Not happening for me - it's like proto Friends

That's your taste and it's fine. Personally, I can't stand friends. I tried to watch it when it came out, but Frasier was more of my speed. I didn't really watch Cheers until after I watched Frasier, so I'm partial to Frasier. Especially the first two seasons of Cheers. Frasier had the luxury of an established character.

the guy spent what eight years hanging out with Cliff and Norm and the other bar flies in a Sports bar but now he's some kind of snob and the laughs come from the contrast with his working class dad? How's that?


I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT...THAT IS VERY TRUE.

Thank you for posting your thoughts on this. I had corresponded with you on the "Cheers" board and was hoping you'd post your thoughts regarding "Frasier."

I'm sorry that you didn't like this. I understand why you don't (Yes, the "Cheers Frasier" is different somewhat than the "Frasier Frasier") and "Frasier" may have just been one of those shows that you had to see back in the 90s. I always thought "Frasier" was more about the supporting cast than about Frasier himself. Niles and Martin (the dad) were probably my favorite characters and I think they actually drove the show more than Frasier did.

I watched "Frasier" fairly regularly through about Season 8 and then it got to be more "hit and miss" for me. I didn't like the way "Frasier" ended...but I don't want to see it brought back for a "reboot" either. I think Kelsey Grammer's a great actor and he had about a 20-year run playing "Frasier," but that's enough, IMO.

Anyway, thank you again for posting your thoughts.

I am actually the opposite. The difference is that I watched Frasier first. So I thought I gave Cheers a try, and it did not seem to age that well.

And I don't get Cheers, for the same reason. He was clearly a sophisticated guy with much higher income. Wouldn't he go to a better bar? And hang around with at least more of yuppie crowd?

I can rationalise some of it, he was from a lower middle class family, probably paying off student loans, could not afford to have his practice at a better location, similar to a "Becker" situation. And he hanged around at a bar due to it's location.

Then he finally paid off the loan and got a better job back at hometown, where he could afford a much better home, the radio station is also at a better location, and he has much more free time because he works about 3 hours a day, he spent most of that time with Niles, who put him on a more snobbish path.

And in the Frasier show they did address the issue, like when he first arrived in Seattle he drank black coffee, not the same snob 6 months later.

Still the tones of 2 shows are very different. I still could not comfortably think they are the same person.

It's for a different audience than Cheers. I watched Cheers, but only because my friends liked it. Frasier was much better, to me. And it's not like Friends at all. Frasier and his brother are successful doctors and elitist (but often well-meaning) snobs. The people on Friends were all just starting out and trying to make something of themselves in the big city.

Frasier was a funny show, especially the first half. Although it took me some time to get into it. I DO NOT get the love for Cheers.

Friends was a great show, but I do not see the similarities with Frasier...whatsoever.

Though there were many mentions of, and cameos by, the Cheers gang during the season, it's probably best not to think of this too much as a continuation of Cheers. More of a loose reboot.

The character of Frasier did change in Frasier compared to what he was like in Cheers. Even if you watch Frasier's early appearances in Cheers, he was never quite as snooty or over the top as he was in Frasier.

I've always seen it as people do have different roles in life, and different sides to their personality that comes out when they are spending time with different people, or in different situation. In Frasier, going back and spending time with Niles again, maybe he just regressed to what he was like before he left for Cheers.

Personally, I think Frasier is great. And it's best you just ignore any inconsistencies you see between the two shows. I'd rather Frasier be a funny show, than worrying about keeping it absolutely logical between the two.

You're probably judging it too quickly, and it's wrong to try to connect too much to Cheers. It's its own reality.

As for similarities with other shows - yeah, all shows from the same era will look pretty much the same in hindsight. That's what was in and fresh at the time.