Episode 36: Cheers

How does a television show go from practically nobody watching to becoming one of the most beloved sitcoms in history?  When Cheers premiered in 1982, the odds were stacked against it. NBC was struggling, the ratings were terrible, and a sitcom about people sitting around a Boston bar hardly sounded like television's next big phenomenon. So what kept the doors open?This week on Accidental Legends, Matthew and Dirk pull up a stool to uncover the surprising history behind Cheers. From unlikely casting decisions and characters who almost never existed to backstage secrets, unexpected departures, and one of the most recognizable theme songs ever recorded, the road to television immortality was anything but predictable.  How did a failing show become appointment television? Which beloved character was practically created by accident? And what strange fan theory connects Cheers to an enormous television universe?Everybody knows its name. Few know its story.