MovieChat Forums > Cheers (1982) Discussion > If these people were real

If these people were real

posted 5 years ago by jennygerms (58)
14 replies | jump to latest

Never realized how badly some of the characters behaved on this show. I really do enjoy the show, but man I would not want to be around some of those characters in real life.

First you have Sam, who is a womanizer. In general that's totally fine, you do you. But his inability to take no for an answer borders on sexual harassment at times.

Then you have Diane who is emotionally abusive. I mean, I just can't see constantly calling the person I'm dating stupid. She's just so contemptuous. Not to mention how she has to try to be involved in and control everything because all those less evolved people couldn't possibly get their own lives right. Also, there's all those mind games she plays with Sam.

And then there's Carla. Actively taking joy out of getting her "friends" to make terrible choices. She displays pretty regular bouts of rage and aggression. She also keeps popping out kids with whoever will sleep with her, and expecting sympathy and support for her hard life.

Later you get Rebecca, the gold digger/stalker that just can't seem to get her life right.

Okay, rant over.

[–] hurricane (1907) 4 years ago

It's a TV show, it's meant to be funny.

You can enjoy characters on a comedy show without wanting to hang out with people like that in real life.

[–] Kowalski (56929) 4 years ago

VERY TRUE...ALTHOUGH MY FAVORITE SHOW IS THE OFFICE AND I WOULD LOVE TO HANG . WITH THAT CREW.

[–] jekporkins (1921) 4 years ago

I love The Office, but let's break down the main cast. Would you really want to hang with these people?

Michael is a shallow, stupid man. He would embarrass the hell out of you in public and not even know it.
Jim is insanely condescending and superior. He'd roll his eyes at you so much you'd want to punch him.
Pam is, well, boring. I mean I would fall asleep having a conversation with her.
Angela is a freak.
Kevin is a moron.
Ryan is incredibly self-absorbed and a scam artist to boot.
Andy has massive issues and tries to please way too often.
Phyllis is just kind of there. Who wants to hang with her?
Dwight is the only one I would hang out with, and that's because he's so odd and interesting. I would seriously hang with that guy.

[–] avortac4 (3417) 3 years ago

"Michael is a shallow, stupid man. He would embarrass the hell out of you in public and not even know it."

Michael has a good heart, even if he fumbles in the 'social graces' section of life a bit. I know he means well, so I wouldn't mind being his friend, perhaps I could help him learn something. He would be loyal and trustworthy, reliable and a good friend.

Who is afraid of embarrasment, really? What does it matter if someone 'embarrasses' you? At least you aren't getting your mouth punched so you lose all your teeth, or your arms broken, or next to some manipulative snake you can never trust. I'll take the little embarrasment gladly, to have a friend like Michael.

Also, I don't think he's that shallow - he actually thinks about big things and very deeply, too. It's just that he's not very good at it.

[–] avortac4 (3417) 3 years ago

"Ryan is incredibly self-absorbed and a scam artist to boot. "

He's no artist of any kind. Also, he's more of a CON man and embezzler than 'scam artist'. You forgot to mention he's a drug abuser, sociopath and egomaniac. He's actually evil.

Dwight is childish, ego-centric, has no boundaries, can hurt others and not feel bad about it, does disgusting things (who wears the face of an expensive teaching doll on top of their own face?), lives in a self-perpetuated delusion, is gullible to the max, mean-spirited, manipulative (forming 'alliances' and crap), can't read people or situations ('Schrute buck'), murders animals casually (his farm stories, Angela's cat), has no capacity for true sympathy or empathy, abuses any power he ever has, suckerpunches his boss and doesn't feel bad about it..

And you want to be friends with THIS guy over Michael. Wow. Remind me fo never be friends with YOU..

[–] R_Kane (15828) 4 years ago

Which is why this is a comedy.

Comedy shows humankind at its worst. In comedy, a person is put into a situation that any asshole could handle, and s/he fucks it up
(e.g., Twelfth Night, Merry Wives of Windsor).

In tragedy, the protagonist is put into a situation that is literally impossible to overcome, and we marvel at HOW CLOSE s/came to succeeding. By taking his or her full measure with a standard that exceeds human grasp, we show the grandeur of humanity (e.g., King Lear, Hamlet).

[–] liscarkat (16434) 2 years ago

R_Kane: Judas Priest, dude, you are way too smart for the room (and I mean that as a compliment). Your comment is right on.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Most comedies exaggerate bad behaviour for comic effect.

Interesting that you would focus on that rather than the obvious bond and affection all these characters have for each other. They feel like a family to me and I find the characters relationship warm and almost wholesome, especially when you compare it to more recent comedies like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, where everyone is an asshole and there is no real warmth between them.

[–] ebhaynz (3525) 4 years ago

If there was a bar in Boston or any other U.S. city with Sam, Diane, Cah-la, Norm, Woody, Rebecca, Cliff, Frasier, and Coach:

Sam would be fat, bald, and rude.
Diane would be fat and a loudmouth
Cah-la would be fat and a loudmouth
Norm would be, well, Norm would be dead
Woody would still be dim witted. He'd also be fat
Rebecca would be fat and a loudmouth
Cliff would be fat but he'd still know everything
Frasier would be fat, he wouldn't be nearly as smart because of his fatness but he'd be smarter than everyone else so there's that
Coach would be thinner than everyone else.

[–] Artisan (3464) 3 years ago

It was made when the idea of a man chasing a woman relentlessly was considered acceptable and romantic. Ever hear old couples talk about how they got together?

Woman: "Oh he kept asking me out and I kept saying no and he would turn up at all these places I was at. One day I said yes and 60 years later we're still together".

But that's ok because in real life Diane wouldn't be caught dead at Cheers.

Neither would Frasier.

Sam would have a horde of burnt out groupies that he has on rotation.

Carla would turn up with bruises because her mouth would get her in trouble with her husband.

Coach would pretty much still be coach.

Norm and Cliff are two of the most realistic characters on tv.

[–] AmeriGirl26 (12195) 2 years ago

I honestly wouldn't want anything to do with these people. In fact, watching Diane trying to impress these blue-collar losers reminded me uncomfortably of my time in school, where I was the only intellect surrounded by a bunch of Midwestern morons, dumb townies, and trailer trash.

[–] Mustang (5178) 2 years ago

It is hard to soar like an eagle when you are surrounded by turkey's.

[–] Mustang (5178) 2 years ago

There's a lot of things you couldn't show on TV anymore. Yes all the characters are poorly behaved and losers in various ways. That is why it is funny. Even Frasier who you could argue is the most successful character on the show leaves you wondering why he is hanging out in a bar?

Flawed people are funny and interesting.

[–] bobbydallas (8053) 2 years ago

it's scripted that way.
look at the famous comedic sitcoms.. most characters suck:

Seinfeld - each one is godawful
Frasier - rich know-it-alls
Friends - a bunch of whiny morons
Big Bang - mean nerds

etc. we watch it cause it's funny and unrealistic