Cheers decadent old-money WASPs," but, to meet producers' demands, they rewrote the lyrics to be about "likeable losers" in a Boston bar. The show's producers rejected this song, as well. After they read the script of the series pilot, they created another song "Another Day". When Portnoy and Hart Angelo heard that NBC had commissioned thirteen episodes, they created an official theme song "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" and rewrote the lyrics. On syndicated airings of "Cheers", the theme song was shortened to make room for commercials. "Cheers" was critically acclaimed in its first season, though it landed a disappointing 74th
Michael Portnoy Michael Portnoy Michael Portnoy is an American multimedia artist, choreographer, musician, actor and curator. He calls himself a "Director of Behavior". He has been described in "Art in America" as "one of the most interesting performance artists anywhere". Portnoy was born in Washington, D.C., and studied comparative literature and creative writing at Vassar College and theater at the National Theater Institute at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. After moving to New York City, he formed several short-lived experimental theater groups and then began concentrating on solo performance. His early performance works, such as "Gymnastics and Schizophrenia" and "5teen3sy: Kicking Games