Let’s raise a glass to Cheers
It was last orders for a TV comedy classic 30 years ago. MARION McMULLEN looks back at the Boston bar where everybody knew your name
THE regulars at Cheers became TV favourites over the years and bar owner Sam Malone was always there to try and keep order.
The clientele ranged from psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) to beer-loving Norm Peterson (George Wendt). Norm once asked: “Hey, Frasier, you’re a doctor. What happens to old, dead skin?” Frasier informed him: “Apparently it sits on bar stools and drinks beer all day.”
John Ratzenberger originally auditioned for the part of Norm, but ended up playing trivia-loving postman Cliff Clavin, when he said Cheers needed a bar know-it-all.
Ted Danson played ex-Boston Red Sox baseball pitcher and recovering alcoholic Sam who had spent his life savings on buying Cheers.
Shelley Long was the cultured Diane Chambers who found herself working as a waitress at the bar. Her on-off relationship with Sam played an important part of the early shows.
Womaniser Sam said: “I’ve never met an intelligent woman I’d want to date” to which Diane replied: “On behalf of all the intelligent women in America, may I just say ‘phew’”.
Kirstie Alley, who passed away in December at the age of 71, later joined the Cheers cast as sultry bar manager Rebecca Howe and she quickly became a fan favourite.
Cheers finally called time on UK television in February, 1993, after 30 years, 11 seasons and 271 episodes... and countless pints of beer for Norm.
However, many of the cast later made guest appearances on spinoff show Frasier.
Kelsey once said: “When I first
came to Cheers it was originally only going to be for seven shows. “Apparently, I was funny enough to keep around.”