Where Everybody Knows Your Name: The 'Cheers' Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Where Everybody Knows Your Name: The 'Cheers' Quiz
Image: Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

About This Quiz

Everybody knows your name at this famous Boston watering hole, but how well do you know their names? Or anything else about this quirky cast of characters?

When "Cheers" burst on the television scene in the early '80s, it was to abysmal ratings. But the laugh was on us; we eventually couldn't get enough of the show and its loveable characters: Sam, Diane, Norm, Cliff, Woody, Carla, Frasier and more.

The bar's red-brick and white-awninged exterior, shown in the show's establishing shots, was the real-life Bull & Finch Pub in Boston's Beacon Hill. The television studio paid the bar's owner $1 for the honor. Once the show became popular, visitors began flooding the Bull & Finch's basement bar, but were often disappointed because it did not resemble the "Cheers" set at all. Eventually, the owner added a ground-floor gift shop and bar, the latter of which was recreated to resemble the one on the set of "Cheers." Visitors were delighted.

"Cheers" launched the careers of many of its cast members, such as Ted Danson (Sam Malone), who jumped to the big screen after "Cheers," although he had more success back on television. Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane on "Cheers" and also on the subsequent hit show "Frasier." And once everybody heard John Ratzenberger's distinctive voice, the man who played Cliff Clavin voiced characters in every Pixar animated film to date.

Test your knowledge of Boston's famous bar crew by taking our "Cheers" quiz!

True or false: Sam was a relief pitcher who spent his entire six-year career with the Boston Red Sox.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sam was a relief pitcher in minor league baseball, where he met friend and Cheers employee "Coach" Ernie Pantusso. He was eventually called up to the majors, where he played for the Boston Red Sox.

What is Norm's wife's name?
Nancy
Vera
Alice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While we often heard her voice on the other end of the phone, we never saw Vera's face.

Which character's first name is followed by Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec?
Rebecca
Carla
Lilith
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

That would be Carla. Her character is a devout practicing Roman Catholic.

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Which of the following actors did NOT appear in every "Cheers" episode?
Ted Danson
Kirstie Alley
George Wendt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kirstie Alley won an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series in 1991 for her work as Rebecca Howe.

Which actor played the character Cliff Clavin?
James Burrows
John Ratzenberger
George Wendt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The character Cliff wasn't in the original script. John Ratzenberger auditioned for the part of Norm and didn't get the part. But he asked the writers if they had a "bar know-it-all" and quickly improvised a character. Thus we have Cliff Clavin.

What is the name of the seafood restaurant located above the Cheers bar?
Grilletown
Fishcamp
Melville's
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cheers is located below Melville's seafood restaurant.

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True or false: Woody Harrelson's character, Woody, is pen pals with Coach, but they exchange pens instead of letters.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They're pen pals in a more literal sense — they actually trade pens.

What actor played the character Diane Chambers?
Rhea Perlman
Kirstie Alley
Shelley Long
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shelley Long played Diane Chambers for five seasons.

True or false: Frasier Crane and Lilith Sternin's son Frederick's first word is "mama."
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His first word is actually "Norm," which he says as Norm walks into the bar.

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What is the address of the Cheers bar?
112 1/2 Beacon Street
99 Beaker Street
101 First Avenue
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The fictional address for Cheers is 112 1/2 Beacon Street in Boston.

Who performed the show's theme song "Where Everybody Knows Your Name"?
Woody Harrelson
Gary Portnoy
Ted Danson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many people thought it was Woody Harrelson singing the theme, but it was actually Gary Portnoy.

What was Rebecca's nickname in college?
Backseat Becky
Ridealong Rebecca
Ride-me Rebecca
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rebecca's nickname in college was "Backseat Becky."

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True or false: "Cheers" is the only sitcom in the history of television to place both first and last in ratings during its run.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was in last place on the first night it aired but in first place in the ratings for the 1990-91 season.

True or false: No one was ever seen leaving the bar drunk to drive home.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Writers and producers made it a point to never show anyone leaving the bar drunk to drive home. The series was recognized by anti-drinking and driving groups for depicting and helping promote designated driver programs.

True or false: The show was eventually canceled because Ted Danson decided to leave.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Ted Danson announced that he wanted to leave at the end of the 1992-93 season, producers decided Woody could take over the bar. Harrelson wasn't interested in continuing the show without Danson, so its series finale was set.

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What actor was the character Frasier originally written for?
John Lithgow
Kelsey Grammer
Jay Thomas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Lithgow apparently was not interested in the television role and declined it, opening it up for Kelsey Grammer.

Why did Diane leave Boston?
To finish a novel she had started writing
To travel the world
To bartend in New York City
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Diane decides to leave Boston to give her writing career a chance and work on her novel.

What is the first name of Cliff Clavin's overprotective mother?
Esther
Flo
Louise
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cliff's mother is Esther.

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How many children did Carla have when "Cheers" ended its run on TV?
Seven
Eight
Nine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When "Cheers" first aired in 1982, Carla's character had four children. By the time it went off the air, she had eight.

What "Cheers" main character is the only one who didn't make a guest appearance on "Frasier"?
Kirstie Alley
Ted Danson
Woody Harrelson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kirstie Alley was the only one of the "Cheers" main actors to not make an appearance on Frasier, possibly because the psychiatric profession conflicts with her beliefs as a Scientologist.

How many consecutive years did Kelsey Grammer play the character of Frasier?
15
17
20
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Between "Cheers" and the spinoff "Frasier," Kelsey Grammer played the character of Frasier Crane for 20 consecutive years.

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When did Kirstie Alley join the cast of "Cheers"?
1987
1988
1989
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kirstie Alley joined the cast in 1987 as Rebecca Howe.

True or false: All 10 of the actors who appeared as regulars during the show's run received Emmy nominations for their roles.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is true. Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Woody Harrelson and Bebe Neuwirth all won Emmys, and Grammer won for his role on "Frasier."

Which two actors were members of Chicago's famed Second City comedy improv group before they were on "Cheers"?
Shelley Long and George Wendt
Shelley Long and Ted Danson
Ted Danson and George Wendt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shelley Long and George Wendt were members of Chicago's Second City comedy improv group.

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Who portrayed the voice of Norm's unseen wife?
Rhea Perlman
Bernadette Birkett
Rita Wilson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

George Wendt's real-life wife, Bernadette Birkett, provided the voice of Norm's unseen wife, Vera.

How many seasons was "Cheers" on the air?
10
11
12
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cheers" was on the air for 11 seasons, from 1982 to 1993.

What year did "Cheers" first air?
1980
1981
1982
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The first episode of "Cheers" aired September 30, 1982, to abysmal ratings; it eventually garnered rave reviews and became one of the top 10 shows on television.

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What is Norm's full name?
Hillary Norman Peterson
Norman Hillary Peterson
Norm Peterson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

His full name is Hillary Norman Peterson.

How many awards was "Cheers" nominated for?
120
150
180
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cheers" was nominated for 180 different awards and won 77, including the 1991 Golden Globe for best television series —comedy or musical and the Emmy for outstanding comedy series.

True or false: More performers received Emmy nominations as lead, supporting or guest actors/actresses on "Cheers" than for any other series.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

False. Well, it was true until "ER" in 1994, which received Emmy nominations for 31 different actors and actresses.

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You Got:
/30
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images