I feel bad for Shelley Long - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Aticineto · 02-21-2018, 02:05 PM

Since getting hooked on Cheers (via Netflix), I have been reading a lot of background information on the show, and I can't help but feel bad for Shelley Long. If I am understanding everything correctly, she was a perfectionist on the set, very meticulous in regard to the scripts, shooting the scenes, her hair and makeup, etc. You can't blame her, as she, and Ted Danson were the main focus of the show.

Unfortunately, her perfectionism, especially talking over every line with the writers (thus making the shooting schedule hours longer) , insisting on a hair and makeup redo after each wardrobe change, caused the major rift between her and the rest of the cast (except Nicholas Colasanto). They were more laid back about she show, and her perfectionism drove them crazy, and they came to dislike her deeply.

I know Shelley was criticized for leaving when she did, but I think that was unfair. McLean Stevenson left MASH aster 3 years, stating that he wanted to be "one of one, not one of six." He wasn't bashed for that, probably because he was more down to earth, and he was on good terms with his cast mates. Don Knotts had left the Andy Griffith Show after 5 years to try his hand at movies, which failed, but he was never criticized either. I think Shelley's reasons for leaving was twofold, she truly felt that she could be a success in movies, and, probably the animosity from the rest of the cast influenced her decision as well. Its funny - she drove them crazy with her perfectionism, and then they were mad that she was leaving, perhaps feeling that the show would not survive.

She did make some good movies, nut really great ones, and that's a shame, as she was/is very talented. Then in 2004 her divorce, and the painkiller overdose, and later, her estrangement from her daughter, its like she can't catch a break. A lot of people did like her recurring role on Modern Family, so that was good. I hope she can come back with a great, successful show in the future.

In recent years, Shelley says she doesn't regret leaving when she did, as she didn't want to keep doing the same story over and over. A decade later, "Friends" did well with the on again/off again Ross and Rachel story for that show's 10 year run, I think Cheers could have done that as well. I do think that Shelley was wrong in not liking the introduction of Frazier, though. Any on going story needs complications, and Kelsey Gramer was great as Frazier.

To her credit, she has never, to my knowledge at least, ever bad mouthed the cast. She did say that one time Ted Danson got angry enough to tell her something, and she wished she had told her sooner. Ted Danson now credits her with putting Cheers on the map, so it is nice to see that she is ongood terms with him and most of the rest of her former cast mates. On the subject of former cast mates, some people rolled their eyes with a statement Rhea Perman made a few years ago when asked about the difficulties on the show. She said it wasn't something she could talk about, and would rather not go there, and that it wasn't worth getting into it at this point. I took that as her being diplomatic about it - that its way in the past, and their is no point in rehashing it.

Just my two cents worth.

'80sSitcoms · 02-21-2018, 02:21 PM

I just wonder if Rhea has made her peace with Shelley's leaving yet. I mean for Pete's sake that was THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO, and the show went on for another 5 seasons; something it surely would not have done had there not been a major cast change with Shelley/Kirstie. So really Rhea should look in retrospect and thank Shelley for leaving.

Chocolate Moose · 02-21-2018, 03:04 PM

Hmmmm

Dunno.

andytaylor47 · 05-11-2018, 08:27 AM

I kind of sort of do as well. I can understand the cast feel animosity towards her from all the attention she was receiving in being a perfectionist, but in a perfect world the actors should go to their bosses and explain their problems they're having with her.

Instead it just built and built. And then to also be horrible about her leaving too is just the ultimate bitch slap. I would have thought that any grudge would have gone long ago being as the show carried on for another six seasons, probably longer than if Long had stayed on. But there you go.

I have to say in my job I work with some real jerks, but I get paid to work there so I just suck it up.

CosmicCharlie · 02-10-2019, 09:14 PM

FWIW - I remember years ago reading that Long said in an interview complaining about Danson often having Bad Breath - lol Maybe she was more of a complainer than a perfectionist - I don't know

02-21-2018, 02:05 PM	#1
Aticineto Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 25, 2003 Posts: 48	I feel bad for Shelley Long Since getting hooked on Cheers (via Netflix), I have been reading a lot of background information on the show, and I can't help but feel bad for Shelley Long. If I am understanding everything correctly, she was a perfectionist on the set, very meticulous in regard to the scripts, shooting the scenes, her hair and makeup, etc. You can't blame her, as she, and Ted Danson were the main focus of the show. Unfortunately, her perfectionism, especially talking over every line with the writers (thus making the shooting schedule hours longer) , insisting on a hair and makeup redo after each wardrobe change, caused the major rift between her and the rest of the cast (except Nicholas Colasanto). They were more laid back about she show, and her perfectionism drove them crazy, and they came to dislike her deeply. I know Shelley was criticized for leaving when she did, but I think that was unfair. McLean Stevenson left MASH aster 3 years, stating that he wanted to be "one of one, not one of six." He wasn't bashed for that, probably because he was more down to earth, and he was on good terms with his cast mates. Don Knotts had left the Andy Griffith Show after 5 years to try his hand at movies, which failed, but he was never criticized either. I think Shelley's reasons for leaving was twofold, she truly felt that she could be a success in movies, and, probably the animosity from the rest of the cast influenced her decision as well. Its funny - she drove them crazy with her perfectionism, and then they were mad that she was leaving, perhaps feeling that the show would not survive. She did make some good movies, nut really great ones, and that's a shame, as she was/is very talented. Then in 2004 her divorce, and the painkiller overdose, and later, her estrangement from her daughter, its like she can't catch a break. A lot of people did like her recurring role on Modern Family, so that was good. I hope she can come back with a great, successful show in the future. In recent years, Shelley says she doesn't regret leaving when she did, as she didn't want to keep doing the same story over and over. A decade later, "Friends" did well with the on again/off again Ross and Rachel story for that show's 10 year run, I think Cheers could have done that as well. I do think that Shelley was wrong in not liking the introduction of Frazier, though. Any on going story needs complications, and Kelsey Gramer was great as Frazier. To her credit, she has never, to my knowledge at least, ever bad mouthed the cast. She did say that one time Ted Danson got angry enough to tell her something, and she wished she had told her sooner. Ted Danson now credits her with putting Cheers on the map, so it is nice to see that she is ongood terms with him and most of the rest of her former cast mates. On the subject of former cast mates, some people rolled their eyes with a statement Rhea Perman made a few years ago when asked about the difficulties on the show. She said it wasn't something she could talk about, and would rather not go there, and that it wasn't worth getting into it at this point. I took that as her being diplomatic about it - that its way in the past, and their is no point in rehashing it. Just my two cents worth.

02-21-2018, 03:04 PM	#3
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	Hmmmm Dunno.
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02-21-2018, 02:21 PM	#2
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	I just wonder if Rhea has made her peace with Shelley's leaving yet. I mean for Pete's sake that was THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO, and the show went on for another 5 seasons; something it surely would not have done had there not been a major cast change with Shelley/Kirstie. So really Rhea should look in retrospect and thank Shelley for leaving.

05-11-2018, 08:27 AM	#4
andytaylor47 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 11, 2018 Location: Staffordshire Posts: 5	I kind of sort of do as well. I can understand the cast feel animosity towards her from all the attention she was receiving in being a perfectionist, but in a perfect world the actors should go to their bosses and explain their problems they're having with her. Instead it just built and built. And then to also be horrible about her leaving too is just the ultimate bitch slap. I would have thought that any grudge would have gone long ago being as the show carried on for another six seasons, probably longer than if Long had stayed on. But there you go. I have to say in my job I work with some real jerks, but I get paid to work there so I just suck it up.

02-10-2019, 09:14 PM	#5
CosmicCharlie Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 14, 2019 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 2,437	FWIW - I remember years ago reading that Long said in an interview complaining about Danson often having Bad Breath - lol Maybe she was more of a complainer than a perfectionist - I don't know