Summary

• Cheers served as a blueprint for many sitcoms, with its outstanding chemistry and witty dialogue leaving a lasting mark on pop culture.
• Despite facing challenges like the loss of a beloved actor, Cheers maintained its high quality and delivered humor and high ratings throughout its 11-season run.
• Each season had its strengths, but several of them marked high points for the series, capitalizing on its cast chemistry and relevant themes.

best TV spinoffs ever: Frasier. Clearly, Cheers has left its mark on pop culture.

During its impressive 11-season run, Cheers consistently delivered humor and high ratings, establishing itself as one of the best sitcoms of all time. It wasn't without its challenges. The show faced the loss of a beloved actor, and tensions between cast were rumored over the years. Nevertheless, Cheers persevered with its intelligent humor and unwavering chemistry, resulting in a remarkable 275 episodes. While not every installment was a masterpiece, Cheers maintained an impressive level of quality across its seasons. A retrospective journey through all 11 seasons, from the least successful to the best, highlights the series' ability to evolve while maintaining consistently strong storytelling.

11 Cheers Season 10

Repetitive And Mediocre Storylines

By the time Cheers season 10 premiered, it was obvious that networks were struggling with when to end a show. This season mainly focused on the intricacies of Frasier and Lilith's high-strung marriage, particularly as they navigated the responsibilities of parenthood. Also, a Bar Wars event unfolded, which happened many times throughout the series. This season’s iteration was especially underwhelming compared to previous Bar Wars. It took a decade for Cheers to produce a notably mediocre season, a unique occurrence in its strong history.

10 Cheers Season 9

The Show Coasted Without Sam And Diane

With Sam and Diane's love story no longer part of the show, Cheers attempted to recreate their magic with a new love triangle involving Rebecca, Sam, and Rebecca's British millionaire boyfriend, Robin. This Cheers season 9 storyline lacked the character development that enriched earlier seasons, leaving Rebecca seemingly unaffected by the events, appearing as a narrative filler. Despite enjoyable moments like Woody's misadventures with Veggie-Boy and young Frederick Crane's first words, the show felt like it was coasting along without its iconic central dynamic.

9 Cheers Season 6

Shelley Long's Absence Proved A Challenge

The absence of Shelley Long from Cheers season 6 was a challenge for the show's writers. The chemistry between Sam and Diane had been carefully crafted over five years. While the writing team previously succeeded in introducing Woody to replace Coach, portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto before his untimely death, the absence of Diane presented a unique hurdle. When Kirstie Alley's character, Rebecca, ed the cast as a career-driven businesswoman who co-managed Cheers with Sam, Rebecca assumed the role of Sam's eventual love interest. The show regained its footing but not without encountering a noticeable transitional phase.

8 Cheers Season 7

A New Format Led To Fun And Clever Moments

Cheers season 7 marked a notable shift in its storytelling, opting for a fully episodic format, a departure from its overarching narrative structure. Despite this change, the season featured several fun moments that showcased the series' clever writing. A highlight was the Bar Wars event, which saw Sam and Woody ing forces to compete in a Bloody Mary contest against Gary's Olde Towne Tavern. Additionally, this season went deeper into Rebecca's backstory with the introduction of her sister, Susan, leading to entertaining and revenge-driven collaboration in "Sisterly Love." While season 7 may not be among the Cheers' most memorable years, it demonstrated the series' ongoing search for fresh storylines.

7 Cheers Season 8

An Improvement From Two Lackluster Seasons

After two lackluster seasons, season 8 of Cheers saw a resurgence in the show's quality. The writing notably improved, delivering more enjoyable storylines, and the entire cast gave standout performances. Alley's portrayal of Rebecca was especially impressive, earning her a Golden Globe Award. Undoubtedly, the season's most memorable episode was "What Is ... Cliff Clavin?" — arguably one of Cheers' best episodes. This episode embodied the essence of Cheers, combining wholesome humor with the occasional risqué behavior. It remains one of the show's most celebrated installments, featuring a memorable guest appearance by the late Alex Trebek.

6 Cheers Season 2

Had Potential But Struggled To Balance Its Cast

Season 2 of Cheers struggled to maintain a balance between being an ensemble-driven show and one primarily centered on the relationship between Sam and Diane. At times, the constant bickering and on-again, off-again nature of their romance threatened to overshadow the entire series. Nevertheless, standout episodes like "Where There's a Will..." displayed the show's potential. Despite some impressive moments in Cheers season 2, the decision to focus mainly on Sam and Diane created challenges for the show's sophomore outing. However, it also paved the way for memorable character development and showcased the cast's ability to navigate both comedic and dramatic territories.

5 Cheers Season 5

Shelley Long's Departure Marked A Turning Point

Long leaving Cheers at the end of season 5 had a huge impact on the series, reiterating the importance of her role. Cheers writer and producer Les Charles emphasized her significance, noting that the success of the show's first season was greatly due to her. Long gave the series a burst of energy and charm. Her departure was thoughtfully orchestrated in the Cheers season 5 finale, which saw Diane choosing her writing career over marrying Sam. In the following six seasons, the show maintained some of its former glory. However, it never quite recovered from Long leaving.

4 Cheers Season 1

Laid A Solid Foundation For The Series

The inaugural season of Cheers introduced a fresh and captivating sitcom. Unlike the established successes of MAS*H and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Cheers brought a new energy to comedy with its sharp and witty writing. The impeccable performances, mixed with contemporary wit, demonstrated a distinctive experience. Season 1 not only acquainted viewers with the colorful characters who would occupy the bar for over a decade, but it also addressed significant societal issues from the jump. Although it didn't achieve instant acclaim, the season organically cultivated its audience, establishing the foundation for one of America's most cherished television shows.

3 Cheers Season 11

Ending Things With Satisfying And Memorable Moments

Season 11 continued to deliver classic Cheers humor, with memorable moments leading up to the series finale. In order to tie things up, the show offered Woody's venture into local politics, Frasier and Lilith's separation, Rebecca's discovery of love, Sam's pursuit of therapy for his sex addiction, and Cliff's belief that his neighbor was Adolf Hitler. The super-sized Cheers series finale even featured the return of Diane and a heartfelt late-night bar gathering where the group contemplated life's meaning. Cheers closed its 11-season legacy with purpose and humor.

2 Cheers Season 3

A Great Season With One Major Flaw

It's hard to say whether Cheers season 3 or 4 is the best outing of the show, as each offered great episodes, humor, character development, and compelling storylines. By season 3, the show had reached acclaim, fine-tuning its comedic abilities. The addition of Frasier Crane as Diane's love interest, although initially met with resistance, brought a classic element of conflict to the series. However, season 3 somewhat awkwardly handled Colasanto's untimely ing. Coach's absence in the final eight episodes of the season was addressed with strange excuses, failing to provide the respectful closure Colasanto deserved.