interesting story for Shelley fans - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

orourkefan12 · 01-04-2003, 05:22 PM

I can't post the actual article because of the no html rule but here is the TRANSCRIPTION.

Shelley Long is coming back to Cheers -- and jealous Kirstie Alley is steaming because she doesn't want to play second fiddle to the bar belle she was supposed to replace.
"It's enough to make me scream!" Kirstie griped to a friend.

The show's star Ted Danson convinced Shelley to return after ending a bitter feud that helped drive her away. Cheers writers are already working on scripts for her and she'll start taping the show in March, say insiders.

Shelley has signed for three episodes this season and she'll return as Ted Danson's full-time co-star next season.

Shelley's spokeswoman Valerie Van Gelder confirmed that the actress is going back to the show and said, "Shelley has missed Cheers enormously."

Although the blonde actress left the show almost two years ago to do feature films, her movie career hasn't taken off. Her only hit was "Outrageous Fortune," with Bette Midler -- and many give credit to Bette for the movie's success.

But Shelley's decision to return to Cheers still floored Hollywood insiders because they knew that Danson and Long, who played a cozy TV couple, were anything but cozy offscreen.

"By the time Shelley left the show, she and Ted weren't even speaking," said a source close to the show.

"Since then Ted and the studio have been getting tons of mail telling them they should bring back Shelley because they miss the sexual tension between the two stars."

And after looking at old tapes of the show, Ted agreed.

"The chemistry I had with Shelley was great," he told an insider. "It made the whole show come alive in a way I haven't been able to repeat since those days.

"I'm going to swallow my pride and ask her back."

So the handsome hunk surprised his former co-star with a phone call -- and they both buried the hatchet.

"When Ted asked me to come back, I told him we'd have to work around my movie commitments," Shelley recalled to a friend.

"He told me that would be no problem and they'd do whatever was necessary to make it possible."

Ted invited Shelley to a February 1 screening of his latest movie Cousins at Paramount studios and when she showed up Ted's friends couldn't believe their eyes.

"We were all shocked when she strolled into the studio, walked right up to Ted and gave him a big hug," said the close source. "After the screening Ted and Shelley talked for a long time about cast members and people on the crew.

"He asked her if she had considered his offer to come back to Cheers to do some episodes this season -- and come back as a regular next season.

"She said she would really like that -- and they actually began talking about a possible story line!"

Added a pal who was at the screening, "Ted told Shelley that he had already spoken to the producers and there was no problem working out a deal for her to return."

Said Shelley's friend, "Shelley confided to me that she'll do what ever juggling has to be done with her schedules and she's thrilled that she and Ted are pals again.

"'I love working with those guys,' she told me. 'It's like going home again.' "

But at least one person back on the home front isn't thrilled about Shelley's return.

"I'm worried sick -- everything I've worked at for two years is thrown out of the window!" an upset Kirstie told the close source.

Although insiders say Danson assured Kirstie that there are no plans to get rid of her, she does not like the idea of working alongside the woman she was supposed to replace.

"Instead of being the main female star, I'll have to share the spotlight with Shelley -- whom the fans already love -- and watch as Ted and Shelley put their romance back together!", Kirstie complained to the close source.

"I know the ratings will go right through the roof, but I can't help feeling disappointed, hurt and angry."

"It's almost like Shelley is an ex-wife coming back into the picture. I feel like 'the other woman' -- and there's nothing I can do about it!"

Barbara Sternig

Cheersfan4life · 01-04-2003, 05:31 PM

Thanks for posting that, but where did you find that? It sounds like something that would have been in like the Enquirer

Thanks though! It was interesting...

PaulaAbdulFan · 01-04-2003, 05:36 PM

i dont belive it

Cheersfan4life · 01-04-2003, 05:37 PM

Wow, that made you really mad! Why?

PaulaAbdulFan · 01-04-2003, 06:55 PM

it didnt really make me mad but some of the stuff in it i didnt really belive

Cheersfan4life · 01-04-2003, 07:07 PM

Yeah I don't think it is true! You know most stuff is lies when it says things like "a source close to Shelley says"! You can't believe that stuff!

PaulaAbdulFan · 01-04-2003, 07:32 PM

ya so true! it totally sounds like its from the enquirer!

orourkefan12 · 01-04-2003, 08:32 PM

i dunno what kind of article it is. you can view it if you want. sry u didn't like it i just thought it was interesting. http://www.boomspeed.com/ashleylaura...longisback.jpg

PaulaAbdulFan · 01-04-2003, 09:05 PM

oh, nothing against you, it was just a gossipy kind of article.
but anyway, thanks for the link.

Cheersfan4life · 01-04-2003, 09:09 PM

That's what I said, it sounds like an enquirer article. Hey Bailey, I noticed you edited that first post and just put "i don't believe it"

PaulaAbdulFan · 01-04-2003, 09:13 PM

ya i edited it cause i didnt want it to sound like i was furious or something! didnt know you would notice!

trinity2084 · 01-04-2003, 11:12 PM

I've never heard anything about her being offered to return around that time, to say nothing a deal being anywhere near completion or being confirmed by her agent, and a storyline being written...

theasylum · 01-05-2003, 08:15 PM

The article is from The National Enquirer of 21 feb 89. An almost identical article appeared in The Globe of 21 mar 89. Long has confirmed she had talks with Cheers producers for a return.

Cheersfan4life · 01-05-2003, 08:20 PM

I knew it was National Enquirer! It sounds very much like something that would be in there! Thanks for setting us straight!

Janice · 01-05-2003, 08:56 PM

I think Shelley Long should have returned. The show was never the same without her. Her film career fizzled, so in a sense, she needed the show as much as the show needed her.
Sorry Rebecca fans, but everyone I know feels this way. I watched Cheers during its original run and stopped watching shortly after Diane's departure.

01-04-2003, 05:22 PM	#1
orourkefan12 heather is #1 Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2003 Posts: 29	interesting story for Shelley fans I can't post the actual article because of the no html rule but here is the TRANSCRIPTION. Shelley Long is coming back to Cheers -- and jealous Kirstie Alley is steaming because she doesn't want to play second fiddle to the bar belle she was supposed to replace. "It's enough to make me scream!" Kirstie griped to a friend. The show's star Ted Danson convinced Shelley to return after ending a bitter feud that helped drive her away. Cheers writers are already working on scripts for her and she'll start taping the show in March, say insiders. Shelley has signed for three episodes this season and she'll return as Ted Danson's full-time co-star next season. Shelley's spokeswoman Valerie Van Gelder confirmed that the actress is going back to the show and said, "Shelley has missed Cheers enormously." Although the blonde actress left the show almost two years ago to do feature films, her movie career hasn't taken off. Her only hit was "Outrageous Fortune," with Bette Midler -- and many give credit to Bette for the movie's success. But Shelley's decision to return to Cheers still floored Hollywood insiders because they knew that Danson and Long, who played a cozy TV couple, were anything but cozy offscreen. "By the time Shelley left the show, she and Ted weren't even speaking," said a source close to the show. "Since then Ted and the studio have been getting tons of mail telling them they should bring back Shelley because they miss the sexual tension between the two stars." And after looking at old tapes of the show, Ted agreed. "The chemistry I had with Shelley was great," he told an insider. "It made the whole show come alive in a way I haven't been able to repeat since those days. "I'm going to swallow my pride and ask her back." So the handsome hunk surprised his former co-star with a phone call -- and they both buried the hatchet. "When Ted asked me to come back, I told him we'd have to work around my movie commitments," Shelley recalled to a friend. "He told me that would be no problem and they'd do whatever was necessary to make it possible." Ted invited Shelley to a February 1 screening of his latest movie Cousins at Paramount studios and when she showed up Ted's friends couldn't believe their eyes. "We were all shocked when she strolled into the studio, walked right up to Ted and gave him a big hug," said the close source. "After the screening Ted and Shelley talked for a long time about cast members and people on the crew. "He asked her if she had considered his offer to come back to Cheers to do some episodes this season -- and come back as a regular next season. "She said she would really like that -- and they actually began talking about a possible story line!" Added a pal who was at the screening, "Ted told Shelley that he had already spoken to the producers and there was no problem working out a deal for her to return." Said Shelley's friend, "Shelley confided to me that she'll do what ever juggling has to be done with her schedules and she's thrilled that she and Ted are pals again. "'I love working with those guys,' she told me. 'It's like going home again.' " But at least one person back on the home front isn't thrilled about Shelley's return. "I'm worried sick -- everything I've worked at for two years is thrown out of the window!" an upset Kirstie told the close source. Although insiders say Danson assured Kirstie that there are no plans to get rid of her, she does not like the idea of working alongside the woman she was supposed to replace. "Instead of being the main female star, I'll have to share the spotlight with Shelley -- whom the fans already love -- and watch as Ted and Shelley put their romance back together!", Kirstie complained to the close source. "I know the ratings will go right through the roof, but I can't help feeling disappointed, hurt and angry." "It's almost like Shelley is an ex-wife coming back into the picture. I feel like 'the other woman' -- and there's nothing I can do about it!" Barbara Sternig
	__________________ Heather o' rourke 1975-1988

01-04-2003, 05:36 PM	#3
PaulaAbdulFan ¤Paula CoweLL¤ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: In Paula Abdul land Listening to Straight up! and waiting for season 3 of American Idol to come on! Posts: 808	i dont belive it
	__________________ ..::::..Bailey!!..::::.. Last edited by PaulaAbdulFan; 01-04-2003 at 07:31 PM.

01-04-2003, 11:12 PM	#12
trinity2084 elevate fromthe norm Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 29, 2002 Posts: 47	I've never heard anything about her being offered to return around that time, to say nothing a deal being anywhere near completion or being confirmed by her agent, and a storyline being written...
	__________________ Sir, I will have you know that I cannot be bought, and I cannot be threatened, but you put the two together and I'm your man. If you are confronted by Kirstie Alley, speak in quiet tones, and do not look directly into her eyes.

01-05-2003, 08:15 PM	#13
theasylum Member Forum Cub Join Date: Jan 03, 2003 Posts: 2	The article is from The National Enquirer of 21 feb 89. An almost identical article appeared in The Globe of 21 mar 89. Long has confirmed she had talks with Cheers producers for a return.
	__________________ ~ andrew, chief inmate, the shelley long asylum

01-04-2003, 05:31 PM	#2
Cheersfan4life I love Ted Danson Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2002 Location: Danville, IL Posts: 10	Thanks for posting that, but where did you find that? It sounds like something that would have been in like the Enquirer Thanks though! It was interesting...

01-04-2003, 05:37 PM	#4
Cheersfan4life I love Ted Danson Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2002 Location: Danville, IL Posts: 10	Wow, that made you really mad! Why?

01-04-2003, 06:55 PM	#5
PaulaAbdulFan ¤Paula CoweLL¤ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: In Paula Abdul land Listening to Straight up! and waiting for season 3 of American Idol to come on! Posts: 808	it didnt really make me mad but some of the stuff in it i didnt really belive

01-04-2003, 07:07 PM	#6
Cheersfan4life I love Ted Danson Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2002 Location: Danville, IL Posts: 10	Yeah I don't think it is true! You know most stuff is lies when it says things like "a source close to Shelley says"! You can't believe that stuff!

01-04-2003, 07:32 PM	#7
PaulaAbdulFan ¤Paula CoweLL¤ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: In Paula Abdul land Listening to Straight up! and waiting for season 3 of American Idol to come on! Posts: 808	ya so true! it totally sounds like its from the enquirer!

01-04-2003, 08:32 PM	#8
orourkefan12 heather is #1 Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 03, 2003 Posts: 29	i dunno what kind of article it is. you can view it if you want. sry u didn't like it i just thought it was interesting. http://www.boomspeed.com/ashleylaura...longisback.jpg

01-04-2003, 09:05 PM	#9
PaulaAbdulFan ¤Paula CoweLL¤ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: In Paula Abdul land Listening to Straight up! and waiting for season 3 of American Idol to come on! Posts: 808	oh, nothing against you, it was just a gossipy kind of article. but anyway, thanks for the link.

01-04-2003, 09:09 PM	#10
Cheersfan4life I love Ted Danson Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2002 Location: Danville, IL Posts: 10	That's what I said, it sounds like an enquirer article. Hey Bailey, I noticed you edited that first post and just put "i don't believe it"

01-04-2003, 09:13 PM	#11
PaulaAbdulFan ¤Paula CoweLL¤ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: In Paula Abdul land Listening to Straight up! and waiting for season 3 of American Idol to come on! Posts: 808	ya i edited it cause i didnt want it to sound like i was furious or something! didnt know you would notice!

01-05-2003, 08:20 PM	#14
Cheersfan4life I love Ted Danson Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 29, 2002 Location: Danville, IL Posts: 10	I knew it was National Enquirer! It sounds very much like something that would be in there! Thanks for setting us straight!

01-05-2003, 08:56 PM	#15
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I think Shelley Long should have returned. The show was never the same without her. Her film career fizzled, so in a sense, she needed the show as much as the show needed her. Sorry Rebecca fans, but everyone I know feels this way. I watched Cheers during its original run and stopped watching shortly after Diane's departure.