Back when Cheers was new, something kind of unusual happened. A short episode was produced for the United States government all about the benefit of savings bond. The episode, if you can even call it that, is 11 minutes long and never aired on TV.
Sadly the clip is not on YouTube but Venmeo. So if you want to watch it you need to CLICK HERE
The funny thing is that this was not the first time Cheers did a segment for another show. I guess it makes sense, the show was a mega hit for NBC so of course the network is gonna use the show to promote there own network. Though sometimes, these appearances had nothing to do with NBC. The funny thing is if you go thru these clips you geta nice history of the series, from the early Shelley Long days to the later years with Kirstie Alley, Here are a few times when Cheers made an appearance on another show other than there own.
NBC PREVIEW
In what I think is an embarrassing one the relatively new series serves as the framing device for NBC's new 1983 fall lineup.
Ok the Cheers stuff was lame but good lord do I wish TV was like this again. Sigh, I miss the old days when networks were one big happy family.Super Bowl
It's pretty clear that NBC wanted to push this show. Not only did they do the silly fall preview special that year but there was also a Cheers scene during the 1983 Super Bowl. I don't know who played not do I much care.
St.Elsewhere
I would have thought there was no way this crossover happened, and yet here we are. I guess it makes sense both series were set in Boston and Cheers had even dropped the name of the hospital St.Elsewhere is set at. Thus, we have this scene where drama collidea with comedy with..awkward results.
World Series
You really can't blame NBC for this one. I mean, they were carrying the 1986 World Series which was involving the Boston Red Sox. I mean, this was way too obvious a stunt not to do. I love how straight they play as it Cheers were a real location in real life. So how did my team end up doing in that series? I'd rather not talk about it.
Mickey's 80th Birthday
In 1988 NBC did some shameless, shameless self promotion around the event of Mickey's birthday. I did a whole article on that so you can find out more there. Point is that Cheers appeared on it and while the segment is cute...shameless NBC!! The special included scenes with Family Ties and L.A.Law.
Disneyland 35th Anniversary
I don't remember this at all, but here we are with more Disney. This was isn't a good, and the fact that Ted Dasnon and Kirstie Alley missing is interesting. Basically Cheers opens and closes the special, for some reason.
The Earth Day Special
In 1990 we got a prime time special in celebration of the 20th anniversary of Earth Day. Agan, I did a whole article on it so will not get into much detail. The cast of Cheers did another bit and again it was fine. It does feel like we stumbled onto a Cheers episode for a minute (though no studio audience aside from the crew laughing off screen does make it feel odd).
I should mention that while the bar didn't appear, Frasier, Lilith, Norm, Cliff and Rebecca all popped up on the series "Wings" during its nine-year run. That show was set in Nantucket I was always surprised there wasn't more interplay between casts. And yes, the horrible forgotten spin-off "The Tortelli's" featured appearances by Norm and Cliff also. Cheers was such a beloved show that even with a little exposure the series never got old and stale. And finally, leave it to Late Night with David Letterman to give us one of the best cold opens ever with the Cheers gain. Ever wonder what it would take to make the regulars get up and leave?
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