Kevin Nealon for the Ted Danson character?!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocolate Moose · 06-28-2026, 01:57 PM

He said in one of his podcasts that he auditioned. Can you imagine how different the show would have been?!!!

icecream · 06-28-2026, 04:27 PM

Yikes! If Kevin Nealon had starred instead of Ted Danson, Cheers would have been a lot shorter lived than 11 seasons. We probably wouldn't have gotten the Frasier spin-off either, or Wings from the same producers. It was Fred Dreyer I had heard was the first pick before they landed Ted.

TMC · 06-28-2026, 10:33 PM

A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT

Kevin Nealon was called back to audition for Sam Malone five times. Glen Charles and James Burrows said to each other, "We're not gonna get any closer than this."

TMC · 06-28-2026, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecream

Yikes! If Kevin Nealon had starred instead of Ted Danson, Cheers would have been a lot shorter lived than 11 seasons. We probably wouldn't have gotten the Frasier spin-off either, or Wings from the same producers. It was Fred Dreyer I had heard was the first pick before they landed Ted.

The "Fred Dryer almost playing Sam Malone" story comes up at the 2:20 mark.

Chocolate Moose · 06-29-2026, 01:28 PM

Oh, wow.

Glad I posted!

Thanks all!

06-28-2026, 01:57 PM	#1
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	Kevin Nealon for the Ted Danson character?!!! He said in one of his podcasts that he auditioned. Can you imagine how different the show would have been?!!!
	__________________ How long a minute is, depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on.

06-28-2026, 04:27 PM	#2
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,780	Yikes! If Kevin Nealon had starred instead of Ted Danson, Cheers would have been a lot shorter lived than 11 seasons. We probably wouldn't have gotten the Frasier spin-off either, or Wings from the same producers. It was Fred Dreyer I had heard was the first pick before they landed Ted.
	__________________ Top 200 TV Shows https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...14#post6225214 Top 150 Movies https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...84#post6175384 Top 1100 Scripted TV Characters https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=493306 Top Rookie TV Shows by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=365017 Top Movies by Calendar Year https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards...d.php?t=473533

06-28-2026, 10:33 PM	#3
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 126,282	A post shared by on Jan 01, 2022 at 12:00pm PDT Kevin Nealon was called back to audition for Sam Malone five times. Glen Charles and James Burrows said to each other, "We're not gonna get any closer than this."

06-29-2026, 01:28 PM	#5
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	Oh, wow. Glad I posted! Thanks all!