by Mitsy Simpkins

Created on: March 03, 2007   Last Updated: May 09, 2007

Growing up in the 1980's, I remember Thursday night television being a huge event in my house. It was more than just a night of TV, it was a time when everyone in the family gathered around the set to watch shows that they had come to know and love. We were vested in these characters on an emotional level. When they laughed, we laughed. When they cried, we cried. So many great shows came and left; most notably, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, and Night Court. But, only one managed to sustain a 12 year run to surpass them all, and that was Cheers. Many great shows had longer runs, but having grown up with Cheers through Coach's death, Diane's departure, and the introductions of Woody, Rebecca, and Dr. Krane, no other can compare in my eyes.

To this day, some 13 years later, I can still vaguely remember one of the lines from that last show that cracks me up to this day. While not verbatim, the line took place when Sam had Rebecca pose as his wife while sitting up at Melville's having lunch with Diane and her estranged husband (who was really a gay man pretending to be her husband). For those of you who remember, Sam was having dreams of Diane, and invited her back to Boston, and in particular, Cheers. Sam didn't think she would show, but she did, and not wanting to be outdone by Diane, Sam coerces Rebecca into pretending to be his wife. So, Rebecca, who was preoccupied by thoughts of her true love Don, and having turned him down earlier that day began describing their children, after Sam put her on the spot. She goes on to say something to the effect..."well there's Sam Jr, and little 2 year old Chelsea, she's 3!" Of course, seeing it written down doesn't do it justice, but as I ponder on that moment, it was a combination of her whiny voice, and desperation of never again seeing the Man that had asked her to Marry him that made it so funny. Couple that with the chaos that lead up to the scene (i.e. Sam struggling to get someone to pose as his wife), and that which followed (Rebecca's so called husband having his gay partner show up out of the blue), and it still makes me chuckle.

Although there have been many long running shows that had great series finales, none of them is as memorable to me as Cheers. A close second, would have to be M*A*S*H, but I didn't truly come to appreciate it until I was much older. After all, it was intended for an older crowd. In fact, I think the disappointment of watching some of my other favorite shows as their series finales fizzled,

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