If you don't want to watch all 273 episodes (Even though you really should eventually) here is an abridged watchlist that gets you the all the pivotal storyline plot points and any absolute classics. Aimed for 80ish episodes in total. Some seasons have more/less:

Season 1: Establishing Characters

• Give Me A Ring Sometime: Pilot. Masterfully established all characters from the very first episode.
• Coach's daughter: Scene with Coach's daughter incredible. <insert cry emoji> Get your tissues out.
• Endless Slumper: Best episode about Sam's battle with alcoholism. Tremendous sitcom gag with a misunderstanding about meditation. "Sometimes people join in!"
• One For The Book: The tone of this episode feels almost more like a play than a TV show but it's emblematic of what the bar means to people as a social setting. Two characters search for meaning and find it at the bar.
• The Boy's In The Bar Maybe the most serious episode in subject matter? The bar regulars threaten to leave Cheers because Sam endorsed his ex teammate who had come out of the closet. This episode recieved a GLAAD award.
• Pick A Con...Any Con: Classic episode. Coach was still on fire at this point. Best Harry The Hat guest episode!!
• Someone Single Someone Blue Just a great Sam/Diane Episode and sneak peak of a disaster wedding between the two.
• Show Down Part 1&2: They finally get together.

Also can check out: Spy Who Came In For A Cold One (First christmas ep!) Diane's Perfect Date Andy Andy debut. He would come back a few more times. No Contest: Mrs. Boston Barmaid Contest is classic and comes back to be referenced later.

Season 2: Get Ready For A Lot Of Sam and Diane

• Power Play: They're finally together and it’s exactly what you expected. “I see you met Mr. Jammers.” LOL.
• Sumner's Return: First of many relationship tests as Diane’s former fiancé returns and it forces Sam to read a book.
• Just Three Friends: Another relationship test, very funny episode.
• Cliff's Rocky Moment: Cliff breakout episode.
• Fortune and Men's Weight: More relationship tests but this one is the true lead up to the relationship exploding.
• I'll Be Seeing You 1&2: Relationship explodes.

Season 3: Frasier Crane Genesis: A Foil To Sam and Diane

• Rebound 1&2: Sam goes back to drinking and it's wild + The intro of Frasier F'n Crane!!
• Sam Turns The Other Cheek: Sam's womanizing finally comes back to bite (shoot) him in the A$$
• Diane Meets Mom: Livia Soprano does not approve of Diane.
• The Heart Is A Lonely Snipehunter: Just a Frasier Classic and early evolution of him becoming a bar fly.
• Teacher's Pet: Probably the last best Coach episode and one of the catchiest tunes you will ever hear 🎶"Albania. Albania. You Border. On The. Adriatic!!!!" 🎶
• Bar Bet: Kramer almost owns the bar!
• Cheerio Cheers: This begins a 4 episode storyline of Diane leaving Cheers to go to Europe with Frasier.
• Rescue Me: Coach's last scene in cold open. Payoff of Sam/Frasier/Diane season long storyline. RIP Chef Luigi.

Just for more classics you can also check out: Fairy Tales Can Come True Halloween and good Cliff Episode, King Of The Hill Great episode about Sam dealing with being a Former Athlete. Executive Executioner Hines Classic Norm. If Ever I would Leave You: Nick and Loretta! Enough said. Bartender's Tale More Diane in Europe storyline.

Season 4: Establishing A New Character

• Birth, Death, Love and Rice: Woody’s First Episode and explanation of Coach’s death.
• The Triangle (Tremendous FrasierDiane/Sam episode and signifying Frasier moving past Diane to become more of his own character.)
• Cliffie's Big Score: An absolute Classic.
• Second Time Around: Lilith Debut! Great cameo by Jennifer Tilly.
• Fear Is My Co-Pilot: Plane scene is probably the best acting you will ever see in a sitcom
• Strange Bedfellows 1, 2 & 3: 3 part episode leading to Sam's (First) proposal.

Can also check out: From Beer To Eternity. (Gary Debut) Bandios "Diane Chambers Day." Great episode about Diane never fully fitting in with the bar gang and Sam and Her ALMOST getting back together. Again.

Season 5:

• The Proposal: Title says it all.
• The Cape Cad: Classic bit at the end with an old couple in a bathroom making sex noises LOL.
• Abnormal Psychology: The day the writers found out they just need to let Frasier and Lilith cook. AMAZING EPISODE!!
• Thanksgiving Orphans: Outright Classic. You finally sort of see Vera.

EDITORS NOTE: Skip Chambers vs Malone. They get engaged the episode is awful.

• Diamond Sam: Classic Sam Diane stuff
• Dinner At Eightish: A top 5 episode. Absolutely amazing Frasier & Lilith interplay. "What the hell is in this dip?" LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL.
• Simon Says: Outright Classic. The best comedic use of Diane being obsessive by annoying a Brit.
• I Do, Adieu: The end of Sam and Diane "Have a good life."

Can also check out: Spellbound Great Nick/Loretta episode. Cheers The Motion Picture: Diane’s home movie is incredible. Great Al payoff at the end. Never Love A Goalie: Eddy's debut. Norm's First Hurrah: Great Norm episode. "Top Of the world Ma!" A house Is Not A Home: More Sam and Diane storyline leading to final breakup.

Season 6: Rebecca years begin + Lilith And Frasier are fully formed.

• Home Is The Sailor: Top 5 classic episode. Rebecca debut. "Would you like your cucumber bruised?"
• I On Sports: Classic. "That's just two guy's opinion."
• The Crane Mutiny: Classic Frasier/Lilith. “Is this the one? Is this one? Is this one?”
• Airport V: Amazing Frasier scene as he goes from competent psychiatrist to raving maniac in the span of seconds + the beginning of Eddie joining the ice show storyline.
• Bidding On The Boys: Classic. The woman who bids on Woody does not have honest intentions.
• To All The Girls I've Loved Before: Frasier/Lilith engagement.
• Bar Wars: First official Bar Wars. Enough Said.
• Backseat Becky Up Front: The End of Evan Drake.

Can also check out: Slumber party Massacre: Guys try to cheer up Carla. Hilarity ensues. Sam In The Grey Flannel Suit. “Mimi Please Call Maintenance.” LOL Let Sleeping Drake's Lie: Classic sitcom stuff sees Rebecca hide in a closet entire episode. A Kiss Is Still A Kiss: Great Rebecca Even Drake episode. “Some of the guys down at corporate think she’s a Ladies’ lady” My Fair Clavin: Great Cliff episode. He will have last laugh when he appears on Jeopardy in later season.

Season 7: Fun Season that didn't have a year long arc.

• How To Recede In Business: The start of Rebeca having too many bosses. We miss Evan Drake!
• Norm Is That You: Great Norm Episode. Him and Sam are lovers you know.
• How To Win Friends And Electrocute People: Cliff + electroshock therapy: What's not to love? Possibly the best few minutes of physical comedy in show history?
• Please Mr. Postman: Debut of Maggie.
• Golden Boyd: Kelly debut. And Cheers always had the best crowd chanting gags- "Woody Woody Woody...THUD...Rich Guy! Rich Guy! Rich Guy!"
• Cranemakers: Just one of those classic episodes where they let Lilith and Frasier cook.

Can also check out: Swear To God: Witness Sam almost become a father. Bar Wars 2: For more Gary hijinx and you get to find out the best secret ingredient to a good Bloody Mary. Hot Rocks Cheers always does a good job with a guest appearance appearing as themselves. The Gift Of The Woodi: Just for the song. The Visiting Lecher: Season Finale. This would have been better if they were able to secure John Cleese as originally planned.

Season 8: Robin Colcord story arc. Amazing episodes all throughout

• The Improbable Dream 1&2: Meet Robin Colcord
• A Bar Is Born: Sam opens his own bar and its alive with larvae. I wish this had been stretched out to 3-4 episodes like the Michael Scott paper company. Great episode though. Established Robin as a slimeball.
• The Stork Brings A Crane: Debut of Frederick and a barbershop quartet.
• Death Takes A Holiday On Ice: Watch Cheers masterfully make a death funny. The Thomas Haden Church cameo is amazing! And is what got him his role on Wings.
• What Is Cliff Claven: Cliff on Jeopardy! "Who are 3 people who have never been in my kitchen." LOL This episode get's referenced a lot by people and ofcourse Jeopardy is still on the air to this day.
• Sammy And The Professor A very humorous episode and Alexis Smith was nominated for an Emmy for her guest appearance.
• Cry Hard 1&2: Culmination of Robin storyline. "Sammy's got the bar back!!!" "I am too stupid to live!!!"

Can also check out: The Two Faces Of Norm: Doris is incredible. The end. Feeble Attraction: More Doris! "Norm fired the morton salt girl" LOL. Finally Part 1&2: For more Robin storyline advancement. Indoor Fun With Sammy and Robby: Just so you can find out about Mayday Malone's slider of death. Bar Wars 3: For more bar wars. Severe Crane Damage: As always- When Lilith and Frasier are allowed to cook- Magic happens. "I am running with scissors!"

Season 9: Prime of the show.

• Rebecca Redux: Earl can solve all problems.
• Breaking In Is Hard To Do: You will never believe Frederick's first word.
• Bad Neighbor Sam: John Allen Hill Debut
• Woody Interruptus: Henri Debut. "Hello Fellows!"
• Wedding Bell Blues: Rebecca and Robin storyline officially wraps up.
• I'm getting My Act Together and Sticking It In Your Face: Find out about "Plan Z."
• Uncle Sam Wants You: Big implications for Season 10.

Note: I completely ignore the episodes about Rebecca co-owning the bar as Sam gets control of the pool room and bathroom back as the storyline was never mentioned again but you can see it in Crash Of The Titans and Cheers Has Chili.

Other Episodes To Check Out: Cheers Fouls Out: A great guest appearance by Kevin Mchale + Classic Gary Episode.Veggie Boyd: "I like it." Pitch It Again Sam: Great nod to Coach Here plus the idea of mixing bbq sauce on nachos! Rat Girl: Frasier and Lilith cooking. Home Malone: The seeds are planted that Sam wants a family.

Season 10: Home Stretch, so many classics.

• Baby Balk: Sam and Rebecca decide to have a baby.
• Bar Wars The Final Judgement: Sam kills Gary.
• Where Have All The Floorboards Gone: If one episode encapsulates how Cheers is like a black hole for its patrons it's this one. "I knew this one guy who was a respected psychiatrist. It's too late for him." LOLZ
• Head Over Hill: It's not the greatest episode but it's where Carla starts sleeping with JAH.
• A Fine French Wine: Woody proposes to Kelly.
• Go Make: Bittersweet ending to the Sam Rebecca baby storyline.
• One Hugs The Other Doesn't: Potential top 5 episode all time classic status. 🎶 “My number is 555-6792! 🎶
• Heeeeeere's Cliffy: Cliff On Johnny Carson!
• An Old Fashioned Wedding 1&2: Amazing two part episode that takes place almost entirely in Mr. Gaines Kitchen and never takes a break from laughs. Masterful.

Other Episodes you probably need to see: Get Your Kicks On Route 66: The guy's on a road trip, whats not to love. The Norm Who Came In From The Cold: Norm + Lilith become The comedy duo you never thought you needed but will love. I'm Ok You're Defective: "That Damn Bar." Bars Wars 6: Most people don't like this episode but It really pays off in the final reveal. Sam had to take out a loan to pull a prank! LOL. My Son The Father: The Birth Of Cliff's Comedy Career. "What's up with that?" A Dimished Rebecca With A Suspended Cliff: Woody did not tell his cousin about Paul and a Harry Connick Jr Cameo. License To Hill: Great episode and also the tie-in to Frasier and Lilith’s Wings guest appearance that aired on the same night.

Season 11: The greatest final season in sitcom history. The Show Was Still Cooking! Could make a case all episodes are must see as every story or side character was given a fitting send off.

• Little Match Girl: Rebecca really messes up.
• The Beer Is Always Greener: Bernard forgot to wear his clean pants and this is in the top 5 episode all time catagory. It’s also an indictment on chain bars. Always remember: Cheese melted on a saltine is like a party in your mouth. This also features maybe the best Diane callback ?
• Teaching With The Enemy and Girl In The Plastic Bubble: Not the best episodes but storyline advancement with Lilith leaving Frasier for another man.
• Is There A Doctor In The Howe (Lilith return.) and The Bar Manager The Shrink And His Wife: Potentially the funniest 10 minutes in show history as the gang is held hostage and Cliff has a dire warning. He also missed the christmas issue of soldier and fortune magazine.
• Bar Wars 7: The Gary and Harry The Hat Sendoff in one episode!
• The Last Picture Show: The greatest fourth wall break in show history.
• It's Lonely On The Top: Big reveal about Sam.
• One For The Road: Finale to greatest sitcom in history. “Sorry. Bar's closed.”

Other Episodes you probably have to see: King Of Beers: Norm has never shined brighter. Magnificent 6: Henri sendoff. USA! USA! USA! Do Not Forsake Mr. Postman: Maggie Sendoff + John Mahoney, Frasier’s dad on the spinoff does a cameo. Ill Gotten Gaines: Great thanksgiving episode. Sunday Dinner: Single Frasier on a disastrous date was like a sneak peak into the spin off Frasier. It's A Mad Mad Bar: Robin comeback and sendoff. Loathe and Marriage: Nick sendoff and a great cameo by Leah Remini. Look Before You Sleep: Just a fun round robin of character eccentricities. The Guy Can't Help It: Heavy stroyline about Sam's womanizing coming to an end. Great final joke though: "You like chinese food?"