Cheers, the sitcom (situation comedy; see entry under 1950s—TV and Radio in volume 3) that aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993, was one of the most critically and popularly acclaimed programs on television (see entry under 1940s—TV and Radio in volume 3). Created by writers Glen Charles, Les Charles, and James Burrows, the series focused on the eccentric staff and customers of Cheers, a bar in Boston, Massachusetts. When it premiered in 1982, NBC was the lowest-rated broadcast network with no series among television's top twenty programs. Cheers barely survived its initial season. It remained on the air only because of the persistence of network executives who believed the quality show would eventually attract an audience. In 1985, NBC became the dominant network based largely on the success of Cheers and other popular sitcoms in its Thursday night "Must See TV" lineup like The Cosby Show (1984–92; see entry under 1980s—TV...