GNS Lists & References

GNS Lists & References - Cheers

Cheers

Frasier is spun-off from another series, the popular NBC series Cheers. This was set in Boston, in a bar named Cheers oddly enough. The series revolved around the loves and lives of its regulars, amongst them Frasier and Lilith. The series ran for 11 seasons and was the third longest comedy series ever produced by NBC. Frasier himself first appeared in the third season, and was originally only going appear in a few episodes. The producers realised the potential the character had, and so he stayed, becoming one of its most popular characters. A similar story also applies to Lilith.

Besides Frasier and Lilith, there were also many other regulars. Here's who they are and what they're up to now (according to mentions of them on Frasier:

(Note: Text in italics is what they've been up to since Cheers ended, normal text is what happened during the series.)

Sam "Mayday" Malone, the bar owner who was addicted to sex. He was the ex-pitcher for the Boston Red Sox baseball team. He was also a recovering alcoholic and womaniser. He tried to form relationships with Diane and Rebecca, but after both failed he decides the bar is his one true love. He has also appeared in Frasier when he visits his friend Frasier in Seattle. Frasier had originally told Sam he was an only child and that both his parents were dead, but Sam learnt the truth when he met Martin and Niles. Sam was played by Ted Danson.

Diane Chambers, Sam's love interest for the first few years. She was the intellectual and witty counterpart to Sam's womanising and unromantic lifestyle. She dumped him and then introduced her new boyfriend, a certain Doctor Crane, to the bar. She realised she still loved Sam and dumped Frasier at the altar, and then moved to Los Angeles to start a career as a writer. Diane was played by Shelley Long.

Rebecca Howe was the manager of Cheers after Sam sold the bar. She worked for a corporation that owned it. When Sam came back after his boat sank, Rebecca gave him a job as a barman, and for her first few years he kept chatting her up. Rebecca got together with Robin Colcord, a rich businessman, but that relationship broke up after she discovered he was using her to get at her corporation. Sam bought the bar back for $1 and Rebecca was fired. Sam felt sorry for her and bought her back to Cheers, where he hired her as manager to help him out. Rebecca and Sam had a thing going for a while - they both wanted a kid - but they realised they didn't love each other and it ended. She married Don, a plumber who became rich and then dumped her. Rebecca is whiny, a bit lazy and a smoker, who once burnt the bar down by mistake. Rebecca was played by Kirstie Alley.

Carla LeBec (formerly Tortelli at the start of the show) is the superstitious and spunky barmaid who played off of Diane's snobbery. Her full name is Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec. At the beginning of Cheers, she had four children, Anthony, Serafina and..... by her ex-husband, Nick Tortelli. She had another child with him, then one, Ludlow, with noted psychiatrist Dr. Bennett Ludlow (Frasier's mentor at the time). She finally dated and married Eddie LeBec, and had a set of twins with him, Jesse and Elvis, for a grand total of 8. After Eddie died in an accident, Carla discovered she wasn't his only wife….. Carla was played by Rhea Pearlman.

Ernie "Coach" Pantusso, so called as he was a minor and major league baseball coach. He however, said he is called "Coach'' since he never flew first class, instead he "always flew coach.'' He is the likeable, always giving and caring, and always forgetful bartender for the first three years of the series until he died. Coach was played by Nicholas Colasanto.

Woodrow "Woody" Boyd, a bartender. He first came to Boston to meet Coach and follow his dream of being a big-city bartender. He's naive and clueless, but also genuine and caring. Later he meets Kelly Gaines, a rich woman from a rich family who is also not the sharpest pencil in the box, and falls in love with her, but as she's a "daddy's girl" there's a bit of a problem with her relationship - namely her father. He married Kelly eventually and they had a baby boy, followed by a girl some years later. Later Woody came to Seattle to see Frasier. Woody was played by Woody Harrelson, Kelly played by Jackie Swanson.

Norm Peterson, a regular who sat at the bar throughout the series. Norm's real name is Hilary, after his grandfather, but he obviously doesn't like the name so he calls himself Norm. Whenever he enters the bar everyone yells out "Norm!!!". Norm was married to Vera, who, just like Maris Crane in Frasier, was never seen by the audience (although she was once heard, voiced by George Wendt's real-life wife). Norm's been through various jobs, including an accountant, decorator and beer taster. He now has his own bar stool engraved with his name. Norm was played by George Wendt.

Clifford "Cliff" Clavin, who was always under his mother's shadow. Cliff was a mailman who always seemed to know some pointless fact. His best friend is Norm. His mother was very dominant over him and he didn't have the guts to stand up to her. On the rare occasions he did he either felt guilty himself or Esther Clavin ("Ma") made him feel guilty by manipulating him. He didn't leave her house for a while ever since he read an article about a flesh-eating bacterium. Later Cliff ordered a bride over the Internet but she got homesick and returned to Bosnia. Cliff was played by John Ratzenberger, better known today as the voice of Toy Story's Hamm the piggybank..

Paul Krapants (at least I think that's what his last name is!!!) often hung around with Norm and Cliff during the last 2 years of the show but still felt like he didn't fit in. Paul's also slept with Carla when they were drunk (she was horrified when she found out) and has dreams of being a catburglar. He is divorced and aged 45. Sam's fiancée Sheila also slept with Paul before their wedding day. Paul was played by Paul Wilson.

John Allen Hill, the owner of Melville's, the restaurant above Cheers. He and Sam didn't get on well, so he sent Carla upstairs to deal with him. She did alright - by sleeping with him!!! Their affair continued for a while, neither of them loving each other because they found out the sex was better if they hated each other. Carla always called him Hill rather than John anyway, and he always called her Ms Tortelli. John Allen Hill was played by Keene Curtis.

And finally, the words to the famous theme song.

Cheers

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,

And they're always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows your name.

Got any more information on any of the Cheers characters? E-mail me at characters@goodnightseattle.tvheaven.com.

Related articles:

Sam Malone

Diane Chambers

Woody Boyd

Ep 40 "The Show Where Sam Comes Back"

Home Page

Back to Lists and References

I'm Listening… (Feedback)

A-Z Index

Frasier created by David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee. Based on the character "Frasier Crane" created by Glen and Les Charles and featured in the NBC / Paramount production "Cheers". Frasier is a Grub Street Production for NBC and Paramount. All Frasier characters are copyright NBC, Paramount and Grub Street Productions.

Goodnight Seattle created and maintained by Gareth Thomas (garethj@goodnightseattle.tvheaven.com). Any comments? E-mail me and let me know. I'm listening.

This site is totally unofficial.