In the climactic Cheers finale, Sam (Ted Danson) chose not to get back together with his old girlfriend, Diane (Shelley Long) — which naturally raised the question of why to the show's audience. The pairing essentially popularized the will-they-won't-they romantic trope in pop culture, Sam and Diane's dynamic fueled the first five seasons of the classic sitcom. That was until Long decided to leave Cheers, forcing the writers to break them up just before they were about to get married. In the end, however, they revisited the pairing, with Diane attempting to rekindle their romance.
When Shelly Long chose to exit Cheers, it put the show in a precarious place, since Diane was a big player in the show. There were concerns about it potentially marking its end. NBC's writers found a genius way to write off the character, however, as she landed a gig in Los Angeles that she couldn’t refuse. Despite knowing that Long was leaving, Cheers floated the idea that it was just a temporary set-up, with her promising Sam that she would return. He did know, however, that she wouldn't. That was until the end of Cheers, where a more successful Diane indeed returned in an effort to get back together with her former flame.
Diane returning to Cheers would have been the perfect way to deliver on its primary love line, but after thinking about it for a while, Sam declined her offer, opting to stay in Boston and hang out with the likes of Kirstie Alley’s Rebecca Howe, gave Sam the clarity that allowed this realization.
Why Cheers’ Ending Was So Good
When Diane returned at the end of Cheers, it did seem like NBC was crafting a romantic finale for the show. So, it was surprising when Sam declined her offer and returned to the bar instead. Despite not delivering on a traditional happy ending because they didn't end up with each other, it was actually a great finale — arguably one of the best send-offs for a sitcom. Aside from realizing the truth about the sustainability of their relationship, Sam staying behind revealed his true love, which wasn't Diane, but the bar and the people he mingled with regularly every night. In one of his final gestures in the Cheers finale, Sam straightened a photo of Coach, who was replaced by Woody (Woody Harrelson) after Nicholas Colossanto unexpectedly ed away. This emphasized the idea that, in the end, he was attached to his pub more than he was attracted to Diane.
Cheers continues to be hailed as one of the best sitcoms of all time. ittedly, it was the electric chemistry between Danson and Long that initially pulled many viewers in, wondering what Sam and Diane were up to week after week. After a while, however, it became clear that it was bigger than that love story. Instead, it was the sense of community that everybody in the bar had that made it the iconic shows that it continues to be today.