About This Quiz
Everybody knows your name at this famous Boston watering hole, but how well do you know their names? Or anything else about this quirky cast of characters?
When "Cheers" burst on the television scene in the early '80s, it was to abysmal ratings. But the laugh was on us; we eventually couldn't get enough of the show and its loveable characters: Sam, Diane, Norm, Cliff, Woody, Carla, Frasier and more.
The bar's red-brick and white-awninged exterior, shown in the show's establishing shots, was the real-life Bull & Finch Pub in Boston's Beacon Hill. The television studio paid the bar's owner $1 for the honor. Once the show became popular, visitors began flooding the Bull & Finch's basement bar, but were often disappointed because it did not resemble the "Cheers" set at all. Eventually, the owner added a ground-floor gift shop and bar, the latter of which was recreated to resemble the one on the set of "Cheers." Visitors were delighted.
"Cheers" launched the careers of many of its cast members, such as Ted Danson (Sam Malone), who jumped to the big screen after "Cheers," although he had more success back on television. Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" and also on the subsequent hit show "Frasier." And once everybody heard John Ratzenberger's distinctive voice, the man who played Cliff Clavin voiced characters in every Pixar animated film to date.
Test your knowledge of Boston's famous bar crew by taking our "Cheers" quiz!
Sam was a relief pitcher in minor league baseball, where he met friend and Cheers employee "Coach" Ernie Pantusso. He was eventually called up to the majors, where he played for the Boston Red Sox.
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While we often heard her voice on the other end of the phone, we never saw Vera's face.
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That would be Carla. Her character is a devout practicing Roman Catholic.
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Kirstie Alley won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series in 1991 for her work as Rebecca Howe.
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The character Cliff wasn't in the original script. John Ratzenberger auditioned for the part of Norm and didn't get the part. But he asked the writers if they had a "bar know-it-all" and quickly improvised a character. Thus we have Cliff Clavin.
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Cheers is located below Melville's seafood restaurant.
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They're pen pals in a more literal sense — they actually trade pens.
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Shelley Long played Diane Chambers for five seasons.
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His first word is actually "Norm," which he says as Norm walks into the bar.
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The fictional address for Cheers is 112 1/2 Beacon Street in Boston.
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Many people thought it was Woody Harrelson singing the theme, but it was actually Gary Portnoy.
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Rebecca's nickname in college was "Backseat Becky."
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It was in last place on the first night it aired but in first place in the ratings for the 1990-91 season.
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Writers and producers made it a point to never show anyone leaving the bar drunk to drive home. The series was recognized by anti-drinking and driving groups for depicting and helping promote designated driver programs.
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When Ted Danson announced that he wanted to leave at the end of the 1992-93 season, producers decided Woody could take over the bar. Harrelson wasn't interested in continuing the show without Danson, so its series finale was set.
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John Lithgow apparently was not interested in the television role and declined it, opening it up for Kelsey Grammer.
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Diane decides to leave Boston to give her writing career a chance and work on her novel.
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Cliff's mother is Esther.
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When "Cheers" first aired in 1982, Carla's character had four children. By the time it went off the air, she had eight.
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Kirstie Alley was the only one of the "Cheers" main actors to not make an appearance on Frasier, possibly because the psychiatric profession conflicts with her beliefs as a Scientologist.
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Between "Cheers" and the spinoff "Frasier," Kelsey Grammer played the character of Frasier Crane for 20 consecutive years.
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Kirstie Alley joined the cast in 1987 as Rebecca Howe.
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This is true. Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson and Bebe Neuwirth all won Emmys, and Grammer won for his role on "Frasier."
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Shelley Long and George Wendt were members of Chicago's Second City comedy improv group.
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George Wendt's real-life wife, Bernadette Birkett, provided the voice of Norm's unseen wife, Vera.
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"Cheers" was on the air for 11 seasons, from 1982 to 1993.
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The first episode of "Cheers" aired September 30, 1982, to abysmal ratings; it eventually garnered rave reviews and became one of the top 10 shows on television.
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His full name is Hillary Norman Peterson.
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"Cheers" was nominated for 180 different awards and won 77, including the 1991 Golden Globe for best television series —comedy or musical and the Emmy for outstanding comedy series.
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False. Well, it was true until "ER" in 1994, which received Emmy nominations for 31 different actors and actresses.
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