Ted Danson recalls his initial resistance to casting Shelley Long on ‘Cheers’

Helen Hunt popped by Ted Danson’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast to take part in a rich and informative conversation about their careers in film and television. They spoke about how, years ago, there was a sharp divide between those who worked in “sitcoms” (a term that still makes Danson wince) and movies — and Hunt saluted director Robert Redford for chipping away at the wall by casting Mary Tyler Moore in 1980’s Ordinary People, a movie that won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, plus a nomination for Moore’s lead actress performance.

This led to a conversation about the right casting for a part, and the mysterious, ineffable quality of performers with chemistry — something Danson doesn’t really believe in, but Hunt isn’t so sure.

“People talk about chemistry,” Danson, winner of two Primetime Emmy Awards, said. “I always [say], chemistry is take two really accomplished actors who are good actors and [give them] really good material. That’s your chemistry.”

Picking up on that, the Oscar-winning and four-time Emmy-winning Hunt added, “I think [that’s] 80 percent of your chemistry. And then I’ve had the experience where you don’t get along, but there’s chemistry. And when there’s no chemistry, it’s really, really hard. I’ve come to believe [chemistry] is a little bit true. There’s gotta be something.”

Danson then felt this was his opportunity to fess up about a time he really got it wrong, though he interrupted himself with deprecating quips a few times before he got there.

“[The] joke on [me] is, I was the one who — and this is why no one ever takes what I say — well, they take what I say, and do the exact opposite and are very successful,” he said, to laughs.

“I looked at Shelley Long when we were auditioning for Cheers,” he said. “I went, ‘No, no, no. Do not hire her. It’ll ruin the show.’ She made the show. She came out hitting a home run, day one.”

Thinking back, he continued, “We were so different... Grew to love her, absolutely. But different. It was hard for us to sit around and just talk. But when we got in front of a camera, it was like a prize fight.”

Hunt, clearly a fan, suggested, “I think that might be chemistry. Poking a hole in your theory.”

Danson held firm, saying, “No! It’s two good actors with good material!” Then he added, “Well, I don’t know. I think your idea may be smarter.”

The yin and yang of Danson’s everyman Sam Malone versus Long’s snooty-but-lovable Diane Chambers is, we’ll say it, one of the best examples of television chemistry in history.

What’s miraculous is that after Long’s departure at the end of season 5, Cheers did not cry out last call and go home, but cast Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe, a different foil for Sam who was similar-but-different to just the right degree that the replacement was as good as the original.

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For nostalgia’s sake, let’s take a look at this “sizzle reel” of Sam and Diane’s relationship.