Ted Danson revealed that he was initially reluctant to cast a certain actress in a critical role onCheers. Themain cast ofCheersis so etched in stone at this point that it’s hard to imagine any other actor stepping into one of the roles that helped make the 11-season series become a fixture of network comedy.
Every actor inCheerswas perfect for their character, and the tremendous amount of chemistry on display between every character configuration was remarkable. However, Danson said that he was initially wary of casting Shelley Long as Diane Chambers (viaEW). He said on his podcast in a conversation with Helen Hunt,
“I looked at Shelley Long when we were auditioning for Cheers. I went, ‘No, no, no. Do not hire her. It’ll ruin the show.’ She made the show. She came out hitting a home run, day one… We were so different… Grew to love her, absolutely. But different. It was hard for us to sit around and just talk. But when we got in front of a camera, it was like a prize fight.”
This was in reference to Hunt suggesting that what you think ofchemistry on screen is actually 80% good acting and good writing, and 20% the ineffable quality. Danson countered that he thought it was all acting and writing, using his situation onCheersas an example.
Though, of course, the always affable Danson was quick to concede, saying, “[The] joke on [me] is, I was the one who — and this is why no one ever takes what I say — well, they take what I say, and do the exact opposite and are very successful.”
What Ted Danson’s Comments Suggest About Sam And Diane In Cheers
Chemistry May Not Be As Important As The Writing
It’s a fascinating little tidbit that Danson thought his and Shelley Long’s chemistry was terrible off-screen, but excellent on-screen. While it does seem to suggest that Danson’s theory holds water, he and Long were just good actors, and the script was great,Hunt’s suggestion that maybe they actually had chemistry also makes a lot of sense.
This also means that while Danson had some say in the casting forCheers, it wasn’t the final say. The fact that he was able to voice his opinion and expect to be heard at such an early stage of his career says a lot about the power he had on set.
The fact that the creators, Glen and Les Charles, and James Burrows overruled him says more about their competency.Danson’s comments weren’t an attempt to talk badly about his costar, and he even made sure to say he grew to love her. He just pointed out that if “chemistry” was what mattered, we may not have had Sam and Diane.
Our Take On Ted Danson’s Comments About Shelley Long
It’s A Good Thing The Showrunners Did Not Listen To Danson
Sam and Diane go togetherlike Norm and a bar stool. Their relationship was one of the first examples of the will-they-won’t-they romance trope that’s been a foundational piece of TV storytelling ever since. Though they don’t end up together in the end,their love through the seasons feels as real as anything.
It’s surprising to hear that Ted Danson thought he and Shelley Long didn’t click in real life.
It’s surprising to hear that Ted Danson thought he and Shelley Long didn’t click in real life. If anything, that makes me even more impressed with both their acting skills.Sam and Diane felt made for each other, and to put that on-screen week after week despite not feeling one way or the other about someone is pretty remarkable.
It’s not like Danson is complaining about Long, though, and as he says, the joke’s on him, because the decision to cast Long is probably a big reason forCheers' success. It’s OK that he was reluctant; it’s just a good thing no one listened to him.
