Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and George Wendt Recall a Wild Boat Trip on Mushrooms During Cheers Filming

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As a dedicated fan of Cheers and its iconic cast, I must say that listening to the wild tales from the set has only amplified my admiration for these talented individuals. Hearing about their impromptu boat trip during the filming of Any Friend of Diane’s is a testament to their camaraderie and playful spirit. I can almost imagine Sam, Woody, and Norm sharing a beer at the bar, reminiscing about that fateful day when they decided to take a break from work and embark on an adventure on a boat.

Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson, and George Wendt, who are known for their roles in Cheers, recently told an exciting tale from their time on the popular sitcom. In their latest podcast episode titled “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” they fondly recalled a day when they skipped work for a fun boat ride.

The exciting event unfolded while they were filming the 1982 episode titled “Any Friend of Diane’s.” Since this episode primarily spotlighted Diane, the cast members opted for a break. John Ratzenberger, in character as Cliff, had recently acquired a boat and was keen to share it with others. As a result, Danson, Harrelson, and Wendt concocted a plan to take an unscheduled day off.

In his own words, Danson, portraying Sam Malone, recalled an incident where we all gathered at his boat. Woody and I were already under the influence of something. We made a call from a public phone to the show, pretending I wasn’t feeling well enough to come in. Then, I passed the phone to someone else. Wendt chimed in, “I believe someone said they were feeling seasick.”

After boarding the boat, Kelsey Grammer (known for his role as Frasier) dozed off promptly following a lengthy card game. Later on, Harrelson suggested some mushrooms to Danson, a novelty he hadn’t experienced before. Danson reminisced, “Woody asked me, ‘Have you ever tried mushrooms?’ I replied in the negative, and he said, ‘This could be quite an experience; we have all the time in the world.'”

As they navigated towards Santa Catalina Island, the influence of the mushrooms along with the turbulent waves brought by a hurricane sent Danson into a state of panic, whereas Harrelson remained calm and composed. In his distressed state, Danson perceived Harrelson as a skeleton, while Harrelson found humor in Danson’s appearance, likening him to a hologram.

Regarding his less-than-ideal experience, Danson conceded there might be another attempt with mushrooms, but undeniably not amidst a hurricane. He declared, “It seems like the circumstances make all the difference, but most certainly not in the midst of a storm.”

1. On “Cheers,” a hit series that spanned over 11 seasons, the trio of actors thoroughly enjoyed their work together. Later in May, Danson and Harrelson started a podcast through Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco network, reminiscing about their entertaining experiences from their time on the show.

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2024-08-16 13:54