10 Great TV Shows To Watch If You Love Cheers

Cheers is a fantastic and hilarious TV show, and there are plenty of other great titles to watch for those who love it. The hit ‘80s show is one of the best sitcoms of all time, and despite ending decades ago, many still revisit Cheers time and time again. The story of Ted Danson’s Sam Malone and the various staff and regulars of the titular bar stands out for many, but once viewers are done watching it, they’re often left looking for something new to check out.

The best episodes of Cheersare brilliant reminders of why the sitcom genre is so popular, and many other shows take inspiration from not just its greatest stories, but also the show’s characters, too. While news of the upcoming Cheers remake is receiving a mixed response, it’s perhaps worth considering taking a look at these other sitcoms that share a similar look, atmosphere, and overall appeal as the popular show.

10 Frasier (1993-2004, 2023-2024)

11 Seasons

After finishing Cheers, it only makes complete sense to check out all 11 seasons of Frasier. While the main focus is on Kelsey Grammer, who reprises his role as Frasier Crane, there are also several cameos from other Cheers characters as well. In Frasier, the titular character returns to his hometown of Seattle and becomes the host of his own radio show. Like Cheers, Frasier delves into the importance of strong relationships in life and having a sense of community.

Frasier reconnects with his father, Martin, and his brother, Niles, but he also forms new connections with incredible characters like Roz and Daphne. The 2023 reboot also reunites Frasier with his son, Freddy, and the parallels between them and Frasier’s relationship with Martin is prominent throughout. The show is by far the most popular and successful of Cheers’ spinoff titles, and despite the cancelation of the Frasier revival recently, it’s still worth checking out.

9 Wings (1990-1997)

8 Seasons

The sitcom Wings comes from David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, who are also the creators of both Cheers and Frasier. Wings follows the lives of the Hackett brothers, Tim Daly’s Joe and Steven Weber’s Brian, who own a single-plane airline in Massachusetts. While the pair are intriguing personalities, Wings’ charm truly comes from the supporting characters, like their childhood friend Helen and rival Roy. There are several connections to Cheers in Wings, and the two shows are technically set in the same fictional universe.

Multiple Cheers characters appear throughout the show, such as Cliff, Norm, Frasier, and Lilith.Wings does a brilliant job of taking a singular setting and creating a layered world through its stories and characters, just like Cheers does. The various recurring characters build strong relationships with each passing season, and as they do so, their personal lives develop and change with time, even if their jobs don’t.

8 Taxi (1978-1983)

5 Seasons

Danny DeVito’s best performances come from an array of various projects, and many of these are thanks to his breakthrough role as Louie De Palma in Taxi. The hilarious 1970s and ‘80s sitcom focuses on the employees of a New York taxi garage, including the likes of Judd Hirsch’s Alex Reiger, Marilu Henner’s Elaine Nardo, and Tony Danza’s Tony Banta. Taxi’s characters are all colorful personalities with interesting backstories, and although they are all very different people, they bounce off one another fantastically.

Although there aren’t as many seasons of Taxi to enjoy as Cheers, it’s still easy to invest in each of the show’s wacky and adventurous episodes.

Taxi is a sitcom that has aged incredibly well, and it is famous for tackling darker issues while still maintaining a good level of humor. The show is massively impactful on TV in general, and it’s fascinating that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is inspired by Taxi. Although there aren’t as many seasons of Taxi to enjoy as Cheers, it’s still easy to invest in each of the show’s wacky and adventurous episodes.

7 The Goldbergs (2013-2023)

10 Seasons

The Goldbergs provides a great ‘80s feel that makes audiences nostalgic for both the era and Cheers. There are a few parallels between the characters in The Goldbergs and Cheers. For example, both Barry and Sam are sports enthusiasts, and Erica is a sharp-tongued creative like Diane. The Goldbergs typically follows a story-of-the-week format which is told from the point of view of the titular family’s youngest child, Adam, in which he recounts the episode’s wildest escapades. Interestingly, The Goldbergs is based on a true story and inspired by creator Adam F. Goldberg’s youth.

While Cheers’ characters aren’t a family, they act like one, and The Goldbergs is a great sitcom for familial dynamics. Erica, Barry, and Adam’s romantic relationships are plenty dramatic, like Sam and Diane, too. The season 7 episode “Food in a Geoffy” also sees Rhea Pearlman, Kristie Alley, George Wendt, and John Retzenburger from Cheers reunite as part of ABC’s “Blast From the Past Week,” although they do not reprise their roles as their respective characters.

6 Seinfeld (1989-1998)

9 Seasons

Seinfeld is a great watch for lovers of Cheers, especially as it tends to focus on light-hearted comedy rather than the dramatic side of things. Jerry Seinfeld’s iconic sitcom is one of the most notable titles in the genre, which focuses on a fictionalized version of himself and his friends living in New York City. It’s hard to pick the ultimate comedy, especially as there are some recent sitcoms considered just as good as Seinfeld, but it definitely stands alongside Cheers and Seinfeld as one of the very best.

Seinfeld and Cheers both rely on punch-line based humor, stories with seemingly limited consequences, and recurring characters with unique and hilarious personalities.

Plus, because of the overlap in both shows’ airing dates, they share a similar atmosphere.Seinfeld’s ending is rather divisive, just like Cheers’, but both are appreciated a lot more in recent years, too. Seinfeld is a must-see sitcom, regardless of viewers’ love of Cheers, but there’s no doubt that there is a similar tone to both shows.

5 How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)

9 Seasons

Although How I Met Your Mother takes audiences all over New York, the gang always back up at their bar, MacLaren's. The central bar location is something that Cheers essentially invented, or at least is the most popular show to do so, which How I Met Your Mother also borrows. Ted, Robin, Barney, Marshall, and Lily are all regulars at the bar, and this is usually where their craziest adventures take place or start from. The will-they-won’t-they romances and love triangles in How I Met Your Mother are also a massive focus point.

While Robin and Ted’s relationship in How I Met Your Motherisn’t the same standard as Sam and Diane’s, their romantic back-and-forth is definitely just as widely discussed. Barney’s way with women is much like Sam’s, and there are similarities between Robin and Diane, with both characters being career-driven women. Although How I Met Your Mother isn’t as timeless as Cheers, in comparison to most modern sitcoms, it has the most parallels in terms of characterization and story.

4 Night Court (1984-1992, 2023-Present,)

12 Seasons

The original run of Night Court is another show that aired around the same time as Cheers.Night Court focuses on the judges, prosecutors, and bailiffs who work the evening shift at Manhattan Criminal Court and those who come in to defend their cases. While Harry Anderson’s Judge Harry Stone leads the cast in the original Night Court, his daughter, Melissa Rauch’s Judge Abby Stone, leads the reboot. It’s a common misconception that Night Court is a TV spinoff of Cheers, and even though it isn’t, there are some similarities.

With an incredible 11 seasons of Night Court to watch, with season 3 of the reboot currently airing, it’s a great filler for Cheers audiences.

Both shows are technically workplace sitcoms, have a collection of unique and interesting characters, and use punch-line humor frequently. Plus, Cheers and Night Court typically stick to one location, the titular bar and the courtroom, which builds a sense of familiarity with viewers. Interestingly, Anderson is also one of Cheers’ best guest stars, portraying Harry “The Hat” Gittes, a recurring conman character who swindles regulars out of money regularly. With an incredible 11 seasons of Night Court to watch, with season 3 of the reboot currently airing, it’s a great filler for Cheers audiences.

3 Friends (1994-2004)

10 Seasons

Although the Friends gang hang out at Monica’s apartment or the Central Perk coffee shop, rather than a bar like Cheers, the show is still a great example of a sitcom with a central location.Friends focuses on a group of quirky individuals and how their lives progress from being young and carefree, growing up, and eventually settling down. While each episode focuses on a new adventure for the group, there are also overarching storylines and character development, much like Cheers.

Cheers features one of the most notable on-and-off relationships of all time, Sam and Diane, and the closest a sitcom has ever got to replicating that is through Ross and Rachel’s relationship in Friends. Their constant back and forth, bickering, and splits are incredibly comical, and their closest friends watching it all pan out is very similar to how Cheers depicts Sam and Diane’s back and forth over the years. Friends is full of hilarious personalities and ridiculous stories, which makes it an ideal title to watch for those who love Cheers.

2 Curb Your Enthusiasm (1999, 2000-2024)

12 Seasons & 1 Special

Curb Your Enthusiasm begins with a one-off special, which later expands into an incredible 12 seasons, all of which follow a fictionalized version of Larry David as a semi-retired TV writer.Ted Danson appears frequently in Curb Your Enthusiasm alongside his wife, Mary Steenburgen, both also as fictionalized versions of themselves, too. While Curb Your Enthusiasm has a very different vibe story-wise to Cheers, both shows have a similar sense of humor.

Many episodes follow a story-of-the-week format with events that have little consequences, like Cheers and also Seinfeld, but with details that contribute to an overarching seasonal plot, too. The character of Susie Greene shares a lot of similarities with Cheers’ Carla as well, as they both provide hilarious moments that typically focus on them berating someone else. Larry’s relationship with Leon is also an interesting parallel to Coach in Cheers, especially because he often provides life advice. While Curb Your Enthusiasm is an unusual recommendation to those who watch Cheers, it’s still a great sitcom worth watching.

1 The Golden Girls (1985-1992)

7 Seasons

The Golden Girls is a sitcom that does a beautiful job of balancing lighthearted comedy while also tackling difficult topics, something that Cheers also does, but is perhaps not as well known for. For example, Cheers frequently delves into Sam’s alcoholism and Diane’s mental wellbeing, and these discussions are also covered in The Golden Girls, too. Even though The Golden Girls cast looks very different to Cheers’, the overall messages and themes in the show are still very heartwarming.

Within a matter of minutes, The Golden Girls has audiences going from fits of laughter to tears. The four titular characters have distinct personalities, too, and even if viewers mix up their names, they can still identify them from their behaviors and actions. Blanche Devereaux is a strange yet brilliant alternative to Sam Malone, and it’s refreshing to see an older woman take on the sex-obsessed role instead. Dorothy is also similar to Carla in many ways, especially her sarcastic remarks and hands-on attitude. Although The Golden Girls is very different from Cheers, it is still a fantastically comedic watch.

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