Cheers

I never watched Cheers when it was on in the 80’s or even in reruns. I knew it was about a bar and that it starred Ted Danson. Many people told me how great the show was, so I’ve finally started watching it. It’s been almost 40 years since it debuted, but hey, I’m a slow learning. What can I say?

I can honestly say there is absolutely no place I want to go where everybody knows my name. I don’t even like being recognized in the grocery store.

Cheers began on September 30, 1982 and ran for eleven seasons. Wow! The show ended on May 20, 1993. I believe it only ended because Ted Danson (Sam) wanted out. Otherwise, who knows how long it could have gone on.

Trivia

• Ted Danson (Sam) and George Wendt (Norm) both played Macaulay Culkin’s dad in different movies.
• Cheers finished very low in the ratings for its premiere. Depending on the source, it either finished 74th out of 77 or dead last. Either way, that’s pretty bad.
• The show was almost canceled at the end of its first season. I wonder how many shows were canceled at the end of the first season that could have been successful had the network let it run just one more season.
• John Ratzenberger originally auditioned for the part of Norm (which went to George Wendt). Cliff wasn’t even part of the original script but I guess Ratzenberger improvised a character and impressed the writers. Cliff Clavin was born.
• Writer and producer David Angell was killed in a plane crash on 9/11.
• The character Cliff was originally going to be a police officer.
• Lucille Ball liked the show. What a compliment! There was even talk that she would be on the show as Diane’s mother. That would have been great. I love Lucy.
• John Ratzenberger (Cliff) improvised many of his “Little Known Facts”.
• The Sam and Diane auditions were held on the set of Bosom Buddies. I loved that show! I wonder if Tom Hanks regrets it.
• Carla’s twins were named Jesse and Elvis, named after Elvis Presley and his twin Jesse (who was stillborn).
• Karen Valentine (Room 222) was one of the original choices for the role of Diane.
• Diane (Shelley Long) reminded me so much of Mrs. Brady one night. Her hair cut and her mannerisms were a lot like Carol. Then I realized that she did portray Carol Brady in the Brady Bunch movies.

Closing Thoughts

Cheers was part of the Must See TV lineup on Thursdays. It’s funny, because I was watching TV during that time. I watched the other Thursday night shows like Family Ties and The Cosby Show. For whatever reason, I never watched the 9:00 show that was Cheers.

I’m still in Season 1 and have realized it may have been a mistake to research for this blog. I’m not sure why, but I do remember Shelley Long leaving the show. They compared it to Suzanne Somers leaving Three’s Company and how it was a big mistake. I didn’t know some of the other things I read, which I have chosen not to post here. I may update this blog in the future.

As I continue to try (and fail) as a middle school teacher during this remote learning pandemic time in our world, it’s nice to know I have Cheers to look forward to at the end of the day.

Cheers. FYI, I have lots of groovy items in my eBay store.