Cheers

September 30, 1982

The TV show Cheers debuts on NBC. “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” Cheers was almost canceled during its first season where it ranked near the bottom in ratings, but eventually developed a following and became the #1 sitcom and one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. John Ratzenberger got the role of Cliff on Cheers while auditioning for the part of Norm. Feeling his audition was not going well, he asked the producers if they had cast the part of the bar know-it-all. They liked the idea and added the character and cast him in the role.