Cheers!

Last night while watching ET, there was a segment about the cast of Cheers reuniting for a dinner celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the premier episode (30 SEP 82). Cheers has always been one of my favorite shows, as well as its spin-off Fraiser. I could watch them every night and on some nights when I am up late, I do.

Anyway, while watching the segment I started thinking back through years—those fleeting images, the black and white photos in my mind’s photo album—to that time 30 years ago. I missed the first several episodes; when the show premiered I was six days from claiming the title of MARINE from the REAL Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island. It was not until mid-OCT at 29 Palms MGAGCC, that I caught part of an episode on a small color TV in the barracks’ common area. I do not remember much about it, but do remember watching the show after the Christmas break and quickly loved the show. It became part of my “Must See TV” on the Thursday night lineup.

What was it about this show that on its final episode pulled in over 40,000,000 viewers (20 MAY 93)? What was it about this show that became America’s watering hole?

Perhaps, it was the opening photo montage of early 20th-century bar patrons accompanied by the show’s theme song. It immediately put us at ease. We learned that our problems are neither unique or are they new. What we are experiencing today has been happening to others for a long time. This provides us a feeling of familiarity and we can identify with others. We know the characters that sidle up the bar. How many of us waited for Norm to walk through the door and shouted “NORM!” with the other bar patrons? Honestly, who hasn’t wanted to find their very own special hangout, “where everybody knows your name”? We could all identify with one or more of the characters and the storylines and knew that no matter how bad the problem, it could all be resolved in 22 minutes. Didn’t we all feel better after watching?

The show tackled topical political and social events with irreverence yet tactful humor that forced us to think about the issues, while still allowing us to laugh. Along the way, there were cast changes and additions to several notable guest stars; do you remember the episodes?  Local Sports Figures Wade Boggs (Red Sox) and Kevin McHale (Celtics). Television Hosts Arsenio Hall, Dick Cavett, Johnny Carson and Alex Trebek. Government Officials ADM William J. Crowe (Chairman, JCS), Tip O’Neill (Speaker of the House), John Kerry (MA Senator), Michael Dukakis (MA Governor), and Gary Hart (CO Senator). Musicians Harry Connick, Jr. and Bobby Hatfield & Bill Medley (The Righteous Brothers). Future TV Stars Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe of Friends) and Michael Richards (Kramer of Seinfeld) and Future Fraiser Stars John Mahoney and Peri Gilpin.

I do not know if the creators understood at the time of their decisions, that the show they created was timeless. The comedy, the writing, the characters, and the storylines are as topical today as they were thirty years ago. From the first chord of the opening of the theme song to the last chord played in the closing credits, the show produced a feeling of instant nostalgia and a sense of camaraderie. It is easy for me to watch the show and be transported back to that time.

So where were you when you first started watching Cheers? What were you doing in the fall of 1982? Scan through those mental snapshots and think back to a much simpler time; a time most of us were just starting our adult journey; a time of fewer problems. To help you go back in time, below are the lyrics to the theme song and a list of events that occurred in 1982. I would love to read your comments. Happy Reminiscing and Cheers!

“Where Everybody Knows Your Name”

Making your way in the world today

Takes everything you got

Taking a break from all your worries

Sure would help a lot

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you wanna 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

Other Memorable Events for 1982

• EPCOT opens (Come on, does citing this really surprise you?)
• Ma Bell was forced to break up
• Falkland Islands War
• Tylenol poisoning scare
• The word “Internet” was first used to describe the connected computers of ARPANET
• Compact Discs (CDs) introduced
• Space Shuttle Columbia launches for the first time
• Prince William was born
• Graceland opened to the public
• The Cardinals were World Series Champs
• The 49ers were Super Bowl XVI Champs
• We were all saying “Like” (think Valley Girl), “E.T. phone home”
• John Belushi dies
• Michael Jackson releases “Thriller”
• Movies: “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”, “An Officer and a Gentleman”, “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn”
• TV Shows: “M*A*S*H”, “Magnum, P.I.”, “Falcon Crest”, “Dallas”, “Dynasty”
• Top Songs: “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago (18 SEP – 01 OCT), “Don’t You Want Me” by The Human League, “Abracadabra” by The Steve Miller Band, “Jack & Diane” by John Cougar (later known as John Cougar Mellencamp, then John Mellencamp), “Mickey” by Toni Basil,  “Maneater” by Hall & Oates