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Stories

Kirstie Alley Felt Like ‘Cheers’ Was A ‘Boys Club’

by Lauren Novak

Published November 27, 2022

Kirstie Alley Says Cheers Felt Like A Boys Club

While Kirstie Alley played the new boss on Cheers when she joined the show in season six, she’s now opening up about how she didn’t feel much in charge at all. Kristie played Rebecca Howe in the beloved series. After the show ended, Kristie called it “a boy’s club” and even a “dictatorship.”

She explained, “’Cheers’ is a dictatorship. It is a boys’ club and they dictate what the girls do and that is the way you do it (laughs). There are no conferences about what your character is or should be. It makes people go unconscious. They just tell you what your character is doing in the script, period.”

Related:

  1. Kelsey Grammer Breaks His Silence Over Late ‘Cheers’ Co-Star Kirstie Alley
  2. ‘Cheers’ Cast And Crew Reunites, Pay Tribute To Late Kirstie Alley

Kristie Alley says that ‘Cheers’ was a ‘dictatorship’ but she was okay with it

CHEERS, Kirstie Alley, 'How to Marry a Mailman,' aired October 19, 1989
CHEERS, Kirstie Alley, ‘How to Marry a Mailman,’ aired October 19, 1989. ©NBC / courtesy Everett Collection

Kirstie was referring to Glen and Les Charles along with James Burrows, who co-created the series together. The brothers were the head writers and all three of them had the final say on the script and everything that went into the award-winning series.

RELATED: Whatever Happened to Shelley Long, Diane Chambers From ‘Cheers’?

CHEERS, Ted Danson, Paul Wilson, Kelsey Grammer, George Wendt, (1983-1987), 1982-1993
CHEERS, Ted Danson, Paul Wilson, Kelsey Grammer, George Wendt, (1983-1987), 1982-1993. (c) Paramount TV/ Courtesy: Everett Collection

Kristie clarified that it didn’t bother her that the show was run this way. It went on for 11 seasons, so clearly they were doing something right. She added, “But I sort of like that. It is sort of refreshing. There is a certain peacefulness in dictatorship because you know there are no other answers and no hashing it through. You don’t have to think about it and you can basically be mindless. There’s a nice inner peace in being mindless (laughs).”

CHEERS, (top) Nicholas Colasanto, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, (bottom) Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman
CHEERS, (top) Nicholas Colasanto, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, (bottom) Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, (1982-1985), 1982-1993. (c) Paramount TV/ Courtesy: Everett Colleciton

Kirstie also spoke about how well things ran on the set. She admitted that she likes to be able to get on set, say her lines, and head home. She doesn’t want to be involved in the script but just wants to perform its beautiful lines.

RELATED: Here’s Why Shelley Long Walked Away From ‘Cheers’

Next up: ‘Golden Girls’ Star, Betty White, Was An Amazing Stepmom To Allen Ludden’s 3 Kids
Previous article: ‘Golden Girls’ Star, Betty White, Was An Amazing Stepmom To Allen Ludden’s 3 Kids
Next Post: ‘Exorcist’ Star Linda Blair Once Admitted She Actually Hates Horror Movies

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