Cheers
The hit comedy Cheers was a big part of the 1980’s, running from 1982 to 1993 on NBC, and considered by many to be the greatest comedy to come of the 1980’s. The show featured the regular crowd of a Boston bar called “Cheers”, which included characters like Sam Malone (Ted Danson), Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley), Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson), Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar), (Carla Toretelli (Rhea Perlman), Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger), Norm Peterson (George Wendt) and many more.
In 1982, it was nearly canceled due to poor ratings, but it managed to hang onto to become an Emmy Award winning favorite of millions of viewers. The show was successful enough to warrant to spin-offs. The Tortellis, spun off in 1987, was based on the character Carla Tortelli, but the show lasted only 13 episodes. Frasier, which was debuted in 1993 and featured character Frasier Crane, lasted nearly 10 years.
Nearly all of the show’s action took place in Cheers, either in the main bar, back pool room, or office (occasionally the action would take place outside the bar). Initially, the main theme of the show was the romance between bar owner Sam Malone (Danson) and waitress Diane Chambers (Long), but later switched to his relationship with Rebecca Howe (Alley). The show, in true comic fashion, tackled other issues, such as alcoholism, sexual promiscuity, socioeconomic status, feminism, and homosexuality. Many episodes had continuity as themes and story lines played out.