Editing Cheers (section)

===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).