Where Everybody Knows Your Name the perfect theme song for their upcoming NBC sitcom, "Cheers". Upon learning that "People Like Us" was legally bound to the musical Preppies, the Charles Brothers asked Portnoy and Hart Angelo to take a shot at composing a theme specifically for "Cheers". The song that resulted, "My Kind of People", was somewhat of a reworked version of "People Like Us". It was subsequently rejected. Portnoy and Hart Angelo then wrote and submitted two more potential themes for "Cheers". One of them, entitled "Another Day", contained a lyric line "There are times when it's fun to take the long way home"
Jerry Portnoy released an instructional package, "Jerry Portnoy's Blues Harmonica Masterclass", in 1997. In 2001, he released his second solo album, "Down in the Mood Room". Known for his dark, amplified tone, he has long been a favorite of both critics and peers. "The New York Times" (1987) said, "Mr. Portnoy crests like an alto saxophone." "Down Beat Magazine" (2002) said, "Portnoy has few equals as a harmonica player, blues or otherwise." Rick Estrin, a leading professional player as well, was quoted in "Blues Revue" (2002) as saying, "He can get so much sound out of that harp—such a beautiful, just enormous,