Editing Cheers (section)

==Production==
[[File:Cheers Street Boston 2005.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The [[Cheers Beacon Hill]], formerly the Bull & Finch Pub, in Boston in 2005]]

===Creation and concept===
Some believe that the show is a rehashing of Boston's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WCVB]]'s locally produced 1979 sitcom ''[[Park Street Under]]'' featuring [[Steve Sweeney (comedian)|Steve Sweeney]] and [[American Repertory Theater]] founder Karen MacDonald.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2018/03/20/cheers-conspiracy-park-st-under/| title = "The ''Cheers'' Conspiracy" by Dan McCarthy, ''Boston Magazine'', March 20, 2018| date = March 20, 2018| access-date = May 23, 2020| archive-date = April 21, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210421174938/https://www.bostonmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2018/03/20/cheers-conspiracy-park-st-under/| url-status = live}}</ref> Three men developed and created the ''Cheers'' television series: [[Glen and Les Charles]] ("Glen and Les") and [[James Burrows]],<ref name=Kerr_11_29_1983/> who identified themselves as "two Mormons and a Jew."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cheers-co-creator-looks-back-series-finale-ted-dansons-decision-quit-caught-us-surprise-120020648.html|title='Cheers' co-creator looks back at series finale: 'Ted Danson's decision to quit caught us by surprise'|date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=May 20, 2018|archive-date=July 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728042300/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cheers-co-creator-looks-back-series-finale-ted-dansons-decision-quit-caught-us-surprise-120020648.html|url-status=live}}</ref> They aimed at "creating a show around a [[Spencer Tracy]]-[[Katharine Hepburn]]-type relationship" between their two main characters, [[Sam and Diane]].<ref name=Kerr_11_29_1983/> Malone represents the average man, while Chambers represents class and sophistication.<ref name=Kerr_11_29_1983/> The show revolves around characters in a bar under "humorous adult themes" and "situations".<ref name=Kerr_11_29_1983/>

The original idea was a group of workers who interacted like a family, the goal being a concept similar to ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]''. The creators considered making an American version of the British ''[[Fawlty Towers]]'', set in a hotel or an inn. When the creators settled on a bar as their setting, the show began to resemble the [[radio programming|radio program]] ''[[Duffy's Tavern]]'', originally written and cocreated by James Burrows' father [[Abe Burrows]]. They liked the idea of a [[tavern]], as it provided a continuous stream of new people, for a variety of characters.<ref name=B3>Bjorklund, p. 3.</ref> An early concept revolved around a woman becoming the new owner of the bar and the animosity created between her and the regulars, an idea that was used later in Season 6 when the character of [[Rebecca Howe]] is introduced.<ref name="UCTV">{{cite video| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0u3ZezDvv4U| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/0u3ZezDvv4U| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live| title=The 30th Anniversary of Cheers| author=University of California Television (UCTV)| publisher=YouTube| date=January 13, 2014| access-date=June 9, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Early discussions about the location of the show centered on [[Barstow, California]], then [[Kansas City, Missouri]]. They eventually turned to the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] and finally Boston. The [[Bull & Finch Pub]] in Boston, which was the model for Cheers, was chosen from a [[phone book]].<ref name=B4>Bjorklund, p. 4.</ref> When Glen Charles asked the bar's owner, Tom Kershaw, to shoot exterior and interior photos, he agreed, charging $1. Kershaw has since gone on to make millions of dollars, licensing the pub's image and selling a variety of ''Cheers'' memorabilia. The Bull & Finch became the 42nd-busiest outlet in the American food and beverage industry in 1997.<ref name=B3/> During initial casting, Shelley Long, who was in Boston at the time filming ''[[A Small Circle of Friends]]'', remarked that the bar in the script resembled a bar she had come upon in the city, which turned out to be the Bull & Finch.<ref name=B7>Bjorklund, p. 7.</ref>

===Production team===
The crew of ''Cheers'' numbered in the hundreds. The three creators—[[James Burrows]] and [[Glen and Les Charles]]—kept offices on Paramount's lot for the duration of the ''Cheers'' run. The Charles Brothers remained in overall charge throughout the show's run, frequently writing major episodes, though starting with the third season they began delegating the day-to-day running of the writing staff to various [[showrunner]]s. [[Ken Estin]] and [[Sam Simon]] were appointed as showrunners for the third season, and succeeded by [[David Angell]], [[Peter Casey (screenwriter)|Peter Casey]] and [[David Lee (screenwriter)|David Lee]] the following year. Angell, Casey and Lee would remain as showrunners until the end of the seventh season when they left to develop their own sitcom, ''[[Wings (1990 TV series)|Wings]]'', and were replaced by Bill and Cheri Steinkellner and [[Phoef Sutton]] for the eighth through tenth seasons. For the final season, Tom Anderson and [[Dan O'Shannon]] acted as the showrunners.

James Burrows is regarded as being a factor in the show's longevity, directing 243 of the 270 episodes and supervising the show's production.<ref name=B2>Bjorklund, p. 2.</ref> Among the show's other directors were [[Andy Ackerman]], Thomas Lofaro, Tim Berry, [[Tom Moore (director)|Tom Moore]], Rick Beren, as well as cast members John Ratzenberger and George Wendt.<ref name="chardevelop">The Museum of Broadcast Communications (2006).</ref>

[[Craig Safan]] provided the series' original music for its entire run except the theme song. His extensive compositions for the show led to his winning numerous [[ASCAP]] Top TV Series awards for his music.

===Casting===
The character of [[Sam Malone]] was originally intended to be a retired football player and was slated to be played by [[Fred Dryer]], but Danson was chosen in part because he was younger and had more acting experience than Dryer.<ref name="Burrows"/> After casting Ted Danson, it was decided that a former baseball player (Sam "Mayday" Malone) would be more believable than a retired football player.<ref name=audition>Meade, Peter. "[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SFOYbPikdlgC&dat=19840427&printsec=frontpage We'll Cry In Our Beers As Sam, Diane Split] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160210/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SFOYbPikdlgC&dat=19840427&printsec=frontpage |date=March 8, 2021 }}." ''[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] TV Update'' [Spartanburg, NC] April 29, 1984: 14. ''Google News''. Web. January 21, 2012. Editions of April 27–29, 1984, are inside the webpage. Article in ''Google News'' is located in page 85.</ref><ref>Balk, Quentin, and Ben Falk. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4L7pA2tKumsC&pg=PA166 Television's Strangest Moments: Extraordinary but True Tales from the History of Television] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210085556/https://books.google.com/books?id=4L7pA2tKumsC&lpg=PA166&pg=PA166 |date=February 10, 2023 }}''. London: Robson–Chrysalis, 2005. 166. ''Google Books''. Web. February 10, 2012.</ref> Dryer, however, went on to play sportscaster Dave Richards, an old friend of Sam, in three episodes. [[Bill Cosby]] was also considered early in the casting process for the role of Sam, after having been recommended by the network.<ref name="Charles">{{cite video| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbaaM_l0baw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/TbaaM_l0baw| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live| title=Glen and Les Charles on Casting "Cheers"| author=FoundationINTERVIEWS| publisher=YouTube| date=December 12, 2012| access-date=June 9, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Shelley Long]] was recommended by various sources to the producers for the role of [[Diane Chambers]], but Long wished to be offered the part straight out and had to be coaxed into giving an audition. When she did read for the part, according to Glen Charles, "that was it, we knew that we wanted her."<ref name="Charles"/> Before the final decision was made, three pairs of actors were tested in front of the producers and network executives for Sam and Diane: Danson and Long, Fred Dryer and [[Julia Duffy]], and [[William Devane]] and [[Lisa Eichhorn]].<ref name="Burrows">{{cite video| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kboWQclkhYA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211124/kboWQclkhYA| archive-date=2021-11-24 | url-status=live| title=James Burrows discusses casting "Cheers"| author=FoundationINTERVIEWS| publisher=YouTube| date=January 17, 2012| access-date=June 9, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The chemistry was so apparent between Long and Danson that it secured them the roles.<ref name="Burrows"/><ref name="Charles"/> Ted Danson was sent to bartending school to prepare him for the part and according to Burrows, had to learn "how to pretend that he knew a lot about sports" since Danson was not a sports fan in real life and had never been to a baseball game.<ref name="Burrows"/>

The character of [[Cliff Clavin]] was created for John Ratzenberger after he auditioned for the role of [[Norm Peterson]], which eventually went to George Wendt. While chatting with producers afterward, he asked if they were going to include a "bar know-it-all", the part he eventually played.<ref>Newport Under the Stars (2005)(2006). [https://web.archive.org/web/20071114112730/http://newportunderthestars.com/newport/johnsbio.html John Ratzenberger's Newport Under the Stars]</ref> Alley joined the cast when Shelley Long left, and Woody Harrelson joined when Nicholas Colasanto died. Danson, Perlman and Wendt were the only actors to appear in every episode of the series; Ratzenberger appears in all but two (and his name wasn't part of the opening credit montage during the first season).

===Filming styles and locations===
[[File:Cheers Beacon Hill interior 2.jpg|thumb|Interior of the bar]]
{{Quote box|width=25em|align=right|quote="On ''Cheers'', we never did everything twice. On ''Cheers'', we went through the scene and I only reshot jokes that didn't work or I went back and picked up shots I missed."|source=[[James Burrows]]<ref name=Multicamera>{{cite book|last=Jacobson|first=Mitch|title=Mastering multicamera techniques : from preproduction to editing and deliverables|year=2010|publisher=Focal Press/Elsevier|location=Amsterdam|isbn=978-0-240-81176-5|edition=1st}}</ref>}}

Most ''Cheers'' episodes were, as a voiceover stated at the start of each, "filmed before a live [[studio audience]]" on Paramount Stage 25 in Hollywood, generally on Tuesday nights. Scripts for a new episode were issued the Wednesday before for a [[read-through]], Friday was [[rehearsal]] day, and final scripts were issued on Monday. Burrows, who directed most episodes, insisted on using [[film stock]] rather than [[videotape]]. He was also noted for using motion in his directorial style, trying to constantly keep characters moving rather than standing still.<ref name="B7-8">Bjorklund, p.&nbsp;7–8.</ref> Burrows and the Charles brothers emphasized to the cast to "never assume that you're not being watched" because the camera would be focused on the actors at all times, so they had to always be reacting and "always be funny".<ref name="UCTV"/> During the first season when ratings were poor Paramount and NBC asked that the show use videotape to save money, but a poor test taping ended the experiment and ''Cheers'' continued to use film.<ref name="levine20120318">{{cite web | url=http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2012/03/another-thing-about-cheers-you-didnt.html | title=Another thing about CHEERS you didn't know | work=...by Ken Levine | date=March 18, 2012 | access-date=March 18, 2012 | author=Levine, Ken | archive-date=May 16, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516003806/https://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2012/03/another-thing-about-cheers-you-didnt.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Due to a decision by Glen and Les Charles, the [[cold open]] was often not connected to the rest of the episode, with the lowest-ranked writers assigned to create the jokes for them. Some cold opens were taken from episodes that ran too long.<ref name=levine20110128>{{cite news|last=Levine|first=Ken|title=My favorite CHEERS teaser|url=http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-favorite-cheers-teaser.html|access-date=January 28, 2011|newspaper=...by Ken Levine|date=January 28, 2011|archive-date=January 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129085001/http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-favorite-cheers-teaser.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first year of the show took place entirely within the confines of the bar, the first location outside the bar being Diane's apartment in the second year. When the series became a hit, the characters started venturing further afield, first to other sets and eventually to an occasional exterior location. The exterior location shots of the bar are of the Bull & Finch Pub, located directly north of the [[Boston Public Garden]]. The pub has become a [[tourist attraction]] because of its association with the series, and draws nearly one million visitors annually.<ref name=B3/><ref name="synd1"/> It has since been renamed [[Cheers Beacon Hill]]; its interior is different from the TV bar. The pub itself is at 84 Beacon Street (on the corner of Brimmer Street). In August 2001, there was a replica made of the bar in [[Faneuil Hall]] to capitalize on the popularity of the show.

After the show ended, the 1,000-square-foot bar set from ''Cheers'' was offered to the [[Smithsonian]], which turned it down because it was too large.<ref name="THR">{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cheers-bar-finally-finds-a-723417| title='Cheers' Bar Finally Finds a Museum Home| author=Bryn Elise Sandberg| publisher=The Hollywood Reporter| date=August 7, 2014| access-date=June 6, 2020| archive-date=February 12, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212094919/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cheers-bar-finally-finds-a-723417| url-status=live}}</ref> It was displayed for a short time at the defunct Hollywood Entertainment Museum, but later returned to storage, where it remained for many years. In 2014, CBS donated the set to the Museum of Television after a years-long campaign by James Burrows and his office on behalf of the museum's founder, James Comisar. At the time of the donation, Comisar initiated a planned $100,000 restoration of the set using former conservators from the [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]], although a site for the 10,000 item collection of the museum had not been decided upon.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2015/07/01/from-supermans-suit-to-the-cheers-bar-inside-the-worlds-greatest-collection-of-tv-memoribilia/#155ba4c21d35| title=From Superman's Suit to The 'Cheers' Bar, Inside the World's Greatest Collection of TV Memorabilia| author=Abram Brown| work=Forbes| date=July 1, 2015| access-date=June 6, 2020| archive-date=July 3, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703011515/https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2015/07/01/from-supermans-suit-to-the-cheers-bar-inside-the-worlds-greatest-collection-of-tv-memoribilia/#155ba4c21d35| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="THR"/>

===Theme song===
{{Main|Where Everybody Knows Your Name}}

[[File:Saturday night in a saloon. Craigville, Minnesota.jpg|thumb|The original version of one of the images used in the opening title sequence.]]
Before "[[Where Everybody Knows Your Name]]", written by [[Gary Portnoy]] and Judy Hart Angelo, became the show's theme song, ''Cheers''{{'}} producers rejected two of Portnoy's and Hart Angelo's songs. The songwriters had collaborated to provide music for ''Preppies'', an unsuccessful Broadway musical. When told they could not appropriate "People Like Us", ''Preppies''{{'}} opening song, the pair wrote another song, "My Kind of People", which resembles "People Like Us" and was intended to satirize "the lifestyle of old decadent old-money [[White Anglo-Saxon Protestant|WASPs]]", but to meet producers' demands, they rewrote the lyrics to be about "likeable losers" in a Boston bar. The show's producers rejected this song, as well. After they read the script of the series pilot, they created another song "Another Day". When Portnoy and Hart Angelo heard that NBC had commissioned thirteen episodes, they created an official theme song "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" and rewrote the lyrics.<ref>{{cite web|archive-date=January 18, 2013|url=http://www.garyportnoy.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118024640/http://www.garyportnoy.com/ |work=GaryPortnoy.com|url-status=live|title=The Story Behind the Cheers Theme}} Click "The Cheers Story".</ref> On syndicated airings of ''Cheers'', the theme song was shortened to make room for additional commercials.