Long played Diane on the show's first five seasonsCheers ran for eleven seasons — including six after star Shelley Long left — but the show’s success was anything but certain. Glen and Les Charles, ...

"Shelley really gave the first year or two or three the boost that Cheers needed ... The will-they-or-won't-they romance between Long's Diane and Danson's Sam Malone remains one of the most ...

They weren’t feeling cheery. In a recent episode of their SiriusXM podcast “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson were joined by “Cheers” creators Glen and Les Charles. The ...

Cheers creators feared losing Shelley Long would end the show’s run. Sam and Diane’s romance was central to Cheers' early appeal. Ted Danson credits Long for the boost in early seasons.

Brothers Glen and Les recall feeling "sheer panic" when Long announced her decision to leave the sitcom after five seasons.

“And I think all of the rest of you were finding your way a little bit.” Related: Kelsey Grammer Wants Shelley Long's Cheers Character Diane on the Frasier Revival to 'Put Something to Bed' Danson ...