A lot of peoples' first times watching Woody Harrelson was next to Ted Danson and co. on Cheers. Eventually, the chemistry became more than evident and it popped Harrelson's career accordingly. Now, we're learning about the creators' first impression of him and who was the driving force behind casting him.
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Recently, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson invited Cheers creators Glen and Les Charles on their podcast. There, they predominantly share a lot of lore about the show. One part of the conversation sees Danson ask about the Charles Brothers' first impressions of Harrelson. "We said, we want a country bumpkin kind of guy, somebody from Iowa, Ohio, farm boy. And there's the big city of Boston. So he's a little naive. He needs to learn things," Glen says.
Woody Harrelson Joins Cheers With Big Cosign From Cast Member
They recall finding a guy they thought would be perfect for the part. However, one of the casting directors insisted they give Woody a crack at it or any other part. Danson comes in to read with him and afterwards, he doubles down to cast him for the role. "You fought like hell," Glen Charles tells Ted. "I remember very well you said, 'I know you think you've got your guy, but this guy's more interesting.'"
Thankfully, this was a heartwarming and relieving story for Woody and the Cheers cast. Unfortunately, they also dealt with their fair share of stress and headaches when Shelley Long left the sitcom. The Charles brothers admit that they were wary about the show's future without her character's dynamic with Ted Danson. Additionally, they believe that the show doesn't find its footing without her either. "We're not sure that Cheers would have survived without Shelley in that first season," Les Charles states. "She was so strong and so confident and knew exactly who the character was and who she was. And I think all of the rest of you were finding your way a little bit."
