Cheers: Let’s Take a Virtual Roadtrip to the Famous Bar

Times are tough right now so going on a summer vacation may not be in the cards for many people. Not to worry though, we’re putting together virtual roadtrips to TV Land. They won’t cost you a thing and you won’t have to leave your home.

Each week, we’ll be visiting a landmark from a TV show that we all know and love. You won’t be able to go inside but you will be able to check out what the famous spot looks like today and even what’s around it, kind of like you’re really there. First up, the bar where everybody knows your name, Cheers.

The NBC sitcom ran for 11 years and made household names of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Kirstie Alley, Nicholas Colasanto, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, and Bebe Neuwirth.

After shooting the pilot episode of Cheers, the producers had to select an exterior location in Boston and they chose the Bull & Finch Pub. Co-creator Glen Charles asked the owner to take some photos of the bar and he did, charging only $1. He has since gone on to make millions of dollars from licensing and memorabilia.

Legend has it that, after reading the pilot script, Long commented that the bar in the script reminded her of a place she’d visited in Boston while shooting a movie. It turned out to be the Bull & Finch.

In 2002, the Bull & Finch was officially renamed Cheers Beacon Hill. The interior is smaller and does not match the TV version. A second Boston location however, Cheers Faneuil Hall, includes a replica of the famous TV bar.

Though exteriors of the bar were seen in each episode, the cast only shot there for one or two episodes there. The most memorable revolved around Frasier climbing out on a ledge after he discovers that Lilith has cheated on him.

It was also the scene for the infamous post-series finale Tonight Show. The cast watched the last episode of Cheers upstairs from the bar and had done a bit too much celebrating. They seemed pretty intoxicated when Jay Leno tried to interview them.

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