To think it must have been so humiliating and depressing for Shelley Long

[Suetully]

I caught Cheers reruns flicking through tv last night. Having not seen or thought of it in well over 25 years, I forgot how good Shelley Long was in it as Diane and her brilliant chemistry with Ted Danson.

I did some research after and she'd after 5 years left for a movie career but her career tanked and within 3 years of leaving, she was another jobbing tv actress whilst the show went strong for another 6 years and that was the show she'd deserted as the main star.

Like I can't imagine her anguish and humiliation that Danson went on to become the biggest tv star of that time, the show went to number 1 and her co-stars who were support to her reign like Kelsey Grammar and Woody Harrison became much bigger stars than she did.
She even returned to be a guest star on Frasier and he became the highest tv star in the world whilst at a time he was only brought into Cheers as her love interest.

That and her replacement Kirstie Alley became even bigger than Long was both in her carer and in general fame. It seems her name now is synonymous with a bad career move if you google her. AIBU to think that would be a pretty hard pill to swallow?

I haven’t seen EastEnders for at least 15 years..turned it on the other day and was like WTAF is this? All the 90s / 00s 'stars' are still in it!

I was under impression that the off screen chemistry between Danson & Long wasn't good. This was a factor in Long leaving, too.

For me, Kirstie Alley ruined Cheers. I couldn't warm to her hysterical flapping character at all. I never liked Fraser either. But not blaming Long for any of that.

Woody Harrelson is the big find from Cheers. That guy is the best actor of the bunch.

[quote yellowglass]@Artonthefridge

🎶We're the girls from Beverley hills,
Shopping is our greatest skill 🎶

[/quote]
Stop! Loved it!!!!!

@TheSpottedZebra

See I'm such a cynic and think she probably declined some creep's 'advances' and was blackballed.

I tend to think this is the most likely explanation for a lot of very talented actresses who suddenly disappear from view. That, or they quit the industry because they're tired of putting up with it.

I tend to think this is the most likely explanation for a lot of very talented actresses who suddenly disappear from view. That, or they quit the industry because they're tired of putting up with it

why does every thread on mn become a man-hating 'men are all creeps' train.

@Artonthefridge

Shelley Long has comedy instincts for days. She was incredible as Diane. She was incredible as Carol Brady in the Brady Bunch movies. She's incredible in Modern Family.

And, as an 80s kid, I was obsessed with her in Troop Beverly Hills...that cape!

I agree, I remember many of her films fondly and would definitely class her a success story. Not sure she needs any sort of a pity party.

She was in Outrageous Fortune with Bette Midler which is an absolutely classic 80s movie.

Shelley Long also did that one with Bette Midler where they both think they’re dating a spy. She has comic timing for days and as a kid, I knew her films really well - they were the right level of family friendly to be funny but also engaging. So for me, I perceived her as having a successful career. She certainly didn’t disappear into obscurity - when she was in Modern Family, I knew exactly who it was!

Ahhhh cross post @ChequerBoard! That was the name of it. Great film.

Oh! Thanks @ChequerBoard and @GorgeousLadyofWrestling I'm going watch Outrageous Fortune tonight.

Enjoy @Artonthefridge it’s great - Bette Midler and Shelley Long are brilliant together.

@Suetully

I tend to think this is the most likely explanation for a lot of very talented actresses who suddenly disappear from view. That, or they quit the industry because they're tired of putting up with it

why does every thread on mn become a man-hating 'men are all creeps' train.

Cos it's mumsnet, innit. People disappear from the acting scene for a variety of reasons. See Jaye Davidson, who had two critically acclaimed and succesful roles and then quit, just like that. He decided the acting business was not for him. I don't know the details about Shelley Long's career, but it's possible to make enough money from one or two succesful roles to not have to worry about working, either retirement or investing the money in a business or even just retraining outside the industry. Also many actors just keep ticking over, geting small roles. Not everyone can be A list.

And unfortunately she wasn’t that talented (her performances in Cheers are terrible) so it figures that leaving the show didn’t lead to a big career

@LukeEvansWife

And unfortunately she wasn’t that talented (her performances in Cheers are terrible) so it figures that leaving the show didn’t lead to a big career

And yet many us have great memories of her comic movies from that era.

Really struggling with this need to drag her down. I enjoyed her performances in those 80s comedies a lot. A still remember them some 30 years later so they can't have been awful. Most of the Netflix trash I can barely remember after a couple of weeks!

The person who gave us the masterpiece that is Troop Beverly Hills could ever be considered a failure!

*never

This thread seems a bit mean spirited. I'm not that familiar with her but it sounds like she had the start of a movie career, did the show and then felt that she wanted to continue in movies.

Just because continuing the show was the right choice for others, it doesn't mean it was the right choice for her. From the clip posted on the first page, she had a Disney contract vs a show that might have only continued one more year.

Lots of actors on successful shows stay to the end and then their career goes nowhere are they have been type cast as that character. Kelsey Grammar is the perfect example of that.

Would she have done it differently knowing what she knows now? Maybe, but she didn't know the future then.

Kirsty Allen reminds me of that woman who does Location Location Location.

That said it was a gamble that didn't pay off. I don't think anyone in Eastenders has ever 'made it big'.

I Don’t feel sorry for her in the least she made a bad career choice it happens. Diane wasn’t a pivotal or main character, she was easily replaced
Maybe she has a bad agent,made bad choices. Who knows. Hollywood is full of actors who declined roles that were subsequently huge
Gwyneth Paltrow turned down titanic
Christina applegate turned down legally blonde
Your other actors deserve their successes and fame. Frasier was a mega show

@VladmirsPoutine

Kirsty Allen reminds me of that woman who does Location Location Location.

That said it was a gamble that didn't pay off. I don't think anyone in Eastenders has ever 'made it big'.

Ironically, considering the OP's name, Sue Tully is a very successful TV director – not an actor admittedly.

Diane wasn’t a pivotal or main character, she was easily replaced

yes she was, her and Danson were the leads for 5 years and some fans and critics said the show didn't work as well when she left which I personally agree with.

She was a foil a supporting actress but not the main deal

I know I’m drifting slightly off topic drift @KaptainKaveman but I thought about the actor/actress naming last night whilst watching strictly, I can’t remember who but at least one was referred to as the latter. The Radio Times also makes reference to them being actresses.

I don't get why people keep bring up Eastenders as it is very different to shows like Cheers and not near the same league. Eastenders is really only big and known in Ireland and the UK.

And even having said that, it has being on the decline now in ratings and popularity for well over a decade considering the rise of the internet and streaming tv etc.

In what ways was she left with "egg on her face"?

You seem vastly over-invested, OP. You also seem to be rather enjoying the 'failure' of this actor. Why are you using terms like 'anguish and humiliation'? do you know her personally? did she tell you she felt 'humiliated' and as if she had 'egg on her face'?

Agreed. Yet another man enjoying tearing a sucessful woman down, and then complaining that MN hates men when women disagree with his take

She was a foil a supporting actress but not the main deal

did you actually watch the first 5 years of Cheers? Basically, every scene, episode, and storyine was her and Danson. They were the 2 leads and she was in no way 'supporting'.