"Cheers" was the third highest-rated show on television when Shelley Long opted to quit the series at the end of its fifth season and pursue movie stardom. Though the show had long since settled into its ensemble groove, the on-again/off-again Sam Malone and Diane Chambers romance was the primary generator of water-cooler chatter. Moreover, the chemistry between Long and Ted Danson was the stuff of a series showrunner's dream. Their banter was worthy of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. You don't just go out and find another Katharine Hepburn. Could "Cheers," brilliant and popular as it was, survive Long's departure, especially when fans had so much invested in Diane?
This was the conundrum faced by casting director Jeff Greenberg, who'd joined "Cheers" during Long's last season. He knew chasing the next Long was courting disaster, so he looked for an actor who could hold her own with Danson and...
This was the conundrum faced by casting director Jeff Greenberg, who'd joined "Cheers" during Long's last season. He knew chasing the next Long was courting disaster, so he looked for an actor who could hold her own with Danson and...
- 4/20/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
There is something deeply comfortable about the bar owned by Sam Malone (Ted Danson) on "Cheers," a kind of vintage Americana that can take almost any viewer back to "a place where everybody knows your name," like the theme song says. Its brick walls, wood paneling, and old-school jukebox evoke both its Boston setting and something broader, the kind of place one might expect to find nestled down a random street in any major American city, but it was actually based on a very real bar that the series creators visited while first developing the show! While that sounds like it could really be a great thing for a bar, given how immensely popular "Cheers" was in the 1980s, it actually ended up causing some rather interesting problems, especially for the bar's regulars.
In the book "Cheers: A Cultural History" By Joseph J. Darowski and Kate Darowski, the authors shared...
In the book "Cheers: A Cultural History" By Joseph J. Darowski and Kate Darowski, the authors shared...
- 4/13/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
The sets of different sitcoms can feel like a home away from home for the audiences watching, so it's not hard to imagine just how much the casts of those shows might get attached to them. Sitcoms are frequently about families (either by blood or friendship) and the casts can develop relationships just as potent, making the sets the place of incredible memories. Unfortunately, sets aren't made to last forever and that can lead to some emotional consequences for the cast. Sometimes there are tragedies like the fire that took out the set of the "M*A*S*H" finale, and sometimes it can be something as simple as giving the set a fresh coat of paint that can totally upset the balance of things.
The 1980s sitcom "Cheers" takes place in a bar owned by former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson), who serves up drinks...
The 1980s sitcom "Cheers" takes place in a bar owned by former Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Sam Malone (Ted Danson), who serves up drinks...
- 3/30/2024
- by Danielle Ryan
- Slash Film
In January, the Cheers cast reunited for the Emmy Awards. The iconic moment sent viewers searching for more information. While Frasier, the beloved Cheers spinoff, has been rebooted, there has been no word about Cheers. The reunion got fans talking, with many theorizing the cast might consider getting together for a reboot. Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone for all 11 seasons, has set the record straight. A reboot isn’t in the cards.
Ted Danson says a ‘Cheers’ reboot is out of the question
If you were hoping for a Cheers reboot, Ted Danson’s thoughts on it might upset you. Entertainment Tonight caught up with Ted Danson and asked him about the possibility of a Cheers reboot. The famed actor was pretty adamant that while he loved reuniting with the cast at the Emmy Awards, a reboot was out of the question.
L-r: Rhea Perlman, Nicholas Colasanto, and Ted...
Ted Danson says a ‘Cheers’ reboot is out of the question
If you were hoping for a Cheers reboot, Ted Danson’s thoughts on it might upset you. Entertainment Tonight caught up with Ted Danson and asked him about the possibility of a Cheers reboot. The famed actor was pretty adamant that while he loved reuniting with the cast at the Emmy Awards, a reboot was out of the question.
L-r: Rhea Perlman, Nicholas Colasanto, and Ted...
- 3/23/2024
- by Andrea Francese
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Curb Your Enthusiasm was a massive hit on HBO, loved by many despite changes over time. It’s filled with hilarious moments, making it unforgettable. Larry David and the cast hold a special place in fans’ hearts.
The show’s success made the cast quite wealthy, especially Larry David. Thus, Larry David is the richest, but others also made good money. Some guest stars like Jerry Seinfeld are wealthy too. The show has been on since 1998, making its cast quite wealthy.
Sadly, the show will end in April 2024, but the cast will likely find success in other projects. After the show, cast members will pursue new projects, potentially increasing their wealth. So, if you are curious to know about the Richest “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star then keep reading this article till the end.
Also Read: The Richest “The Office” Stars Ranked From Lowest To Highest Net Worth!!!
The Richest “Curb Your Enthusiasm...
The show’s success made the cast quite wealthy, especially Larry David. Thus, Larry David is the richest, but others also made good money. Some guest stars like Jerry Seinfeld are wealthy too. The show has been on since 1998, making its cast quite wealthy.
Sadly, the show will end in April 2024, but the cast will likely find success in other projects. After the show, cast members will pursue new projects, potentially increasing their wealth. So, if you are curious to know about the Richest “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star then keep reading this article till the end.
Also Read: The Richest “The Office” Stars Ranked From Lowest To Highest Net Worth!!!
The Richest “Curb Your Enthusiasm...
- 3/15/2024
- by Om Prakash Kaushal
- https://dailyresearchplot.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/new-sam
When "Cheers" wrapped up in 1993, it looked a lot different from the show that began airing in 1982. The finale not only brought in almost 100 million viewers, it became one of the most-watched installments of any TV show ever made — even courting the attention of then-President Bill Clinton, who was eyeing up a cameo in the finale before forcing the writers to scrap those plans at the last minute.
But back when "Cheers" debuted, it almost crashed and burned with its very first season. In fact, it would take until the end of the third season for the show to really find its footing, ratings-wise. Sadly, one of the central characters who'd help solidify the series' huge success would no longer be around to enjoy the glory years to come.
Coach Ernie Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto), affectionately known by the Cheers bar crew as "Coach," was a central part of the show since the off.
But back when "Cheers" debuted, it almost crashed and burned with its very first season. In fact, it would take until the end of the third season for the show to really find its footing, ratings-wise. Sadly, one of the central characters who'd help solidify the series' huge success would no longer be around to enjoy the glory years to come.
Coach Ernie Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto), affectionately known by the Cheers bar crew as "Coach," was a central part of the show since the off.
- 3/9/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Two years after launching into Early Access on Steam and the Epic Games Store, Coffee Stain Publishing and developer Vaulted Sky Games have announced that their four-on-four hide-and-seek game Midnight Ghost Hunt will be exiting the service and launching in full on March 21. The 1.0 release will see all ten of the game’s maps get a revamp graphically and from a gameplay standpoint, as well as new bot AI, new cosmetic updates/changes and more.
“We are beyond excited to finally bring Midnight Ghost Hunt out of Early Access into the hands of our players,” said Sam Malone, Vaulted Sky Games creator and lead developer. “This two-year Early Access period has given us a fantastic opportunity to really listen to everyone’s comments and opinions and make some great changes. We’re now super proud of where we have the game for its 1.0 launch.”
As mentioned, all ten of the...
“We are beyond excited to finally bring Midnight Ghost Hunt out of Early Access into the hands of our players,” said Sam Malone, Vaulted Sky Games creator and lead developer. “This two-year Early Access period has given us a fantastic opportunity to really listen to everyone’s comments and opinions and make some great changes. We’re now super proud of where we have the game for its 1.0 launch.”
As mentioned, all ten of the...
- 3/6/2024
- by Mike Wilson
- bloody-disgusting.com
When Shelley Long left "Cheers" in 1986, it was such a big deal that, as producer David Lee once put it, "I thought it might be the end of it [...] because we didn't know what we were gonna do and we didn't know if that relationship was so essential to the success of the show that it just might slip away." Of course, "Cheers" did anything but slip away. The beloved sitcom ran for a further six years following Long's departure, airing the series finale on May 20, 1993. By that point, there was no doubt that the show had maintained its status as one of the all-time great TV series, with the final episode becoming the second-highest-rated series finale of all time (behind CBS's "M*A*S*H").
Still, you can understand why Lee was so concerned. Long played Diane Chambers, the longtime love interest of co-star Ted Danson's Sam Malone.
Still, you can understand why Lee was so concerned. Long played Diane Chambers, the longtime love interest of co-star Ted Danson's Sam Malone.
- 2/24/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Kelsey Grammer and the gang have a reason to celebrate this Thursday after getting a green light for Frasier Season 2 at Paramount+! The comedy, filmed in front of a live audience, continues at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles with many stars who made the first season such a hit returning.
The series “follows Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to fulfill finally.” Kelsey Grammer returns as the show’s title character, with Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Frasier’s old college compatriot turned university professor Alan; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Freddy’s roommate Eve; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew David.
“Fraiser is a love story, and...
The series “follows Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to fulfill finally.” Kelsey Grammer returns as the show’s title character, with Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Frasier’s old college compatriot turned university professor Alan; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Freddy’s roommate Eve; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew David.
“Fraiser is a love story, and...
- 2/22/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Kelsey Grammer is bringing back more laughs as Frasier has been renewed for a second season at Paramount+. Season 2 will continue to film in front of a live studio audience at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.
The series follows Frasier Crane (Grammer)—a character that originated in NBC’s Cheers— in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships, and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.
Frasier also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Frasier’s son; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; and Anders Keith as David, Frasier’s nephew. Season one featured guest appearances from original series cast, including Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin.
Related: ‘True Detective’ Renewed...
The series follows Frasier Crane (Grammer)—a character that originated in NBC’s Cheers— in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships, and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.
Frasier also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Frasier’s son; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; and Anders Keith as David, Frasier’s nephew. Season one featured guest appearances from original series cast, including Bebe Neuwirth and Peri Gilpin.
Related: ‘True Detective’ Renewed...
- 2/22/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
When "Cheers" returned to NBC's airwaves for its third season, viewers were desperate to see how bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) had handled their breakup at the conclusion of the previous season's finale. Had they moved on or possibly reconciled?
The answer was a little more complicated than perhaps many fans expected.
Recovering alcoholic Sam was back on the sauce and carousing with self-destructive abandon. Diane was, as ever, Diane, but she couldn't bear to see Sam in such a rough way. She didn't want to get back together with him, certainly not while he was scraping rock bottom, but she still cared about her ex. She needed to see him in at least a semi-functional state. She needed to get him help. And she believed she knew just the man who could throw him a lifeline.
That man, of course, was psychiatrist Frasier Crane.
The answer was a little more complicated than perhaps many fans expected.
Recovering alcoholic Sam was back on the sauce and carousing with self-destructive abandon. Diane was, as ever, Diane, but she couldn't bear to see Sam in such a rough way. She didn't want to get back together with him, certainly not while he was scraping rock bottom, but she still cared about her ex. She needed to see him in at least a semi-functional state. She needed to get him help. And she believed she knew just the man who could throw him a lifeline.
That man, of course, was psychiatrist Frasier Crane.
- 1/16/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name – and that place could be a watering hole in Boston or a recreation of it on stage at the Primetime Emmy Awards. As was teased, a portion of the cast of Cheers reunited on Monday night, complete with a recreation of the iconic set.
The Cheers reunion found Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, and George Wendt (Norm!) presenting the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, both of which went to The Bear. Throughout its 11-season run, Cheers won both of these twice. Notably, Wendt’s nephew, Jason Sudeikis, was nominated for Ted Lasso.
Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone on Cheers, expressed his gratitude to host Anthony Anderson by saying, “Anthony, thank you for getting us all here. Ah, this feels so nice to be here in front of all of you,...
The Cheers reunion found Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, and George Wendt (Norm!) presenting the awards for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, both of which went to The Bear. Throughout its 11-season run, Cheers won both of these twice. Notably, Wendt’s nephew, Jason Sudeikis, was nominated for Ted Lasso.
Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone on Cheers, expressed his gratitude to host Anthony Anderson by saying, “Anthony, thank you for getting us all here. Ah, this feels so nice to be here in front of all of you,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Kelsey Grammer, who has been musing about a return for Shelly Long’s Diane on his Paramount+ Frasier reboot, told Deadline today at the Emmys how it would go down.
“The relationship with Diane is something that still gnaws at him a little bit because he felt like he failed at it,” Grammer says about Frasier Crane.
“It would be nice if they acknowledge one another… ‘I’m glad you did ok.’ Have her do the same thing,” explained Grammer.
As far as whether Long would return, “It would only happen if it’s important to Frasier’s development as a human being,” explained the 5x Emmy winner.
Grammer also said he’s open to Ted Danson’s Sam Malone from Cheers making an appearance on the new Frasier. Under one circumstance: “If Sam Malone is still alive and has a vital connection of making Frasier move to another place.
“The relationship with Diane is something that still gnaws at him a little bit because he felt like he failed at it,” Grammer says about Frasier Crane.
“It would be nice if they acknowledge one another… ‘I’m glad you did ok.’ Have her do the same thing,” explained Grammer.
As far as whether Long would return, “It would only happen if it’s important to Frasier’s development as a human being,” explained the 5x Emmy winner.
Grammer also said he’s open to Ted Danson’s Sam Malone from Cheers making an appearance on the new Frasier. Under one circumstance: “If Sam Malone is still alive and has a vital connection of making Frasier move to another place.
- 1/16/2024
- by Rosy Cordero, Anthony D'Alessandro and Natalie Sitek
- Deadline Film + TV
The 2023 Emmys brought the bar where everybody knows your name to everyone’s living room once again. Cheers stars Ted Danson (Sam Malone), Kelsey Grammer (Dr. Frasier Crane), Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli LeBec), John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin), and George Wendt (Norm Peterson) reunited on a set made to look like the iconic bar at the awards show. “There have been a lot of brilliant sitcoms in the 75 years of the Emmys, some set in the workplace, and others in the home. Some in restaurants, but one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, winner of 28 Emmys, was set here, in the most iconic bar in television history,” host Anthony Anderson said to introduce the cast. “This feels nice, to be here in front of all of you,” Danson said, with Ratzenberger adding to “think of it as a long overdue class reunion.” For Grammer, “Being together brings back some great...
- 1/16/2024
- TV Insider
One of the most quoted pieces of Hollywood wisdom holds that 90 percent of directing is casting. You bring the right actors together, and you're off to the races. This is, of course, laughably simplistic. You could argue that 90 percent of directing is writing because there's no movie or show to make if there's nothing on the page. And many directors will tell you that their films don't truly come together until they're hunkered down with their editor in post-production.
The truth, obviously, is that film and television production is a collaborative process that requires numerous people with expertise in different disciplines to do what they do at the highest level possible. And when it comes to casting, there is absolutely an art to finding, after untold hours of reels and cold reads, the ideal actor for each role — especially if you're trying to launch a successful television series. Because no...
The truth, obviously, is that film and television production is a collaborative process that requires numerous people with expertise in different disciplines to do what they do at the highest level possible. And when it comes to casting, there is absolutely an art to finding, after untold hours of reels and cold reads, the ideal actor for each role — especially if you're trying to launch a successful television series. Because no...
- 1/13/2024
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
Kelsey Grammer doesn’t have any plans for any of the Cheers characters to pop up in the new Frasier sitcom. However, the actor who plays Dr. Frasier Crane does think that Diane Chambers, played by Shelley Long, deserves some closure.
“I would like to see Diane come back,” Grammer said on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “For one of those reasons of Frasier to be able to put something to bed. To end up with a nice thing between them.”
He continued, “When I first got the role, the key to Frasier for me was that he loved her with his whole heart, that he loved with all of his being. And that actually defined who he is and he’s been that way ever since. He just goes in wholeheartedly with everything — and that’s what makes him funny.”
Grammer’s Frasier character was introduced in Season 3 of Cheers...
“I would like to see Diane come back,” Grammer said on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “For one of those reasons of Frasier to be able to put something to bed. To end up with a nice thing between them.”
He continued, “When I first got the role, the key to Frasier for me was that he loved her with his whole heart, that he loved with all of his being. And that actually defined who he is and he’s been that way ever since. He just goes in wholeheartedly with everything — and that’s what makes him funny.”
Grammer’s Frasier character was introduced in Season 3 of Cheers...
- 1/10/2024
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Frasier and Diane’s relationship on Cheers may not have ended happily ever after, but Kelsey Grammer isn’t ready to close the book on it.
The Frasier star revealed in an interview on Tuesday’s The Kelly Clarkson Show — which you can watch above — that he wants Shelley Long to reprise her role as Diane Chambers on the Paramount+ revival: “I would like to see Diane come back… for Frasier to be able to put something to bed, to end up with a nice thing between them.”
More from TVLineNasim Pedrad's Chad Gets Season 2 Release Date at Roku, Following...
The Frasier star revealed in an interview on Tuesday’s The Kelly Clarkson Show — which you can watch above — that he wants Shelley Long to reprise her role as Diane Chambers on the Paramount+ revival: “I would like to see Diane come back… for Frasier to be able to put something to bed, to end up with a nice thing between them.”
More from TVLineNasim Pedrad's Chad Gets Season 2 Release Date at Roku, Following...
- 1/9/2024
- by Dave Nemetz
- TVLine.com
For 11 seasons, "Cheers" (1982-1993) was, as NBC put it back then, "must-see TV." For five of those seasons, we watched Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) and their on-again-off-again relationship in a Boston bar. When Long left for a movie career, Kirstie Alley was hired as the female lead, Rebecca Howe. She was a business woman who was brought in to manage the bar after a corporation buys it, and Sam, lothario that he was, hits on her constantly.
As the show went on, Rebecca went from a put-together woman with a penchant for rich men to a neurotic and decidedly annoying woman. (I watched it as it happened and I just couldn't stand her character.) She was funny, sure, and they definitely leaned into her falling apart, but it was ... a lot. It also led the show to its very first Emmy Award in 1989. It was...
As the show went on, Rebecca went from a put-together woman with a penchant for rich men to a neurotic and decidedly annoying woman. (I watched it as it happened and I just couldn't stand her character.) She was funny, sure, and they definitely leaned into her falling apart, but it was ... a lot. It also led the show to its very first Emmy Award in 1989. It was...
- 12/23/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
When "Cheers" premiered in 1982 on NBC, fans became immediately invested in the Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) romance. First, there was the will they/won't they dynamic, and then they got together. However, these very mismatched love birds broke up at the end of the second season. Enter her new psychologist, Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). We didn't know it at the time, but this very pretentious boyfriend was going to have not one, but two series set around him. I never did get his appeal during the run of "Cheers." I really hated his character ... and yet somehow found myself watching his NBC spinoff "Frasier." Yes, I bought into the tossed salad and scrambled eggs of it all like the rest of the world. Well, most of the rest of the world.
According to a 2018 feature in The Hollywood Reporter to celebrate 25 years since the end of "Cheers,...
According to a 2018 feature in The Hollywood Reporter to celebrate 25 years since the end of "Cheers,...
- 12/18/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
When the NBC comedy series "Cheers" began in 1982, fans quickly fell in love with Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto). He was a retired baseball coach working at the bar with Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). He wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the condiments bar, but he had a good heart and gave sort of ridiculous yet profound advice. He was a beloved character and a staple of the show. However, when Colasanto passed away after a heart attack in 1985, Coach died in the show as well.
In season 4, we got a new bartender in the form of Woody Boyd, played by a very young Woody Harrelson. He had the same very naive and sweet quality that Coach had, though he was far younger. I mean, look at the picture above. He was a baby! Woody Boyd was a pen pal to Coach and had to...
In season 4, we got a new bartender in the form of Woody Boyd, played by a very young Woody Harrelson. He had the same very naive and sweet quality that Coach had, though he was far younger. I mean, look at the picture above. He was a baby! Woody Boyd was a pen pal to Coach and had to...
- 12/11/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
"Cheers" dominated the TV landscape in the 1980s. Viewers were caught up in the relationship between bartender/bar owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and the barmaid who felt like she was too good for the job, Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Would she unbend enough actually to have fun with Sam? Could he manage to stand how pretentious she was? Hanging out with Sam, Diane, and the bar denizens of "Cheers" was like visiting old friends, gossiping about their lives, and getting invested in relationships that we weren't part of.
As it turns out, Shelley Long was as invested as fans were in the Sam and Diane storyline. In fact, there was an episode early on that had the actor breaking down behind the scenes, according to a 25th-anniversary feature in The Hollywood Reporter from 2018. That episode involved a moment between Sam and Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman) that Diane wasn't even there for.
As it turns out, Shelley Long was as invested as fans were in the Sam and Diane storyline. In fact, there was an episode early on that had the actor breaking down behind the scenes, according to a 25th-anniversary feature in The Hollywood Reporter from 2018. That episode involved a moment between Sam and Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman) that Diane wasn't even there for.
- 12/10/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Sitcoms are among some of the most beloved TV shows ever made. Unlike respected premium drama series like "The Wire," "Breaking Bad," or "True Detective," which regularly top lists of the greatest TV shows ever made, shows like "Friends," "Seinfeld," "Cheers," and "The Office" are beloved in a way that feels a lot more personal. Sitcoms are feel-good experiences, even when they're shows about nothing, and are the exact opposite of David Fincher's intense thrillers.
Which is why I can't shake the feeling that the auteur is making fun of himself with his latest effort. As /Film's Chris Evangelista wrote in his review of "The Killer," "I'm not saying Fincher is on the same level as a cold-blooded killer, but he clearly sees a lot of himself (and his approach to his work) in his latest protagonist." But if the director was trying to draw this parallel between the...
Which is why I can't shake the feeling that the auteur is making fun of himself with his latest effort. As /Film's Chris Evangelista wrote in his review of "The Killer," "I'm not saying Fincher is on the same level as a cold-blooded killer, but he clearly sees a lot of himself (and his approach to his work) in his latest protagonist." But if the director was trying to draw this parallel between the...
- 11/25/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
When you hear many actors talk, they often speak about wanting to play roles vastly different from who they are as people. Acting can be something of an escape that can challenge their everyday lives. However, when you usually hear about parts like this, they tend to exist in the extreme. Sometimes they involve playing a real-life person, or they're playing some fantastical creation in a genre piece. Rarely do you hear this kind of talk when they are just playing, like, a regular dude. Parts like those tend to go to people fairly similar to the characters they play who can imbue those regular folks with some kind of innate charisma within the actor.
Ted Danson's signature role of Sam Malone on the long-running hit sitcom "Cheers" would, on its face, appear to be this situation. He is an actor who exudes boundless charm and has excellent repartee...
Ted Danson's signature role of Sam Malone on the long-running hit sitcom "Cheers" would, on its face, appear to be this situation. He is an actor who exudes boundless charm and has excellent repartee...
- 11/25/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
Kelsey Grammer returned to reprise his role of Dr. Frasier Crane one more time. Over the last four years, Grammer has taken on the part of Frasier across multiple TV shows, beginning with Cheers and now, presumably, ending with the Frasier reboot. While Frasier is Grammer’s signature role, the part was initially intended for someone other than him. The character was actually created with another actor in mind. Grammer was only afforded the chance to audition for the role because John Lithgow turned down the part.
John Lithgow could have played Dr. Frasier Crane, but he turned down the part
While Kelsey Grammer turned out to be the perfect Frasier, the role wasn’t supposed to be his. If John Lithgow hadn’t turned down the part, script unseen, Grammer wouldn’t have ever gotten the opportunity to audition. Lithgow reminisced about his career and his near misses in a recent interview.
John Lithgow could have played Dr. Frasier Crane, but he turned down the part
While Kelsey Grammer turned out to be the perfect Frasier, the role wasn’t supposed to be his. If John Lithgow hadn’t turned down the part, script unseen, Grammer wouldn’t have ever gotten the opportunity to audition. Lithgow reminisced about his career and his near misses in a recent interview.
- 11/25/2023
- by Andrea Francese
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When NBC premiered "The Cosby Show" on September 20, 1984, the network effectively claimed ownership of Thursday night primetime television for several decades. This was the unofficial beginning of Must-See TV (the moniker wouldn't be coined until 1993), and the series' ratings prominence throughout the mid- to late-'80s anchored NBC's lineup, allowing them to switch out sitcoms in the 8:30 and 9:30 slots as needed.
The other Thursday half-hour slot deemed untouchable by the network was the 9 p.m. post dominated by "Cheers." Created by James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles, the show built around a neighborhood Boston bar where everybody knows your name bounced around during its first two seasons before permanently bellying up to 9 p.m. for the rest of its 11-season run. It was the lightly ribald counterpart to the family-friendly antics of "The Cosby Show," and it never had a bad season.
These two series changed television history forever,...
The other Thursday half-hour slot deemed untouchable by the network was the 9 p.m. post dominated by "Cheers." Created by James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles, the show built around a neighborhood Boston bar where everybody knows your name bounced around during its first two seasons before permanently bellying up to 9 p.m. for the rest of its 11-season run. It was the lightly ribald counterpart to the family-friendly antics of "The Cosby Show," and it never had a bad season.
These two series changed television history forever,...
- 11/12/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
The NBC series "Cheers" ran for 11 seasons from 1982-1993. The show, which earned an incredible 28 Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, took place in a bar in Boston. Former baseball star Sam Malone (Ted Danson) now runs a bar and has an on-again-off-again relationship with Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), a sort of stuck-up woman who has to become a cocktail waitress to make ends meet. The bar was littered with characters like Norm (George Wendt), a barfly whose name everyone does indeed know, Cliff (John Ratzenberger), the bar know-it-all, Carla (Rhea Perlman), the acerbic waitress, Coach (Nicholas Colasanto), the doddering but loveable owner, and Woody (Woody Harrelson) as the dopey bartender. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), the prissy psychiatrist who got his own show out of it (that is currently in revival form), also appeared, as well as Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), who replaced Diane as a waitress and love interest after Long left.
- 11/4/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
Once upon a time in Boston, there was a bar where everybody knew your name. That bar was the setting for the NBC series "Cheers," which ran for 11 seasons from 1982-1993. Behind this bar was bartender/owner Sam Malone (Ted Danson), a former baseball player and alcoholic who had an on-again-off-again romance with the more cultured (at least she thought so) barmaid Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) started his TV life here, later going on to have his own show, with a revival currently running on Paramount+. George Wendt played the accountant Norm, whose name was yelled every time he walked through the door. Rhea Perlman was Carla, the acerbic cocktail waitress. The show had so many incredible characters, but my favorite was always Cliff Clavin.
Played by John Ratzenberger, Cliff Clavin was a mailman who frequented the bar and always had a string of lovable...
Played by John Ratzenberger, Cliff Clavin was a mailman who frequented the bar and always had a string of lovable...
- 10/29/2023
- by Jenna Busch
- Slash Film
One of the keys to crafting a great sitcom is choosing a unique location. Most television writers live in Los Angeles or New York City, but to be a writer of consequence you've got to be curious about the world around you. This is why so many of the best series take place in cities that aren't major production centers. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" took place in the wintry metropolis of Minneapolis. "The Andy Griffith Show" acquainted us with the offbeat rural denizens of (the fictional) Mayberry, North Carolina. And "Wkrp in Cincinnati" captured the charm of Ohio's Queen City via a struggling Am radio station.
When it comes to identifying a city with a sitcom, there is not a more iconic show than "Cheers." Boston is a very strange, very old city (founded in 1630). It has a rich, if troubling racial history. It's also got a chip on its shoulder.
When it comes to identifying a city with a sitcom, there is not a more iconic show than "Cheers." Boston is a very strange, very old city (founded in 1630). It has a rich, if troubling racial history. It's also got a chip on its shoulder.
- 10/28/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
It's been 41 years since "Cheers" premiered, and 30 years since it's ended. Although other popular sitcoms like "The Bill Cosby Show" and "Newhart" gave it a run for its money, it's clear by now that "Cheers" has most effectively withstood the test of the time. When the average person thinks of '90s sitcoms, they think of "Friends" or "Seinfeld," but when you ask them to name a sitcom from the '80s, "Cheers" is almost always the first to come to mind.
It helps that so much of the "Cheers" cast has continued to have a major presence in pop culture long after the finale, even if they haven't all returned to the sheer height of popularity they had back in the '80s and early '90s. Even many of the actors who have passed away in the years since, like Kirstie Alley who died of stage four colon...
It helps that so much of the "Cheers" cast has continued to have a major presence in pop culture long after the finale, even if they haven't all returned to the sheer height of popularity they had back in the '80s and early '90s. Even many of the actors who have passed away in the years since, like Kirstie Alley who died of stage four colon...
- 10/26/2023
- by Michael Boyle
- Slash Film
When NBC closed shop on "Cheers" in 1993, it felt like the right time to bid farewell to our favorite broadcast barflies and a death in the family. For 11 consistently great seasons, viewers knew that every Thursday evening, they could drop by the neighborhood tavern where everybody knows their name. We couldn't begrudge the actors for wanting to move on to other opportunities, but their characters were so rich and relatable that we wanted to grow old with them.
"Cheers" fans were more than happy to settle for "Frasier," which transplanted Kelsey Grammer's neurotic psychiatrist to Seattle, where he had to contend/coexist with his equally neurotic brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and his retired cop father Martin (John Mahoney). Under the aegis of creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, "Frasier" quickly established itself as the wittiest, most erudite sitcom on network television. It was the perfect spinoff.
"Cheers" fans were more than happy to settle for "Frasier," which transplanted Kelsey Grammer's neurotic psychiatrist to Seattle, where he had to contend/coexist with his equally neurotic brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and his retired cop father Martin (John Mahoney). Under the aegis of creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee, "Frasier" quickly established itself as the wittiest, most erudite sitcom on network television. It was the perfect spinoff.
- 10/21/2023
- by Jeremy Smith
- Slash Film
When it was first announced that "Frasier" would be resurrected for a reboot, I think a lot of us had the same thought: again? Not that the beloved "Cheers" spinoff, which ran for 11 glorious seasons on NBC between 1993 and 2004, had already been rebooted once before, but that it feels like everything else has. From classics like "Hawaii Five-o" and "Dynasty" to hour-long dramas like "Veronica Mars" and "Prison Break," to dozens of sitcoms, like "Full House" (rebranded "Fuller House"), "Will & Grace," "The Connors" (a reboot/spinoff of "Roseanne"), "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" ... you get the picture.
The witty, quippy, debonair world of Seattle psychologist and radio personality Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) belongs to a rarefied universe of '90s TV dynamite, including "Friends," "Seinfeld," and "In Living Color," none of which have been rebooted. Would taking the paddles to Daphne, Roz, and Niles denude them of their charms?...
The witty, quippy, debonair world of Seattle psychologist and radio personality Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) belongs to a rarefied universe of '90s TV dynamite, including "Friends," "Seinfeld," and "In Living Color," none of which have been rebooted. Would taking the paddles to Daphne, Roz, and Niles denude them of their charms?...
- 10/15/2023
- by Ryan Coleman
- Slash Film
In 2024, it will be 40 years since the character of Frasier Crane first debuted on TV. Appearing in the season 3 premiere of "Cheers" back in 1984, the character went on to become the protagonist of his own show, which ran from 1993 to 2004 and doubled down on Kelsey Grammer's remarkable knack for playing the lovably pretentious psychiatrist. Now, the character is once again back as part of the "Frasier" revival series that just hit Paramount+, and he's very much returned to his roots.
Whereas the original "Frasier" saw the titular psychiatrist return to his native Seattle, the new series is set back in Boston — home of the Cheers bar where his character first appeared. In the years between the original "Frasier" and this new series, the good doctor has been living in Chicago, but returns to Boston after his marriage ends and he feels compelled to become more involved in his son Freddy's (Jack Cutmore-Scott) life.
Whereas the original "Frasier" saw the titular psychiatrist return to his native Seattle, the new series is set back in Boston — home of the Cheers bar where his character first appeared. In the years between the original "Frasier" and this new series, the good doctor has been living in Chicago, but returns to Boston after his marriage ends and he feels compelled to become more involved in his son Freddy's (Jack Cutmore-Scott) life.
- 10/12/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
There’s a joke in the fourth episode of the Paramount+ revival of Frasier that is not the worst to be found in this new take on Kelsey Grammer’s famous psychiatrist Frasier Crane, because there are unfortunately a lot of bad ones to choose from. But it typifies the biggest problem the new show has.
Frasier has joined his new Harvard colleagues Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) for a night of bar trivia, competing against a team of firefighters led by Frasier’s son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott). At one point,...
Frasier has joined his new Harvard colleagues Alan (Nicholas Lyndhurst) and Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) for a night of bar trivia, competing against a team of firefighters led by Frasier’s son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott). At one point,...
- 10/9/2023
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
There are moments in television history that will always be remembered. Iconic moments like the final episode of "Cheers" when Sam Malone turns out the lights at the bar, or the record-breaking finale of "M.A.S.H.," and the unforgettable, uncontrollable giggle that Mary Tyler Moore lets out at Chuckles the Clown's funeral. And, who can forget the epic superhero sex party that took place on season three of "The Boys" at the 70th Annual Herogasm.
There was a deafening level of hype leading up to the "Herogasm" episode, and although it didn't quite reach the X-rated, Dionysian heights found in the pages of the comic book, it was still a show-stopping sequence in a series chock-full of shocking moments. Granted, it's difficult to catch all of the debaucherous acts taking place around the TNT Twin's mansion, including, but not limited to: a floating Starlight vibrator, an icicle dildo, electric nipple clamps,...
There was a deafening level of hype leading up to the "Herogasm" episode, and although it didn't quite reach the X-rated, Dionysian heights found in the pages of the comic book, it was still a show-stopping sequence in a series chock-full of shocking moments. Granted, it's difficult to catch all of the debaucherous acts taking place around the TNT Twin's mansion, including, but not limited to: a floating Starlight vibrator, an icicle dildo, electric nipple clamps,...
- 8/27/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
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Before "Cheers" ever got to rolling cameras on its very first episode, "Give Me a Ring Sometime," the show went through a great deal of evolution. In fact, the central "will they or won't they" relationship at the heart of the show's first five seasons between barkeep Sam Malone and waitress Diane Chambers didn't exist. The original pitch was to have Sam be a barkeep with a female boss, a dynamic the series would come back around to when Kirstie Alley joined the cast in season 6.
Television, maybe more so than any other storytelling medium, lends itself to constant evolution and change. Not only is there constant writing and rewriting while you are making an episode, you have audience feedback that informs how you tell your story as it goes. And sometimes a collaborator comes in that forces the creators...
Before "Cheers" ever got to rolling cameras on its very first episode, "Give Me a Ring Sometime," the show went through a great deal of evolution. In fact, the central "will they or won't they" relationship at the heart of the show's first five seasons between barkeep Sam Malone and waitress Diane Chambers didn't exist. The original pitch was to have Sam be a barkeep with a female boss, a dynamic the series would come back around to when Kirstie Alley joined the cast in season 6.
Television, maybe more so than any other storytelling medium, lends itself to constant evolution and change. Not only is there constant writing and rewriting while you are making an episode, you have audience feedback that informs how you tell your story as it goes. And sometimes a collaborator comes in that forces the creators...
- 8/5/2023
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
With “Cheers” reaching its 30th anniversary since the series finale — and with a revival of its popular spinoff, “Frasier,” expected later this year — it was time for the Atx Television Festival to do what it does best: host a reunion. Stars Ted Danson, George Wendt, and John Ratzenberger sat down with co-creators James Burrows, Len, and Glen Charles for an hourlong discussion about the impact of NBC’s landmark series.
Danson, every bit as thoughtful and tender as his “Cheers” character Sam Malone was single-minded and unrefined, made sure to honor who wasn’t in attendance, as well as those who made the trip to Austin, TX for Friday night’s panel. Initially, he credited co-star Shelley Long for getting him the career-making role in the first place.
“I don’t think we’ve seen a character like that since Lucille Ball,” he said of Long’s ebullient lead, Diane Chambers.
Danson, every bit as thoughtful and tender as his “Cheers” character Sam Malone was single-minded and unrefined, made sure to honor who wasn’t in attendance, as well as those who made the trip to Austin, TX for Friday night’s panel. Initially, he credited co-star Shelley Long for getting him the career-making role in the first place.
“I don’t think we’ve seen a character like that since Lucille Ball,” he said of Long’s ebullient lead, Diane Chambers.
- 6/3/2023
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
This post contains spoilers for "Ted Lasso" season 3.
"Ted Lasso" season 3 has just come to an end, leaving the fictional team of AFC Richmond at a crossroads after their head coach leaves his fish-and-chips-out-of-water life in London behind. Overall, the supposedly last season of the Apple TV+ phenomenon left a lot to be desired, failing to live up to the high points of the first two seasons where the jokes that hit far outweighed the ones that fell flat. While a lot of the episodes in season 3 felt overly long and unnecessarily melodramatic, the overall spirit of the show managed to stay intact thanks to Jason Sudeikis' naively positive "aw shucks" attitude as Ted.
Ted isn't only a sports fan, he's a pop culture aficionado raised on Thursday night primetime sitcoms from the '80s. Throughout its entire run, "Ted Lasso" has peppered in a number of clever references to the golden years of U.
"Ted Lasso" season 3 has just come to an end, leaving the fictional team of AFC Richmond at a crossroads after their head coach leaves his fish-and-chips-out-of-water life in London behind. Overall, the supposedly last season of the Apple TV+ phenomenon left a lot to be desired, failing to live up to the high points of the first two seasons where the jokes that hit far outweighed the ones that fell flat. While a lot of the episodes in season 3 felt overly long and unnecessarily melodramatic, the overall spirit of the show managed to stay intact thanks to Jason Sudeikis' naively positive "aw shucks" attitude as Ted.
Ted isn't only a sports fan, he's a pop culture aficionado raised on Thursday night primetime sitcoms from the '80s. Throughout its entire run, "Ted Lasso" has peppered in a number of clever references to the golden years of U.
- 5/31/2023
- by Drew Tinnin
- Slash Film
Where, when, and how you can watch “Yellowstone” has always been a bit confusing. It normally airs on [Parmaount Network], where it is the most popular show on television. However, the show doesn’t stream on Paramount+, but instead is available on-demand on Peacock. But, for three days starting on May 27, the first three seasons will be available on a free linear channel on Paramount-owned Pluto TV.
Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates famous Jews who have made extraordinary contributions, including Ruth Bader Ginsberg, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for 27 years. The “Rbg” doc, which will be available to stream beginning on May 8, chronicles this extraordinary lawyer and her fight for equality that changed the world for American women — and everyone else.
Check out the trailer for “Rbg”:
Also arriving on the service in May will be the beloved Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience.” The series, stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee,...
Jewish American Heritage Month celebrates famous Jews who have made extraordinary contributions, including Ruth Bader Ginsberg, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for 27 years. The “Rbg” doc, which will be available to stream beginning on May 8, chronicles this extraordinary lawyer and her fight for equality that changed the world for American women — and everyone else.
Check out the trailer for “Rbg”:
Also arriving on the service in May will be the beloved Canadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience.” The series, stars Paul Sun-Hyung Lee,...
- 4/30/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
One of the classic TV comedies that doesn’t get much love anymore is Who’s the Boss? Maybe that’s because it’s not streaming anywhere so it’s hard to binge like Friends or The Office. Also, it’s all the more reason you might need other recommendations to get your Who’s the Boss? fix while you wait for your DVD of the complete first season to arrive.
Judith Light and Tony Danza | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Image
Who’s the Boss? starred Tony Danza as Tony Micelli, the housekeeper for the Bowers. Tony’s flirtations with Angela Bower (Judith Light) became one of TV’s all time will they or won’t theys. Along the way, Tony dispensed wisdom to his daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano) and Angela’s son, Jonathan (Danny Pintauro). Here are five shows you might also like if...
Judith Light and Tony Danza | ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Image
Who’s the Boss? starred Tony Danza as Tony Micelli, the housekeeper for the Bowers. Tony’s flirtations with Angela Bower (Judith Light) became one of TV’s all time will they or won’t theys. Along the way, Tony dispensed wisdom to his daughter, Samantha (Alyssa Milano) and Angela’s son, Jonathan (Danny Pintauro). Here are five shows you might also like if...
- 3/24/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
In 1988 Tom Cruise was arguably the biggest star in the world. Top Gun came out in 1986 and was the year’s top-grossing movie. It wasn’t only a hit – it was a cultural phenomenon, and Cruise became a rare kind of movie star. He was a sex symbol for the ladies, but the guys liked him too. Speaking personally, having been born in 1981, I vividly remember owning the VHS tape of Top Gun and playing it on a loop. Cruise was my first concept of a movie star; to kids like me, he was like a cool Big Brother-type figure. He was the guy we all wanted to be with him riding motorcycles, rocking fantastic hair and an attitude which was never too threatening while blasting awesome 80s rock music and having the girls go crazy for him. He was the man, and if any movie ever cemented his big-screen stardom,...
- 3/19/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
The NBC comedy Cheers was Ted Danson’s big break. He’s been on several hit shows since, but still, 11 years on Cheers is hard to top. Fortunately, Danson said he never felt typecast by Sam Malone after Cheers ended. That’s thanks in part to two big reasons.
Rhea Perlman and Ted Danson | NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Danson was a guest on the Wtf with Marc Maron podcast on March 11, 2018 promoting The Good Place Season 2. Addressing his storied career, Danson attributed his creative freedom to two sources.
Ted Danson didn’t play the wacky role on ‘Cheers’
They say a bartender is everybody’s therapist. Sam was the bartender, whether he owned Cheers for the first five seasons or worked for Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) the latter six. As long as there were characters like Norm (George Wendt), Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Carla (Rhea Perlman) around Sam,...
Rhea Perlman and Ted Danson | NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Danson was a guest on the Wtf with Marc Maron podcast on March 11, 2018 promoting The Good Place Season 2. Addressing his storied career, Danson attributed his creative freedom to two sources.
Ted Danson didn’t play the wacky role on ‘Cheers’
They say a bartender is everybody’s therapist. Sam was the bartender, whether he owned Cheers for the first five seasons or worked for Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) the latter six. As long as there were characters like Norm (George Wendt), Cliff (John Ratzenberger), Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Carla (Rhea Perlman) around Sam,...
- 1/29/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Whenever the NBC comedy Cheers had to replace an actor, the new actor overlapped with the rest of the cast. After the death of Nicholas Colasanto, Woody Harrelson became a regular. Even after Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) broke up with Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), Frasier remained at the bar. Kirstie Alley joined Cheers in season 6 after Long left, and they never met, until the series finale.
L-r: Shelley Long, Ted Danson, and Kirstie Alley | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Long returned as Diane for the Cheers series finale. She even suggested some of her own ideas for why Diane never called Sam Malone (Ted Danson) after she left. The writers included some, but for Ken Levine, the big worry was the meeting of Alley and Long.
Shelley Long handed ‘Cheers’ off to Kirstie Alley
The first five seasons of Cheers were all about Sam and Diane. Would they end up together or not?...
L-r: Shelley Long, Ted Danson, and Kirstie Alley | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Long returned as Diane for the Cheers series finale. She even suggested some of her own ideas for why Diane never called Sam Malone (Ted Danson) after she left. The writers included some, but for Ken Levine, the big worry was the meeting of Alley and Long.
Shelley Long handed ‘Cheers’ off to Kirstie Alley
The first five seasons of Cheers were all about Sam and Diane. Would they end up together or not?...
- 1/28/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
When a film or a television show is well-written, even characters who never appear on-screen can cast a long shadow. Think of all the titles where the titular character is nothing but a memory. There are also horror films where the frightening monster remains offscreen but terrifies the viewer nonetheless. In television sitcoms, the notion of the unseen character often becomes an amusing gag. Some viewers love this narrative trick for its hilarity or sinister abilities whereas others hate it.
By dangling these characters out of reach, film and television writers toy with our desire to see more -- forcing viewers to use their imaginations and envision what these individuals look like and who they are. Whether you love this trope or hate it, it's one you're bound to encounter now and then. To better understand how this practice has endured, here's a handy list of some of the most...
By dangling these characters out of reach, film and television writers toy with our desire to see more -- forcing viewers to use their imaginations and envision what these individuals look like and who they are. Whether you love this trope or hate it, it's one you're bound to encounter now and then. To better understand how this practice has endured, here's a handy list of some of the most...
- 1/23/2023
- by Kira Deshler
- Slash Film
What makes “Cheers” so special? It’s right there in the opening song: you want to go where everybody knows your name. It’s a show about camaraderie, relationships, and above all, shooting the shit. The more you watch “Cheers,” the more you feel like you just hung out with your best friends.
Before “Cheers,” most sitcoms took place in someone’s house or workplace. Here was a show set at a bar where most people were just having fun with their buddies. It made a statement that seems obvious now but was revolutionary at the time: one’s social life is equally as important as one’s familial or professional lives. The gang at Cheers, as they became known, was a motley group of characters: ladies man and recovering alcoholic Sam Malone (Ted Danson) was baffled by his feelings for the egotistical academic Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Carla Tortelli...
Before “Cheers,” most sitcoms took place in someone’s house or workplace. Here was a show set at a bar where most people were just having fun with their buddies. It made a statement that seems obvious now but was revolutionary at the time: one’s social life is equally as important as one’s familial or professional lives. The gang at Cheers, as they became known, was a motley group of characters: ladies man and recovering alcoholic Sam Malone (Ted Danson) was baffled by his feelings for the egotistical academic Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Carla Tortelli...
- 1/10/2023
- by Kristina Grosspietsch
- Indiewire
Nothing good happens after 2 a.m. — unless you're finishing a "How I Met Your Mother" marathon. The series remains laugh-until-you-cry binge-able years after its final episode and I'm not surprised. "Himym" helped redefine the sitcom with its flexible storytelling, deep comedic tool chest, and ability to define the undefinable moments of our lives. The show dove head first into woo girls, the bro code, the lemon law, and the sexless innkeeper. We've all had notions of concepts like these but had never seen them brought to life quite as "Himym" did it.
As soon as you hit play, the opening theme delivers a bubbly warmth. Bob Saget settles you in with his familiar voice. The antics kick off immediately and don't let up until Marshall (Jason Segel) forgives Lily (Alyson Hannigan) or Robin (Cobie Smulders) forgives Ted (Josh Radnor) or Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) roams the streets naked looking for a suit.
As soon as you hit play, the opening theme delivers a bubbly warmth. Bob Saget settles you in with his familiar voice. The antics kick off immediately and don't let up until Marshall (Jason Segel) forgives Lily (Alyson Hannigan) or Robin (Cobie Smulders) forgives Ted (Josh Radnor) or Barney (Neil Patrick Harris) roams the streets naked looking for a suit.
- 1/5/2023
- by Brendan Knapp
- Slash Film
Frasier Crane is a gift that has kept on giving for Kelsey Grammer. The character was originally created as yet another way of driving a wedge between star-crossed lovers Sam Malone and Diane Chambers on Cheers, and the audience, naturally, was supposed to root for Sam. But a funny thing happened — viewers fell in love with the Frasier Crane character. Not only did the character stay with Cheers until the very end of the show, but he also got his own spin-off series, Frasier. All told, Grammer played Frasier Crane on television for 20 seasons … and he’s not done yet. There’s a reboot currently in production, so there will be at least another 10 episodes, with possibly more to come if the reboot is successful. For his part, Grammer looks at Frasier as the role he was born to play, and he told us there are similar arcs running through...
- 12/29/2022
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
On December 5, actress Kirstie Alley’s children announced their mother died following a short battle with cancer. Shortly after, Alley’s former costar Ted Danson released a heartfelt statement praising her as “hysterically funny” with a “heart of gold.”
Danson famously played Sam Malone on all 11 seasons of “Cheers,” one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. Alley joined the show in Season 6 as Rebecca Howe, the new owner of the titular bar and a neurotic foil for Sam, as a replacement for the departed female lead Shelley Long. Alley quickly developed her own identity on the series and won an Emmy in 1991 for the role. In his statement, Danson remembered working with her, calling her performance both funny and moving.
“I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an old episode of ‘Cheers.’ It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes to Kirstie,...
Danson famously played Sam Malone on all 11 seasons of “Cheers,” one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. Alley joined the show in Season 6 as Rebecca Howe, the new owner of the titular bar and a neurotic foil for Sam, as a replacement for the departed female lead Shelley Long. Alley quickly developed her own identity on the series and won an Emmy in 1991 for the role. In his statement, Danson remembered working with her, calling her performance both funny and moving.
“I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an old episode of ‘Cheers.’ It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes to Kirstie,...
- 12/6/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Kirstie Alley’s castmates on the long-running sitcom Cheers fondly remembered their coworker and friend as “brilliant,” “unique and wonderful,” and more following her death from cancer at the age of 71.
As People reports, the show’s lead Ted Danson (who played bar owner Sam Malone) noted in a statement that the day Alley died, he was on a plane doing something he rarely does: watching old episodes of Cheers. Danson described the episode as one where Tom Berenger’s character, a plumber named Don Santry, repeatedly proposes to Alley’s Rebecca Howe,...
As People reports, the show’s lead Ted Danson (who played bar owner Sam Malone) noted in a statement that the day Alley died, he was on a plane doing something he rarely does: watching old episodes of Cheers. Danson described the episode as one where Tom Berenger’s character, a plumber named Don Santry, repeatedly proposes to Alley’s Rebecca Howe,...
- 12/6/2022
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
It was an impossible job. Nobody could do it. Few would even want to try.
Kirstie Alley pulled it off.
This was the fall of 1987. Shelley Long had just left Cheers, the wildly popular, influential NBC sitcom that was built entirely on the scorching, hilarious romantic chemistry between Long’s pretentious Diane Chambers and Ted Danson’s cocky Sam Malone. The show had made Long into a big enough star that she felt she could leave the bar and hit it big in movies. A film career didn’t quite...
Kirstie Alley pulled it off.
This was the fall of 1987. Shelley Long had just left Cheers, the wildly popular, influential NBC sitcom that was built entirely on the scorching, hilarious romantic chemistry between Long’s pretentious Diane Chambers and Ted Danson’s cocky Sam Malone. The show had made Long into a big enough star that she felt she could leave the bar and hit it big in movies. A film career didn’t quite...
- 12/6/2022
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
Ted Danson is paying tribute to his former Cheers leading lady Kirstie Alley, whose death from cancer was announced on Monday.
“I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an old episode of Cheers,” Danson said in a statement to our sister site Deadline. “It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes to Kirstie, who keeps saying no, even though she desperately wants to say yes. Kirstie was truly brilliant in it. Her ability to play a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown was both moving and hysterically funny. She made me...
“I was on a plane today and did something I rarely do. I watched an old episode of Cheers,” Danson said in a statement to our sister site Deadline. “It was the episode where Tom Berenger proposes to Kirstie, who keeps saying no, even though she desperately wants to say yes. Kirstie was truly brilliant in it. Her ability to play a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown was both moving and hysterically funny. She made me...
- 12/6/2022
- by Michael Ausiello
- TVLine.com
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