Shelley Long in ‘Cheers’.Photo:NBCU Photo Bank
NBCU Photo Bank
Cheersran for eleven seasons — including six after starShelley Longleft — but the show’s success was anything but certain.
Harrelson, 63, said that when Long, 75, left after the show’s fifth season, that loss seemed “insurmountable.”
Shelley Long in ‘Cheers’ in 1987.NBCU Photo Bank
Les, 76, said that brothers’ mindset was “sheer panic.” Glen, 82, explained, “There were some critics that said when Shelley walks out the door, that’s the end ofCheers. And we had to live with that because that was this element of the show, the main element of the show was the Sam-Diane courtship.” Danson’s Sam Malone — a former baseball player-turned-bartender — and Long’s Diane Chambers — a brainy waitress who dreams of becoming a writer — had a will-they-or-won’t-they, heated relationship that provided a serious engine for the show.
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Danson, 77, praised his former costar, explaining, “Shelley really gave the first year or two or three the boost thatCheersneeded.” From the pilot, on, he said, Long was “astounding and unlike any other character we’ve seen since maybe, I Love Lucyor something.”
Les agreed. “We said often that we’re not sure thatCheerswould have survived without Shelley in that first season because she was so strong and so confident and knew exactly who the character was and who she was,” he said. “And I think all of the rest of you were finding your way a little bit.”
Danson joked, “Kiss my ass. That’s so rude,” but Les reminded him, “You had to learn how to throw a baseball, Ted.” Danson admitted he had to “learn so much,” but praised Harrelson, saying that when he joined the show in season 3, he was “full-fledged.”
The cast of ‘Cheers’ from left: Shelley Long, George Wendt, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, Nicholas Colasanto and Ted Danson.Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Glen said that Shelley had initially signed a five-year contract, and “She did say I’m out of here, but she was allowed to do that. She was having a certain amount of success in film and thought she had a career in film. So we can’t fight that.”
The series ultimately broughtKirstie Alleyon in season 6 as Rebecca Howe, who becomes manager ofCheersand butts heads with Sam. But she wasn’t meant to be a Diane replacement. Rebecca and Sam briefly become romantically involved, but her plot lines about her love life were mostly focused on other people.
Glen said they were first interested in having Alley,who died in 2022 at age 71, join the show when he saw her in a production ofCat on a Hot Tin Roof. He thought, “She’s a very good actress. She’s obviously very sexy and interesting to watch.” He wasn’t sure she could be funny — but eventually, she proved she was that, too.
Danson said she was also “a woman who could play desperation, on the verge of a nervous breakdown and still be moving and still be funny."
source: people.com
