Ted Danson now stars on CSI as investigator D.B. Russell, but the former Cheers star was dishing on his political pals this morning on CBS This Morning .
While Ted Danson was a facet of one of TV’s most influential sitcoms, he’s also proud of his new gig — even though he’s a relative newcomer.
Danson spoke today about his current work, saying of his addition to the team:
“I can boast on the show because I’m the new boy… I’ve only been there for 50 episodes, but it’s pretty rare that a show does 300 episodes and is still the top one or two in the world.”
And while Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson — along with Norm and Cliff — are part of TV history, he doesn’t think actors are so much the lifeblood of television hits.
Of his number of big titles past and present, Danson muses:
“The writing attracts the good actors and then you get the good directors, but it starts in the writing.”
The actor’s humility is both a current and past thing, as he not only downplays his role in his role, but also attributes his success to the success of Cheers — and admits that like viewers, he still hangs on to the old characters he played:
“I am forever grateful for Cheers . It’s the reason why I’m sitting here now. Plus I think of everything I do as Sam Malone – Sam Malone sees dead people now, Sam Malone becomes a doctor.”
Danson also dished on his close friendship with Bill and Hillary Clinton, through Mary Steenburgen . He explains of the relationship:
“They were best friends and – I mean – he gave her away at our wedding… It’s hard to believe still to me sometimes how close we all are, because it sounds kind of pretentious, but they are best friends – I mean – I watched her give him a ‘noogie’ in The Oval Office.”
QOTD: ” I watched her give him a noogie in the Oval Office.” Actor Ted Danson of friendship with Bill & Hillary Clinton, on @CBSThisMorning .
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) October 21, 2013
Today we have #CSI ‘s Ted Danson, and #OnceUponATime ‘s @jenmorrisonlive !! #KellyandMichael #uglyducklings
— LIVEKellyandMichael (@KellyandMichael) October 21, 2013
The lovely Mary Steenburgen with husband Ted Danson. #LASTVegas pic.twitter.com/ksv8qg3NVC
— ARIA Las Vegas (@AriaLV) October 19, 2013
You can watch Ted Danson’s CBS interview above.