Ted Danson Day – December 29th

On this day in 1947, Edward Bridge Danson III was born in San Diego, CA, and was mostly raised in Flagstaff, AZ. He appeared in multiple TV shows in the 1970s with small parts and found his breakthrough role in 1982 as the owner/bartender of Cheers, which was a Top-10 program for eight of its 11 seasons and earned him 11 Emmy nominations for his role as Sam Malone. After Cheers, Danson went on to star in many popular shows and films.

Danson was an early adopter of the environmentalism movement and was a contributing founder of the American Oceans Campaigns in the 1980s to promote public awareness of the devastating effects of ocean pollution. As a board member of Oceana, he testified before Congress on the importance of limiting offshore drilling and supporting sustainable fishing. He was also a coauthor of Oceana: Our Endangered Oceans and What We Can Do To Save Them with Michael D’Orso.

Danson received negative press in 1993 for wearing blackface at a Friars Club comedy roast honoring Whoopi Goldberg. Goldberg defended his sketch, explaining that much of the material had been her idea; it turned out that Goldberg and Danson had been having an affair. Danson has been married to actress Mary Steenburgen since 1995. It’s been rumored that he’s been an Episcopalian pescetarian since 2016.

Music Du Jour: Cheers Theme and Make Some Noise by The Beastie Boys. Also, here’s a link to the Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson Podcast “Where everyone knows your name.”

Films Du Jour:

• Mayor (2021 Series)
• The Good Place (2016-2020 Series)
• Hearts Beat Loud (2018)
• Fargo (2015 Series)
• CSI (2011-2015 Series)
• Help Me Help You (2006 Series)
• Knights of the South Bronx (2005)
• Living with the Dead (2002)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 Series)
• Mumford (1999)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Becker (1998 Series)
• Gulliver’s Travels (1996)
• Loch Ness (1996)
• Ink (1996 Series)
• Made in America (1993)
• Challenge of the Seas (1991 Series)
• Dad (1989)
• Cousins (1989)
• Three Men and a Baby (1987)
• Cheers (1982 Series)

Snacks du Jour: Any bar snacks or pescatarian friendly snacks.

Cocktail Du Jour – Dirty Martini

Danson has been quoted as saying he prefers vodka and cranberry with soda in the summer months and Dirty Martinis in the winter. Well…it’s winter.

• 5 oz vodka
• 5 oz dry vermouth
• 5 oz Mediterranean olive brine

Shake all ingredients vigorously with ice in a shaker and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with 3 to 5 speared olives (blue cheese stuffed if you prefer).

Mocktail Du Jour – Sparkling Cranberry Mocktail

Ted’s summer choice is easier to mock than the Dirty. BTW, Sam Malone, Ted’s bartending character on Cheers, did not drink alcohol. Also, Cheers Boston has a mocktail called Rebecca’s Ruby Red, which is named after Kirstie Alley’s character.

• 1 oz non-alcohol vodka
• 3 oz cranberry juice cocktail
• 4 oz club soda

Stir non-alcohol vodka and cranberry juice in a highball glass with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with speared cherries.

Beer Du Jour

Norm Peterson sat behind a beer every week on Cheers, but the draft beer served to the cast was actually near beer with a little salt added to increase the bubbles. George Wendt, the actor who played Norm, said that West Coast IPAs were among his favorite beers in real life.

Wine Du Jour

On Cheers, both Diane and Lilith have been shown drinking white wine. Frazier usually drank Sherry.

Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.

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Photo credit: “Ted Danson 2008 number 2 (cropped)” by Rob Dicaterino is licensed under CC BY 2.0.