Cheers
Cheers (1982) is an iconic American sitcom set in a bustling Boston bar, serving as a social hub for a diverse group of regulars and staff. The series primarily focuses on the romantic tension between the charming, womanizing bar owner Sam Malone, a former baseball player and recovering alcoholic, and the intellectual, often sarcastic waitress Diane Chambers. After Diane's departure, the show introduces the neurotic corporate manager Rebecca Howe, continuing the theme of complex workplace romances. Over 11 seasons, Cheers explores themes of friendship, community, and the search for belonging in everyday life, often with a comedic lens that navigates adult relationships, mild suggestive humor, and frequent alcohol consumption. The show is generally suitable for mature teen audiences and above, due to its themes and content.
Concerns
Romance and Sexual Content
HighRomance and sexual tension are central to 'Cheers,' particularly through Sam Malone's character, who is a notorious womanizer. The show features pervasive suggestive themes, implied sexual activity, and discussions of romantic and sexual relationships, often with a comedic but adult approach.
Sam Malone is consistently portrayed as a 'lothario' and 'womanizer,' frequently pursuing and having 'flings with many not-so-bright 'sexy women''. His on-again, off-again relationships with Diane Chambers and later Rebecca Howe are characterized by intense sexual tension and frequent flirtation. Rebecca Howe's character arc includes her becoming increasingly 'neurotic, insecure, and sexually frustrated' in her romantic pursuits, often longing for wealthy partners. Carla Tortelli's personal life also frequently revolves around her many children by different fathers and her various romantic entanglements.
Substance Use
HighSubstance use, primarily alcohol, is a pervasive and central theme in 'Cheers,' given its setting in a bar. Characters are frequently shown drinking, and Sam Malone's status as a recovering alcoholic is a recurring plot point. While there's an effort not to show drunk driving, the portrayal of heavy and continuous drinking is constant.
The entire premise of 'Cheers' revolves around a bar where characters like Norm Peterson regularly consume significant amounts of beer, often to the point of implied intoxication. Sam Malone, the bar owner, is a self-identified 'recovering alcoholic,' and his sobriety is a consistent aspect of his character, though he is constantly surrounded by alcohol. In one instance, Carla and other characters are depicted drinking beer while pregnant without overt condemnation within the show. Although the actors often drank non-alcoholic 'near beer' on set, the on-screen portrayal is consistently of actual alcohol consumption.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumThe series notably addressed LGBTQ themes, particularly homosexuality, during its first season, which was considered progressive for television in the early 1980s. While these discussions were present and handled with some intelligence for the time, recurring LGBTQ characters were not a feature of the show.
In the first-season episode 'The Boys in the Bar' (Season 1, Episode 16), Sam's former baseball teammate, Tom Kenderson, publicly comes out as gay in an autobiography. This leads to homophobic reactions from some bar regulars, such as Norm, who express disdain and worry that Cheers will become a 'gay bar.' Diane Chambers acts as an ally, challenging their prejudices. Additionally, in 'Sam's Women' (Season 1, Episode 2), Coach is involved in a storyline where a man named Leo struggles to accept his son's homosexuality, eventually coming to a realization about parental love and acceptance.
Violence
MediumWhile not a violent show, 'Cheers' contains references to and implied instances of physical and sexual aggression. These moments are typically brief and serve to advance character development or plot rather than providing graphic depictions of violence.
In the episode 'Friends, Romans, Accountants' (Season 1, Episode 7), Diane is sexually harassed by Norm's boss and is implied to have been 'almost raped' during an outing that was set up to benefit Norm's career. Another example is in 'Diane's Perfect Date' (Season 1, Episode 19), where Sam sets Diane up with Andy, an ex-convict, who frightens her actual date, Gretchen, with his 'murderous behavior'.
Profanity
Medium'Cheers' includes infrequent coarse language, consistent with its TV-PG rating. The profanity used is generally mild, such as 'damn,' 'hell,' or 'crap,' and is typically employed for comedic effect or in moments of frustration rather than in an aggressive or excessive manner.
While specific verbatim quotes for profanity are not extensively documented in public reviews, the TV-PG rating explicitly notes 'infrequent coarse language'. This indicates that characters occasionally use mild expletives. For instance, characters like Carla Tortelli are known for their sharp tongues, which would include mild curse words in moments of exasperation or insult, such as 'damn it' or 'hell no'.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumDisrespect and rebellious attitudes are present in 'Cheers,' largely through the sarcastic banter and challenging interpersonal dynamics among the characters. This often manifests as verbal sparring, defiance of social expectations, and a general irreverence, typically played for comedic effect.
Carla Tortelli is consistently characterized by her cynical, sarcastic, and often rude remarks directed at customers, her bosses (Sam and Rebecca), and other characters. Norm Peterson's marriage to Vera is frequently portrayed as dysfunctional through his humorous yet disrespectful complaints and sarcastic observations about her, illustrating a lack of mutual respect. The central romantic relationships, such as that between Sam and Diane, are also defined by constant bickering and challenging each other's intellect and decisions.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere is no evidence of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, magic rituals, demons, spells, or other supernatural elements within 'Cheers.' The show is a realistic sitcom focused on human interactions in a bar setting.
The series is grounded in a contemporary, realistic setting and does not incorporate any supernatural, occult, or magical themes. While an episode features a character named Harry the Hat performing a 'magic act,' it is presented as stage entertainment with a revealed trick, not actual witchcraft or occult activity.
Scary & Intense Content
Low'Cheers' is primarily a comedic sitcom and does not feature elements designed to be scary or horrifying. While some situations can be intense due to themes like sexual harassment or criminal behavior, they are generally presented within the show's comedic or dramatic framework rather than aiming to frighten the audience.
The show does not contain any graphic violence, jump scares, or supernatural horror elements. Although there is a reference to Diane being 'almost raped' in 'Friends, Romans, Accountants' (Season 1, Episode 7) and an ex-convict character displaying 'murderous behavior' in 'Diane's Perfect Date' (Season 1, Episode 19), these instances are dramatic or unsettling rather than designed to evoke fear in a horror context.
Anti-Christian Themes
Low'Cheers' is set in a secular environment and focuses on the everyday lives and relationships of its characters, with no explicit anti-Christian themes. The show does not feature mockery of Christian beliefs, sacrilegious acts, or overt promotion of anti-Christian messages.
The narrative of 'Cheers' is entirely situated within a secular bar and its surrounding daily life, with a focus on human relationships and personal foibles. Religious themes, particularly Christian ones, are absent from the show's core content, and there is no evidence of characters or plotlines explicitly criticizing, mocking, or otherwise negatively portraying Christianity or its adherents.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested). This recommendation is based on the official TV Parental Guidelines rating and reflects the show's inclusion of mild suggestive themes, infrequent coarse language, and pervasive substance use (alcohol). It is most appropriate for viewers aged 12 and older, who can understand and contextualize the adult relationships and themes.
Additional Notes
Cheers was considered groundbreaking for its time in addressing homosexuality in its first season, demonstrating a progressive stance for early 1980s television. The show also made a conscious effort to avoid depicting characters drinking and driving, often featuring characters staying at the bar or implying safe transport, which was a notable public service message for a show centered around a bar. Although characters are consistently shown consuming alcohol, the actors predominantly drank non-alcoholic 'near beer' or colored water during filming.
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