Cheers season 7

The seventh season of Cheers, an American television sitcom, originally aired on NBC in the United States between October 27, 1988, and May 4, 1989. The show was created by director James Burrows and writers Glen and Les Charles under production team Charles Burrows Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Television.

Background

This season premiered on October 27, 1988, after a long period of reruns, indirectly led by the 1988 Writers Guild of America strike.^[1] At the time of the premiere, Night Court moved to Wednesdays, prompting the new series Dear John to fill in that spot. Besides Cheers and Dear John, other series in the Thursday night lineup for the 1988–89 season were The Cosby Show, A Different World, and L.A. Law.^[2]

Cast and characters

Ted Danson as Sam Malone, a bartender and ex-baseball player. He still womanizes with every beautiful woman but fails to impress some, including classier women.
Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, a corporate bar owner and manager. After her former puppy love Evan Drake departed to Japan in the previous season, Rebecca fantasizes that her newest rich suitor will take over the Lillian Corporation. At other times, she often makes unsuccessful non-romantic attempts to impress her superiors in order to be promoted. Moreover, she completes duties (i.e. odd jobs) for her superiors, like organizing parties and pet sitting.
Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, a waitress and mother of eight children, including five from her first marriage. Carla is currently married to Eddie LeBec, who begins touring in ice shows outside Massachusetts, putting a strain on their marriage.
John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, a postal carrier and loquacious bar know-it-all. He starts an on-and-off relationship with a trainee postal worker, Maggie O'Keefe.
Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, a dim bartender. He starts dating Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson), the daughter of one of the heads of the Lillian Corporation, Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle).
Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist, now married to Lilith. They are expecting a child.
George Wendt as Norm Peterson, a semi-employed accountant and painter. He also becomes a house decorator, especially for the Cranes.

Recurring characters

Bebe Neuwirth as Lilith Sternin, a psychiatrist now married to Frasier. She becomes pregnant with Frasier's child.
Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec, a retired hockey player and husband of Carla. He currently works as an ice show performer, which puts a strain on their marriage.^[3] Thomas reprises the role of Eddie in two episodes this season.

Episodes

Specials

Production

Writers and producers David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee left the series in March 1989 for an upcoming production company, which became Grub Street Productions,^[55]^[56] which would later produce Wings and Frasier.

Reception

This season landed in fourth place with an average 22.5 rating and 35 share as of April 20, 1989.^[57] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described the character of Rebecca Howe as "annoying", and expressed pleasure at rumors that Joan Severance (originally set to play Susan Howe, a role eventually portrayed by Marcia Cross) could replace Kirstie Alley, contending that Shelley Long's departure in the fifth season was still affecting the series.^[58] Another syndicate columnist Joe Stein found the sixth and seventh seasons "good [yet] somewhat watered down", and found Rebecca not as "compelling" as her predecessor Diane.^[55] Conversely, Herb Caen of the San Francisco Chronicle praised this season, including the cast ensemble and their performances, but still missed departed characters Coach and Diane.^[59]

Todd Fuller of Sitcoms Online called this season "strong".^[60] David Johnson of DVD Verdict rated the story 90 percent and the acting 95 percent, praising its episodic approach and departure from story arcs, like Sam and Diane's relationship or Rebecca's failed attempts to win Evan Drake last season. He praised Alley as "a solid comic force" for her "over-the-top portrayal of neurosis".^[61] Jeffrey Robinson of DVD Talk gave this season three and a half stars out of five and gave a replay value of four, calling it "good" and its episodes "fun and amusing".^[62] Current Film called this season a "strong roll" with "fine performances".^[63]

Accolades

In the 41st Primetime Emmy Awards (1989), this season won three Emmys: Outstanding Comedy Series of 1988–1989, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (Woody Harrelson), and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (Rhea Perlman).^[64] In the 3rd Annual American Comedy Awards, Perlman was awarded as the Funniest Supporting Actress for her character Carla Tortelli.^[65]

DVD release

Notes

^ Stein, Joe (October 24, 1988). "Prime-time battles finally begin in earnest this week". Evening Tribune. San Diego. p. C-4.
^ "Night Court tops Nielsens in Thursday time slot". The Daily Union. Junction City, Kansas. December 14, 1988. p. 12.
^ Raftery, Brian (October 2012). "The Best TV Show That's Ever Been". GQ.
^ a b c d Bjorklund 2014, pp. 375–389
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. November 2, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Oct. 24–30, 1988". November 2, 1988. p. 21.
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. November 9, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Oct. 31–Nov. 6, 1988". November 9, 1988. p. 19.
^ a b c "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. November 16, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved November 14, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Nov. 7–13, 1988". November 16, 1988. p. 33.
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. November 13, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved November 14, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Ratings (Nov. 14–20, 1988)". The Dallas Morning News. November 24, 1988. p. 21C.
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. November 30, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "The Ratings (Nov. 21–27, 1988)". The Dallas Morning News. December 2, 1988. p. 12C.
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. December 14, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Dec. 5–11, 1988". December 14, 1988. p. 27.
^ "A very Brady ratings hit". Life. USA Today. December 21, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Dec. 12–18, 1988". December 21, 1988. p. 25.
^ "Nielsen Ratings". Life. USA Today. December 29, 1988. p. 3D. Retrieved July 21, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Dec. 19–25, 1988". December 29, 1988. p. 15.
^ "NBC, laughing all the way". Life. USA Today. January 11, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Jan 2–8, 1989". January 11, 1989. p. 27.
^ "NBC clinches season's ratings title". Life. USA Today. January 18, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Jan. 9–15, 1989". January 18, 1989. p. 24.
^ "NBC scores super ratings". Life. USA Today. January 25, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Jan 16–22, 1989". January 25, 1989. p. 19.
^ "Cheers – Please Mr. Postman (transcript)". mReplay. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
^ Brown, J.T. (June 4, 1993). "Bravo, Cheers". Letter to Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
^ Wertheimer, Alan (2003). "Intoxication". Consent to Sexual Relations. Cambridge University Press. p. 237. ISBN 9780521536110. Retrieved June 12, 2016 – via Google Books.
^ "Comedies sweep up for NBC". Life. USA Today. February 8, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Jan. 30–Feb. 5, 1989". February 8, 1989. p. 27.
^ "Monday's TV Programs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 6, 1989. p. 13.
^ "Thursday's TV Programs". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 9, 1989. p. 17.
^ a b "CBS gallops to a tie with NBC". Life. USA Today. February 15, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ a b "NBC's back alone on top". Life. USA Today. February 22, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "CBS up despite Grammy drop". Life. USA Today. March 1, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Feb. 20–26, 1989". March 2, 1989. p. 15.
^ "Hit-and-miss program changes". Life. USA Today. March 8, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Feb. 27–Mar. 5, 1989". March 8, 1989. p. 21.
^ a b "Glad tidings for all networks". Life. USA Today. March 22, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "ABC's roller-coaster week". Life. USA Today. April 5, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: Mar. 27–Apr. 2, 1989". April 5, 1989. p. 21.
^ "ABC's hit-and-miss week". Life. USA Today. April 12, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved November 14, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: April 3–9, 1989". April 12, 1989. p. 28.
^ "CBS squeaks by into second". Life. USA Today. April 19, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: April 10–16, 1989". April 19, 1989. p. 21.
^ "Severance pay?". Los Angeles Daily News. April 25, 1989. p. L20. Record no. 8901190594. Under same article, "TV News & Notes - One Last Fling for Moonlighting", by Jim Benson.
^ "We loved CBS' Lucy tribute". Life. USA Today. May 3, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved November 14, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: April 24–30, 1989". May 3, 1989. p. 19.
^ "Why John Cleese never appeared on Cheers a second time". ...by Ken Levine. November 12, 2010.
^ "Bright spots for No. 3 ABC". Life. USA Today. May 10, 1989. p. 3D. Retrieved July 5, 2020 – via ProQuest.
^ "Top 10: May 1–7, 1989". May 10, 1989. p. 19.
^ a b c McIver, Glen (November 13, 1988). "This Week – Week Gallops Out of the Starting Gate". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. T-8 – via NewsBank. Record no. 881101876.
^ Larson, Lanny (November 11, 1988). "Fun with Mickey". The Fresno Bee. p. D10 – via NewsBank. Record no. 1988316108.
^ a b Stein, Joe (March 3, 1989). "Defections to Hurt Cheers: 3 Writers, Producers to Leave". The Press-Courier. Copley News Service. p. 10.
^ "Obituaries: David Angell". The Telegraph. September 13, 2001.
^ Feder, Robert (April 20, 1989). "NBC, ABC and CBS keep losing viewers". Chicago Sun-Times. p. 61. Record no. CHI349816.
^ Deeb, Gary (March 23, 1989). "Kirstie Alley may lose Cheers lead to 'another woman'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 21.
^ Caen, Herb (March 23, 1989). "A Star Is Born". San Francisco Chronicle. p. B1. Record no. 569588.
^ Fuller, Todd (November 9, 2005). "Cheers: The Complete Seventh Season". Sitcoms Online.
^ Johnson, David (November 15, 2005). "Cheers: The Complete Seventh Season". DVD Verdict.
^ a b Robinson, Jeffrey (November 15, 2005). "Cheers - The Complete Seventh Season". DVD Talk.
^ "Cheers: Season 7". Current Film. Archived from the original on September 5, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Bjorklund 2014, p. 461.
^ "American director's 1st film wins top prize at Cannes". Milwaukee Sentinel. May 24, 1989. pt. 1, pg. 3.

References

Bjorklund, Dennis A (September 2014) [First published in 1993 as print edition]. Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference (e-Book ed.). Praetorian Publishing. ISBN 9780967985237. Retrieved June 27, 2012.

External links

Production order of Cheers season 7 at Copyright Catalog
- Click "Set Search Limits", select "Range", select "Motion Pictures" at "Item Type", type "1988" at left box and "1989" at right box, either hit "Enter" or click "Set Search Limits"
- Then, after above step, search by title, type "Cheers", and hit "Enter" or click "Begin search"
Cheers, season 7 at Internet Movie Database
Cheers, season 7 at TV Guide