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

During season six, the writers had a bold cliffhanger in mind: Sam would learn that a former girlfriend was HIV positive, leaving him terrified he might be at risk too. It would’ve been one of the show’s most dramatic, socially relevant storylines, especially for a character known for his romantic past.

But the episode never even made it to the cameras. The 1988 writers’ strike halted production before the story could be written or filmed. The idea was ultimately dropped, leaving fans unaware how close Cheers came to a rare, heavy cliffhanger.