Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.

Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go

 

Where everybody knows your name,

And they’re always glad you came.

You wanna be where you can see,

Our troubles are all the same

You wanna be where everybody knows

Your name.

 

You wanna go where people know,

People are all the same,

You wanna go where everybody knows

Your name.

 

Cheers is filmed in front of live studio audience.

 

We tuned in late to this episode of Cheers and it was a bizarre one. Firstly, instead of the usual actors, an acting/DJ collective from Australia by the name of Ug Beats had been recruited to play the parts. The bar wasn’t called Cheers either; it was “The Church” in Canberra. I was bemused but I figured it was a result of the producers having difficulties with unions. Nonetheless, it made for unusual viewing – had I never seen this other-worldly episode in re-runs before, or were they making new episodes with a fresh and hip young cast? No matter, I was certain this would still be better than reality TV.

 

We were first introduced to a new actor called Miss Universe, who was filling in for Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd. Yet in this role, he was behind the decks, not the bar, and instead of acting and serving drinks, he was DJing. I was amazed at the experimentation the producers were having with not only the cast and the set, but also the script and the characters! It seemed this theme would remain the entire night. And on a side note, Miss Universe was much better at DJing than a young Woody was at acting, not to mention far more handsome.

 

Rebecca Howe was next up to the decks, with a lithe Bec Paton filling in for Kirstie Alley’s thirsty valley. While Kirstie Alley is a washed up trampy hack, Bec Paton is quite the opposite, not only talented on her instrument, but what one might call a method DJ. Apparently it’s about identifying the groove and playing the records accordingly, and I’d have to say on all accounts she is one of the best. In the realm of DJs she’s an Ellen Burstyn, exorcising bad music demons. Lee Strasburg would be proud.

 

I thought it’d be proper to keep the stalwart of the show, Ted Danson, in his usual role, but no, Sam Malone was played by Timbokchoy. Which is a relief because I don’t think anyone wants to see Ted Danson DJ. Apparently Timbokchoy has played a Ted Danson character before, in the off beat musical “Ug Beats presents Three Men and a Little Lady”. He played the role quite well, winning acclaim and collecting a Tony, who now plays with Ug Beats under the guise of Miss Universe.

 

Next up came Norm Peterson. George Wendt was out of the cast, which was good because I really hate that guy. Instead the role of Norm was taken by Ryan Papa. Not a usual member of the Ug Beats acting guild, he was called in to fill one of the few holes in the casting. Ryan Papa brought a beauty to the role of Norm that George Wendt never could. Some young lass asked me to dance, but my body was numbed, for Ryan Papa had my soul dancing. People were moved and grooved, Ryan Papa holding far better sway over young hearts than that drunkard George Wendt ever could. To be sure, this young man is going on to bigger and better things, because while his acting is quite naff, his DJing skills are superb.

 

Lastly, Dr Frasier Crane took to the decks. Alistair turned heads and ears with his set as Frasier, something Kelsey Grammer could only dream about with his limp hair piece. It was funky, it was dope, and lastly it rocked out, finishing with Killing In The Name by Rage Against the Machine and Another One Bites the Dust by Queen. No conservative Republican Frasier here, Alistair brought a sense of youthful optimism and good humour through his music. It was a mesmerizing listen.

 

By the end I was amazed. The extended musical version of Cheers was better than any episode they’d ever televised. I wanted to see more of these guys. Unfortunately, as it was whispered in my ear at the end, this was the last gig for the Ug Beats collective for quite a while, perhaps ever. I shed a tear, as it was surely the best musical ensemble sans chorus girls I had ever witnessed. Hopefully there’ll be a few spin-off programmes in the future.