# Which Years were better? Diane Or Rebecca? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552 "2015-11-14T13:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Daniel\_Boone\_Fanatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Daniel\_Boone\_Fanatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel_Boone_Fanatic)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/1 "2015-11-14T13:46:07Z")
I liked Diane Years The Most. Sam And Diane had good chemistry and that’s what made me like the early season’s. The Rebecca years on the other hand weren’t so good. Her and Sam didn’t have good chemistry at all. She whined and complains all time. That’s why I did not like the Rebecca years much at all. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/2 "2015-11-14T13:54:31Z")
The Diane years were better. Rebecca was a bad character that kept getting worse. The problem was the Diane story line played out and they had no where good to go with it anyway. They handled the Rebecca years fairly well by ensuring many episodes did not overly involve her, this was smart. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/3 "2015-11-14T14:14:06Z")
But the Rebecca years brought Frasier Crane to the forefront, which gave us _Frasier_. Which is why Rebecca beats Diane and _Frasier_ beats _Cheers_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/4 "2015-11-14T14:33:41Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > But the Rebecca years brought Frasier Crane to the forefront, which gave us _Frasier_. Which is why Rebecca beats Diane and _Frasier_ beats _Cheers_. True Frasier & Lilith were great, it was Rebecca that was terrible. but that plays into what I said above, the show runners were smart enough to mix in plenty of episodes where Rebecca was a minor character. But the best shows were probably in the Diane years, like the John Cleese or the Thanksgiving episode. However, I think the truth lies strongly in the fact that neither Diane or Rebecca made the show great, it was the ensemble that did. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/5 "2015-11-14T14:51:08Z")
Well, Diana was a Greco-Roman goddess, so her years would be the time of classical myth, while Rebecca was from Ivanhoe, set in the age of chivalry. Personally, I prefer classical mythology as source material, since there’s so much more to work with, but there’s still something to be said for knights in shining armor. (what? If you wanted this thread to be about a particular work, you probably should have said so) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/6 "2015-11-14T16:10:47Z")
The dynamic of the show changed so much that it’s hardly fair to compare them, but I’d have to go with the Diane years. Despite the stellar supporting cast, the whole show was built around her and Sam. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/7 "2015-11-14T16:15:56Z")
If I went back and rewatched I might change my mind, but going just on memory, I’ll agree that Diane was a better character than Rebecca, but the show as a whole was better during the Rebecca years. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/8 "2015-11-14T18:21:14Z")
I liked Diane, but like many strong ensemble shows _Cheers_ benefited from the occasional cast shift. Frazier was awesome. We got more developed characters and time with the rest of the gang. I actually think Diane’s departure helped longevity. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/9 "2015-11-14T18:32:49Z")
Diane + Sam \> Rebecca + Sam, but the show as a whole was better in the later years. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/10 "2015-11-14T18:45:05Z")
The Diane years are my favorite, but the Rebecca years were fine, too. It’s not a strong preference I have, but I prefer the chemistry and character interplay between Sam & Diane versus Sam & Rebecca. ---
**Author:** ![DaphneBlack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daphneblack/32/5389_2.png) [@DaphneBlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaphneBlack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/11 "2015-11-14T20:38:34Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > If I went back and rewatched I might change my mind, but going just on memory, I’ll agree that Diane was a better character than Rebecca, but the show as a whole was better during the Rebecca years. I agree with this, except that I hate Diane. But she was a better foil for Sam. Overall I enjoyed the Rebecca years much more though. I don’t know if it makes a difference, but I watched the whole show after it ended its run. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/12 "2015-11-14T21:59:51Z")
Diane was a better character. She was written more consistently (look at Diane in the early years of _Cheers_, the return of Diane in the final episodes of _Cheers_ and the Diane in the _Frasier_ episode “The Show Where Diane Comes Back.” And Shelley Long knew how to play her down to the last infuriating degree. Rebecca’s character started strong, but she pretty quickly devolved from ambitious career woman who could handle Sam to whiny loser. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/13 "2015-11-14T22:34:09Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Rebecca’s character started strong, but she pretty quickly devolved from ambitious career woman who could handle Sam to whiny loser. This! I remember reading an interview with one of the show’s producers, and he said the original plan was for her to be a little Martinet, but as the series progressed they thought it would be funnier to play up her “vulnerable” side. How long they could have kept up the “ambitious career woman” bit without it becoming irritating, I don’t know, but I’ve always thought they went way too far in the opposite direction. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/14 "2015-11-14T23:54:13Z")
The show was better during the Diane years, but Rebecca was a better character. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/15 "2015-11-15T00:09:13Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Diane was a better character. She was written more consistently (look at Diane in the early years of _Cheers_, the return of Diane in the final episodes of _Cheers_ and the Diane in the _Frasier_ episode “The Show Where Diane Comes Back.” And Shelley Long knew how to play her down to the last infuriating degree. That was because, in terms of personality, Shelley _was_ Diane. It was like Felix Unger and Tony Randall; the line between the character and the actor was so fuzzy you couldn’t tell where the former ended and the latter began. As for the thread topic, the Diane years were better but the Rebecca years were funnier. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/16 "2015-11-15T00:54:55Z")
I understand that Shelly Long was a lot like Dianne Chambers in that Shelly felt she was a Film Actress and too good to be doing a tv sitcom. I think near and during her last seasons, Nick Colasanto was her only friend in the cast. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/17 "2015-11-15T01:05:04Z")
The Rebecca years were better because the show was more ensemble. Sam and Diana years were more chick-flicky. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/18 "2015-11-15T01:24:35Z")
I still remember the great episode with Fraiser doing story time for the regulars with a modified version of “The Three Musketeers” (can’t find episode) and Cheers Season 11, Episode 12 “Sunday Dinner” airing 7 Jan. 1993 was (IMO) one of the single greatest TV comedy shows of all time. So later years for the win. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/19 "2015-11-15T01:44:10Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I still remember the great episode with Fraiser doing story time for the regulars with a modified version of “The Three Musketeers” (can’t find episode) He did A Tale of Two Cities once. Is that what you were thinking of? Here’s the [episode’s script](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=cheers&episode=s09e16). I have to read the book again, I’ve forgotten some of the better parts: > [@](#): > > As we recall from Monday’s installment of A Tale of Two Cities, Sydney Carton was about to go to the guillotine and sacrifice himself. > The guillotine-- slice that neck. > When suddenly, an Apache attack chopper “hovered above the guillotine, pumping hot lead into the crowd”. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552/20 "2015-11-15T02:09:40Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > He did A Tale of Two Cities once. Is that what you were thinking of? Here’s the [episode’s script](http://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/view_episode_scripts.php?tv-show=cheers&episode=s09e16). I have to read the book again, I’ve forgotten some of the better parts: That’s it! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-years-were-better-diane-or-rebecca/737552.md?page=2)