Shelley Long was noticeably absent when several of her Cheers costars reunited at the Emmy Awards in 2024. Long has always had a contentious relationship with the NBC sitcom that made her a household name. Amid rumors of tension with costar Ted Danson, Long quit Cheers in 1987, even after winning an Emmy and two Golden Globes for playing Diane Chambers in the NBC sitcom's first five seasons. There have been endless rumors over the years about why Long left the show.