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'Cheers' or 'Frasier'?
woot_whoo
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I've wondered before about whether or not people preferred the character of Frasier Crane on 'Cheers' or his own spin-off, but since 'Cheers' is being repeated at the moment, I began to wonder which of the two shows people prefer overall.
I'm torn, as I really enjoy both. 'Cheers' has perhaps a more comfortable feel about it, and can boast two distinct (but enjoyable) 'eras' - the Diane years and the Rebecca years whereas I felt that Frasier began treading water midway through its run and never really shook things up. Then again, 'Frasier' had brilliant performances, a cracking character in Niles and some great farce.
In a pinch, I'll go with 'Cheers' - although ironically that's because Frasier and Lilith were such standout characters on it!
I'm torn, as I really enjoy both. 'Cheers' has perhaps a more comfortable feel about it, and can boast two distinct (but enjoyable) 'eras' - the Diane years and the Rebecca years whereas I felt that Frasier began treading water midway through its run and never really shook things up. Then again, 'Frasier' had brilliant performances, a cracking character in Niles and some great farce.
In a pinch, I'll go with 'Cheers' - although ironically that's because Frasier and Lilith were such standout characters on it!
Which was better: Cheers or Frasier? 198 votes
Cheers
31%
63 votes
Frasier
68%
135 votes
0
Comments
I agree - I think that 'Frasier' what at its best when Frasier Crane still resembled the character he had been on 'Cheers' (roughly the first three seasons). After that, he became 'Nilesified' and the guy who had high-brow tastes but could still enjoy a beer and would roll his eyes at his brother's pomposity started to just compete with him to see who could be the biggest snob.
I think 'Frasier' might have been better in its later seasons if they'd brought in a long-term love interest who could hold her own against him (the way Lilith did on 'Cheers'). All we got was season after season of him being a loser in love, chasing a succession of cardboard cutout female characters who could have been played by anyone. Even the woman he eventually went after at the end was as dull as dishwater and had no chemistry with Grammer. He played a larger than life character and really needed a larger than life partner to spark off of (as he did with Shelley Long and, moreso, Bebe Neuwirth).
Cheers is a bit too dour but I do like it
Looky!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mWiPaQ872c
I love both programmes, but I'd side with Dr Crane. He's listening!
Also, Martins relationship with a woman young enough to be his daughter creeped me out a bit.
But overall, Frasier does it for me.
I can't think of a time when it hasn't been on it in the mornings! Along with Everybody loves Raymond
Both shows sit proudly on my DVD shelf. In fact, they might soon be due for a re-watch...
I loved (almost) all the characters and how they interacted with each other. I cared about what happened to them. I couldn't take to Frasier at all (even the "song" at the start made me grit my teeth) and I couldn't care less what happened to any of them.
To be honest I don't get the hype about Cheers.
My husband adores it
Frasier was sharper comedy-wise, but Cheers had that feel-good factor.
This - agree with everything you say - I couldn't abide Daphne's family with their different accents. But I absolutely love the older episodes, it still remains my favourite comedy!
I think Frasier had better word play from the writers, but Cheers shared the laughs around post-Diane.
Roz sometimes felt like a fifth wheel early on
I think Roz was underused throughout the series (as were the KACL group, a lot of the time). Frasier is known (rightfully) for its high brow references and intellectual comedy - but Cheers had this in spades when Diane was around.