Did You Know That ‘Cheers’ Spawned 4 Spinoffs/Crossovers?
Cheers… the place where everybody knows your name. The beloved sitcom featured different characters who worked and frequented the Boston bar and ran for 11 seasons. Since it was one of the most popular sitcoms in the ’80s and ’90s, it is no surprise that fans wanted to continue to see what would happen to their favorite characters. Many know that Frasier is a spinoff of Cheers, following bar patron and psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer).
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You might be surprised to realize that other shows are spinoffs or crossovers of Cheers. One show is called The Tortellis, which follows Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya), the ex-husband of Carla Tortelli. Carla, played by Rhea Perlman, was a waitress on Cheers and appeared in two episodes of The Tortellis. The show wasn’t as well-received as Cheers and Frasier and only lasted 13 episodes.
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Wings is another popular show but many may not realize its connection to Cheers. It is not exactly a spinoff like Frasier but several of the characters from Cheers show up in Wings including Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Frasier, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth), Norm (George Wendt), and Rebecca (Kirstie Alley). It was also created by the same producers who made Cheers and Frasier.
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Last but not least, the medical drama St. Elsewhere is considered a crossover to Cheers. In an episode of Cheers, Carla has a baby at St. Eligius, the hospital in St. Elsewhere. In another episode, the doctors Westphall, Craig, and Auschlander in St. Elsewhere drop by the bar and have a drink in Cheers. While these are subtle nods, it does prove that they all belong in the same television universe. Which one of these crossovers surprised you the most?
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’80s Where Are They Now
March 2023
Who can forget all the great TV shows, movies and music of the ‘80s? See what your favs are up to now!
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