A successful remake of the classic sitcomCheerslooks more doubtful than ever, with the news that a reboot of its spinoffFrasierhas been cancelled by Paramount+ after two seasons. Until a few months ago,Cheerswas simply a beloved and acclaimed American comedy from the 1980s, doing the syndication rounds on daytime TV across the world. Given what’s happened toFrasierfollowing the lukewarm reception of its remake, it’s probably best that things stayed that way.
But last October, it was announced that British sitcom writerSimon Nye was adaptingCheersfor a new generation of UK viewers. Never mind that the sitcom’s premise feels somewhat dated and done to death, withHow I Met Your Mother,It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, as well as Britain’s ownTwo Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of CrispsandEarly Doors, all remaking elements ofCheersduring recent decades. A new British version ofCheersalso seems completely at odds with the groundbreaking comedy-dramas to have come out of the UK in recent years, fromSex EducationtoBaby Reindeer.
Frasier’s Revival Being Canceled After 2 Seasons Shows The Challenge A Cheers Remake Would Face
Streaming Platforms Aren’t Open To Risky Ventures, Like A New British Remake Of A Classic US Show
WhenFrasierreturned with new episodes in 2023, its first iteration was still one of the highest-grossing TV shows in the world (viaCollider), thanks to heavy syndication by broadcasters and streaming platforms alike. The show’s witty dialogue and light-hearted storylines were still pulling in audiences, and reviving it appeared to be like a risk-free banker for any platform. Yet the newFrasierhas been canceled by Paramount+ before it’s reached season 3, an ignominious fate suffered by the likes of forgettable Friends spin-offJoey.
10 Hilarious Sitcoms That Were Canceled Too Soon
Just because a sitcom gets canceled within a few seasons doesn’t mean that it isn’t funny, and there are some hidden gems worth looking at.
Frasier’s fate demonstrates how streaming platforms are becoming increasingly trigger-happy, with even shows considered safe bets a couple of years ago no longer safe. This is the worst possible environment for thedevelopment of a BritishCheersremake, which, far from being something a streaming platform could bank on, has the potential to be an unmitigated disaster from the start. Just look atprevious attempts to remake the classic show in Spanish and Irish, which lasted a combined total of one season.
Cheers' Remake Doesn’t Have The Same Advantages As Frasier’s Revival
It Can’t Take Advantage Of Returning Characters Or Cast Members
Therein lies the first problem a British remake ofCheerswill face, asit will have to revamp the show’s entire cast and charactersfor a UK audience. At leastFrasierhad the opportunity to bring beloved characters back to its previous setting. The failure of its showrunners to getDavid Hyde Pierce back as Niles for Frasier’s rebootwas probably a major factor in the series getting canceled at this stage, since Niles is arguably the original show’s most celebrated character. With that in mind, a new version ofCheerswould seem to stand little chance of succeeding, especially if it can’t bring back any of the original show’s cast or characters.
The Best Episodes Of Cheers That Showcase Each Main Character
From bar proprietor Sam Malone to the late bartender Coach, each of Cheers' main characters have a defining episode that best showcases who they are.
Despite its success, the American adaptation ofThe Officeshows just how difficult bringing a sitcom across the Atlantic can be. It’s important to remember, too, that there were only four years between David Brent and Michael Scott first appearing on the small screen, whereas the British version of Sam Malone would arrive more than 30 years after his Bostonian counterpart last appeared in a new episode.
The AmericanOfficeincluded just one brief Ricky Gervais cameowhich was wholly inconsequential to the series, and that’s almost certainly more than Simon Nye will be getting from Ted Danson ifCheersmakes it to Britain. As it stands, that “if” looks like a big one.
Cheers
Cast
One of the most well-known American sitcoms of the 1980s and 90s, Cheers is primarily set in Boston at the Cheers bar, and features and ensemble cast that includes Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Pearlman, Kelsey Grammer, and George Wendt. Danson’s Sam Malone acts as the bar’s proprietor, and episodes depict the lives of Cheers' staff and patrons during the bar’s operating hours. The series ran for 11 seasons and gave rise to popular spin-off shows such as Frasier.
