The Cheers and Star Trek connection is mind-boggling

The Cheers and Star Trek connection is mind-boggling

As a huge fan of both “Cheers” and Star Trek, I’ve been absolutely captivated by the fascinating connections between these two iconic franchises. The memories I have of watching “Cheers” in the early 1980s are some of my fondest. The show was a cultural phenomenon that launched countless careers and brought joy to millions of viewers each week.


It’s intriguing when different worlds intersect. In the early 1980s, a television series titled “Cheers” debuted, quickly gaining immense popularity with its 11-season run and strong finish. The show catapulted actors like Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson to stardom while introducing new talents to the limelight. Post-“Cheers,” these cast members graced the screens in productions such as Matilda, Toy Story, Look Who’s Talking, Happy Gilmore, and numerous others.

The show, which was extremely popular, gave birth to a successful spin-off named Frasier. In this new series, Kelsey Grammer reprised his role as Frasier Crane, a key character from the initial program. This groundbreaking and influential show left an indelible mark on pop culture during its era and served as a springboard for several Star Trek actors.

Star Trek and Cheers had a mutually beneficial relationship, with many Star Trek actors making guest appearances on Cheers and its offshoots, while Star Trek provided a platform for several future Cheers stars. Notable examples include Brent Spiner, Patrick Stewart, Kristie Alley, Nana Visitor, Kate Mulgrew, and René Auberjonois, among others, who graced the screens of both franchises.

Heck, even Grammer would have a brief foray into Star Trek.

To this day, many people are puzzled about the remarkable overlap of talent between these two shows. The explanation begins with the fact that they were both once aired on Paramount television networks. Specifically, Paramount Domestic Television was responsible for producing “Star Trek,” while “Cheers” and later “Frasier” were overseen by Paramount Network Television, which is part of the same Paramount Global brand family.

The three shows utilized a common studio setup, allowing actors from any of the shows to effortlessly move between sets and earn additional income with minimal effort. Due to varying cast requirements each day, ample opportunities existed for actors to take on extra roles. This scenario applies here.

The franchise’s shows seemed to have formed a significant connection, as they occasionally referenced each other. On Deep Space Nine, there was an alien character named Morn, whose name was reminiscent of the Cheers character Norm, and who shared Norm’s talkative nature, although Morn was never heard speaking on screen. In contrast, Frasier introduced a character named Noel Shempsky, who showed an intense fascination with Star Trek.

In that Star Trek: Voyager episode titled “Persistence of Vision,” Patrick Kerr excellently portrayed his character.

The connections between different shows and universes are deep and extensive, highlighting the significant impact proximity can have on shaping our lives.

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2024-07-27 02:04

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