Ted Danson has revealed the early days on the set of Cheers weren’t as cheery as audiences may think.
Danson’s character Sam Malone had one of the most iconic will-they won’t-they relationships in sitcom history with Shelley Long‘s character, Diane Chambers.
But despite their onscreen chemistry, feud rumors have plagued the duo for the past 38 years. Now, Danson has revealed the early days working alongside Long were “horrible.”
Watch the video above.
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Appearing on the SmartLess podcast with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Danson was asked about “the most incredible sitcom chemistry” between him and Long, which Arnett described as “really magic.”
“I am always the worst,” the good place The actor shared, quickly shutting down the idealistic view the hosts had of the show.
“My first reaction to Shelley while we were auditioning was, ‘Oh, no. No. That’s a bad, bad idea’.”
Arnett, Bateman and Hayes were all shocked by the revelation, as Danson revealed what it was really like on set of Cheers.
”I don’t know, we were so different,” he shared.
“Our styles, our approach, our everything is really different, which is why I think it worked because it was like this fair fight.
“It was hard for us sometimes to be in the room together.”
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Cheers cast: Then and now
Danson continued, “But when we started working, it was just fantastic because you’d smack her and she’d smack you back harder. She was just brilliant.”
Now, the Gulliver’s Travels The star has nothing but admiration for his former on-screen romance, even crediting his breakout role to her.
“I think I got Cheers because of Shelley Long because she just really nailed that part right out of the gate,” he said.
“She was amazing. And we got teamed up together when we auditioned – we auditioned as couples.”
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Back in 2012, Danson once again opened up about his relationship with Long, since feud rumors had followed the pair since the actress announced she would be leaving the show in 1986.
“Shelley’s process would have infuriated you if it had been mean or if it hadn’t been purposeful. But it was purposeful — it was her way of being Diane — and there’s not a mean bone in Shelley’s body,” Danson told. GQ,
“I had trouble hanging around her until we stood onstage together, and then I was in heaven.”
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