The Comedian Almost Cast as the Lead in Cheers.

5 hours ago7 min read

The search for the perfect Sam Malone was a Hollywood drama worthy of its own primetime slot, a frantic, exhausting process where the iconic Cheers bar almost got a very different landlord. Casting directors Glen and Les Charles, the masterminds behind the Boston-based sitcom, auditioned so many hopefuls for the lead role—a charming, washed-up baseball player turned bartender—that they reportedly grew sick of their own dialogue, eventually stripping the audition lines from the script entirely.While some decisions came easily, like the immediate, electric chemistry the Charles brothers felt with the soon-to-be-legendary ensemble of Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, and George Wendt, the central role of Sam proved agonizingly elusive. The frontrunner for a significant period wasn't Ted Danson, whose smarmy charm would become television history, but the now-disgraced comedian and actor, Bill Cosby.At the time, Cosby was at the zenith of his fame, the beloved star of 'The Cosby Show,' which single-handedly redefined family sitcoms and made him America's Dad. The idea of Cosby, with his established persona of paternal warmth and comedic genius, sliding behind the bar at Cheers was a serious consideration, a testament to how his public image was utterly unassailable.Imagine the alternate universe where Sam Malone wasn't a lothario with a heart of gold but a figure of Cosby's avuncular authority; the entire dynamic of the show, from his flirtations with Diane Chambers to his friendships with Norm and Cliff, would have been fundamentally, irrevocably altered. Ultimately, the producers made the fateful, and in hindsight, profoundly correct, decision to go with the then-lesser-known Ted Danson, a choice that cemented the show's legacy and spared it from being eternally marred by the horrific revelations about Cosby that would emerge decades later. This piece of television trivia isn't just a fun 'what if'; it's a stark reminder of the chasm between public perception and private reality, a narrative of a bullet dodged that adds a layer of chilling 'what could have been' to one of the most celebrated casting coups in entertainment history.

#featured

#Cheers

#casting

#sitcom

#Glen and Les Charles

#auditions

#lead role

#disgraced comedian

#television history

Stay Informed. Act Smarter.

Get weekly highlights, major headlines, and expert insights — then put your knowledge to work in our live prediction markets.