35 of the most shipped television couples
By Sundi Rose
Sam and Diane – Cheers
What you need to know: This couple is among TV romance royalty, setting the bar for all “will they/won’t they” relationships since. Diane is an elitist snob despite waitressing in a working-class bar in Boston, run by Sam, former baseball player and alcoholic and current womanizer and chauvinist. They spent most of their time bickering, but audiences loved the idea of them being together.
Why we ‘ship them so hard: Audiences love a chance to see a character get their comeuppance, and it’s just a perk when they can do it through a potential partner. Diane constantly comes for Sam’s misogynist attitudes, and Sam makes sure to put Diane’s snobbishness in its place.
Aside from all the barking and eye-rolling, they fulfill the classic “star-crossed lovers” trope that we love so much. They were so totally different, but that just made them that much more interesting to us. I mean, if Sam and Diane can find love in each other, there is certainly hope for even the most desperate of us.
Where to watch it all unfold: Because the television gods reward faithful service and loyalty, every single season of Cheers is available on Hulu right now. I know it seems silly to go back and watch an over-40-year-old show when there is so much quality programming. However, this show is responsible for so much of what we love in TV comedy, it is worth spending a little time looking back from where we came from.