The Real Reason Shelley Long Left Cheers
With names like Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, and Woody Harrelson just being a few examples of how the series "Cheers" launched the careers of multiple well-known performers, it would be shocking to learn that any cast member would leave such a successful show, especially in its prime. When Shelley Long joined the original cast of "Cheers," she was not completely new to the Hollywood scene, already checking off multiple credits that included an appearance in the show "M*A*S*H," then at the height of its popularity. But in 1982, her career, as well as her life, would drastically change.
In September, 1982, the pilot episode of "Cheers" premiered on NBC. Taking place in a fictional Boston bar, the show focuses on Sam Malone (Ted Danson), a former major-league baseball player, now turned bartender. Despite the immediate comedic connection between himself, waitress Carla (Rhea Perlman), and the bar regulars, Cliff (John Ratzenberger) and Norm (George Wendt), no one on the show could possibly predict the explosion in popularity "Cheers" would have. Fans were most notably drawn to the love connection between the characters Sam and Diane (Long), another waitress.
By 1987, "Cheers" had become a nationwide, award-winning, television phenomenon. Adding characters Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), proved that the series not only guaranteed longevity for its run, but its popularity would continue to rise. That's why Hollywood was shocked when the show's costar, Shelley Long, decided to call it quits after five seasons to move on with a new chapter in her career. This left fans wondering, why would Long give up such a rare and fantastic role like she did with "Cheers?"
Long had make a decision between Diane and the ones she loved
Despite years of being one of the highest-rated, most popular sitcoms on national television, in 1987, Shelley Long decided to leave "Cheers." Immediately after, while being asked nonstop in interviews why she had left, Long revealed that her reason for the departure was simple and essential to her happiness. Long explained that the process of a weekly sitcom is extremely time-consuming and she simply wanted to spend more time with her family.
The sudden departure of Long's character Diane was shocking to the whole industry. Later in an interview with The Television Acadamy, producer/writer David Lee said that he believed "Cheers" would never recover from Long's quitting. "I thought that might be the end of it, because we didn't know what we were going to do," he said.
Despite the show's producers not knowing what to do next, Long expressed in a 1995 interview with Take2MarkTV that deciding to leave to be with her family was a simple, good enough reason to go. "I love them and I like being with them, and I sincerely wanted more time with them, which I got," she said. Long also told Phil Donahue in 1987 that the choice was not as sudden as it appeared to the public. Speaking about approaching the end of her five-year contract, Long commented, "I pretty much indicated that I wanted to devote more time with my family."
Despite producer worries, "Cheers" did not end, and in fact the show started a new chapter with Kirstie Alley replacing Long as Sam's new love interest. As for Long, she was able to forge her own successful acting career, with films like "Outrageous Fortune," "Troop Beverly Hills," and "The Money Pit." Most importantly, Long was able to spend more time with her family, which was clearly more important than slinging suds to Bostonians.