One of the most beloved comedy shows of all time, Cheers, ended after eleven successful seasons. The show originally aired on NBC and was created by James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles. Throughout its prominent run on network television, Cheers accumulated 28 Emmy Awards and became one of the most influential American sitcoms ever made. The final episode of Cheers amassed nearly 85 million live viewers, making it the second-most-viewed series finale in television history after M*A*S*H.
The iconic sitcom aired its eleven seasons beginning in 1982 before ending in 1993, the same year that the spinoff Cheers series Fraiser premiered. The show took place in a Boston bar where "everybody knows your name," especially the bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Sam played professional baseball before opening up the friendly tavern where people of all types of backgrounds came to share joyous company. The feel-good show delivered a charm and sincerity cemented by Sam's comionate and affable character.
Cheers Ended When Ted Danson Decided To Quit
With all its success and popularity, it's plausible that Cheers could have continued well past eleven seasons. However, it was ultimately Danson's decision to leave the show which forced Cheers to end with his departure. Danson had felt that it was the right time to say goodbye to Sam and Cheers after eleven great seasons so he could pursue other acting opportunities. Danson's heart ultimately wasn't in it like it had been, so he made the mature decision to step away based on that instinct. This potentially could have saved Cheers from producing an overdone and uninspired twelfth season which could have tarnished its legacy.
The creators of Cheers had initially kicked around an idea to replace Danson's role with a popular recurring character, but the actor refused. Instead, Woody Harrelson, who appeared as Woody in 200 episodes of Cheers, was approached by executives to become the new owner of the fictional bar. Harrelson didn't even consider the offer, knowing the show would definitely fail without Danson serving the drinks in the shining lead role (via The Digital Fix). Harrelson told the executives bluntly, "to be in that bar, without Teddy, nope."
Why Cheers Couldn't Continue Without Ted Danson's Sam
Harrelson was well aware that without Danson's Sam, there could be no version of Cheers that would be nearly as great. Sam had such natural charisma that connected the various characters of the show together. His charm, combined with his sense of humor and love of sports, made him an ideal bartender and a down-to-earth guy. Sam also demonstrated a deep sense of loyalty to his friends and customers, which another character could not easily replicate. Seeing someone else behind the bar in Cheers would seem disingenuous and just plain out of place. Danson's iconic performance as Sam made it feel like he truly owned the place.
Source: The Digital Fix
