogue with a black marker in her hand. Also, Dr.Bennett Ludlow is mentioned several times throughout the series.

08-01-2005, 02:58 PM	#8
tiff7 wdwdisneylandnut4life Senior Member Join Date: Jul 26, 2001 Location: Erie, IL Posts: 2,012	Dr. Ludlow was Frasier's mentor & Carla had her son Ludlow w/Dr. L Tiff7

08-03-2005, 07:28 AM	#10
Norm's Stool Pretzels! Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 23, 2004 Location: My shrink ran off to Europe Posts: 79	The thing that always stroke me as pretty unbelievable was that, for some reason, I never quite pictured Martin and Hester together as a marriage.

08-04-2005, 01:49 AM	#12
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	Very true, Hester on Cheers looked like someone's grandmother. Yet on Frasier Rita Wilson, a real looker, played her. I guess over a matter of years she lost her looks and turned cold as ice personality wise

10-26-2005, 03:21 AM	#14
McFly121 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: calif Posts: 812	I know she originally wanted out of the last season to work on Broadway, and when they brought her back I think it basically for the second part of that two-parter. I don't remember her much after that, and surprised she didn't resurface in the finale.