The hit TV comedy Cheers is one that has stood the test of time as a classic and is still celebrated and revered by fans. The timeless humor and believable, quirky cast of characters continue to draw laughs from different generations, and many fans have their Cheers collectors' DVD sets.
The show is set in a downtown Boston pub, making for some interesting viewing, and the regular roster of patrons and staff means that every fan has their favorite characters. Here are 10 interesting facts about the set of Cheers which fans may or may not be aware of.
10 The Hairy Truth About Sam
Fans of the show probably didn't know that actor Ted Danson wore a hairpiece to convincingly portray the hair-obsessed Sam. This would have been known to members on set, however, viewers remained completely convinced that Sam's hair was the real deal.
Thank goodness for the wig, as it is difficult to imagine Sam Malone without that fabulous hair which had women around the world swooning over the dashing hunk. One wonders how many men tried to replicate Sam's hairstyle, not realizing it was a fake!
9 A Real Address?
Much about the Cheers series was completely convincing. This is because directors went to all lengths to ensure credibility.
While the series was also shot on a set, the actual bar itself has a physical address, which is 84 Beacon Street in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. In fact, Boston has two Cheers bars, but the second location is merely set up as a replica of the original. Tourists can visit both for nostalgia and to grab some great show merchandise and photos at the bar.
8 Near Beer
Viewers of the series will have noticed the cast drink a lot of beer! Or at least, appear to!
The frothy drink on set, however, wasn't quite the same as one's regular beer, with only a 3.2 percent alcohol content. Nearly beer, but not quite.
7 What's Up With The Back Door?
Interestingly, the 'back door' frequently mentioned throughout the show, is hardly ever used. In fact, in season 1 of the well-loved series, the cast constantly refers to the back door in the script.
However, it isn't used even once during this first season. This is a small detail about the set, which only very attentive fans of the show would've noticed.
6 A Pub To Write About
The actual set of Cheers was originally located in a pub called the Bull & Finch, in Boston. The pub eventually changed its name to Cheers, and it's no wonder, as the show was such a huge success.
The Beacon Hill tavern turned the local neighbourhood into a tourist attraction and thousands of visitors flock to the location, every day.
5 A Fully-Stocked Bar
While the cast drank what they referred to as 'near beer', the actual bar was fully stocked. This meant that the characters drank diluted beer while sitting at a genuine bar, complete with a full range of alcohol and beverages.
For those cast members who loved a big mug of cold beer, this must have been really frustrating! Instead, they smiled graciously while drinking their 'near beer' and the audience remained none the wiser.
4 With A Pinch Of Salt
The beer which was consumed on the set was kept extra foamy with a few tricks that directors had up their sleeves. A pinch of salt was added to the beer mug (containing a meager 3.2 percent of alcohol) so that genuine foam capped the beverages.
This made the beer on set appear all the more credible to viewers, as cast members sipped the foamy beverage during their humorous interludes.
3 Many Babies On Set
Many babies graced the set of Cheers. Shelley Long, who played Diane, decided to expand her family while starring in the show and was pregnant during filming. Rhea Perlman was also pregnant on set.
Directors hid the pregnancies under aprons and by making the expectant moms spend most of their pregnancy behind the bar while being filmed. One has to give these actresses kudos for surviving their very pregnant months on set, without giving the audience even a hint that they were expecting.
2 The Crack In The Bar
The set was designed by Richard Sylbert who based the Cheers pub on the Bull & Finch pub in Boston. He put a 'seam' down the bar's center, on purpose, so that it could fold open to reveal Sam's office - set ingenuity at its finest.
This dynamic set has gone on to win the hearts of many viewers who would never imagine an office and a bar could be so closely linked!
1 A Family Affair
Cheers was a family affair for the series actor, Rhea Perlman, who played Carla. Viewers will remember Carla as the feisty, upbeat member of the crew who was skilled at mobilizing the others and was bent on her own opinion. Perlman, who played Carla, had many family members on set.
In fact, her sister wrote 17 episodes of the series and even produced as many as 26 Cheers episodes. Her brother, Philip, was also in the show, appearing as an extra in 32 different episodes.
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