Cheers-Season 1 (1982)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Featurette-Setting The Bar: A Conversation With Ted Danson Featurette-Love At First Fight: Opposites Distract Featurette-Coach Ernie Pantusso's "Rules Of The Game" Featurette-I'll DrinkTo That: Stormin' Norm-isms Quiz-"It's A Little Known Fact" Cheers Trivia Game
Rating
Year Of Production	1982
Running Time	540:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (4)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Language Select Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Andy Ackerman Rick Beren Tim Berry James Burrows
Studio Distributor	Paramount Home Entertainment	Starring	Ted Danson Shelley Long Kirstie Alley Nicholas Colasanto Rhea Perlman John Ratzenberger Woody Harrelson Kelsey Grammer Bebe Neuwirth George Wendt
Case	4 Arrow-Quad-Opaque
RPI	$64.95	Music	Judy Hart-Angelo Gary Portnoy Craig Safan

    Cheers is a landmark television comedy that premiered in 1982 and launched the careers of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger and Kelsey Grammar. For 11 years the show followed the lives of those who ran and patronized that little bar in Boston where everybody knew your name. What separated Cheers from its contemporaries, besides a razor sharp wit, was its lovable characters and gentle humour. For this reviewer, Cheers is a classic comedy series and rightfully belongs alongside other greats in the genre like M.A.S.H, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Married With Children, Night Court and Barney Miller.

    Paramount have presented the first season's 22 episodes in the order they originally aired. As good as the first season of Cheers is, the ensemble dynamic was lacking compared to future seasons, as the formula was still in its infancy. Most notably, the character of Cliff Claven (John Ratzenberger) did not have his identity fully developed, and as anyone who loves the show can testify, the world according to the enigmatic postal worker Cliff is priceless. Still, the genesis for the show's winning formula is present in Season One and the comedy is delightful and timeless. Roll on Season Two.

Video

    Cheers has been presented Full Frame as it was originally aired. It is not 16x9 enhanced.

    Sharpness levels are acceptable, but there are instances where the image becomes soft. Mind you, for a twenty year old show the picture is more than reasonable. Shadow detail is on par with other shows of its generation and there are sporadic bouts of grain during episodes - nothing noteworthy or intrusive springs to mind, however.

    Colours are mostly natural, but due to the age of the source material they appear slightly washed out.

    There are very few patches of dirt or other artefacts to interfere with the enjoyment of this show.

    Paramount have given Season One a decent transfer that should satisfy fans of the show.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The show has been given four audio tracks, all in Dolby Digital 2.0 surround. The tracks are in English, Italian, Spanish and French.

    Dialogue is clear, with no audio sync problems to speak off.

    The show's music, especially the opening theme, is well-suited to the show and is above average in the pantheon of TV tunes.

    The only surround channel usage noted was the show's opening tune, which is audible in both rear speakers. There are no directional effects, and the rear channels remain unused 95% of the time.

    The subwoofer adds enough bass to support the 2.0 surround field but nothing more.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Featurette - Setting The Bar: A Conversation with Ted Danson

Featurette - Love At First Fight: Opposites Distract

Featurette - Coach Ernie Pantusso's "Rules Of The Game"

Featurette - I'll Drink To That: Stormin Norm-isms.

Quiz - It's A Little Known Fact Trivia Game.

    The extras found here are very disappointing. You would think that a show as well-known and as popular as Cheers would deserve better. Oh well, at least we have the episodes.

    All versions of this DVD available at present are currently essentially the same.

    Cheers is a classic comedy that deserves its place in television's hall of fame. The show should be seen by all those who relish quality humour and take delight in first class ensemble acting. The discs have a decent audio / visual transfer, but the lack of extras are a real missed opportunity.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall