Who composed the incidental music for Cheers?

Craig Safan composed the incidental music for Cheers.

Safan supplied the series’ recurring underscore and dramatic or comic cues throughout its run. His work helped give scenes their emotional shape without competing with the dialogue, an especially important role in a sitcom built around rapid exchanges and ensemble timing.

The title theme is the main source of confusion. “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” was written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo, so they are associated with the show’s opening song. Safan, however, was credited as the series composer for the instrumental incidental music. These are related but separate musical responsibilities.

Safan’s television career extended well beyond Cheers, including work on Amazing Stories, The New Twilight Zone, and Tales from the Crypt. For Cheers, his scoring was recognized with repeated ASCAP awards during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The distinction between theme composer and series composer makes Craig Safan the canonical answer to this question.