Cheers is one of the most well-known American sitcoms of all time, and it led to 4 spinoffs and crossovers, including Frasier.

Summary

• Cheers, a beloved sitcom, has spawned various spinoffs and crossovers like Frasier, Wings, The Tortellis, and St. Elsewhere, creating a Cheers cinematic universe.
• Frasier, a spinoff of Cheers, introduced the character Frasier Crane and entertained audiences for 20 years, showcasing his character development and ongoing storylines.
• Wings, although not a direct spinoff, is connected to Cheers through shared creators and occasional appearances by characters from the original show, giving it a subtle link to the Cheers universe.

Cheers is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, and many do not know that there are actually a number of spinoffs and crossovers that spawned from it. Set in Boston at a bar named Cheers, the show depicts the lives of its staff and frequent visitors. Running for 11 seasons, the show became one of the most popular American sitcoms of the '80s and '90s.

Considering that Cheers' was full of popular and dynamic characters, such as Frasier Crane, Sam Malone, and Diane Chambers, it's no surprise that viewers would want more of the characters (those involved would be more than happy to deliver). From popular shows, Frasier and Wings, to lesser-known ones, The Tortellis and St. Elsewhere, there is a whole Cheers cinematic universe to explore.

4 Frasier

What many do not know, since it became a major phenomenon in its own right, is that Frasier is a spinoff of Cheers. The main character, Frasier Crane, was first introduced to audiences on the '80s sitcom, and then captivated and entertained audiences with his pompous quotes in the '90s. All together, viewers got to see Crane on their televisions for 20 years.

In addition to the show becoming strong on its own, without needing the Cheers name, Frasier feels like a completely separate show because of how Crane differs between the two. A classic example of being a product of the environment, Crane is less stuffy in Cheers against the bar backdrop. In Frasier, he becomes more buttoned up when with his brother. Some aspects of him, though, like his arrogance and his unsuccessful romantic relationships remained.

3 The Tortellis

Another "forgotten Cheers spinoff” is The Toretellis. Serving as Frasier’s predecessor, what started off being a Cheers prequel about Coach Ernie Pantusso, The Tortellis became a show following Nick Tortelli, the ex-husband of Carla Tortelli, and his wife Loretta. Carla (Rhea Perlman), was a waitress on Cheers and while she was the main tie to the original show, she only appeared in two episodes of The Tortellis.

The show did not see much success, especially when compared to Cheers and Frasier, and only ran for one season and 13 episodes. Some viewers account the show's downfall to repeated plotlines and lame jokes. The show also fixated on stereotypes regarding Italian Americans, which felt insensitive and unoriginal.

2 Wings

Running for a total of eight seasons, from 1990 to 1997, many do not know that Wings is actually connected to Cheers. The show follows two brothers named Joe and Brian Hackett, as they run a one-plane commuter service from a Nantucket airport. It was created by David Lee, David Angell, and Peter Casey, who were all producers of Cheers and also created Frasier.

Many viewers of Wings do not even realize that it is related to Cheers because the connection is quite subtle. While Wings is not exactly a spinoff of Cheers, in the same way Frasier is, it does have characters from the original show making an appearance every once in a while. Cliff, Frasier, Lilith, Norm, and Rebecca all made cameos in the show.

1 St. Elsewhere

Unlike Grey's Anatomy and several other medical shows, St. Elsewhere is a medical series that does not include big-time miracles. Instead, it focuses more on the realities of hospital life. The show is quite different from Cheers, so it is surprising that the two are connected. While St. Elsewhere is not a spinoff of Cheers, it does have a couple of crossovers, during the overlap of the two shows airing.

In one episode of Cheers in 1983, Carla has a baby at St. Eglius and, although it is off-camera, it is acknowledged in the show. In the season 3 finale that aired in 1975, doctors Westphall, Craig, and Auschlander drop in and have drinks at Cheers. The episode came together through luck and hard work, as the cast and crew only had one day to shoot it during a hiatus week of Cheers. Although brief, both of these crossovers confirm that St. Elsewhere is a part of the Cheers universe.