Have you ever watched a movie and wished you could be sitting at that spiffy bar having a drink with those exotic patrons? I have, too. Rarely does a pub make an appearance on the screen without me rating the bar on a "would I want to get drunk in there" scale. For me, a movie or TV bar is rated on three different scales. The first scale - how fun are the patrons - is the most important. What use is getting drunk in a bar if you're not having fun? The second scale - how safe is it for a drunkard - is also important. Who wants to get drunk and wake up dead in the back alley? And finally, the third scale - can I pick up hot chicks there - shockingly comes in last on my level of importance. If I'm drunk enough, they're all hot. Now I'm not saying your local pub isn't grandiose in its own way, but once you get past 28-year-old Starla the barmaid and her false teeth, what have you got left? Not much. I think I'd rather get drunk somewhere else... Here are my five favorite bars from movie and television history.
5. Cheers - Cheers TV Show (1982-1993)
Now this is a nice bar in which to spend a day. I've been half in the bag here on more than one occasion. The clientele is mostly friendly and there is a steady stream of very pretty women. But no, everyone doesn't know your name. They all know Norm's name, but not yours. If you watched Cheers in the late 1980's and early 1990's, you probably saw my elbow a couple of times. I usually sat right about where the cameras sat. You can even see my shadow in the episode where Nick tries to take away one of Carla's kids. Watch for it. And before you start asking me a bunch of questions about the actual day-to-day lives of the folks at Cheers, let me just say that Norm really does spend all day and all night at the bar and Cliff really is that fanatical about the U.S. Post Office. So how about it? Who among you wouldn't like to spend an evening (or 10) at Cheers, where everybody knows Norm's name? How fun are the patrons?: (that's 5 CLUBS - get it?) - Norm, Cliff, Paul, Al, Phil? Awesome. Safety for drunkards: - Sam protects you Chance to pick up hot girls: - Sam takes them all