How Many Seasons Did Cheers Run
Cheers ran for 11 seasons on NBC from 1982 to 1993. The series premiered on September 30, 1982, and concluded on May 20, 1993, totaling 275 episodes across those 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles-Burrows-Charles Productions in association with Paramount Television. Cheers consistently ranked in the top 10 Nielsen ratings during its run and finished as the number one show in the United States for four consecutive seasons from 1985 to 1988. The final episode aired on May 20, 1993, and drew approximately 80.4 million viewers, making it one of the most watched series finales in television history. For more details on the show's broadcast history, see the official NBC Cheers page Cheers NBC Official Site.
The series was created by Glen and Les Charles and James Burrows. The main cast included Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin, and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane. Cheers was set in a Boston bar named Cheers, where the tagline was "Where Everybody Knows Your Name." The show won 28 Emmy Awards during its 11 season run. It also spawned the spinoff Frasier, which continued the story of Kelsey Grammer's character. The bar set was based on a real bar in Boston, and the show's theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," was written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo.
Cheers Season Count and Episode Breakdown
Cheers season 1 aired in 1982 and had 22 episodes. Cheers season 2 aired in 1983 and had 22 episodes. Cheers season 3 aired in 1984 and had 25 episodes. Cheers season 4 aired in 1985 and had 26 episodes. Cheers season 5 aired in 1986 and had 26 episodes. Cheers season 6 aired in 1987 and had 25 episodes. Cheers season 7 aired in 1988 and had 25 episodes. Cheers season 8 aired in 1989 and had 26 episodes. Cheers season 9 aired in 1990 and had 26 episodes. Cheers season 10 aired in 1991 and had 24 episodes. Cheers season 11 aired in 1992 and 1993 and had 28 episodes. Across all 11 seasons, the series produced a total of 275 episodes. For episode listings and ratings, see the Cheers episode guide on IMDb Cheers Episode List IMDb.
The longest season was season 11 with 28 episodes. The shortest seasons were season 1 and season 2, each with 22 episodes. The average episode count per season was approximately 25 episodes. The show aired on Thursday nights on NBC for most of its run. The series finale, "One for the Road," was a 98 minute episode that aired on May 20, 1993. The finale was watched by 80.4 million viewers, making it the highest rated series finale at the time. Cheers remains one of the most syndicated sitcoms in American television history.
Cheers Ratings, Awards, and Legacy
Cheers finished as the number one rated show in the United States for four consecutive seasons from 1985 to 1988. The