The Official Cheers Scrapbook

This book is a fascinating look at the making of Cheers. The show where everybody knows your name is based on a tavern that executive producer Glen Charles and his wife MaryAnn visited while on vacation in Boston. The Cheers bar is actually patterned after a bar called the Bull And Finch pub. Pictures of the bar were taken and sent back to California to the Paramount studios lot, and thus Cheers was born. The actors were not well known before the show started. Ted Danson had done some off-broadway and improvisational work, as well as a soap opera, and having a small role as the dancing D.A. in the film noir "Body Heat." He had also made guest appearances on Laverne and Shirley, and Taxi(as a flamboyant hairdresser.) He was up for the challenge and He read for the role of Sam Malone ex red sox relief pitcher, and recovering alcoholic who just happens to buy Cheers! Shelley Long was cast as the intellectual bar maid Diane Chambers who had an on again, off again romance with Sam. Rhea Perlman was cast as the snooty obnoxious waitress Carla Tortelli who disapproves of Sam and Diane's romance. Nick Colasanto played Coach Ernie Pantusso who doesn't seem to have a clue, but has a kindhearted disposition nonetheless. He later passed away and was replaced by Woody Harrelson(Wildcats). George Wendt and John Ratzenburger played Norm and Cliff the regular barflys. Kelsey Grammer is also introduced as Dr. Frasier Crane, Diane's new lover after she and Sam break up. The book takes you behind the scenes to show how each episode is done and the complex task of putting on a weekly sitcom. It also contains dialogue from the show, and an episode guide spanning the first four seasons the show was on the air, and how it was almost cancelled during the first season. And it contains a trivia page and a list of guest stars who appeared on the shows. Bart Andrews really outdid himself with this book, and if you can find it, I strongly urge you to buy it. Fans of Cheers will definitely be interested!!!