Could Archie Bunkers Place have been the idea for Cheers? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

cfr1970 · 02-16-2019, 01:21 PM

ABP began in 1979 and was the first sitcom to be mainly set in a neighborhood bar. Cheers debuted in 1982, during Archie's final season. So I wonder if NBC execs back then saw it and a light bulb went off to create a new show exclusively set in a bar. And to go even further on the idea, I wonder if Cheers have even existed at all if there weren't an Archie Bunkers Place first? It's an interesting thought to ponder.

cfr1970 · 02-16-2019, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Brady's Hair

I don't know if it was the first, but there was a series called The Corner Bar that had two short seasons in the early 70s. Oddly, Ann Meara was a regular in only the second season.

Cheers creator James Burrows said that to some extent Cheers was a tribute to Duffy's Tavern, a 1940s radio comedy created by Burrows's father, Abe. There's was also a local Boston sitcom in the late 1970s called Park Street Under, which some speculated was too similar to Cheers for it to be coincidence.

Never heard of those other shows, but would love to check them out. Perhaps it wasn't a catalyst for Cheers, but while watching ABP, I could personally see shades of Cheers here and there in some scenes. They just needed stronger and more colorful bar characters alongside Archie to make it work like Cheers did.

1960'sTVfan · 02-16-2019, 05:25 PM

I don't watch either show but I imagine it's possible that the idea for Cheers was at least somewhat borrowed from Archie Bunker's Place.

cfr1970 · 02-16-2019, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retroTVfan4ever

I don't watch either show but I imagine it's possible that the idea for Cheers was at least somewhat borrowed from Archie Bunker's Place.

I think even if Burrows based Cheers on older sitcoms mentioned, when he saw Archie Bunker's Place, it's possible it could have reminded him of those old shows and set in motion the idea for Cheers. When I watch the scenes in the bar of ABP, I can imagine how the idea of Cheers could have spawned.

OH Nuts! · 02-23-2019, 12:11 PM

Yes, I can certainly see hiw ABP could have influenced Cheers; there are many similarities between the two shows. Interesting thread.

02-16-2019, 01:21 PM	#1
cfr1970 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 13, 2017 Location: Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 3,368	Could Archie Bunkers Place have been the idea for Cheers? ABP began in 1979 and was the first sitcom to be mainly set in a neighborhood bar. Cheers debuted in 1982, during Archie's final season. So I wonder if NBC execs back then saw it and a light bulb went off to create a new show exclusively set in a bar. And to go even further on the idea, I wonder if Cheers have even existed at all if there weren't an Archie Bunkers Place first? It's an interesting thought to ponder.

02-16-2019, 05:25 PM	#3
1960'sTVfan Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 30, 2009 Posts: 6,087	I don't watch either show but I imagine it's possible that the idea for Cheers was at least somewhat borrowed from Archie Bunker's Place.

02-23-2019, 12:11 PM	#5
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Yes, I can certainly see hiw ABP could have influenced Cheers; there are many similarities between the two shows. Interesting thread.