I Don't Think You Realize How Important Woody Harrelson Was to 'Cheers' Long-Term Success

Stability and familiarity are essential to a sitcom's long-term success, especially for a series like Cheers, whose titular bar features the tagline "Where everybody knows your name." More than most prolific sitcoms, the legendary Boston pub-set NBC sitcom saw its fair share of changeovers in its principal cast. However, Cheers proved to be a well-oiled machine, never missing a beat or losing a step in quality, even after its female lead, Shelley Long, left the show at the end of Season 5 and was replaced by Kirstie Alley.