Shelley Long should always be mocked and asked about her "superstar film career".

Shelley Long should always be mocked and asked about her "superstar film career".

No, she shouldn't be mocked. You do nothing, you get nothing so she stepped out of a very successful show to attempt to move forward while she's at the top of her career. Whether it worked or not, I find that to be a very courageous move, one that should be respected.

It was the right choice for Shelley at the time, even though hind sight proved that it wasn't a good move.

The cracks were already showing in the plotline.

More important, subsequent sitcoms have shown that trying to sustain the on again/off again stuff past five years just turns a show tedious, if not actually irritating. Forty years later, Sam and Diane are still the best example of the type, and they wouldn't be that if Long had just hung around forever.

Shelley Long should always be mocked and asked about her "superstar film career".

What is the matter with you?

What is the matter with you?

Shelley made an arrogant and foolish decision. She's been mocked for it for a very long time - and not just by me.

Shelley Long should always be mocked and asked about her "superstar film career".

Somebody on Reddit recently said (https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/zp2pgu/shelley_long_leaving_cheers_saved_the_show/) that Shelley Long leaving after Season 5 and Kirstie Alley then coming in may have actually saved the show. By Season 5, the Sam and Diane arc had grown tired and while Shelley Long started out as the show's MVP, her character did become more redundant and unlikable. A lot of it was also because a chunk of Diane's lines were now given to Frasier.