Despite the anticipation for the Frasier revival, there’s virtually no way that its parent series, Cheers, will be getting the same treatment.
A Cheers revival cannot happen, despite the upcoming Frasier reboot. Before Kelsey Grammer starred in his own Seattle-based series, he was first introduced in Cheers as Diane’s rebound boyfriend, Frasier Crane. Frasier’s introduction came after Sam and Diane’s split, but his role grew exponentially once it became clear that he offered more than just being a part of a love triangle. He became such a fan-favorite that NBC eventually promoted him to be a series regular, even after Diane left her waitressing gig at the eponymous pup. He stayed as one of Cheers’ bar flies until the sitcom wrapped up in 1993.
Just a year after Cheers closed its doors, Frasier continued his story across the country in the Pacific Northwest. In his spin-off, Frasier comes home to Seattle to start a brand new life following his divorce from Lilith. The sequel subsequently tackles him reconnecting with his remaining family: his father, Martin, and brother, Niles. Despite the high expectations, Frasier became as successful as its parent series — a rare feat for follow-up shows. Two decades since it ended, Frasier is getting revived. Amid this, co-creator James Burrow squashes any hope that a Cheers revival will also happen.
Cheers Had A Perfect Ending – Whereas Frasier’s Was Always More Open-Ended
Unlike Frasier, Cheers was more of a traditioned sitcom that leans on humor. However, it subverted expectations with its much-anticipated finale, which reunited Sam and Diane. Getting together would have been the perfect pay-off to their often frustrating romance, but Sam chose not to get back together, opting to stay in Boston after realizing that Cheers was more important to him than her. It gave the one final lingering plot line in Cheers, and perhaps its more important one, a definitive ending. Given this, there’s really no need to resurrect the show.
Frasier also offered its fans a great ending, albeit in a different way. As Frasier wrapped his time in Seattle and was gearing to move, he was able to properly say goodbye to all of his closest family and friends. He left both Niles and Martin in a much better place than when he first reconnected with him. However, the Cheers spin-off actually left its titular character’s personal arc hanging in the balance. Instead of relocating to San Francisco for a new job, he decided to fly to Chicago at the last minute to pursue Charlotte, but Frasier never got the chance to reveal the result of his grand gesture.
Leaving Frasier’s personal plot line unresolved is enough reason to revive the show. More than just answering the original show’s cliffhanger, the new Paramount+ endeavor is expanding on the character’s fourth act, and possibly final act. In the Frasier revival, the snobbish therapist is moving back to Boston, bringing the character full circle to his time in Cheers. Now, he’s no longer the young, naive character that he once was. He’s a father, which will be the central relationship in the fresh project. Based on what’s known about the upcoming Paramount+, there’s a clear objective for the series. It aims to wrap up Frasier’s story in a satisfying way.
Would Anyone Really Want To See Cheers 30 Years On?
Even if Cheers is revived now, it’s difficult to imagine continuing it with its old format. 30 years after the show ended, Sam and the rest of its ensemble have had their lives drastically changed since the last time they were on the screen. Cheers captured a specific time in their lives. Now, seeing all of them in their old age still engage in night drinking and childish antics would just be sad. Getting together once in a while to catch up makes better sense, considering that they spent more than a decade every night together. Anything beyond that will just ruin the legacy of Cheers.
It’s also worth noting that, the Cheers characters’ separate appearances in Frasier established that they no longer frequent the bar as they used to. In “Cheerful Goodbyes,” Cliff’s retirement party had to be held in a different pub. Granted Sam was supposedly hosting a Red Sox reunion at their usual hangout spot, but the fact that it was even a possibility to not be in Cheers backed this idea up.
Cheers Characters In Frasier’s Reboot Makes Sense… If Done Right
A Cheers revival may be out of the question, but there’s still a way to bring most — if not all of them back for a reunion. Since the Frasier reboot is set in Boston, it offers the perfect opportunity for the high-brow therapist to catch up with his old friends. Whether this is done in the actual Cheers bar or elsewhere shouldn’t matter. What’s important is seeing them all back together. At this point, this is likely going to be the closest thing to a Cheers revival. However, it’s important this is done with a lot of care, considering that it could impact the shared continuity between the shows.
