Cheers: The Final Season, The Eleventh Season

Last call for Cheers, which after 11 seasons probably overstayed its welcome. Still, one of television's very best workplace comedies deserved closure, and its final episode reuniting titular bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson) with former barmaid Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) was one of the most hyped “Must-See” events of its time. Although Cheers' place in the television pantheon is secure, this final 1992-93 season was more lukewarm beer than sparkling champagne. One knock against Cheers is that its core characters actually devolved over the course of its run: Sam became dumber, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) grew more annoying and pathetic, and Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) turned into a material girl ditz. But as with any long-running series, these exceedingly likable characters were old friends who remained good company, and even though few of the last 28 episodes compiled here would rank among Cheers' finest hours, some recapture the old buzz. Harry Anderson returns as con man Harry the Hat to help Sam in his final round of practical jokes against a rival bar. In other memorable pieces, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) goes out on a ledge after wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) announces she's leaving him; Norm (George Wendt) lands his dream job as a taster at a brewery; and Woody (Woody Harrelson) runs for city council. Recommended for completists; a strong optional purchase elsewhere. (D. Liebenson)