After Nicholas Colasanto fell ill and later passed away, the show said that Coach was out of state renewing his driver’s license for a few episodes. He was then randomly back (they actually filmed the episodes out of order) for a couple of episodes.

And then in the final episode of the season, they used a previously unused cold open featuring the Coach as a sort of “in memory” thing. That was the last time continuity wise that character was seen on the show.

First episode of season four introduced the character Woody Boyd, who enters Cheers wanting to meet Coach as they have been pen-pals. Sam then mentions that Coach had passed away a couple of months back.

I guess they didn't expect it. Same on the West Wing, when the chief of staff had a heart attack and died.

The entire first episode of season 4 of Riverdale was dedicated to Luke Perry who was playing Archie's father. To be honest with you, I found that episode to be dark, long and boring.

For that reason, I believe what they did on Cheers is acceptable. Compared to Riverdale which is a drama series, Cheers is a comedy and can't allow itself to be that dark and serious for an entire episode.

It's a shame, as Coach was one of the best characters on the show too. Woody was a decent replacement, but as far as the bartenders go, you just can't beat Coach.

It's a shame, as Coach was one of the best characters on the show too. Woody was a decent replacement, but as far as the bartenders go, you just can't beat Coach.

I sometimes feel they went too far with coach's mental problem like when he answers the phone and yells "Is there an Ernie Pantusso here?" and Sam replies "That's you, coach". Ok, funny, but you can't be that lost to not know your own name.

Colasanto's passing allowed the creation of a Coach 2.0 with Woody who was much more balanced. They still wanted someone dumb enough to create jokes with while having a character intelligent enough to have conversations. I'm glad his character appeared on the show as I prefer Woody over Coach.

I sometimes feel they went too far with coach's mental problem like when he answers the phone and yells "Is there an Ernie Pantusso here?" and Sam replies "That's you, coach". Ok, funny, but you can't be that lost to not know your own name.

It was halfway through the first episode. I'm sure they just establishing that Coach had a proper name.

Coach received a very sweet little sendoff on the show, in an exchange between Sam and Diane. The last 30 seconds here:

https://youtu.be/dyhX0WdMpzg

It was halfway through the first episode. I'm sure they just establishing that Coach had a proper name.

Coach received a very sweet little sendoff on the show, in an exchange between Sam and Diane. The last 30 seconds here:

https://youtu.be/dyhX0WdMpzg

WOW - very sincere good bye to Coach - Diane is so touching

That was not just a good-bye to Coach. It was also a heartfelt goodbye to Nicholas Colasanto. When Diane says how much she misses coach, you can clearly feel how much Shelley loved and missed Nick. Ted too. It gets me on every rewatch.

The last time through watching the series again, I think the first episode after coach was gone- or maybe the first episode of season 4- Carla sits at the piano (I think upset about something) and the picture of Geronimo was in the shot. They hardly ever used the piano on the show, so maybe it was a deliberate shot to honor Colasanto.

in a interview Sam mentions that the Geronimo picture was meant to pay respect to Coach

Colasanto died because of alcoholism-related heart disease.

Ted mentioned that Nick's memory together with his ability to learn lines was fading noticeably as a result of arteriosclerosis.

NBC wouldn't have been able to procure insurance on Nick and would have had to let him go even if he had not died when he did.