Cheers

The show is set in the Cheers bar named for the toast "Cheers" in Boston, Massachusetts, where a group of locals meet to drink and have fun. The character of Sam Malone was originally intended to be a retired football player and was originally supposed to be played by Fred Dryer, but after casting Ted Danson it was decided that a former baseball player Sam "Mayday" Malone would be more believable, given Danson's slimmer physique. The character of Cliff Clavin was created for John Ratzenberger after he auditioned for the role of Norm Peterson. While chatting with producers afterwards, he asked if they were going to include a "bar know-it-all", the part which he eventually played. The role of Norm went to George Wendt. Kirstie Alley joined the cast when Shelley Long left, and Woody Harrelson joined when Nicholas Colasanto died. Danson, Wendt and Rhea Perlman were the only actors to appear in every episode of the series. Although Cheers operated largely around that main ensemble cast, guest stars did occasionally supplement them.