Cheers

Got a Favorite Cheers Episode? Fans Pick Their Top Nine for New DVD

Cliff Claven (John Ratzenberger) and Norm Peterson (George Wendt) holding down the bar stools at Cheers | NBC

My home DVD library is filled with complete seasons of my favorite old TV shows, mostly from the 1970s and 1980s, including M*A*S*H, The Odd Couple, Laverne & Shirley and more. So I was thrilled to review [amazon_link id=”B006OKOWDG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Fan Favorites: The Best of Cheers[/amazon_link], fan-picked episodes from the iconic sitcom that ran on NBC from 1982 to 1993.

But with 11 seasons to choose from, it’s hard to believe that fans could narrow down their favorite episodes to nine. (Why nine? Why not ten? I found myself looking for an episode to make it even).

For those of you who’ve never seen Cheers, it centers around the Boston-based bar of the same name and its owner Sam “Mayday” Malone (Ted Danson), his on-again-off-again girlfriend Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), and other quirky bar patrons and staff, including  Ernie “Coach” Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto), barmaid Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman), customers Norm Peterson (George Wendt), Cliff Claven (John Ratzenberger), Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth) and so many more. The show earned 28 Emmys, more than 100 nominations, and spawned its Frasier spinoff that also ran for a decade.

Cheers fans chose the pilot episode from season one, several episodes from season five, including Woody’s wedding from season ten, and one of my favorites, Thanksgiving Orphans.

One of their best selections, Diane’s Perfect Date, introduces us to ex-con Andy, who makes a re-appearance in Diane’s Nightmare in season four (which wasn’t included, but I would have added to round the DVD off to an even ten episodes).

Also missing from this list, in my opinion, is episode 96 from season five — The Proposal, where Sam is ordered by the court to propose to Diane, which he tries to do throughout the episode to no avail.

I also would have put Severe Crane Damage on this list. That includes the infamous scene of Frasier Crane “running with scissors.” Like I said, it’s hard to narrow down 11 seasons to just nine episodes.

There aren’t any outtakes or bloopers, just the episodes, but it’s a nice addition to your own library, especially if you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford to purchase all 11 seasons. At least you’ll have some of the funnier episodes to watch.

Episodes Include:

  1. Give Me a Ring Sometime (Pilot: Season One, Episode 1): A jilted Diane meets the Cheers crew for the first time and Sam, despite his better instincts, offers her a job.
  2. Diane’s Perfect Date (Season One, Episode 17): Sam and Diane agree to set up blind dates for one another and disaster ensues.
  3. Pick A Con, Any Con (Season One, Episode 19): This won the Facebook poll as favorite episode. When Coach is swindled, the crew hatches a plan to get his money back.
  4. Abnormal Psychology (Season Five, Episode 4): A pushy Diane works to put Frasier and Lilith together.
  5. Thanksgiving Orphans (Season Five, Episode 9): A Thanksgiving potluck is held at Carla’s new home.
  6. Dinner At Eight-ish (Season Five, Episode 20): When Sam and Diane are invited to a dinner party with Frasier and Lilith, the evening becomes a night of psychological warfare.
  7. Simon Says (Season Five, Episode 21): Sam and Diane find out they are mismatched after a couples counseling session.
  8. and 9. An Old Fashioned Wedding Parts 1 & 2 (Season Ten, Episode 25 and Episode 26): It’s the wedding day of Woody and Kelly, and the crew offers its services for a night of secrets and revelations.

Fan Favorites: The Best of Cheers was released on DVD March 6, 2012. Rated TV-G. Buy it on Amazon.

Also check out these other Fan Favorites: The Best of Happy Days; The Best of Frasier; The Best of the Odd Couple; The Best of the Honeymooners.  

Are you a Cheers fan? Got a favorite episode?

Comments

17 responses to “Got a Favorite Cheers Episode? Fans Pick Their Top Nine for New DVD”

  1. ruth pennebaker Avatar

    Too many to choose from. You’re reminding me of how much I loved this wonderful sitcom and how much I miss it.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Same here, Ruth. We’re big on Frasier right now. Doesn’t seem to matter what time of day it is – there’s always a Frasier ep somewhere. The writing and timing is amazing.

  2. Joe Donatelli Avatar

    I recall loving the Jeopardy! episode. And anyone involving the rivalry with Gary’s.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Oh yeah, the rivalry with Gary’s – classic. I’m trying to remember the Jeopardy episode. Will have to scout that one out again.

  3. Jennifer Margulis Avatar

    I think I grew up a few blocks from the bar Cheers was modeled after? Or filmed in? Or something. But, full disclosure, I’ve never watched an episode. Not much of a sit-com person. Though this post makes me think I would enjoy it…

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Wow, cool! I must admit, I like Frasier better than Cheers, but they both have smart writing, fun characters and interesting storylines. Way smarter than most of the sitcoms these days, few of which I can tolerate.

  4. Heather Avatar

    This is a good time for this post, when TV has taken a hiatus from anything remotely interesting until the fall. Now I can find something from Cheers to watch.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Oh, but what about the 163 varieties of reality shows that’ll air over the summer? Why, you could be watching people make illegal liquor, drive big trucks over rough terrain, or buy stuff out of storage units (ok, I admit to having a soft spot for Storage Wars).

  5. merr Avatar
    merr

    I am feeling the need to watch the series again! It has been such a long time. I was not a viewer that started from the beginning of the series, and only caught on later while (I think) in college.

  6. Living Large Avatar

    I don’t know where I was during the Cheers craze, probably working 3 jobs and going to school. Maybe we will order this series this summer to keep us entertained at night when there is nothing else to watch!

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      I hope you do – the writing is amazing, and the characters are classic. And then after that watch Frasier!

    2. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      I missed some good shows during my college years and post-college work years. For starters, The West Wing and The X-Files are on my list to watch at some point.

  7. Lisa Iannucci Avatar

    That’s what I love about the summer and the Internet and the extra cable stations we get now, plus of course the DVDs you can buy. There’s always the opportunity to go back and watch old shows. When I was a kid, we would have to wait until the reruns were on somewhere. I’m planning on what shows I want to either go back and see or go back and watch ones that I never saw.

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      It seems like I watch most of my shows on DVD these days. Or maybe DVR. In fact, I can’t think of a current show where I just HAVE to watch it as it airs. I’m usually at least a day or two behind airdates, if not longer (especially now that I’m not reviewing shows for any particular site, like the old TV Squad days).

      And of course, the old shows are so wonderful to watch on DVD. I’ve watched everything from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to My Three Sons to Gilmore Girls and The Sopranos. Technology is awesome!

  8. Kris Avatar

    Loved Cheers! Couldn’t pick a favorite, though. I miss Carla. 😉

    1. Jane Boursaw Avatar

      Carla was such a snappy character. I often wished I could channel her attitude, but then… I do have Flame… 🙂

  9. MyKidsEatSquid Avatar

    I’m trying to recall some of my favorites–pretty much any time Lilith was in a episode, it’s hard to choose.

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