Who else was obsessed with Cheers?
It was a straight-up classic, and I know I’m not the only one who spent hours watching Sam, Diane, Norm, and the gang.
But get this — there are some wild behind-the-scenes secrets about the show that even the biggest fans probably don’t know! Want to know what really went down on set? Check them out and let me know if you already knew any of them!
Cheers is such a classic! There’s just something about hanging out at the pub with all those hilarious characters that never gets old. I recently started rewatching it on Paramount+, and it’s still just as funny as I remember!
But here’s the thing — there are a bunch of things about the show that even I didn’t know, and I bet a lot of fans are in the same boat. Like any show, Cheers wasn’t without its fair share of mistakes and bloopers.
Promoting designated drivers
From the very beginning, the writers and producers of Cheers made a conscious decision to never show anyone leaving the bar drunk and driving home. This choice wasn’t just for laughs — it became a key part of the show’s message.
Over time, Cheers was recognized and even praised by anti-drinking and driving organizations for its positive portrayal of responsible drinking. The series played an important role in promoting the idea of designated drivers, helping to raise awareness and encourage safer habits among viewers.
The Writers Guild of America fully supported the initiative, leading to an unprecedented collaboration among the major TV networks of the time.
In total, 160 prime-time shows integrated designated driver messaging into their scripts and storylines, ultimately contributing to more than $100 million worth of ”donated” TV airtime for the cause.
Yeah, pretty awesome, right? It’s amazing how so many major TV shows came together to promote such an important message. Just goes to show how much influence pop culture can have on society!
Real beer on Cheers?
While it might have looked like the cast of Cheers was sipping on cold beers all day, they were actually drinking something a lot less enjoyable.
For practical reasons, the bar’s taps were filled with a non-alcoholic, flat ale. To make it look like the real deal, they even added salt to give the illusion of carbonation. Safe to say, it wasn’t the most refreshing drink on set.
From dead last to number one
Another really fascinating thing that makes Cheers historic is the fact that it’s the only sitcom in TV history to be ranked both first and last during its run.
On its first night, it ranked 77th—dead last—and then, by its ninth season, it was number one in the ratings. Talk about an incredible turnaround!
Kelsey Grammer’s hidden struggle
Unfortunately, Cheers wasn’t without its darker moments when it came to alcohol. One of the show’s most beloved stars, Kelsey Grammer, struggled heavily with drinking — especially during the final season.
The actor has admitted that he turned to cocaine and alcohol as a way to self-medicate and cope with the hardships he had faced in his life.
While it may not be obvious when rewatching the episodes, his co-stars saw it firsthand. He became increasingly difficult to work with and would often appear nearly catatonic between takes.
Another star of the series, Ted Danson, once gave Grammer a firm talking-to, which strained their relationship. Looking back, Danson has expressed regret that he didn’t reach out with more support to his friend, who was clearly struggling.
”I missed out on the last 30 years of Kelsey Grammer. … I feel like it’s my bad, my doing,” Danson said.
Despite multiple intervention attempts, it took years before Grammer fully turned things around. He eventually sought help, but his real road to recovery didn’t begin until the early seasons of Frasier in 1993.
From barstools to best buds
Even 43 years after Cheers, Woody Harrelson and Ted Danson are still the best of friends! They’re so close, in fact, that they even cohost a podcast together called Where Everybody Knows Your Name, where they chat with old friends — including former Cheers castmates.
Their bond started in season four when Harrelson joined the show, and Danson still remembers their wild first day meeting.
Apparently, Woody managed to get in a bar fight and get carjacked on the same day — talk about an entrance! But just when you think you’ve got him figured out, he pulls out a beautifully written poem and invites you to see a brilliant play he wrote.
As Danson puts it, “You cannot pigeonhole that guy.”
The creators of Cheers originally cast someone else to play Woody, but Ted Danson personally advocated for Woody Harrelson to get the role behind the scenes.
Their friendship was so strong that when Danson decided to leave Cheers, NBC wanted to keep the show going with Woody taking over the bar. But Harrelson wasn’t having it — he refused to continue without his friend. Now that’s true Cheers loyalty!
The truth about Woody’s name
Speaking Woody Harrelson, it’s pretty wild that he and his character both share the same first name. But it turns out that was purely by chance!
The character of Woody was already named before any actor even auditioned. Harrelson himself admitted he had never seen the show and wasn’t really interested in doing TV at the time. It was actually a friend who encouraged him to audition, and the rest is history.
“In fact, nobody had ever heard of Woody at that point. Anyway we said we want a country bumpkin kind of guy, somebody from Iowa, Ohio, farm boy. And there’s the big city of Boston. So he has, he’s a little naive. He needs to learn things,” Cheers creator Glen Charles recently said.
“And we, so we read a guy that was right on the money and I can’t remember, even remember his name. I think his name was John.”
He said their casting director Steve Kozak suggested Harrelson.
“Meantime, this John had gone out and bought a car and yeah, rendered it, got married and he’s now listening,” Les joked about the original actor.
After Harrelson auditioned, Glen said that Danson “fought like hell” for him.
“I remember very well you said, ‘I know you think you’ve got your guy, but this guy’s more interesting,’” he said. “And we got the other guy, as I said, was right on the money. But what he was not exactly, he was the part, everything we wanted in the part, but a little more.”
Ted Danson actually had a bald spot
Ted Danson’s hair was practically a character of its own on Cheers — fans admired it, talked about it, and even Sam Malone himself seemed more obsessed with his locks than with the ladies!
But here’s the twist: that legendary mane wasn’t entirely what it seemed.
While Danson did have a good amount of natural hair, it wasn’t as full as it looked on screen. Behind the scenes, he struggled with significant thinning, which made him self-conscious about his appearance. To keep up Sam Malone’s suave image, Danson turned to a secret weapon — a toupee. This clever non-surgical hairpiece covered the balding on the crown of his head, keeping the illusion alive for years.
Mind blown? You’re not alone!
Keeping Shelley Long’s pregnancy a secret
Shelley Long, who played Diane, never planned to stick around for long on Cheers. In fact, she only reluctantly agreed to co-star in the series, with her initial contract set to be short-term.
But fans quickly fell in love with Diane’s quirky charm, her on-again, off-again relationship with Sam, and her witty, intellectual banter. She became one of the show’s most beloved characters, making her departure all the more memorable.
Speaking of memorable moments, when both Shelley Long and Rhea Perlman (Carla) were pregnant during the third season, and they both gave birth in March 1985. But only Rhea’s pregnancy was written into the script. To hide Diane’s pregnancy, the show often filmed Shelley and her ever-growing belly behind the bar. When she wasn’t behind the bar, she’d be seated at desks or cleverly blocked by the bar top! So next time you watch season 3, keep that in mind – it’s actually true!
The bathroom confusion
From on-set mishaps to cast changes, Cheers had behind-the-scenes drama that impacted the show’s production and reception.
If you’ve ever noticed the bathrooms in the Cheers bar switching locations, you’re not imagining things. Throughout the series, the women’s bathroom occasionally ends up closer to the main bar, while the men’s room is farther down the hall by the pool room — then, at other times, the setup is reversed. No, there wasn’t a renovation on set; it’s most likely just a case of the signs being mixed up.
Curtain makes an unexpected cameo
Ever catch a random glimpse of something you’re not supposed to see on screen? It happens now and then, but usually not for an entire season.
However, if you look closely at the end of Cheers‘ second season, you’ll spot something unusual — a curtain on the left side of the screen. It appears whenever the camera pans out from Norm’s spot at the bar. It’s possible no one noticed it while filming, or they just figured the audience wouldn’t catch it. Honestly, they were probably right… most people probably missed it..
One last fling
In the episode One Last Fling, we get one of the best Diane costumes ever.
This 18th episode of Cheers‘ fifth season, directed by the brilliant James Burrows, is packed with memorable moments and some hidden details you probably didn’t notice the first time around.
The episode starts with Frasier walking into Cheers to find Woody with his arm in a cast. Woody tells a long-winded story about how it happened, but in real life, Woody Harrelson had actually injured his arm. It happened when his car flipped during a practice for the Pro-Celebrity preliminary of the Toyota Grand Prix in 1987, which is why he is wearing a cast and why it was written into the show.
Then the main story kicks in, focusing on Sam and Diane. In the episode, Sam and Diane’s relationship takes center stage as they prepare for Sam’s bachelor party.
After a suggestion from Cliff, the gang plans to surprise Sam with a girl in a cake, and Diane ultimately decides to be the one to pop out.
However, Sam, who is wearing a headpiece in this episode, overthinking about their future and a comment he makes while Diane is inside the cake causes tension, leading her to propose 24 hours of uninhibited fun. The episode ends with Sam confessing he didn’t do anything during his 24 hours, only to realize Diane was watching him too.
Their playful banter and deep care for each other shine through despite the misunderstandings – and looking closer at this episode today, it’s clear how important Shelley was to the dynamic of the show. Without Shelley, it’s hard to say if Cheers would have survived for so long.
She was incredibly strong, confident, and had a clear understanding of both her character and herself.
“Shelley really gave the first year or two or three the boost that ‘Cheers’ needed because she landed into her part feet first on the pilot and was astounding and unlike any other character we’ve seen since maybe ‘I Love Lucy’ or something,” said Ted Danson.
Now we want to hear from you! What’s your favorite Cheers episode, and who’s your all-time favorite character? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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