Here's how Kirstie Alley kept ‘Cheers’ thriving without missing a beat.
at age 71 earlier this week, was not exactly well-known when she was tapped to replace Shelley Long on “Cheers” after Long left the enormously successful sitcom following its fifth season.
A few months before her “Cheers” debut, Alley showed off some comedy chops in the 1987 movie “Summer School,” going toe to toe with Mark Harmon in a role that displayed her ability to play off an immature male character tirelessly trying to woo her, a bit that would surface time and again on “Cheers.”
“She could get four, five, maybe six laughs out of one line,” co-star John Ratzenberger told TODAY.com about Long for that same 40th anniversary story. Burrows, of course, cut his teeth as a director on a few episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” which was revolutionary for its portrayal of an independent, single woman. But Rebecca was different. Her insecurity flowed like beer on tap at Cheers and gave the character essential texture, which Alley brought to life.
Rebecca was often teetering on the brink, a career woman who absolutely doesn’t have her life in order.“Her ability to play a woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown was both moving and hysterically funny,” DansonIn the season nine episode “Rebecca Redux,” Rebecca lies to the gang at the bar that she has gotten a job in public relations when she actually works as Miss Miracle Buff, hawking a formula to keep cars shining at a nearby auto show.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kirstie Alley, Star of Cheers and Look Who's Talking, Dies at 71Actress Kirstie Alley has passed away at the age of 71. The news was broken on the night of [...]
Read more »
Kirstie Alley, Emmy-winning ‘Cheers’ star, dies at 71The family for Kirstie Alley announced Monday that the actress died following a battle with cancer.
Read more »
Kirstie Alley Dies: ‘Cheers’ Emmy Winner, ‘Veronica’s Closet’ Star & Reality TV Staple Was 71Kirstie Alley, who won an Emmy for playing Rebecca Howe on ‘Cheers’ and went on to lead ‘Veronica’s Closet’ and appear in numerous unscripted shows, has died of cancer, according to a post on her official Instagram account. She was 71
Read more »
Kirstie Alley, Emmy-winning ‘Cheers’ and ‘Veronica’s Closet’ star, dead at 71Kirstie Alley, Emmy-winning 'Cheers' and 'Veronica's Closet' star, dead at 71
Read more »
Kirstie Alley, Emmy-winning ‘Cheers’ star, dies at 71The family for Kirstie Alley announced Monday that the actress died following a battle with cancer.
Read more »
Kirstie Alley, 'Cheers' Star and Emmy-Winning Actress, Dead at 71Alley died after short battle with cancer Monday.
Read more »