Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Stories from the Set of Cheers

Cliff wasn’t even supposed to exist. John Ratzenberger originally auditioned for Norm, but the producers didn’t see him in the role. Instead of walking out, he asked if they had a “bar know-it-all” — then instantly improvised one. His off-the-cuff rambling amazed the writers.

They loved the idea so much they built an entirely new character around it: Cliff Clavin, the trivia-obsessed mailman who always had a useless fact ready to go. Ratzenberger basically invented his own job on the spot, turning an almost-rejection into an unforgettable sitcom role.