Cheers or Frasier?

[DaytonBuck]

Cheers started when I was about 10, so I didn't appreciate it as much back then. I recently watched it from start to finish on Netflix.

I was old enough to understand the jokes on Frasier, but didn't watch it religiously because I was in party mode back when it was on. I'm currently watching the whole series for the 4th time on Netflix.

I think Frasier is the better show. Better writing, better ensemble.

Discuss.

 

[psuro]

Why choose?

 

[Cletus11]

Kelsey Grammer, great actor but a real a$$hole in real life.

 

[DaytonBuck]

Why choose?

You don't have to. Cheers is considered one of the best comedies of all time, and deservedly so. Not sure Frasier is, or maybe I just haven't heard it mentioned.

I used to be in the Cheers camp, but switched to Frasier. Was just curious about opinions.

 

[LionJim]

Frasier, hands down. I loved Cheers but Frasier was consistently funnier and kept it up for its entire run. The time Niles moved to the Shangri-La apartments. The murder mystery radio show. The Kate Costas cycle, including the scene where Bulldog won a bet by having Frasier sing “Three Pretty Maids” in falsetto. The Thanksgiving episode where Lilith and Frasier drive Freddy’s prospective headmaster over the edge. The best dog in the history of television. It also had its share of lovely touching moments.

 

[Grass]

Frasier. Niles was such a great character and David Hyde Pierce played him perfectly. My favorite episodes are when Niles and Frasier have some sort of sibling rivalry going on.

 

[LaJolla Lion]

Cheers for me.

 

[DaytonBuck]

The difference between the 2 shows for me became the ancillary characters. I found some of the ones on Cheers to be a little annoying.

 

[psulongago]

You don't have to. Cheers is considered one of the best comedies of all time, and deservedly so. Not sure Frasier is, or maybe I just haven't heard it mentioned.

I used to be in the Cheers camp, but switched to Frasier. Was just curious about opinions.

Cheers, felt Cheers had greater variety of characters and guests although I haven't watched Frazier that much. Favorite guest was Harry the Hat, also known as Judge Stone, recently passed away. By the way another great show Night Court which I preferred to Frazier and I preferred Taxi to Cheers. Just some thoughts and a nice topic.

 

[DaytonBuck]

Cheers, felt Cheers had greater variety of characters and guests although I haven't watched Frazier that much. Favorite guest was Harry the Hat, also known as Judge Stone, recently passed away. By the way another great show Night Court which I preferred to Frazier and I preferred Taxi to Cheers. Just some thoughts and a nice topic.

Night Court is underrated. Dan Fielding is one of the best characters ever.

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Cheers! Frasier didn't have Norm...enough said.

 

[DaytonBuck]

Cheers! Frasier didn't have Norm...enough said.

Not true.

 

[Golic55]

Never thought Frasier was funny.
Now Mr. and Mrs. Costanza...that's funny.

 

[psu00]

Both were great shows. I’ve seen some Frasier reruns lately and they are still funny. Niles and Daphne’s wedding, Frasier’s Greek cousins wedding, the thanksgiving episode with Lilith, etc. Really great writing and comedy that doesn’t sink to the levels of crass language/ topics that seem to be much more common in ‘comedy’ now.

I haven’t seen many Cheers reruns lately but will start looking for them now. 2 great shows.

 

[wbcincy]

Frasier by a mile for me. One of my top 5 TV sitcoms (Seinfeld, Frasier, Arrested Development, The Office, Always Sunny)

 

[Norm Petersin]

Normie says emphatically Cheers

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Frasier by a mile for me. One of my top 5 TV sitcoms (Seinfeld, Frasier, Arrested Development, The Office, Always Sunny)

Seinfeld, Cheers, Taxi, Curb Your Enthusiasim, Married with Children

 

[BBrown]

Cheers started when I was about 10, so I didn't appreciate it as much back then. I recently watched it from start to finish on Netflix.

I was old enough to understand the jokes on Frasier, but didn't watch it religiously because I was in party mode back when it was on. I'm currently watching the whole series for the 4th time on Netflix.

I think Frasier is the better show. Better writing, better ensemble.

Discuss.

Agree. As much as I liked Cheers, and I was/am a big fan boy, I thought Frasier was the better show.

 

[BBrown]

Frasier, hands down. I loved Cheers but Frasier was consistently funnier and kept it up for its entire run. The time Niles moved to the Shangri-La apartments. The murder mystery radio show. The Kate Costas cycle, including the scene where Bulldog won a bet by having Frasier sing “Three Pretty Maids” in falsetto. The Thanksgiving episode where Lilith and Frasier drive Freddy’s prospective headmaster over the edge. The best dog in the history of television. It also had its share of lovely touching moments.

 

[bison13]

As mentioned above, I prefer Night Court to both but I never really thought frasier was all that.

 

[royboy]

I'll go with Frasier, and some of the supporting actors give them my pick over Cheers, also an outstanding series.

His over-the-top manipulative agent Bebe was a treat.

 

[DaytonBuck]

All 11 seasons of Frasier are on Netflix. I'd recommend either giving it a 2nd look or checking it out for the first time.

 

[PAgeologist]

I thought Cheers was the better show, although I am a fan of Frasier as well. Night Court has them both beat by a long shot for me.

 

[wbcincy]

I'll go with Frasier, and some of the supporting actors give them my pick over Cheers, also an outstanding series.

His over-the-top manipulative agent Bebe was a treat.

After the "crane" at the zoo chokes to death on a jawbreaker, and Frasier turns to Bebe, "is there any chance it wasn't you?"

"Oh darling... There's always a chance."

"I can live with that."

 

[Roar More]

Cheers was the better show until... Kirstie Alley. There was a noticeable drop in quality after that.

 

[Obliviax]

Frasier....best episode is when they were trying to convince Frasier's GF that they were Jewish during Christmas.

 

[Beachwineguy]

I enjoyed Cheers better when it was on, but going back and watching them again, many of the episodes were a bit stale in their writing.

 

[Zenophile]

 

[psuro]

Frasier....best episode is when they were trying to convince Frasier's GF that they were Jewish during Christmas.

 

[manofsteel200]

Cheers...initially....but when Rebecca began, the show started to decline. Frasier had the mot consistent quality.

 

[CF LION]

Cheers gets the nod for me. Bigger pop culture impact.

 

[BBrown]

I enjoyed Cheers better when it was on, but going back and watching them again, many of the episodes were a bit stale in their writing.

Agree. Since there isn't much on regular TV, right now, I've been watching some old episodes of both Cheers and Frasier on Netflix. And Frasier just seems to stand up better. I really liked all the extras on Cheers but Niles knocks it out of the park on Frasier. And it may not be to everyone's liking but sometimes Frasier pulls the old
British Bedroom Farce episode out and they do it really well.

 

[bison13]

Cheers was the better show until... Kirstie Alley. There was a noticeable drop in quality after that.

Agreed

 

[Player2BNamedL8r]

Frasier was one of the rare occurrences in tv when the quality of the spin-off surpasses that of the original, yet both are still considered to be great. Or put another way, you can’t go wrong with either.

 

[Madsol]

Agree. Since there isn't much on regular TV, right now, I've been watching some old episodes of both Cheers and Frasier on Netflix. And Frasier just seems to stand up better. I really liked all the extras on Cheers but Niles knocks it out of the park on Frasier. And it may not be to everyone's liking but sometimes Frasier pulls the old
British Bedroom Farce episode out and they do it really well.

I think this is it for me too. Niles makes the difference. Also, for me the drop off from Diane to Rebecca on Cheers was so significant that while it didn't ruin the show, it certainly reduced it for me. Loved both shows when they were on but I find myself watching Frasier on Netflix and not Cheers.

 

[DaytonBuck]

Giving it some thought...I think Cheers probably had the more iconic episodes. The highs may have been a little higher.

But for me, Frasier is the more consistent product.

 

[LionJim]

Frasier....best episode is when they were trying to convince Frasier's GF that they were Jewish during Christmas.

I just remembered the episode where Niles got a craving to be a father and started nurturing a sack of flour.

 

[BBrown]

I just remembered the episode where Niles got a craving to be a father and started nurturing a sack of flour.

That is one of my favorite episodes of any TV series.
The other Frasier episode I absolutely love is when Miles thinks Marris (sp?) is having an affair with her fencing instructor. Just brilliant.
Of all the Cheers episodes I always thought the "cheese knife" episode is pretty great.

 

[jerot]

Niles was not nearly as funny as Kenny Bania.

 

[SR108]

Cheers started when I was about 10, so I didn't appreciate it as much back then. I recently watched it from start to finish on Netflix.

I was old enough to understand the jokes on Frasier, but didn't watch it religiously because I was in party mode back when it was on. I'm currently watching the whole series for the 4th time on Netflix.

I think Frasier is the better show. Better writing, better ensemble.

Discuss.

Both were good shows, but the hardest I ever laughed at a sitcom was the WKRP Turkey drop at Thanksgiving.