James Burrows on reviving Cheers: "The cast is too old" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 04-02-2018, 12:47 PM

http://www.tmz.com/2018/03/31/james-...ends-roseanne/

The legendary TV director and Cheers co-creator says he's happy for Roseanne's big ratings, but he doesn't see his classic sitcom returning.

Chocolate Moose · 04-02-2018, 01:30 PM

I can't read that website from my office computer but I don't think the cast is too old.

Crusinforabrusintoda · 04-02-2018, 05:47 PM

Nearly every cast member is above 60 and some are even 70. Seems to old to reboot Cheers

Mr. Television · 04-02-2018, 08:27 PM

He is right. It just wouldn't be the same now.

Retro4Life · 04-02-2018, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Television

He is right. It just wouldn't be the same now.

Agreed. With most of these things, maaaybe a one shot reunion show would be fun, just to see where everyone ended up, but to revive the show would mean the characters would basically have to either be in the same place they were 25 years ago, or have them go back to it (hanging out in a bar).

Seems pretty depressing for a group of folks who are almost all over the age of retirement. Woody Harrelson is the youngest of the cast, and he's 57!

Torgo · 04-02-2018, 09:36 PM

"Norm!"

"What?"

"Norm!"

"What?"

"Norm!"

"What?"

Retro4Life · 04-02-2018, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

"Norm!"

"What?"

"Norm!"

"What?"

"Norm!"

"What?"

LOL yeah old Cliff (or the man that plays him) will be 71 this week.

Adamantium · 04-03-2018, 02:28 PM

Here are some thoughts I have about the characters at Cheers in 2018.

I could see a retired Norm spending all day at Cheers but is finally talked into spending some time at home with his wife. After about maybe a couple months, Norm returns saying he's allowed to spend as much time as he wants to at Cheers. Vera was sick of him!

I would like to think that Cliff got married or at least has a steady girlfriend. It would be too sad (to me at least) to think he still can't find a woman to love him (besides his mother). Doesn't mean he can't spend SOME time in Cheers though. Maybe they could even be the new husband/wife duo like Fraser and Lilith were in the later years of the sitcom. And remember, they're not just there for the beer (though Norm might tell you otherwise). These people are their friends. They love spending time with the people of Cheers.

Also, would Sam still be there? I'd say so. He'd need a manager like when Rebecca was there. But he could still own Cheers. Maybe he'd still be a bartender or maybe he'd just come by to chat with the patrons and workers like the good old days. But I don't see Sam Malone giving up this place. I see him dying there (or in bed with a woman). I still see Sam as a ladies man. I mean women still find Ted Danson attractive. So if he isn't married, he's maybe not doing as well as he had in his prime, but he's still getting with enough women to keep him satisfied.

With as many kids and grandkids as Carla has, she'd still be at Cheers. Not just for the money, but to have her time away from the family.

Woody is one I'm baffled about. Would he still be there? In the end of the series, he was moving into politics but I don't see that lasting. It was even mentioned in an episode of Frasier that Woody was still at Cheers, so he clearly didn't give up the bar for politics. He's a simple man with simple pleasures. Unless he made it big as an actor, I think he would still be happy as a bartender for Cheers. But seeing as Woody Harrelson probably wouldn't do it, they might have went for the route of him becoming a famous actor to mirror real life.

Diane, Rebecca and Frasier have all left Cheers. Although it was mentioned in an episode of Frasier that Rebecca has become a regular patron since getting dumped by her husband. So she could either be their working again or be sitting next to Norm and Cliff. But as for Diane and Frasier, those characters have already moved on from the Boston bar but would make great guest stars.

Of course a new series would also need some new characters. It would seem strange that this bar would only have the same people that were in it in the '80s and '90s. But I'm not too interested in thinking of who the new blood would be.

This is a thing of just because they CAN do it, doesn't mean they SHOULD. Haha. So basically, I'm saying the cast is not too old to still be at Cheers but it would be an entirely different show considering it would now be a show about elderly people at a bar.

Wow. I did not mean to ramble on like this. I was just going to post about Norm, lol. The rest just came to me as I was typing it. It was afterwards that I went back and added the very first sentence making this a post about my thoughts on all the characters.

TMC · 04-03-2018, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crusinforabrusintoda

Nearly every cast member is above 60 and some are even 70. Seems to old to reboot Cheers

I don't entirely understand what constitutes being "too old" for this? Maybe it wouldn't make much sense (or would be borderline repugnant) to see Norm and Cliff and the rest still sitting around drinking every single night.

But lets put things into perspective, who says that talent usually fades with age? As long as they are capable of memorizing lines, delivering dialogue and entertaining there is shouldn't be no reason a reboot couldn't happen. But regardless, is it that far fetched from reality that story-wise, some people still work in and own bars in their 60s?

JamesG · 04-05-2018, 02:12 AM

Asked specifically if he'd revive "Cheers", NBC's Bob Greenblatt suggested it may be beyond the point that would make sense to revive the Ted Danson comedy.

"I'd love to have the Cheers reboot if it were 20 years ago," he said.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/th...t-says-1099766

Robert Stack's Voice · 04-06-2018, 07:07 PM

You could easily revive Cheers by basing it around Sam passing off Cheers to his son and having to deal with changing demographics in Boston.

The star would obviously be Sam's son and the new generation of bar flies but Ted Danson would have a strong supporting role and the originals could drop in for guest appearances.

Retro4Life · 04-07-2018, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Stack's Voice

You could easily revive Cheers by basing it around Sam passing off Cheers to his son and having to deal with changing demographics in Boston.

The star would obviously be Sam's son and the new generation of bar flies but Ted Danson would have a strong supporting role and the originals could drop in for guest appearances.

I guess it might work, but in general nobody (including myself) really cares about these "passing the torch" things. We want to see the main characters we grew to love, and not just in cameos.

It's like changing the recipe of KFC, throwing in one piece of the old recipe and still trying to pass it off as KFC. It doesn't work.

TMC · 04-08-2018, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesG

Asked specifically if he'd revive "Cheers", NBC's Bob Greenblatt suggested it may be beyond the point that would make sense to revive the Ted Danson comedy.

"I'd love to have the Cheers reboot if it were 20 years ago," he said.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/th...t-says-1099766

Well 20 years ago, a Cheers reboot would've been pointless anyway since it had only been five years since the show went off the air. Plus, it's spin-off Frasier was still going strong.

treky · 04-12-2018, 02:15 AM

I agree; the cast would be to old for a re-boot.

I wouldn't mind seeing a new series though about Sams son working as a bartender somewhere else. Ted Danson could make a guest appearance in the first episode.

Johnny be good! · 10-30-2018, 11:45 AM

Woody and Kelly had kids and Frederick still lived in Boston.

04-02-2018, 12:47 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,386	James Burrows on reviving Cheers: "The cast is too old" http://www.tmz.com/2018/03/31/james-...ends-roseanne/ The legendary TV director and Cheers co-creator says he's happy for Roseanne's big ratings, but he doesn't see his classic sitcom returning.

04-02-2018, 01:30 PM	#2
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	I can't read that website from my office computer but I don't think the cast is too old.
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04-02-2018, 08:27 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	He is right. It just wouldn't be the same now.
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04-02-2018, 09:36 PM	#6
Torgo Omaha & Fritz Forum Star Join Date: Mar 06, 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 19,036	"Norm!" "What?" "Norm!" "What?" "Norm!" "What?"
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04-12-2018, 02:15 AM	#14
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	I agree; the cast would be to old for a re-boot. I wouldn't mind seeing a new series though about Sams son working as a bartender somewhere else. Ted Danson could make a guest appearance in the first episode.
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04-02-2018, 05:47 PM	#3
Crusinforabrusintoda Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Mar 16, 2018 Posts: 4	Nearly every cast member is above 60 and some are even 70. Seems to old to reboot Cheers

04-03-2018, 02:28 PM	#8
Adamantium TVAdam No More Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 11, 2002 Location: Springfield, Ohio Posts: 7,836	Here are some thoughts I have about the characters at Cheers in 2018. I could see a retired Norm spending all day at Cheers but is finally talked into spending some time at home with his wife. After about maybe a couple months, Norm returns saying he's allowed to spend as much time as he wants to at Cheers. Vera was sick of him! I would like to think that Cliff got married or at least has a steady girlfriend. It would be too sad (to me at least) to think he still can't find a woman to love him (besides his mother). Doesn't mean he can't spend SOME time in Cheers though. Maybe they could even be the new husband/wife duo like Fraser and Lilith were in the later years of the sitcom. And remember, they're not just there for the beer (though Norm might tell you otherwise). These people are their friends. They love spending time with the people of Cheers. Also, would Sam still be there? I'd say so. He'd need a manager like when Rebecca was there. But he could still own Cheers. Maybe he'd still be a bartender or maybe he'd just come by to chat with the patrons and workers like the good old days. But I don't see Sam Malone giving up this place. I see him dying there (or in bed with a woman). I still see Sam as a ladies man. I mean women still find Ted Danson attractive. So if he isn't married, he's maybe not doing as well as he had in his prime, but he's still getting with enough women to keep him satisfied. With as many kids and grandkids as Carla has, she'd still be at Cheers. Not just for the money, but to have her time away from the family. Woody is one I'm baffled about. Would he still be there? In the end of the series, he was moving into politics but I don't see that lasting. It was even mentioned in an episode of Frasier that Woody was still at Cheers, so he clearly didn't give up the bar for politics. He's a simple man with simple pleasures. Unless he made it big as an actor, I think he would still be happy as a bartender for Cheers. But seeing as Woody Harrelson probably wouldn't do it, they might have went for the route of him becoming a famous actor to mirror real life. Diane, Rebecca and Frasier have all left Cheers. Although it was mentioned in an episode of Frasier that Rebecca has become a regular patron since getting dumped by her husband. So she could either be their working again or be sitting next to Norm and Cliff. But as for Diane and Frasier, those characters have already moved on from the Boston bar but would make great guest stars. Of course a new series would also need some new characters. It would seem strange that this bar would only have the same people that were in it in the '80s and '90s. But I'm not too interested in thinking of who the new blood would be. This is a thing of just because they CAN do it, doesn't mean they SHOULD. Haha. So basically, I'm saying the cast is not too old to still be at Cheers but it would be an entirely different show considering it would now be a show about elderly people at a bar. Wow. I did not mean to ramble on like this. I was just going to post about Norm, lol. The rest just came to me as I was typing it. It was afterwards that I went back and added the very first sentence making this a post about my thoughts on all the characters.

04-05-2018, 02:12 AM	#10
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,136	Asked specifically if he'd revive "Cheers", NBC's Bob Greenblatt suggested it may be beyond the point that would make sense to revive the Ted Danson comedy. "I'd love to have the Cheers reboot if it were 20 years ago," he said. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/th...t-says-1099766

04-06-2018, 07:07 PM	#11
Robert Stack's Voice Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 13, 2017 Posts: 25	You could easily revive Cheers by basing it around Sam passing off Cheers to his son and having to deal with changing demographics in Boston. The star would obviously be Sam's son and the new generation of bar flies but Ted Danson would have a strong supporting role and the originals could drop in for guest appearances.

10-30-2018, 11:45 AM	#15
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,633	Woody and Kelly had kids and Frederick still lived in Boston.
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