Everything you need to know about Cheers
Cheers tracks the lives and loves of the staff and regulars of the titular bar.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the leading man is Sam Malone, the bar owner and head bartender, who serves and talks to the regulars who prop up his business.
Using his position behind the bar to flirt and sleep with women, Sam was a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox nicknamed Mayday Malone. However, his career later ended when drinking began to impact his ability.
He’s seen having a will they/won’t relationship with Diane, a smart Boston University graduate who takes a job at the bar after her husband leaves her and she needs money.
Also joining Sam in Cheers is the smart-mouthed waitress Carla, a mother-of-five who has no time for fools – especially customers.
Norm and Cliff are long-time customers who often come into the bar after work.
Over time, the series expands to include sweet-but-dim bartender Woody, and the bolshy and confident Rebecca.
Launching in 1982, Cheers became an immediate hit, and despite its end in 1993, remains one of the US’s most beloved comedies.
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Who stars in Cheers and where have we seen them before?
The key cast members for the series were:
- Ted Danson (The Good Place, Three Men and a Baby) as Sam Malone
- Rhea Perlman (Barbie, The Mindy Project) as Carla Tortelli
- John Ratzenberger (Toy Story, Inside Out 2) as Cliff Clavin
- Shelley Long (The Brady Bunch Movie, Modern Family) as Diane Chambers (122 episodes)
- George Wendt (Fletch, Forever Young) as Norm Peterson (269 episodes)
- Kelsey Grammer (X-Men: The Last Stand, Frasier) as Frasier Crane (202 episodes)
- Woody Harrelson (True Detective, Natural Born Killers) as Woody Boyd (200 episodes)
- Kirstie Alley (Scream Queens, Veronica’s Closet) as Rebecca Howe (148 episodes)
- Bebe Neuwirth (Madam Secretary, Blue Bloods) as Lilith Sternin (80 episodes)
- Nicholas Colasanto (Raging Bull, Family Plot) as "Coach" Ernie Pantusso (70 episodes)
How many episodes of Cheers are there?
Cheers ran for a total of 11 seasons, totaling 275 episodes.
Each episode is half an hour in length, with the exception of two hour-long episodes and a feature-length finale.
Is Cheers connected to any other shows?
Yes, in the year that Cheers ended, spin-off series Frasier was launched. Though it notably has a different tone and is a loose connection.
Frasier focuses on bar regular, psychiatrist Frasier Crane, as he moves from Boston back to his native Seattle, Washington, and starts a new life for himself after the end of his marriage.
The series focuses largely on his familial dynamic with his brother and father, and those immediately surrounding them.
Frasier initially ran from 1993 to 2004 but has since been given a reboot.
You can find out more about Frasier here.
What is the age rating of Cheers?
Cheers’ official rating in the UK, as certified by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), is 12 for the overall series.
This means the show contains material considered not suitable for young children.
However, some episodes are marked as PG, which means they’re suitable for children with parental guidance.
Reasons for this rating include:
- Minor profane language
- Discussions or inferences of sex
- Jokes of a sexual nature including double entendre jokes
- Some mild scenes of peril or dangerous situations, but only for comic effect
- Mild scenes of violence for comedic effect
- Depictions of alcohol use as a key plot point
- Some emotional scenes, but nothing intense
How to watch Cheers in the UK
Cheers is available to watch in full now on Paramount+.
Because we strive to bring you the best, Paramount+ is available for Sky customers with Sky Cinema at absolutely no extra cost.
If you already have Paramount+, you can connect it to your Sky account.
You can find out how to do so here.
Find out more about what shows are on Paramount+ here.
