I think the bar is higher these days in terms of audience expectations of authenticity.

In order to appeal to a wider audience on network in order to survive, generally your characters need to be, at a base level, a little bit more likable.

Cheers was one of the first shows where I paid attention to the writers because their [work] was better than everything else I was watching. The writers weren't afraid to let a joke fall slightly flat if it advanced the characters.

TV is just such a fast-moving medium that you do what you can do, and what you can't do, you don't worry about too much.

You can make a good show, but you still need some magical alchemy to get people to watch.

Obviously there are different standards and practices that are allowed on cable versus network. You just have to embrace what your network is going to allow.

The payment for sins can be delayed. But they cant be avoided.