“Cheers” reunion at the ATX TV Festival
Cast reminiscent of series favorite Kirstie Alley
US sitcom “Cheers” with the actors John Ratzenberger (left), Kirstie Alley and George Wendt.
© imago/Everett Collection
The “Cheers” cast celebrated reunion and remembered the deceased series favorite Kirstie Alley – as well as a curious gift.
The cast of the popular US sitcom “Cheers” (1982-1993, NBC) celebrated a weekend Reunion at the ATX TV Festival in Austin, Texas. The actors George Wendt (74) and John Ratzenberger (76) remembered the deceased series favorite Kirstie Alley (1951-2022).
As reported by “People” magazine, the actors shared of their welcoming gift for Alley when she joined the sitcom for its sixth season. Wendt and Ratzenberger’s choice fell on a “shotgun”. They found what they were looking for in a very “trendy area” in Melrose, Hollywood. Ratzenberger went on to say that Wendt took the joke to the extreme with a greeting card. “I think you even wrote on the card, ‘You have to shoot your way out,'” he said. After that they were “never again entrusted with the organization of gifts”.
Kirstie Alley, who died of cancer in December aged 71, rose to fame in 1987 for her role as Rebecca Howe on the hit NBC sitcom. She received a 1991 Golden Globe for Best Actress and an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance in the Boston-based series.
The ATX TV Festival
The ATX TV Festival brings together TV fans and the industry to “celebrate the favorite moments on TV”, as it says on the home page. It was held for the 12th time in downtown Austin, Texas. “Past, current and upcoming series were presented in the form of reunions, screenings, Q&As, panel discussions” and many other events. Among other things, “pilot films that were never broadcast, series that were discontinued all too soon, current favorites and world premieres” were shown.