"Here's a little-known fact..." - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Chocoholic · 02-21-2003, 04:26 PM

What are some behind-the-scenes facts that you know of about Cheers? Here are some things I've found at IMDB.com:

Woody's hometown of Hanover, Indiana comes from Hanover College in Indiana, the college that Woody Harrelson attended.

Frasier and Cliff origionally weren't supposed to be series regulars, but they were so well-liked by focus groups that the producers gave them permanent roles on the show.

George Wendt is the only cast member to have appeared in every single episode.

The show was almost cancelled at the end of the first season, but since the president of NBC at the time liked the show, it was given another chance and it became one of the most beloved sitcoms on TV. (I wish current network producers would learn a lesson from this.)

The series finale currently is the 4th most-watched series finale.

Kirstie Alley is the only living Cheers cast member who has yet to appear on Frasier.

Any others?

NORM · 02-21-2003, 06:18 PM

Yeah i knew George was in every ep. But to add on to the fact that the show was almost cancelled after season 1. NBC was having really bad luck with comedies in the start of the 80's. In fact, only the facts of life was the only one out of 7 shows that lasted in 1981. Cheers was in dead last in the ratings after it's first season. So NBC couldn't just boot it off or else they would have nothing to play. But the show did pick up! YAY!

Brian Damage · 02-21-2003, 07:27 PM

Fred Dryer was originally cast as Sam Malone. Dryer later returned a couple of times as Sam's ex teammate on the Red Sox.

Dulcineah1 · 02-22-2003, 03:20 AM

Lilith was supposed to be a one-time guest star. Frasier's love interest was supposed to be Candi, played by Jennifer Tilley, but the writers really liked Bebe, so they brought her back instead.

Julia Duffy was the other choice to play Diane. She guest starred in Season One as Diane's friend Rebecca.

FOLN@NFan · 02-22-2003, 11:11 PM

out of curiousity, what eps did Ted Danson not star in?

¤Graced¤ · 02-23-2003, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FOLN@NFan
out of curiousity, what eps did Ted Danson not star in?

Actually in the ep "The Ghost and Mrs. Lebec", in the teaser Sam has the Chicken Pox and is out for the entire ep. He is only in the teaser,which probably wouldntcount as starring.

Oh and another little known fact is that in the ep "I do, adieu", they shot two different endings. One ending is where Diane and Sam do get married, so the live audience wouldnt know that Shelley was leaving. Then the ending that the viewers saw, the incomplete wedding.

mrmikey · 02-23-2003, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dulcineah1
Lilith was supposed to be a one-time guest star. Frasier's love interest was supposed to be Candi, played by Jennifer Tilley, but the writers really liked Bebe, so they brought her back instead.

So Candi was supposed to be a recurring character? I always thought she should've at least had a second appearance to wrap things up with her and Frasier. But I didn't know she was going to be recurring. Well, nevertheless, I'm glad the writers went with Lillith. Candi could've gotten tiresome quickly.

Mike

Dulcineah1 · 02-23-2003, 07:23 PM

Ooh, a Lilith and Candi catfight over Frasier, that would have been something to see. Although I suppose it really wouldn't have been fair...

Stephie_Gee · 02-23-2003, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dulcineah1
Ooh, a Lilith and Candi catfight over Frasier, that would have been something to see. Although I suppose it really wouldn't have been fair...

A catfight? I'm always up for those, although Candi wouldn't have had a chance in hell.

SITCOMGEEK · 02-23-2003, 07:45 PM

Actually in the ep "The Ghost and Mrs. Lebec", in the teaser Sam has the Chicken Pox and is out for the entire ep. He is only in the teaser,which probably wouldntcount as starring.

but he did appear in the episode----thus making the comment of george wendt being the only cast member to appear in every apsiode false would it not?

FOLN@NFan · 02-23-2003, 09:47 PM

theres always been alot of Cheers trivia. some of the stuff in the first post (and other ones too) is well known but some of it ive never heard of before. some of its pretty cool

there's some stuff i think i know but i cant think of it now lol

ill post it later if i can remember any of it

Brian Damage · 02-25-2003, 06:50 PM

I could've sworn I heard somewhere that Jerry Van Dyke (Coach) was originally cast as Coach. Which later went to the late Nicholas Colasantos.

NORM · 02-25-2003, 09:38 PM

When they had to cast the role as Coach, someone had mentioned Nick Colasanto who was a director at the time. He came in, read the lines and got the part. That's pretty much it. Same with Carla. they only had one person who they wanted to play the part. And everyone had known Rhea because of Danny Devito. George Wendt and John Ratzenberger both auditioned for the role of Norm. John Ratzenberger knew he did not get the part so he turned to the producers and told them that they needed a bar know it all. So he just slipped into the Boston accent and began spoting off Cliffisms. And that's that. Frasier was originally only signed on for 7 episodes but the producers felt he brought something to the show. So kept him. There ya go my friends, there is the madness.

02-21-2003, 04:26 PM	#1
Chocoholic Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Between a rock and a hard place. Posts: 11,235	"Here's a little-known fact..." What are some behind-the-scenes facts that you know of about Cheers? Here are some things I've found at IMDB.com: Woody's hometown of Hanover, Indiana comes from Hanover College in Indiana, the college that Woody Harrelson attended. Frasier and Cliff origionally weren't supposed to be series regulars, but they were so well-liked by focus groups that the producers gave them permanent roles on the show. George Wendt is the only cast member to have appeared in every single episode. The show was almost cancelled at the end of the first season, but since the president of NBC at the time liked the show, it was given another chance and it became one of the most beloved sitcoms on TV. (I wish current network producers would learn a lesson from this.) The series finale currently is the 4th most-watched series finale. Kirstie Alley is the only living Cheers cast member who has yet to appear on Frasier. Any others?

02-21-2003, 06:18 PM	#2
NORM #1 Wendt Fan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 19, 2002 Location: Wherever my wheels are rolling. Posts: 1,607	here is some more for ya! Yeah i knew George was in every ep. But to add on to the fact that the show was almost cancelled after season 1. NBC was having really bad luck with comedies in the start of the 80's. In fact, only the facts of life was the only one out of 7 shows that lasted in 1981. Cheers was in dead last in the ratings after it's first season. So NBC couldn't just boot it off or else they would have nothing to play. But the show did pick up! YAY!
	__________________ George Wendt Forever "Your nothing but a piece of ** child malester who should have been castrated with a dull knife first and then executed" "What do I care what you think, your gonna be out of a ing job next week. I gotta sit down, this *** won't stop staring at me I think he wants to me" "Oh I'm a low life? Really? Yeah well I hope that Cancer you got kills you, you dried up old " "Who do you have to ** to get a sandwhich in this place?" "Think about how fat I would be if I didn't work out" "I came, I drank, I stayed" - George Wendt http://wendtfan.tripod.com

02-22-2003, 03:20 AM	#4
Dulcineah1 Princess Dulcineah Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 101	Lilith was supposed to be a one-time guest star. Frasier's love interest was supposed to be Candi, played by Jennifer Tilley, but the writers really liked Bebe, so they brought her back instead. Julia Duffy was the other choice to play Diane. She guest starred in Season One as Diane's friend Rebecca.
	__________________ Oscar: What if Phil finds out? He's bigger than me! Diane: laughs Actually no, he's not. "If you have to ask how to be sexy after 40, you probably can't do it."--Bebe Neuwirth

02-21-2003, 07:27 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Fred Dryer was originally cast as Sam Malone. Dryer later returned a couple of times as Sam's ex teammate on the Red Sox.

02-22-2003, 11:11 PM	#5
FOLN@NFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 27, 2001 Location: PA Posts: 706	out of curiousity, what eps did Ted Danson not star in?

02-23-2003, 07:23 PM	#8
Dulcineah1 Princess Dulcineah Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 12, 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 101	Ooh, a Lilith and Candi catfight over Frasier, that would have been something to see. Although I suppose it really wouldn't have been fair...

02-23-2003, 07:45 PM	#10
SITCOMGEEK Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 20, 2003 Posts: 18	Actually in the ep "The Ghost and Mrs. Lebec", in the teaser Sam has the Chicken Pox and is out for the entire ep. He is only in the teaser,which probably wouldntcount as starring. but he did appear in the episode----thus making the comment of george wendt being the only cast member to appear in every apsiode false would it not?

02-23-2003, 09:47 PM	#11
FOLN@NFan Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 27, 2001 Location: PA Posts: 706	theres always been alot of Cheers trivia. some of the stuff in the first post (and other ones too) is well known but some of it ive never heard of before. some of its pretty cool there's some stuff i think i know but i cant think of it now lol ill post it later if i can remember any of it

02-25-2003, 06:50 PM	#12
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I could've sworn I heard somewhere that Jerry Van Dyke (Coach) was originally cast as Coach. Which later went to the late Nicholas Colasantos.

02-25-2003, 09:38 PM	#13
NORM #1 Wendt Fan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 19, 2002 Location: Wherever my wheels are rolling. Posts: 1,607	When they had to cast the role as Coach, someone had mentioned Nick Colasanto who was a director at the time. He came in, read the lines and got the part. That's pretty much it. Same with Carla. they only had one person who they wanted to play the part. And everyone had known Rhea because of Danny Devito. George Wendt and John Ratzenberger both auditioned for the role of Norm. John Ratzenberger knew he did not get the part so he turned to the producers and told them that they needed a bar know it all. So he just slipped into the Boston accent and began spoting off Cliffisms. And that's that. Frasier was originally only signed on for 7 episodes but the producers felt he brought something to the show. So kept him. There ya go my friends, there is the madness.