By Kayla DeKraker
When the hit sitcom CHEERS premiered in 1982, critics loved the show, but viewers at home didn’t initially follow suit.
During a discussion on the “Dinner’s On Me” podcast, CHEERS star Ted Danson revealed that the sitcom was dead last in the ratings in beginning, which a left the cast worried that the network would pull the plug.
“Everybody around us…the writers, everybody was so positive. Don’t pay attention, just keep doing it,” Danson recalled. But even that encouragement couldn’t hide how poorly the sitcom was performing.
However, since there were no other shows to fill the time slot, CHEERS remained.
“They later said, oh, no, no. We weren’t brilliant programmers,” he explained, adding, “We had nothing to replace CHEERS with, or we would have.”
Related: CHEERS Cast And Crew Celebrate 30th Anniversary
Eventually, the tables turned, and the sitcom ended up being a hit, spanning 11 seasons and winning 78 awards and 182 nominations. It ran from 1982-1993.
“In the beginning, we were just desperate to get — we had 13 on-the-air episodes, and there was a possibility of nine after that,” the show’s creator Les Charles told TODAY in 2023. “And we were just praying for those nine episodes, we’re just hoping we could get a full season in. So it looked better on our resume that we went 24 episodes.”
He added, “And I don’t think we ever thought — I thought if we could get five years in, I’m gonna feel really good about this show. I had no concept in the world, this could be the success it was. And every year it went, I was more and more surprised. It’s a long time. Eleven years.”
CHEERS ended after 11 years when Danson left the show to explore other opportunities. It is possible it could’ve gone on for many years later if he had stayed. Screen Rant noted, “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.”
Danson credits it for launching his career.
“Everything I’ve done is because of CHEERS,” he told Parade in 2016. “I walk around, and people smile at me because they’re remembering something funny that I was part of on CHEERS. I’m forever grateful. It was an amazing 11 years of my life.”
Danson’s acting career continues today. Currently he stars in MAN ON THE INSIDE, which has been renewed for a third season.
Part of Movieguide®’s review of MAN ON THE INSIDE reads, “The first three episodes of season one of MAN ON THE INSIDE have an undefinable charm, much like its leading man, Ted Danson. The series has strong production values, including good direction, cinematography, and supporting roles. The overall worldview is one of romanticism with some biblical moral elements, with an emphasis on Charles finding his purpose after losing his wife a year before.”
CHEERS’ 11 seasons are available to stream on Paramount+.
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