10 Reasons Why The Classic Sitcom Cheers Has Aged Well

Cheers is one of the most well-known sitcoms with one of the best theme songs of the 1980s, airing for eleven seasons from 1982 to 1993. Although the series saw many changes in over a decade, it maintained its barroom setting and its handsome but tumultuous main character, Sam Malone (Ted Danson).

While Cheers is no longer on Netflix, it is featured on Peacock and remains on Hulu for the time being. The series isn’t perfect in terms of characterization or timelessness, but it still has many core aspects that have aged well in the long term.

10 Classic Setting

Aside from the Friends hangout of Central Perk, it’s difficult to name a more iconic sitcom setting than the Boston Cheers bar. The “real Cheers” was a frequent tourist spot in the big city, along with all the other pop-up knockoffs that fans also enjoyed seeing in Boston. With its cozy wooden interior and warm lighting, the bar’s simplicity draws the eye to the people who dwell in it.

9 Comedy That Lasts

The one-liners in Cheers aren’t all acceptable forty years later, but much of the comedy still holds up. Aside from the banter among characters, the show’s writers had a remarkable knack for crafting hilarious situations. A simple statement about an everyday object, like a candy bar or a poet, becomes hilarious when it’s said in just the right way. The facial expressions, the dates gone wrong, the unbelievable visitors who walk in at just the right moment–it’s all part of what keeps the laughs rolling years later.

8 Complex Relationships

There are certainly outdated gender roles within the context of Cheers, but the actual relationships are more than meets the eye. In both the Shelley Long years and the Kirstie Alley years, love isn’t an easy thing.

Diane and Sam have the most talked-about relationship of the whole run, and their romance brings out unexpected characteristics in both of them. Sam occasionally shows a sensitive side, and Diane is able to bring her lofty intellectualism down to a more human level.

7 Norm And Cliff’s Camaraderie

Two of the funniest people in the whole bar would have to be Cliff and Norm. Norm generates a buzz the second he walks in; Cliff offers a refreshing perspective on the world from his point of view as a mailman. The best part is, these guys are basically always at the bar. While they each have moments of deeper character growth, they fit into the overall atmosphere of the everyday people who sit across from Sam Malone.

6 Coach’s Kindness

One of the warmest characters of the show’s early years is Coach. Before actor Nicholas Colasanto passed away, he gave Coach such a kind and compassionate demeanor. Even if Coach could be a little behind on the jokes, he made plenty of his own. He’ll always stand out as a mentor to Sam and an irreplaceable part of the bar.

5 Young Frasier

As all fans know, Frasier is the longest-running character of the Cheers universe. Kelsey Grammer joined the cast of the sitcom in 1984 and moved right along to Frasier, which didn’t end until 2004. With a twenty-year span on the air, Frasier went through many adjustments and tweaks, some more enjoyable than others. The psychiatrist spends a fair amount of episodes in a relationship with Diane, and then with Lilith, of course. Going back to where it all began for this character is quite fun.

4 Jokes At Sam’s Expense

Sam Malone is the star of Cheers, but he’s also one of the characters who has aged the worst over time. Sam is a womanizer who espouses problematic ideas about gender. Sam frustrates viewers with his careless comments and actions, so it feels right to see him as the butt of the joke from time to time. Sam’s colleagues have a way of putting him in his place and inspiring him to be a better person once in awhile.

3 Carla’s Sharp Wit

Funny people drive Cheers, and Carla is one of the most consistent. She’s always ready with a humorous and potentially rude remark.

The busy waitress has a house full of kids and no time for herself, but she keeps her head up and makes Cheers a livelier place for everyone. It’s nice to have a character who tells it like it is and knows who her people are.

2 1980s Nostalgia

Nostalgia seems to always be in style, and Cheers is a special kind of 1980s time capsule. Everything that’s old is new again, from the wardrobe to the simpler technological innovations. There’s nothing like watching people crowd around a tiny television or have a conversation without staring at a smart phone. The 1980s style is a wonderful part of the show.

1 Friends Become Family

The best part of Cheers is the fact that the people who gather around the bar aren’t just strangers. They talk to each other, joke around, share what’s bothering them, and wait for exciting things to happen in the midst of everyday life. The camera rarely strays from the bar, making the friends who work and relax there a true family.

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