Ted Danson: Cheers was almost axed very early on

Ted Danson: Cheers was almost axed very early on Ted Danson has admitted Cheers would have been axed if NBC had something to replace it with due to poor ratings in its first season. 16 February 2026 Ted Danson has revealed Cheers was almost cancelled during its first season. Ted Danson says Cheers was almost axed The 78-year-old actor - who led the cast of the sitcom as bar owner Sam Malone - recalled how the programme was a hit with critics when it debuted in 1982 but struggled to find an audience, even coming "dead last" in the ratings at one point.