{"id":43782,"date":"2026-08-14T06:55:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43782"},"modified":"2026-08-14T06:55:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T01:55:35","slug":"33-years-ago-cheers-changed-sitcoms-forever-with-1-shocking-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=43782","title":{"rendered":"33 Years Ago, Cheers Changed Sitcoms Forever With 1 Shocking Choice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/db\/tv-show\/cheers\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong><em>Cheers<\/em><\/strong><\/a> revolutionized sitcoms in many ways, and one of the most significant changes came 33 years ago with a shocking choice. Many sitcoms from the 80s and 90s have fallen out of the pop culture zeitgeist, but Cheers has maintained its cultural relevance 33 years after it ended, with new generations getting introduced to the series in the decades since. Although some of the jokes are dated, the show has aged pretty well. The <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/sopranos-theme-song-tv-perfect-representation\/\" target=\"_blank\">theme song perfectly represented the show<\/a>, and it feels like a warm hug. Plus, it changed the sitcom genre for the better.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<p>The eleven-season NBC show popularized third space settings where people could gather to find comfort and escape their loneliness. It perfected the \u201changout\u201d format that anchors so many of the most iconic sitcoms of all time. The rapid-fire banter and ensemble chemistry influenced so many great comedy writers. Plus, Sam and Diane also became the first major \u201cWill they? Won\u2019t they?\u201d in comedy television, laying the groundwork for everything that came after. <\/p>\n<p>From beginning to end, the TV show was innovative, and nothing makes this clearer than the finale. In the last episode of <em>Cheers<\/em>, the show changed television with the shocking yet correct decision that Sam and Diane don\u2019t have a romantic happily-ever-after, instead finding their happy ending by parting ways. <\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Image via MovieStillsDB&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sam and Diane on a plane in the Cheers finale\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sam-and-diane-cheers-finale.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><small class=\"body-img-caption\">Image via MovieStillsDB<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Though there are many great contenders, Sam and Diane stand out as one of the best couples to come from the sitcom genre. They are the prototype for the \u201cWill they? Won\u2019t they?\u201d couple, as they were the first on TV. They brought the dynamic from screwball comedy movies to the small screen. What\u2019s more, Shelley Long and Ted Danson had electric chemistry. They bounced off each other perfectly. <\/p>\n<p>That being said, I believe the reason Sam and Diane remain one of the best sitcom couples is that they knew when to quit. Shelley Long leaving Cheers was sad. I loved Diane. However, it was also a blessing in disguise. The couple was already starting to lose a bit of their magic in season 5, and the two just weren\u2019t good for each other long-term. <\/p>\n<section class=\"emaki-custom-block emaki-custom-note\" data-nosnippet=\"\">\n<div class=\"emaki-custom note\" id=\"custom_block_8\">\n<div class=\"custom_block-content note\">\n<p>Shelley Long stunned audiences and the <em>Cheers <\/em>team when she chose to leave at the end of season 5 because she wanted to focus on her film career and family (via <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tvline.com\/2198063\/why-shelley-long-quit-cheers\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">TV Line<\/a><\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Great chemistry and repartee don\u2019t make two people compatible. Sam and Diane fought constantly. They spent more time trying to change each other than enjoying each other\u2019s company. Both wanted a partner who would put them first, and neither of them was ready to sacrifice their passions. They had opposite life paths, and staying together would\u2019ve required one of them to give up their career aspirations for the other. <\/p>\n<p>Rather than Diane giving up her literary dream at the end of <em>Cheers <\/em>season 5 and growing to resent Sam, the two let go. Rather than Sam giving up his bar at the end of <em>Cheers<\/em>, going to Los Angeles, and growing to resent her, Sam and Diane knew that it was time to quit. They didn\u2019t hold on to something so tightly that they grew to hate each other. Instead, they said goodbye on their own terms, which was a revolutionary way to end a sitcom.<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- No AdsNinja v10 Client! --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cheers-established-that-will-they-won-39-t-they-couples-don-39-t-always-need-happy-endings\">\n                        Cheers Established That Will-They-Won&#8217;t-They Couples Don&#8217;t Always Need Happy Endings<br \/>\n               <\/h2>\n<div class=\"body-img landscape mobile-optimized\">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  image-expandable  img-article-item\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25%\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;Credit: MovieStillsDB&quot;\">\n<figure><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=500&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=800&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"1650\" height=\"928\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) and Sam Malone (Ted Danson) on Cheers\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/cheers.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=crop&amp;w=825&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture><figcaption style=\"display: none;\">Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) and Sam Malone (Ted Danson) on Cheers standing at the bar together<\/figcaption><small class=\"body-img-caption\">Credit: MovieStillsDB<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>While <em>Cheers<\/em> introduced the \u201cWill they? Won\u2019t they?\u201d couple, it didn\u2019t create the idea that these relationships need happy endings. Instead, the show made it very clear that Sam and Diane could be the great romantic love of each other\u2019s lives, but they still had to earn their happy ending. The couple getting married in the finale would have felt disingenuous. Even the writers team knew that. <em>Cheers <\/em>writer Kevin Levine said this on his blog,<em> <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/kenlevine.blogspot.com\/2016\/04\/should-sam-diane-have-gone-off-together.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"><em>By Kevin Levine<\/em><\/a>:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201c<em>The final episode was conceived and written by Glen &amp; Les Charles. I remember discussions in the room about how to resolve the Sam &amp; Diane relationship and if memory serves, there was never any intention of getting them together at the end. And I must say, I agreed with that decision then and still do.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Frankly, the two spent years apart. The show would have needed a longer story arc to make their marriage seem like a logical choice. Plus, Sam and Diane just weren\u2019t right for each other. Ultimately, the two could have gotten married and had a short period of happiness, but they probably would have driven each other nuts and divorced. Even Ken Levine expressed the belief that their marriage would have been good-intentioned but \u201c<em>[ended] with restraining orders.<\/em>\u201d Instead, they <a href=\"https:\/\/screenrant.com\/sam-diane-not-back-together-cheers-ending\/\" target=\"_blank\">parted on bittersweet but good terms in the <em>Cheers <\/em>finale<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, the fact that they don\u2019t end up together actually sends a meaningful message about love. Forever is never promised, and a relationship doesn\u2019t have to last for it to be significant. Sam knew this. <\/p>\n<p>He wanted to marry Diane, but he selflessly encouraged her to follow her dreams, earnestly telling her to have a good life. When she says that she\u2019ll be back in six months, he responds, \u201c<em>You never know. You could die, I could die, the world could end. One of us could bump our heads and wander the streets the rest of our lives with amnesia. Or maybe, one of us will decide we want something else.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the end, he was right. Diane didn\u2019t come back for six years because she wanted something else. Still, Sam and Diane loved each other. Their parting ways doesn\u2019t change the time that they shared. Ultimately, <strong><em>Cheers <\/em><\/strong>laid the foundation for future romantic dramas and sitcoms to feature meaningful romantic arcs, even if their \u201cWill they? Won\u2019t they?\u201d couples end with \u201cwon\u2019t they.\u201d Sitcoms don\u2019t go this route nearly enough, but those that do are memorable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-card type-screen large\" data-show-streamrentbuy-links=\"true\" data-include-community-rating=\"true\" id=\"5cc5-4bbe-b076d69dfc96\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"display-card-main-content\">\n<div class=\"display-card-content image-column\">\n<p>                        <!--    Rating block community and brand ratings --><br \/>\n                        <!--  Image --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-img \" data-stnl-group-once=\"aff4ho4Yt4\">\n<div class=\"body-img portrait \">\n<div class=\"responsive-img  img-article-square\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg\" data-modal-id=\"single-image-modal\" data-modal-container-id=\"single-image-modal-container\" data-img-caption=\"&quot;&quot;\">\n                                                                                                                                                            <picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=300&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=400&amp;dpr=2\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 1023px)\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=320&amp;dpr=2\"\/><img width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"cheers-poster.jpg\" data-img-url=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\" src=\"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/sharedimages\/2026\/08\/cheers-poster.jpg?q=49&amp;fit=contain&amp;w=480&amp;dpr=2\"\/>\n        <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <!-- User Rating widget --><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"display-card-content info-column\">\n                                                                                                                            <!--  Display card tags widget --><\/p>\n<p>                                                <!--  Display card community and brand rating widget --><br \/>\n                                                                <!--  Display card main info widget --><\/p>\n<div class=\"w-display-card-info main-info\">\n<dl>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Release Date<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t1982 &#8211; 1993-00-00<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Showrunner<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles, Ken Estin, Sam Simon, David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee, Bill Steinkellner, Cheri Steinkellner, Phoef Sutton, Tom Anderson, Dan O&#8217;Shannon<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Directors<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Burrows, Andy Ackerman<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<p><dt>\n                                            <strong>Writers<\/strong>\n                                        <\/dt>\n<dd>\n                                            <span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Burrows, Glen Charles, Les Charles<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/span>\n                                        <\/dd>\n<\/p>\n<\/dl><\/div>\n<p>                                        <!--  Display card main info widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!--  Display card media widget start --><br \/>\n                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            <!--  Display card media widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Cast widget start --><\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- Cast widget end --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch button preview --><\/p>\n<p>                    <!-- Where to watch preview end --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>            <!-- Extra content section, display hidden by default --><br \/>\n            <input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"extra-content-5cc5-4bbe-b076d69dfc96\" name=\"extra-content-5cc5-4bbe-b076d69dfc96\" class=\"expand-extra-info-checkbox css-menu-checkbox\"\/> <!-- Checkbox: control the expandable behavior  of the extra info --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- Display card footer --><\/p>\n<p>            <!-- PROS and CONS section --><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cheers revolutionized sitcoms in many ways, and one of the most significant changes came 33 years ago with a shocking choice. Many sitcoms from the 80s and 90s have fallen out of the pop culture zeitgeist, but Cheers has maintained its cultural relevance 33 years after it ended, with new generations getting introduced to the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":43783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static0.srcdn.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/carla-coach-and-sam-smile-at-the-bar-in-cheers.jpg?w=1600&h=900&fit=crop","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=43782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/43783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=43782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=43782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=43782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}