Cheers is one of the most successful sitcoms in television history. The series began in 1982 and finished out its first season as the lowest rated show on television. However, the show turned it around in a hurry, airing for 11 seasons and achieving astronomical ratings, including the second-most watched finale of all time. Take a trip down memory lane as we look at where the cast is now. We'll explore some shocking stories and fun behind the scenes facts from the making of the series.

When looking at Cheers, there's no other place to start than Ted Danson's portrayal of the womanizing/alcoholic Boston Red Sox pitcher turned (sometimes) bar owner Sam Malone. His on again/off again relationships with Diane and later Rebecca were the driving force of the show's narrative for the length of its run. By the time Cheers ended, Danson was TV's biggest (and highest paid) star. Following the series, Danson has kept busy with numerous film and television appearances, including a long run on CSI.

Nicholas Colasanto's Coach was a beloved character for the first three seasons of Cheers. The dim baseball manager turned bartender often delivered the funniest jokes in a given episode, yet remained loveably innocent and naive. Sadly, Colasanto was in declining health by the mid-80's, and died in 1985. His character was killed off the series following the actor's death.

While sharp-tongued waitress Carla Tortelli was known for her biting insults and propensity for various marriages and having many children (the character ended the series with eight kids in all) actress Rhea Perlman has gone down a very different path. She's been married to actor Danny DeVito since 1982, and has written several children's books in addition to her acting work.

The whole bar yelling "Norm!" whenever George Wendt's character entered the building was one of Cheers' most iconic running jokes. Shockingly, it wasn't a major part of the show from the start. The Norm character was originally just an extra in the pilot. However Wendt's warm personality and natural comedic timing led to the part's expansion into a main cast member. Over the course of the series, Norm's constant job changes and nagging from his always unseen wife Vera were recurring storylines. Following the series, Wendt developed a steady career in television, film, and live theater.

Norm's ever-present bar-mate was know-it-all mailman Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger. The duo served as a bit of the Greek chorus for the series, often commenting on the other character's actions from their barstools. Following Cheers, Ratzenberger went on to a highly successful voiceover career, notably appearing in every Pixar film to date and acting as a sort of mascot for the studio.

Frasier Crane was initially brought on to Cheers in the third season to serve as a foil to the Sam/Diane romantic relationship. Kelsey Grammer's portrayal of the psychiatrist changed all that however. The character's relationship with Diane ended and he transitioned into the main cast, eventually marrying Lilith, having a child, and getting divorced. Following Cheers, Grammer and the character starred in the spinoff Frasier. Massively successful in its own right, the series aired for over a decade and won countless awards, including four Emmys for Grammer. The actor is also well known for his portrayal of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons.

Following the end of Frasier's relationship with Diane Chambers, Lilith Sternin was introduced as a new love interest for the character. Neuwirth and Grammer had immediate chemistry, with his neurotic character playing off her ice queen. The couple became a major part of the series, eventually marrying and having a child. The characters got a divorce near the end of Cheers run, but Neuwirth made annual guest appearances on Frasier. Outside of the series, Neuwirth is an acclaimed Broadway actress who's appeared in numerous productions as well as other television series.

Following the aforementioned death of Colasanto, the role of Cheers' resident dim bartender was filled by Woody Boyd. Played by Woody Harrelson (Yeah, they really stretched for the name), the character was a midwestern transplant amazed by life in the big city of Boston. Woody went on to become and integral part of the series, appear on Frasier, and help launch Harrelson's film career.

Stepping into a well-established television series as a new cast member is hard enough, but replacing one of the series' mainstays is an even bigger mountain to climb. That was the challenge facing Kirstie Alley when she came in to replace the departed Shelley Long in the sixth season. Many thought Long's departure would be the death knell for the series, but Alley's Rebecca Howell came in and didn't miss a beat. From her first appearance, where she bought the bar right from under Sam, the character was a force to be reckoned with. The series not only survived, but Alley ended up on the series for longer than Long. Following the show, she's continued acting, and become a spokesperson.

In the series' final episode, Sam pulls out a massive binder that looks big enough to be a NASA flight manual. It's contents? Norm's bar tab.

Shelley Long's name has, fairly or not, become shorthand for describing a sitcom star who greatly overestimates their box office appeal. The chemistry between Long's highly intelligent, yet stuck-up barmaid Diane Chambers and Danson's gruff Malone was the focus of Cheers' narrative throughout its first five seasons. However, Long departed the series to act in feature films full time. While she met with moderate success, she never became the star many envisioned. The series meanwhile ran another six years. Long eventually reprised the Diane role for the Cheers finale, as well as several episodes of the spinoff Frasier.

According to the sign seen in the opening credits and many establishing shots, the fictional Cheers was founded in 1895. However as revealed by Sam at one point during the show's run that year is fictional, a creation of his to make the bar seem older than it actually was.

Cheers was hit by tragedy over its run. Judith Barsi, a 10-year-old actress who guest-starred in a memorable season 4 episode was murdered by her father shortly afterward.

Actor Jay Thomas had the gig of a lifetime playing Carla's love interest/husband Eddie... until he mouthed off about kissing Perlman on a radio show. Before he knew it, Thomas was written off the show when his character was killed by a zamboni.

Even though Cheers ended nearly 25 years ago, the series maintains its popularity. In 2016, the storyline of the first season was adapted into a two-hour stage play.

Sam's beloved Corvette became a major part of the series, as he had to sell it twice for the good of the bar. First to get control of the bar back, and second to pay for damages from a fire.

Ted Danson notoriously wore an obvious hairpiece while playing Sam Malone throughout the series' run. Instead of completely ignoring it, the creative team once had the character of Sam revealing his hairpiece to Carla in a meta-moment.

The team behind the massively successful video game Fallout 4 must be Cheers fans, as they snuck a fully rendered version of the bar (complete with skeletal Cliff and Norm still at their stools) in as an Easter egg.

Cheers received numerous accolades throughout its run, including 28 Emmy wins out of 111 nominations. In addition, the show's finale still stands as one of the most-watched in TV history at 84 million viewers. The show has continued to receive praise following its finale, being named the best comedy of all time by GQ in 2013.

The original establishing shot of the Cheers bar was actually a photo of Boston establishment The Bull & Finch Pub. Once tourists began coming to the restaurant in droves, the owners decided to change the name in order to capitalize.

Early on in the development of Cheers, Sam was supposed to be a former football player. Once Ted Danson was cast, the character's athletic past was changed to baseball to better match Danson's frame.

Ted Danson was so dedicated to his craft that he actually went to a two-week bartending course in order to give a believable performance.

Once Norm was added to the cast full-time, the character was fleshed out with details based on a real customer co-creator Les Charles knew from his bartending days.

Many of the outrageous and patently false "facts" that Cliff would spout were actually improvised by John Ratzenberger. In an interview around the end of the series, he explained, “After a couple of years on the show they realized they could trust me not to mess it up.”

The producers and writers would sometimes inconspicuously visit bars in the L.A. area, eavesdrop on random conversations, then integrate them into the series' dialogue.

The show's sixth season was originally going to end with a cliffhanger that revealed an ex-girlfriend of Sam's had been HIV positive. The storyline was cancelled due to a writer's strike.

During the show's first season, the U.S. Treasury Department had the creative team craft a mini-episode that promoted savings bonds. The short has never been aired, nor was it included on any Cheers DVD sets.

Viewers often complained about the volume of the series' laugh track... only problem was it never had one. The uproarious laughter belonged solely to the live audience watching the taping. In later years a disclaimer was added announcing that the show was filmed before a live studio audience.

The role of Frasier Crane was originally written for esteemed actor John Lithgow, who declined. It's impossible to know if Frasier would have had the same lifespan with a different actor behind the character, but its hard not to wonder what if?

Kirstie Alley is the only Cheers regular who never appeared on Frasier, due to its psychiatry theme clashing with her Scientology beliefs.

Frasier Crane's retired cop father Martin was a main character on the spinoff series, which came as a surprise to Cheers fans considering Frasier had once told Sam his father was a psychiatrist and, more importantly, dead. This incongruity was later explained away in an episode where Sam visits Seattle. Frasier explains that he had had a fight with his father, and claimed he was dead out of anger.

At one point in the series it was revealed that Norm's actual first name was Hillary, and that his full legal moniker was Hillary Norman Peterson. After hearing that, we can't blame him for drinking.

Cheers producers were aware of the dangers of appearing to promote drinking and driving without consequences. That's why nearly every episode features designated drivers, cabs, and rides being arranged for patrons.

Despite being brought on as a love interest for her character, Kelsey Grammer has claimed that Shelley Long repeatedly tried to sabotage his run on Cheers. According to the actor, Long would insist Frasier's funny lines be removed from scripts or given to Diane and even tried to get him fired. Long, for her part, denies the allegations.

The cast of Cheers watched the show's finale at the original Boston bar that inspired the series... and proceeded to get wasted. Only problem? They were all scheduled to appear live on the The Tonight Show later that night. The broadcast went down in television lore as the inebriated cast ignored host Jay Leno's questions, goofed on each other and drunkenly spouted language not even safe for late night.