I know I'm several years late, lol...

So I've probably flipped the channel over Cheers a bunch of times in its syndication over the years, and never really gave it a chance. A few weeks ago, they aired the pilot, and I started watching and was HOOKED!!!! This show is HILLARIOUS!!! And I love the relationship between Sam and Diane!!! I'm so sad that Hallmark only plays it once late at night, and I'm sorry I took the show for granted earlier!! What a gem!!! I even visited Cheers when I was in Boston, but didn't really appreciate it then.

Anyway, I have to say that the Sam/Diane relationship is one of the most interesting I've seen on TV!!! I love watching how their personalities clash!!!

So my question is, why did Shelly Long leave Cheers after only 5 years?? Was there a problem on set or a reason for her leaving? I spoiled the series for myself on TV.com, so I know she returns for the series finale, but didn't come back since her 1987 departure. I would've liked to have seen their relationship pan out over the series. I haven't seen Kirstie Allie yet, so maybe I'll like her, but there's something about Ted Danson and Shelly Long's chemistry that makes it so much more enjoyable!!! :)

Plus, Ted's a stud lol!!!! :lol: :lol: ;) I find myself so drawn to Sam Malone and his charm!!! <3

Shelley made it clear from the beginning that she only wanted to do 5 seasons. She didn't want to do television, she wanted to do films. Ironically, as many have pointed out, the biggest success she had with films were with The Brady Bunch movies (based on something she strived to get away from...TV!)

She also appears in the Cheers 200th Anniversary special. I love the Sam/Diane relationship as well. The show takes on more of a group dynmaic during the Rebecca years, which is enjoyable in a different way. It is a series that is truly great from the beginning to the end. As much as I liked Diane, it is probably her departure from the storylines that allowed the show to stay so fresh as the focus was redirected on Sam "regaining" his life, the Rebecca character, and stronger development of the rest of the cast.

I lucked out and got into the show back around 03/04 when it aired multiple times a day between Nick@Nite/Spike TV/TV Land. It certainly is frustrating when you get into a show and it is hard to catch. Many of the episodes however, I have watched for the first time on DVD.

And Shelly's ego was too big for her britches. She never did get along well with the rest of the cast (very much like her Diane character) and thought she could do better in movies. Well, we all know how that went (summoning the spirit of David Caruso) ;) :lol:

Glad to hear you are enjoying it!! :cheers:

I read somewhere that Shelley was difficult to work with, so I was wondering if there was a feud or something that caused her to leave.
Thanks for all the info guys!!!!
I'm just so sorry I passed this show up so many times before!!! :wave: It's always been there, but I never gave it a chance...just goes to show you...you never know...

I actually have a Cheers t-shirt and shot glass from the bar in Boston (I like collecting different shot glasses lol.) :D

I never watched Fraiser either, but maybe after Cheers...

I hope somebody else picks up the show and starts showing it more frequently than Hallmark, although I don't mind staying up late to watch Cheers!! I quite look forward to it :)

You WILL love Frasier too - but finish Cheers first so you can fully appreciate him on his own in Seattle. ;)

Yah, it wasn't one particular feud or anything, she just thought just was too sexay....:lol:

Cheers is one of my favorite sitcoms- started watching it with my parents when it orginally aired, my parents somewhere lost interest in the show but I continued to watch it through to it's final season. Literally grew up watching the show.
I even remember watching the other Cheers spin-off when it aired- The Tortellis.

I do have a special spot in my heart for Shelley's 1989 flick Troop Beverly Hills because it is a movie my own Girl Scout troop watched together back in the day. Plus Craig T. Nelson (Coach) and Betty Thomas (Hill Street Blues) have major roles as well.

An interesting note is that several years later Shelley Long and Betty Thomas reunited in a movie - except that Betty was the director and Shelley the star of The Brady Bunch Movie (1995). I well remember seeing that at when it first came out in the theater. :D

Cheers has always been a funnie show

Glad you discovered Cheers. It is a classic. Despite some cast changes, never jumped the shark.;)

I'd like to visit the Bull And Finch in Boston- the Tavern on which Cheers was based.

I loved The Brady Bunch Movie!!! It's actually one of my absolute favorites!!! I thought Shelley was dead on as Carol Brady!!!! :D

the show is funny, great, a bit sad sometimes, but that's normal! c'est la vie! (french 4 that's life)