The IMDb page for the classic television sitcom Cheers serves as an exhaustive digital archive, detailing cast filmographies, individual episode ratings, user reviews, production trivia, and technical specifications for all 275 episodes that aired across 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993.
Introduction to the IMDb Cheers Experience
For television enthusiasts, researchers, and casual viewers alike, navigating the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) entry for a landmark series like Cheers offers a structured window into television history. Created by Glen and Les Charles junto with James Burrows, the iconic NBC comedy set in a Boston bar where "everybody knows your name" holds a permanent place in television lore.
The IMDb Cheers hub aggregates a vast array of structured metadata. This includes complete cast and crew listings, episode-by-episode breakdowns with air dates, user-submitted ratings, memorable quotes, behind-the-scenes goofs, and soundtrack details.
Understanding how to effectively navigate and interpret this data enhances both nostalgic viewing and critical analysis of one of the most successful multi-camera sitcoms in broadcast history. This guide examines the core components of the IMDb Cheers presence, how user-generated metrics function within the platform, and the wealth of trivia and technical details available to the public.
Navigating the Cast and Crew Directory
The foundation of any IMDb television entry is its comprehensive cast and crew roster, which documents everyone from starring ensemble members to one-off guest stars and behind-the-scenes production staff.
The Principal Ensemble
The series revolves around the ensemble cast operating inside the subterranean Boston watering hole. The IMDb page organizes these actors by billing order and episode count:
- Ted Danson as Sam Malone, the former relief pitcher turned bar owner.
- Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, the erudite intellectual and graduate student (Seasons 1β5).
- Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, the corporate-minded bar manager who succeeds Diane (Seasons 6β11).
- Nicholas Colasanto as Ernie "Coach" Pantusso, the lovable, scatterbrained original bartender (Seasons 1β3).
- Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, the naive farm-boy bartender who replaces Coach (Seasons 4β11).
- Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, the sharp-tongued, cynical waitress.
- George Wendt as Norm Peterson, the perennial bar patron with a permanent seat at the end of the counter.
- John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, the loquacious, trivia-spouting mail carrier.
- Bebe Neuwirth as Dr. Lilith Sternin, the icy, highly rational psychiatrist who marries and later divorces Dr. Frasier Crane.
- Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane, the pompous psychotherapist introduced in Season 3 who eventually anchors his own spin-off series.
Crew and Production Personnel
Beyond the actors, the IMDb database documents the creative forces that shaped the series. Users can explore the filmographies of directors like James Burrows, who directed the vast majority of the episodes, and creators Glen and Les Charles. The writing credits section details contributions from notable comedy writers such as Ken Levine, David Isaacs, and Dan O'Shannon, illustrating how a collaborative writers' room maintained narrative consistency across 11 years.
Episode Guide and User Ratings Breakdown
One of the most frequently utilized features of the IMDb Cheers page is the complete episode guide. Spanning 275 episodes, the guide allows users to examine individual episode titles, original U.S. broadcast dates, plot synopses, and crowd-sourced user ratings on a scale of 1 to 10.
Rating Distribution Across Seasons
While Cheers maintained high critical acclaim throughout its broadcast run, audience ratings on IMDb vary by episode, reflecting shifting narrative arcs, cast transitions, and specific creative highlights.
| Season | Original Broadcast Years | Key Milestone / Cast Transition | Average IMDb User Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 1982β1983 | Series premiere, introduction of Sam, Diane, Coach, Carla, Norm, and Cliff. | 7.8 β 8.5 / 10 |
| Season 3 | 1984β1985 | Introduction of Frasier Crane; final season featuring Nicholas Colasanto as Coach. | 8.0 β 8.8 / 10 |
| Season 5 | 1986β1987 | Departure of Shelley Long (Diane Chambers); season-ending cliffhanger. | 8.2 β 9.2 / 10 |
| Season 6 | 1987β1988 | Introduction of Kirstie Alley (Rebecca Howe); post-strike compressed season. | 7.9 β 8.7 / 10 |
| Season 11 | 1992β1993 | Final season concluding with the multi-part series finale "One for the Road." | 8.3 β 9.6 / 10 |
The Series Finale
The final episode, titled "One for the Road," remains one of the highest-rated individual television episodes on the platform. The IMDb entry details its extended runtime, guest appearances by returning cast members like Shelley Long, and the user review consensus praising how the series concluded its character arcs without disrupting the cyclical nature of the bar's daily routine.
Trivia, Goofs, and Cultural Impact
The trivia and goofs sections of the IMDb Cheers page offer granular insights into production history, continuity errors, and real-world connections that standard broadcast summaries often omit.
Verified Trivia Entries
- The Set Location: While the exterior shots feature the real-life Bull & Finch Pub in Boston (now officially renamed Cheers Beacon Hill), the interior was entirely a soundstage on the Paramount Studios lot in Los Angeles.
- The Beer on Tap: The props department used non-alcoholic or watered-down prop beer for scenes where actors consumed large quantities, though the foam was carefully managed to look authentic.
- Spin-Off Origins: Kelsey Grammer's character, Frasier Crane, was originally intended to appear in only a handful of episodes in Season 3 as a temporary obstacle for Sam and Diane, but his performance led to an expanded role and eventually the long-running spin-off Frasier.
Goofs and Continuity
The platform's user-moderated "Goofs" section documents unintentional errors caught by eagle-eyed viewers. These include boom mics dipping into frame during early-season widescreen adaptations, anachronistic props, and continuity errors regarding character backstoriesβsuch as shifting accounts of Norm's employment history or Cliff's family life across different seasons.
Technical Specifications and External References
For technical analysts and media historians, the IMDb database records the underlying technical parameters of the production. Cheers was shot on 35mm film using multi-camera setups in front of a live studio audience, a traditional configuration that influenced its distinct acoustic profile and lighting style.
The page also cross-references external databases, linking to official streaming platforms where the series is licensed for digital distribution, award listings (documenting its 28 Primetime Emmy Awards out of 117 nominations), and connections to related titles such as Frasier and The Tortellis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes of Cheers are listed on IMDb?
The platform lists a total of 275 episodes spanning 11 seasons, beginning with the pilot episode "Give Me a Ring Sometime" in 1982 and concluding with "One for the Road" in 1993.
Can anyone edit the Cheers IMDb page?
Yes, IMDb operates on a contribution model where registered users can submit additions, corrections, and trivia. However, all submissions undergo a review and verification process by IMDb editorial staff to ensure accuracy against established guidelines.
What is the highest-rated episode of Cheers on IMDb?
The series finale, "One for the Road" (Season 11, Episode 26), consistently holds one of the highest user-rating averages on the platform, frequently scoring above 9.5 out of 10 based on thousands of user votes.
Are guest stars like Ted Danson's real-life spouse or recurring actors fully cataloged?
Yes, the cast list includes recurring guest stars such as John Cleese, Harry Anderson, and Emma Thompson, alongside comprehensive credit details for every credited actor who appeared on screen.
How do IMDb user ratings for older sitcoms like Cheers compare to modern shows?
Classic sitcoms on IMDb often benefit from nostalgia-driven voting, but Cheers maintains high average ratings across its run due to enduring critical consensus regarding its writing, pacing, and ensemble chemistry.
Practical Guidance for Researchers and Fans
When utilizing the IMDb Cheers database for research, trivia verification, or chronological viewing, cross-reference data points with official studio releases or published oral histories of the show for complete context. While user-generated sections like goofs and quotes offer entertaining trivia, official primary sources remain necessary for academic or biographical writing.
