The Must-Watch ’80s Sitcom On Hulu
Some classic sitcoms don’t work in a modern context, with jokes that come across as stale and characters that feel more like broad archetypes. Cheers is not one of those shows. With one of the best sitcom casts ever assembled, memorable characters, solid jokes, and a shockingly modern tone, it’s a classic that lives up to the hype.
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Cheers takes its name from the Boston bar where most of the show takes place, focusing on the lives of the bar’s employees and regular customers. In early seasons, the show centers around the “will they won’t they” relationship between bar owner Sam and pretentious intellectual turned waitress Diane. As the show progresses, its ensemble cast grows, and the focus moves from character to character to explore their romances, friendships, and family dynamics.
A Murderer’s Row Of Sitcom Stars
Those characters are played by an incredible stable of actors and actresses, many of whom broke out as stars due to Cheers. The original cast included Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Pearlman, George Wendt, and John Ratzenberger. Later seasons added Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, Kirstie Alley, and Bebe Neuwirth to the prestigious cast.
Embraces Ensemble Storytelling
The cast and writing elevate the characters, giving Cheers one of the strongest ensembles in sitcom history. Everyone from the abrasive single mom Carla to the naive small-town bartender Woody gets great comedic bits intercut with genuinely touching character moments. My favorites are Fraiser’s cold, calculating wife Lilith and sarcastic barfly Norm, but I came to love every character by the end of the series.
The comedy writing in Cheers is second to none, with clever quips and dialogue alongside comically bizarre plots. Most episodes have fairly standard sitcom plots, letting jokes like Lillith explaining that her lab rats worship her as a Goddess do the heavy lifting. But the show has enough off-the-wall turns to keep things fresh, like the bar being held hostage or mailman Cliff Claven going on Jeopardy.
The Precursor To It’s Always Sunny
There are specific plot lines and jokes that haven’t aged well, but, on the whole, Cheers feels remarkably modern in its tone and comedic style. The deeply, unapologetically flawed characters and bar setting make it feel more like a contemporary of It’s Always Sunny in Philidelphia than Family Ties. The show’s found family element also feels very modern, with the show’s ultimate message being about appreciating community and friendship rather than focusing on the importance of a nuclear family.
Aged Well For An 80s Sitcom
With eleven seasons, Cheers has its ups and downs, but even in its weakest seasons, it remains consistently funny and charming. Losing the famous Sam and Diane dynamic halfway through the show feels more like a speedbump than a derailment, with the show quickly recovering by leaning on its incredible ensemble. Even many of the elements that feel dated, like the cavalier treatment of guns being pulled on people, add to the show’s charm rather than detract from it.
Streaming Now On Hulu
REVIEW SCORE
Cheers deserves its reputation as one of the best sitcoms ever made standing head and shoulders above most shows from the 80s. As a new viewer with no nostalgia as baggage, I fell in love with the show instantly and that love only grew as I tore through the series. If you’ve missed out on this all-time classic, do yourself a favor and stream it on Hulu today.
