17 Things ‘Cheers’ Fans Never Knew

16. Rebecca Lasted Longer Than Diane

The saga of Sam and Diane, a mismatched duo seething sexual tension, was central to the first few seasons of the show and they became an iconic couple of 80s television. It’s hard to believe, but Rebecca Howe, played by Kirstie Alley, was actually on the show longer than Shelly Long’s character Diane was. She debuted in season six as Sam’s new female foil in 147 episodes.

17. Ratzenberger’s At It Again

After learning about Ratzenberger’s affinity for crazy random facts, it must come as no surprise that he had a hand in creating his character “Cliff.” The actor had come in to read for another part and asked creators if they’d cast a character to be the bar know-it-all. Learning that they hadn’t, Ratzenberger explained that, “Every bar in New England has got a know-it-all—someone who pretends to have the knowledge of all mankind between his ears and is not shy about sharing it.” The creators loved the idea, and audiences loved Cliff.