'Cheers' Had BOTH The Greatest Spin-off & Worst Spin-Off in TV History! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-31-2011, 05:35 PM

The greatest spinoff of all time of course is Frasier and the worst is the lesser known (and deservedly so) The Tortellis.

TeeVeeCloset · 08-01-2011, 09:11 AM

I think it is all subjective of course, yes a good thread idea, but I would suggest Happy Days spinning Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and the worst being Joanie Loves Chachi.....it has happened many times in TV Land!

BTW....I am a friend of actor Timothy Williams (Antony t), who after appearing on an episode of Saved By The Bell (the one where he dates Jessie and he is too short) plus many other one-shot rolls, he now lives happily outside of the California area with his wife and two children and continues to act, write and be a parttime house-husband.

goose125 · 08-05-2011, 08:37 PM

I don't know why they insist oh having these darn spinoffs when 99% of the time they never work. I never even knew they had a Tortelli spinoff.

yankeesrj12 · 08-05-2011, 08:52 PM

Speaking of Cheers, where did the huge audience spike between season one and two come from? The show started at the bottom of the barrel, but really increased as the series progressed. Did the show suddenly get better or did it just have a better timeslot?

MrCleveland · 08-05-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yankeesrj12

Speaking of Cheers, where did the huge audience spike between season one and two come from? The show started at the bottom of the barrel, but really increased as the series progressed. Did the show suddenly get better or did it just have a better timeslot?

Brandon Tarikoff was involved with that.

He gave shows a 2nd chance rather than have them cancel altogether.

This world NEEDS more Brandon Tarikoffs in the TV world than having sell-outs!

goose125 · 08-06-2011, 05:09 PM

Can't answer your question. However, I believe that there was nothing else on TV around that time and people just watched it and started really enjoying the show. I am glad it was given a second chance because I am really enjoying the first 5 yrs of the show. The rest of the episodes without Diane in them does not appeal to me even though I would take a peep at the episodes with Rebecca ever so often.

Johnny be good! · 02-15-2012, 11:49 AM

Brandon Tartikoff was a great man.

Schmoopie · 02-19-2012, 02:14 AM

Of course I LOVE Frasier (more particularly Niles!), but I didn't even realize they had tried another spin off. I'm so glad that Frasier worked so well, though!

Prince Michael · 08-02-2012, 11:01 PM

It's possible that Cheers only had a few viewers at first, and then more people heard about it and got interested in it, so the ratings went up . People told their friends about how good and funny it was, so word "got around" . My dad and I liked The Tortellis, but I can see if it didn't hit the right formula with most people . On the other hand, Frasier was a winner right out of the box .

hawkeye123 · 08-02-2012, 11:43 PM

I never even heard of the Tortellis lol But if they we're going to do a spin off the Tortellis. Why in the world wasn't Carla in it? She was the main Tortelli.

Prince Michael · 08-03-2012, 03:23 AM

The Tortellis featured Nick, his beautiful "dumb -- blonde" wife, Loretta, Nick and Carla's son, Anthony, and Anthony's wife, Angie . They lived in Las Vegas . I'll bet Carla didn't want to leave Cheers . By the same token, if The Tortellis featured Nick, Loretta, AND Carla, there would have been too much of a rivalry between Loretta and Carla .

hawkeye123 · 08-03-2012, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Michael

The Tortellis featured Nick, his beautiful "dumb -- blonde" wife, Loretta, Nick and Carla's son, Anthony, and Anthony's wife, Angie . They lived in Las Vegas . I'll bet Carla didn't want to leave Cheers . By the same token, if The Tortellis featured Nick, Loretta, AND Carla, there would have been too much of a rivalry between Loretta and Carla .

Oh I didn't know it took place when Cheers was still going. If I knew that it would have been self-explanatory. Why leave the greatest show of its time? Lol
I just meant that with Carla. It might have had a chance of succeeding. She was the best character of the Tortelli’s by far.

zypherix · 08-03-2012, 06:05 AM

Carla, Cliff and Norm all appeared on the Tortellis, as guest characters. But gotta say, the show was truly awful.

704Hauser · 08-09-2012, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prince Michael

It's possible that Cheers only had a few viewers at first, and then more people heard about it and got interested in it, so the ratings went up . People told their friends about how good and funny it was, so word "got around" . My dad and I liked The Tortellis, but I can see if it didn't hit the right formula with most people . On the other hand, Frasier was a winner right out of the box .

Bit of an unfair comparison regarding Cheers' and Frasier's first season ratings, don't you think? Frasier had the old audience of Cheers, amongst others, to attract when it premiered.

Cheers, on the other hand, premiered at a bad time for both sitcoms and NBC alike. I think Three's Company and M*A*S*H were the only sitcoms (the latter being more of a dramedy) in the Top 10 in 1982/83, and both of their best years were already behind them.

ajgenard · 08-09-2012, 10:23 PM

I think part of why Frasier was so successful is because it bore little resemblance to Cheers. Instead of trying to copy a pre-established formula and take way too many elements from its predecessor, the creators of Frasier decided to take a totally different route. Every detail right down to an intentional lack of stools in Nervosa (to avoid resembling the bar) was taken into consideration. The only real similarity is the quality and style of writing which Joe Schmoe sitting on the couch probably wouldn't even pick up on.

I've only seen 1 episode of The Tortellis on YouTube a couple years ago but from that single episode it was apparent the show tried way too hard to capitalize on Cheers success. Man what a crappy show...

07-31-2011, 05:35 PM	#1
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	'Cheers' Had BOTH The Greatest Spin-off & Worst Spin-Off in TV History! The greatest spinoff of all time of course is Frasier and the worst is the lesser known (and deservedly so) The Tortellis.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

08-01-2011, 09:11 AM	#2
TeeVeeCloset Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 25, 2003 Posts: 1,873	I think it is all subjective of course, yes a good thread idea, but I would suggest Happy Days spinning Laverne & Shirley, Mork & Mindy, and the worst being Joanie Loves Chachi.....it has happened many times in TV Land! BTW....I am a friend of actor Timothy Williams (Antony t), who after appearing on an episode of Saved By The Bell (the one where he dates Jessie and he is too short) plus many other one-shot rolls, he now lives happily outside of the California area with his wife and two children and continues to act, write and be a parttime house-husband.
	__________________ Living near "Ozzie Nelson Drive".....

02-15-2012, 11:49 AM	#7
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,633	Brandon Tartikoff was a great man.
	__________________ Alex Bogue

02-19-2012, 02:14 AM	#8
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Of course I LOVE Frasier (more particularly Niles!), but I didn't even realize they had tried another spin off. I'm so glad that Frasier worked so well, though!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

08-02-2012, 11:43 PM	#10
hawkeye123 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Posts: 1,390	I never even heard of the Tortellis lol But if they we're going to do a spin off the Tortellis. Why in the world wasn't Carla in it? She was the main Tortelli.
	__________________ You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and, loved more than you know.

08-05-2011, 08:37 PM	#3
goose125 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 07, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 36	I don't know why they insist oh having these darn spinoffs when 99% of the time they never work. I never even knew they had a Tortelli spinoff.

08-05-2011, 08:52 PM	#4
yankeesrj12 Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 09, 2008 Posts: 4,335	Speaking of Cheers, where did the huge audience spike between season one and two come from? The show started at the bottom of the barrel, but really increased as the series progressed. Did the show suddenly get better or did it just have a better timeslot?

08-06-2011, 05:09 PM	#6
goose125 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 07, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 36	Can't answer your question. However, I believe that there was nothing else on TV around that time and people just watched it and started really enjoying the show. I am glad it was given a second chance because I am really enjoying the first 5 yrs of the show. The rest of the episodes without Diane in them does not appeal to me even though I would take a peep at the episodes with Rebecca ever so often.

08-02-2012, 11:01 PM	#9
Prince Michael Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2011 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 296	It's possible that Cheers only had a few viewers at first, and then more people heard about it and got interested in it, so the ratings went up . People told their friends about how good and funny it was, so word "got around" . My dad and I liked The Tortellis, but I can see if it didn't hit the right formula with most people . On the other hand, Frasier was a winner right out of the box .

08-03-2012, 03:23 AM	#11
Prince Michael Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 26, 2011 Location: Helena, Montana Posts: 296	The Tortellis featured Nick, his beautiful "dumb -- blonde" wife, Loretta, Nick and Carla's son, Anthony, and Anthony's wife, Angie . They lived in Las Vegas . I'll bet Carla didn't want to leave Cheers . By the same token, if The Tortellis featured Nick, Loretta, AND Carla, there would have been too much of a rivalry between Loretta and Carla .

08-03-2012, 06:05 AM	#13
zypherix Member Forum Regular Join Date: Aug 14, 2003 Posts: 734	Carla, Cliff and Norm all appeared on the Tortellis, as guest characters. But gotta say, the show was truly awful.

08-09-2012, 10:23 PM	#15
ajgenard Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2011 Location: PA Posts: 369	I think part of why Frasier was so successful is because it bore little resemblance to Cheers. Instead of trying to copy a pre-established formula and take way too many elements from its predecessor, the creators of Frasier decided to take a totally different route. Every detail right down to an intentional lack of stools in Nervosa (to avoid resembling the bar) was taken into consideration. The only real similarity is the quality and style of writing which Joe Schmoe sitting on the couch probably wouldn't even pick up on. I've only seen 1 episode of The Tortellis on YouTube a couple years ago but from that single episode it was apparent the show tried way too hard to capitalize on Cheers success. Man what a crappy show...