Charles Esten Looks Back on "Cheers"

[JamesG]

Memories From the Set: "Nashville's" Charles Esten Recalls His Stint on "Cheers"
by Kimberly Roots
June 14, 2013


Who knew all it would take was a five o’clock shadow and a low-slung guitar to take Charles Esten from “Hey, it’s that guy!” to “Ooh, it’s that guy!”?

In his one season as "Nashville‘s" soulful, sometimes sober Deacon Claybourne, Esten has earned heaps of acclaim and bunches of fans. But the breakout role is hardly his first. Or second. Or 20th.



In fact, Esten has worked steadily since 1993, often on TV’s biggest hits but almost never for more than a handful of episodes.

“I got these small roles on great, iconic shows that let me get my feet wet, let me learn so much,” he recalls, laughing. “I was in over my head in every single one of them, but somehow I got the role and didn’t ruin it too badly.”

At TVLine’s request, Esten offered up behind-the-scenes insights on several of his pre-"Nashville" performances.







"Cheers":

Esten's first big job was on one of the most popular sitcoms ever, though at the time he had no idea guest gigs like this would become the (wait for it) Norm!

“I got to walk through the door in Cheers. Even then, that blew me away. Like, who gets to do this?” he says. “It might've been the last season.”

It was. Esten played a Marine whose surprise appearance at a bar-set party provides the punchline for one of Cliff's harebrained schemes.

http://tvline.com/2013/06/14/charles..._esten_cheers/

[Johnny be good!]

That's awesome.

[catlover79]

Great article!! I've always liked Mr. Esten - going back to his Whose Line is it Anyway days, when he went by his nickname of Chip.

[Johnny be good!]

Hey, I remember that!