Ted Danson Reveals He Tried To Outperform Woody Harrelson On “Cheers”

Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson have been best friends for years, but it wasn’t always that way. In fact, their friendship kicked off with a little bit of competition. During the April 1 episode of their podcast Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (Sometimes), the two actors looked back on their early days on Cheers with legendary TV director James Burrows.

Back in the day, Ted and Woody were playing Sam Malone and Woody Boyd on Cheers, one of TV’s most iconic sitcoms. Woody joined the show in season 4 after Nicholas Colasanto, who played Coach the bartender, sadly passed away in 1985. James, who directed almost every episode of Cheers and co-created the series, called Woody a “godsend” and said he was “effortless” from the start.

One of Woody’s first big moments on the show involved jumping over the bar. James asked him if he could do it, and Woody’s response was classic: “No. Maybe.” Spoiler alert—he did it, and it became an unforgettable moment. 

Ted, on the other hand, couldn’t make the jump and ended up turning his attempt into a comedic bit that left Sam Malone hilariously frustrated.

Ted admitted that Woody’s youthful energy was a real challenge for the cast, who were all in their late 30s while Woody was just 24 or 25. “All the guys were turning 37, and you were like 24 or 25. And 37 is when you realize you’re no longer 25 as a man,” Ted joked. 

The competitiveness wasn’t just about acting — Ted and the other guys tried to beat Woody at basketball, arm wrestling, and even chess. The result? They lost every single time.

Eventually, they gave up trying to outdo him in anything physical and decided to go for practical jokes instead. Ted remembered plotting pranks, thinking, “I have to wait for Woody. I have to try to f— Woody up.” The sense of fun and rivalry became part of their dynamic, both on and off the set.

James credited Woody with breathing new life into the show just when it needed it most. After four seasons, the cast was starting to feel a little restless, and Woody’s wild, youthful energy kept everyone on their toes. The director said Woody was like a young soul “who created havoc — the best havoc a director of that show could ever want.”

Woody, looking back, called Cheers “the most idyllic, amazing experience” and praised James as “the greatest leader” who gave them the freedom to have fun as long as they delivered the goods. He couldn’t imagine a better experience for an actor, and his excitement about the role never faded.

Cheers ultimately ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, and even though the show ended, the friendship between Ted and Woody never did.