What do you prefer?

I'm not a huge fan of US sitcoms, but when I was young I used to enjoy watching Taxi. I was never hugely into Cheers until the last couple of years, but I really like it now.

I bought the first two series of Cheers recently on DVD and have enjoyed them no end. I recently got hold of the first couple of episodes of Taxi and did not think that the writing or the plots were anywhere near as strong as Cheers. At some points I found that the Taxi plots/dialogue were teetering on the edge of soppyness. That said, I still laugh at Taxi a lot and like the characters (Although Tony Danza's acting is slightly suspect), but ultimately Cheers is my favourite US buddy sitcom.
 

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Taxi!!!!!!!!!
 

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Sorry... NOT!
 

Cheers!
 

Ages since I saw either. Never was a huge fan of either show, but I seem to remember preferring Cheers.
 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
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Been watching Taxi recently as when I caught it I was always quite impressed. Some good early episodes but I think they play way too much on Devito and the foreign guy. Some of the jokes aren't great, but there was a brilliant episode with Alex and a large woman. It's very likeable.

Cheers, I love. There are some ropey episodes and when they were away from the bar it lost some of its edge IMO, but the standard overall is fantastic.

Cheers for me.
 

For me, Taxi especially once Christopher Lloyd joined as Reverend Jim.
 

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I think they are both among the top 10% of sitcom, to be honest. Taxi is a bit more old-fashioned in that it didn't quite go gag-gag-gag like Cheers, and as a result it seems a bit slower paced, but they are similar in the way that the comedy comes out of the identifiable traits and believability of the characters.

I always fancied Marilu Henner, by the way.

...but how far do you want to take this? Steptoe v Porridge? Extras v The Office? Mary Tyler Moore Show v Dick Van Dyke Show? The Munsters v The Addams Family? Is this.... Sitcom Wars?

[hopefully no-one noticed my misreading of the thread before this edit]
 

My memories of 'Taxi' are very vague, as I don't think I've seen a full episode for over 20 years. I remember watching it with my Mum and my sister, as my Dad was working abroad at the time. I was only a kid, so a lot of the jokes went over my head. As for 'Cheers', I'm a big fan. My favourite character is definately Cliff Claven. I'd love to have written dialogue for him.
 

Cheers, not least because it has the greatest set in sitcom history. Also I can't remember Taxi that well. I'd love to see it get a proper DVD release, though. Or a repeat on one of the digital channels.
 

You can buy Taxi on Region 1. Certainly on ebay.
 

Quote: Badge @ October 26, 2007, 1:49 AM

...but how far do you want to take this? Steptoe v Porridge? Extras v The Office? Mary Tyler Moore Show v Dick Van Dyke Show? The Munsters v The Addams Family? Is this.... Sitcom Wars?

View original

 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
(Half man, half Internet, half TV.)
(Loyal follower of The Magical Aura of Laura.)

 

Quote: chipolata @ October 26, 2007, 9:51 AM

Cheers, not least because it has the greatest set in sitcom history. Also I can't remember Taxi that well. I'd love to see it get a proper DVD release, though. Or a repeat on one of the digital channels.

View original

Taxi is on Paramount quite a bit I think?
 

Never got into Taxi - too expensive!

But I always loved Cheers
 

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Quote: Leevil @ October 26, 2007, 12:08 PM

Taxi is on Paramount quite a bit I think?

View original

Used to be. As did Cheers. Haven't seen either in the schedules for AGES though.


Actually, just checked, and it would appear that Taxi will be on Paramount 2 from Monday week.

SITCOM: Taxi
On: Paramount 2 (128)
Date: Monday 5th November 2007 (starting in 9 days)
Time: 10:00 to 10:30 (30 minutes long)

Danny Devito and Judd Hirsch star in this famous 1980s comedy about the trials and tribulations of the staff in a New York taxi company.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marked By: 'Category: Sitcom' marker
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Excerpt taken from DigiGuide - the world's best TV guide available from http://www.getdigiguide.com/?p=1&r=47874

Copyright (c) GipsyMedia Limited.
 

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Aaron
BSG Forums & DVDs Editor
(Half man, half Internet, half TV.)
(Loyal follower of The Magical Aura of Laura.)

 

Cheers, tonight, More4, 11pm, last ever episode.