Frasier may have more Emmy wins, but Cheers will always be better for several reasons. The ensemble sitcom based in Boston debuted in 1982 and ran for 11 brilliant seasons. Cheers‘ premise is rather simple — it’s about a group of people who frequent a bar in Boston every night. However, its success lies in its simplicity and brilliant ensemble. Admittedly, following up Cheers‘ footsteps was almost impossible, but NBC took the risk anyway by greenlighting Frasier.
The network had previously attempted to further capitalize on Cheers‘ success with the launch of its first offshoot — The Tortellis. Despite being spearheaded by Rhea Pearlman’s Carla, the show was canceled due to the lack of enthusiasm from viewers. When Frasier debuted, there was skepticism around the project, especially considering the fact that Kelsey Grammer’s character was only a belated addition to Cheers. However, Frasier eventually endeared himself to the audience, enough for him to get his own spin-off. Still, nothing beats the original series in this regard for several reasons.
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All 11 Seasons Of Cheers, Ranked Worst To Best
Cheers maintained a consistently high quality of storytelling over its 11-season run, but there’s no denying that some seasons are better than others.
10 Cheers Was More Consistent Than Frasier
Frasier currently holds the record for most Emmy wins for a comedy series, but overall, Cheers‘ storytelling was still so much better. While new sitcoms tend to take a while to find their footing, Frasier delivered a brilliant pilot, which was followed by an equally magnificent freshman year. That being said, as it progressed, there was a notable dip in its quality before redeeming itself towards the end. Cheers, on the other hand, was consistently good from start to finish.
9 Cheers Had A Clear Protagonist Than Frasier
While technically an ensemble, Cheers‘ true lead was clearly Ted Danson’s Sam Malone. During the early years of the show, he was joined by Shelley Long’s Diane, as the pair’s love-hate relationship became the driving force of its narrative. When Diane left in Cheers season 5, however, Cheers continued to thrive because Sam was still its ringleader, with a consistent focus on the character. Frasier, on the other hand, was the opposite. Despite having a titular character, the spin-off actually did a better job developing Niles and Martin’s arc than Frasier’s.
8 Cheers Had A Better Theme Song Than Frasier
Frasier‘s “Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs” was performed by Grammer himself, which added a sentimental value to the show’s theme song. However, it’s difficult to argue that it’s better than Cheers‘ “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” by George Portnoy. Unlike “Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs,” Cheers‘ song was more straightforward, with its lyrics effectively narrating the significance of the Boston bar. Even those who haven’t seen Cheers will at least know the tune of its theme.
7 Cheers Was More Accessible Than Frasier
Because of its more straightforward premise, not to mention its mostly blue-collar cast, Cheers was more accessible than its spin-off. The parent series simply showed the nightly shenanigans at Sam’s Boston pub, which meant that its brand of comedy was mostly simple and immediately effective. Meanwhile, since Frasier featured snooty characters such as Frasier and Niles, its humor tended to be highbrow at times, as well. This made it difficult to relate to for some.
6 Cheers Had Better Additional Characters Than Frasier
Frasier maintained the same core cast throughout its 11-year run. Joining Frasier were Niles, Martin, Daphne, and Roz — all of them having their respective arcs over the years. There were benefits to keeping the same core cast, such as being able to fully focus on their storylines, but that meant that it didn’t have any additional characters that stood out as great as the subsequent addition of Cheers had. Grammer’s Frasier was the perfect example of this. He was introduced in season 3 and then eventually integrated into the sitcom’s storytelling.
5 Cheers Was Able To Survive Cast Departures
While Sam was the true lead of Cheers, the success of the show was dependent on the ensemble surrounding him. Diane’s exit was massive, especially since she was a big part of Sam’s storyline, and frankly, the success of Cheers until that point, there were concerns that her departure would hamper the show. However, she wasn’t the first major character to leave the sitcom, Coach had to be replaced by Woody in Cheers season 4 after Nicholas Colossanto’s death. Despite these, Cheers thrived until the end — something that Frasier never went through.
4 Cheers Was A Better Traditional Sitcom Than Frasier
Frasier was no doubt critically acclaimed, however, as a situational comedy, Cheers was simply better. There weren’t many overarching storylines, so viewers could jump in and out without feeling like they were missing anything. Each character was easy to understand from the get-go. Since it was mainly set in a bar, Cheers was able to lean on silly comedy, and because people were always drunk, jokes could come from anyone.
3 Cheers Had More Diverse Storylines Than Frasier
Since Frasier had a smaller cast and a titular character, it was more limited in terms of its storylines. Niles and Frasier’s shenanigans usually resulted in them being humiliated. Other times, their highly competitive dynamic would end with them fighting each other and Martin needing to step in. The show would lean into these types of stories, so sometimes, they could get repetitive. Because Cheers was set in a bar, there was a wealth of narrative to tell. Aside from the personal arcs of its usual patrons, visitors to the pub could also become storytelling catalysts, which allowed the show more plot options.
2 Cheers’ Lead Star Was More Likable Than Frasier’s
A big reason for Frasier‘s popularity was because of the people around him. Without them to bounce off of, he could be annoying because of his pretentious tendencies and antics. Sam, on the other hand, was likable from the moment he first appeared in Cheers. Despite being a ladies’ man and even borderline rude and sexist at times, Danson played him with so much suave, add to that he was also good-looking, and it was quite difficult not to like him. The people around him made Sam more likable by highlighting his great qualities, however, Frasier‘s ensemble made him a decent character by regularly humiliating him.
1 Cheers Was More Lighthearted Than Frasier
One of the best things in Frasier was its ability to toe the line between comedy and drama. As a psychiatrist, Frasier never shied away from having difficult conversations, which made for some really emotional moments in the series. However, not everyone wants to watch a sitcom that could get unexpectedly dark. Unlike its spin-off, Cheers maintained a lighthearted tone all throughout its run. Granted that it had some intense storylines, but for the most part, its storylines were hilarious and silly. This allows viewers to jump in on it anytime and expect nothing but a good time.
