Summary

• Shelley Long, who played Diane in Cheers, was absent from the recent reunion, with Grammer expressing disappointment that she pulled out at the last minute.
• There is interest in seeing Diane reunite with Frasier in the Frasier reboot, although bringing her back may cheapen the original show's legacy.
• If Diane does return, it should be in a way that highlights the growth of both characters and their ability to move on from their past tumultuous affair.

Kelsey Grammer explains Shelley Long's absence in the recent Cheers reunion. In 2023, Grammer revisited his iconic role as Frasier Crane in the Paramount+ Frasier reboot. While the revival largely ignored his history with Cheers, the actor recently had the chance to step back into Sam Malone's underground bar with some of his old cohorts. However, several core cast members were absent, including Long.

Grammer joined Rhea Perlman, Ted Danson, George Wendt, and John Ratzenberger at the 75th Emmy Awards stage for a fun get-together at the bar "where everybody knows your name." Granted that other cast members didn't partake in the event, Long was going to make an appearance. However, Grammer tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the actor pulled out at the last minute. Unfortunately, he didn't expound on why she changed her mind. Read Grammer's full quote below:

A few days before, she decided not to come, which was too bad.

Can Shelley Long Return As Diane In The Frasier Reboot?

Grammer Wants Long's Diane To Cross Paths With Frasier Again

Grammer's introduction to Cheers was linked to Diane's journey moving forward from her devastating split from Sam. While Long left Cheers in season 5, Diane and Frasier eventually reunited in the Seattle spinoff. There were rumors that the actors had friction on the set of the original show, but they were eventually able to patch things up, and proof of that is Long's multiple appearances in the original Frasier. Given that, there's plenty of interest in seeing Diane reunite with Frasier on the screen again for the revival.

The Cheers bar's status in the Frasier reboot is currently unclear, and the confusion is tied to the behind-the-scenes issues about whether the show can feature the pub. Nevertheless, Grammer has expressed his desire for his character to cross paths with Diane again, as it will supposedly allow him to deal with the remaining hang-ups from the way they broke up. Narratively speaking, the original offshoot has already given the pair their best ending. Bringing back Diane will only cheapen the original Frasier's legacy.

Still, it will be great to see Frasier and Diane get together again in the reboot. However, their reunion needs to be about something else — ideally, via a storyline that will highlight just how much both of them have grown. They may even develop an odd friendship, considering how similar they were in Cheers. At this point, both of them should have already fully moved on from their tumultuous affair from almost four decades ago.

Why Shelley Long Left At The Height Of Cheers

Long's Exit Left Cheers In A Difficult Position

Before she was partnered with Frasier, it was always clear that Diane's endgame was with Sam. That all changed when Long exited Cheers at the end of season 5. The pair's love affair was the project's primary asset when it first started, with its events kicked off by their meeting at the underground bar. Danson and Long's chemistry was palpable, and the writers made sure to milk it for what eventually became the gold standard of will-they-won't-they dynamics and has been copied so many times since.

Long was convinced that being on a top-rated show like Cheers for half a decade was enough for her to shift her career to the big screen.

Just as the Boston-set sitcom was experiencing both critical and commercial success, she unexpectedly decided to exit the show because she was looking to transition to becoming a movie star. Long was convinced that being on a top-rated show like Cheers for half a decade was enough for her to shift her career to the big screen. This left the series' fate uncertain, although it eventually found a way to move forward. After Sam and Diane's canceled wedding, the show brought in Kirstie Alley's Rebecca as Diane's replacement.

Long eventually returned in the final season of Cheers, with the show revisiting its original romantic pair. However, a lot had already happened by then, and they soon realize that Sam and Diane can't just pick up where they left off. This resulted in arguably one of the best show finales of all time — Sam choosing the bar, realizing that it's his true love.

The Frasier reboot season 1 can be streamed on Paramount+.

Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution