Long played Diane on the show's first five seasonsCheers ran for eleven seasons — including six after star Shelley Long left — but the show’s success was anything but certain. Glen and Les Charles, ...

At the end of Cheers' fifth season ... the sitcom ultimately introduced Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe in season 6 — though Glen insists she was never meant to serve as a straight-up Diane ...

In the final episode of Cheers, Norm cryptically told Sam that he would always return to Boston for his “true love.” It can be assumed that Norm was referring to either Diane or Rebecca ...

So we can't fight that.” The series ultimately brought Kirstie Alley on in season 6 as Rebecca Howe, who becomes manager of Cheers and butts heads with Sam. But she wasn’t meant to be a Diane ...

Brothers Glen and Les recall feeling "sheer panic" when Long announced her decision to leave the sitcom after five seasons.