What NBC programming lineup did Cheers spend much of its run on?

Cheers spent much of its run on NBC’s Must See TV lineup.

The sitcom was scheduled on NBC’s Thursday-night comedy block during the network’s strongest programming era. NBC promoted the broader Thursday lineup as “Must See Thursday,” commonly shortened in popular usage to “Must See TV.” Cheers benefited from the powerful shows placed around it, including Family Ties and The Cosby Show.

The show did not begin as an immediate ratings giant. Its 1982 premiere ranked near the bottom of the Nielsen ratings, but summer reruns helped build an audience. By the time NBC’s Thursday strategy matured, Cheers had become one of the network’s signature programs.

The alternatives refer to other television branding or programming ideas, but they were not the lineup most associated with Cheers. “TGIF” was ABC’s Friday-night family sitcom block, while Nick at Nite was a cable programming block. Cheers remained a major part of NBC’s Thursday identity until its final season in 1993.