Cheers Cast & Crew

Sam (Ted Danson), a former pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, owns and runs Cheers, a cozy bar in Boston. Somewhat snobby, beautiful and intelligent Diane (Shelley Long) -- forced to become a waitress when her fiance jilts her -- constantly bickers with Sam. Eventually, they fall in love. Several wacky characters make the bar their home-away-from-home, including sarcastic waitress Carla (Rhea Perlman), beer-loving Norm (George Wendt) and Boston letter carrier Cliff (John Ratzenberger) A few seasons later, Sam sells the bar to buy a boat and sail around the world. But his boat sinks and he returns to bartending. Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), the new (more ambitious) manager, hires him back. They love to hate each other and eventually get together as well. The theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was sung by Gary Portnoy and was nominated for an Emmy in 1983. Shelley Long, who left the show six years earlier, returned for the bittersweet series finale in 1993 -- which was followed by a live, 90-minute special (hosted by Jay Leno) from the real Cheers bar (actually called the Bull & Finch) in Boston, Mass. The series produced an NBC spin-off in Fall '93 centered around the pompous but well-meaning bar regular Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and his move to Seattle, Wash.