Cheers premiered in 1982. Danson beat out the likes of Fred Dryer, but don’t cry for Dryer. Dryer got his own NBC show years later. His cop drama Hunter ran from 1984 to 1991.

Dryer was a defensive end from 1973 to 1981, first with the New York Giants and then, for most his career, the Los Angeles Rams. And he was good, making to the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl during ...