Time to Update.

Growing up in the 80s, I watched alot of Cheers. Many of my friends were not allowed to watch Cheers because (a) it was set in a bar; (b) it's themes were very adult; and (c) they were lame. However, I probably saw every episode (well, until late in the series run).

So last month, when I made my first trip to Boston, one of the things I was anxious to do was see the exterior of the Bull & Finch pub on Beacon Street. However, by the last day of my trip, I had yet to see this sight.

On that last day of my trip, Stella and I took the Duck Tour. (Quack, quack.) The tour took us down Beacon Street and our guide pointed out the Bull & Finch. (He also noted that the interior of the Bull & Finch looks nothing like the interior of Cheers, however a pub near Faneuil Hall does have an interior replicating the interior of Cheers.) So having seen the exterior of "Cheers", I got to cross an important item off my "must see" list.

As I passed by the Bull & Finch, I decided I needed to go back and watch some old episodes of Cheers. Having now visited Boston, maybe I'd have a better appreciation for the setting of Cheers. When I got home, I set a series recording on the DVR for Cheers. The other night, I finally watched an episode.

The episode originally aired in 1984. In this episode, one of the minor plot lines involves a betting pool wherein the Cheers staff and patrons bet on NFL games. Diane participates and chooses her teams by (a) the color of the teams uniforms (red beats blue, blue beats yellow, yellow beats mauve); (b) whether the NFL team's city has a foreign born symphony conductor; and (c) the NFL team's state flower. As you might expect, Diane keeps winning the betting pool much to Sam's chagrin. Now, here's the thing: Sam is going crazy that Diane keeps winning because her betting system is so screwy. She asks him the last time he won the betting pool, and he says, "1974, it's been a rough decade." And then I did some math.

That show aired in 1984. It's 2008. That episode is 24 YEARS OLD! Do you know the tv shows that were 24 years old when that Cheers episode aired? I'll tell you. In 1984, Gunsmoke, Dennis the Menace, and The Flintsones were OLD tv shows.

Cheers is officially classic tv - i.e. for the elderly. Like me.

Today's Song: I'm Sorry, But I'm Beginnin to Hate Your Face, Eagle Seagull