One of the things that the internet is great for is completely great ideas that will likely never happen. Earlier today, Twitterers @kcklo63 and @bullevard73 were discussing recasting the classic sitcom Cheers, but instead of it being based in Boston, moving to Chicago. The idea originated as a part of The Sports Guy Bill Simmons’ podcast and we added the hashtag #cheersreboot to try and get it to trend on Twitter. The premise of the discussion was that Simmons and his guest wanted to spend a ton of money to bring in Vince Vaughn to be Sam Malone, the bar owner originally portrayed by Ted Danson and Rosie Perez as Carla (originally played by Rhea Perlman, Mrs. Danny DeVito).
My casting ideas:
Jerry O’Connell as Sam Malone
I know he’s cheesy. But I truly believe that when he has good writing, he’s funny. He’s charismatic and good-looking and audiences would totally buy him as a former athlete. Vince Vaughn would be an impossible get for TV. I think you could get O’Connell and surround him with funny people and good writers and the show would be good. Plus, he was really funny on Carpoolers, even though it got cancelled.
Alternatives: John Krasinski, Joshua Jackson
Jayma Mays as Diane Chambers
There are probably better alternatives, but Mays is fresh in my mind after seeing her in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, I think that she will do. For some reason, I thought she was on Saturday Night Live too, but I guess that was someone else.
Alternative: Elizabeth Banks
Maggie Wheeler as Rebecca Howe
Think Janice from Friends, without the voice. Maggie Wheeler is a great actress and she’s hilarious. Honestly, Rebecca was brought in later when Shelley Long left the show to give Sam a love interest. Maybe she’s a part of the show from the get go.
Alternative: Carla Gugino
Wanda Sykes as Carla Tortelli
Maybe Tortelli isn’t the right last name, although it would be funny if she were married to a Tortelli. Sykes is the perfect balance of self-deprecating and vicious. I would love to see her as the sharp-witted waitress.
Alternative: Rosie Perez
Zach Galifianakis as Woody Boyd
I’m a huge fanboy of Galifianakis since I saw him in The Hangover. He is so hilarious and I wanted to find a place for him somewhere. I think the dimwitted bartender Woody would be a terrific place for him to be some supporting funny.
Alternative: Matthew McConaughey
Craig Robinson as Norm Peterson
I can’t take credit for this one. @kcklo63 came up with this one and I think it’s genius. I love Daryl From The Warehouse. He would be great as Norm. Just an awesome call.
Alternative: Greg Grunberg
David Koechner as Cliff Clavin
Probably best known for his work as Champ Kind in Anchorman or as Todd Packer on The Office, Koechner brings a very specific brand of comedy and would be so funny as mailman Clavin.
Alternative: That guy who played Newman on Seinfeld
John “PC” Hodgman as Frasier Crane
I also can’t take credit for this one, although I wish I could. Hodgman’s delivery and timing are so great. I would love to see him in a regular role, although that might bring down his hipster street cred.
Alternative: Merlin Mann
Rachael Harris as Lilith Sternin
This is really my crowning jewel. I can’t think of anyone more perfect to play a refreshed version of Frasier’s uptight ex-wife. Rachael Harris may not be a name you are familiar with, but if you’ve seen her in anything, I bet you thought she was funny. She made the nearly unwatchable show Notes from the Underbelly totally funny.
So what do you think?
None of your Sam suggestions have the potential womanizer quality of Sam Malone.
brother, did you even WATCH Cheers? The idea of a re-cast is so dumb. Snooze…How about an awesome show like Saved by the Bell? I agree Cheers was a good show with some stellar Norm quotes, but why even think about remaking it? Just leave it alone. It was good as it was. It’s like these retards who think remaking 90210 is a good idea. What a terrible show (the new one, not the original)!?
I like your ideas for re-casting in theory WAY better than the idea of this actually happening. Maybe we should get all these actors together for something original (and replace Jayma Mays with Elizabeth Banks and Jerry O’Connell with Joshua Jackson)!
Sam – Nathan Fillion
Diane-Chloe Sveigny
Carla Tortelli-Linda Cardellini
Frasier- John Francis Daley
Woody- Sasha Mitchell
Norm- Abraham Benrubi
Cliff- Anthony Anderson
Nightmare, I recognize ONE name on your list. Chloe Sevigny. The others I have never heard of. And I know of alot of actors/actresses.
ok, after looking all of them up, i recognize all of them except Linda Cardellini. I don’t watch that show. I think John Francis Daley is way to young to play Frasier. And I can’t believe you picked the dude from Kickboxer 2&3 for Woody. I love the pick of Abraham Benrubi for Norm though.
I could personally do without recasting Frasier (and by extension Lilith, though I like your choice there). As for the core duo, I nominate Charlie Sheen for Sam and Diane would be Sandra Bullock. Throwing it out there, that’s all.
Put Galifianakis and Koechner in something and I’ll watch it (even if I am against Cheers).
Nuke, my motivation for including Galifianakis is just that I’d get to see him more regularly than the 1 random movie outing per year.
Linda also played Thelma in the new Scooby doo movies. Smoking hot ball of anger and could play a great rabid Boston sports fan. And I think it would be a hell of a lot funnier if Frasier WASN’T established, yet…and I picked Sasha from Step by Step, prior to kick boxer where he played a slightly demented youth who lived in his van in Patrick Duffy’s Driveway…Way better. You should see if it is available on HULU.
i remember him from Step by Step. i used to like that show but didn’t watch it a whole bunch. isn’t he like 40 now?
probably, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play an OLD slow guy.
How about Jay Leno as Norm?
Amy Smart has been suggested for Diane. A good call for sure.