Here she is in the late 80s discussing it, and she seems happy to talk about it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMUFHKSGG5Q&feature=related

I remember that Ted Danson comment about not being able to remember anything nice about Long I think it was to TV Guide. But I also5b4 remember that a week later after much criticism he backtracked and said she was great. I've heard that only Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) liked her, and that after he died she had no friends on the set.

Australian TV interview:
Don't listen to rumors and hearsay. Watch this video and see for yourself. She answers questions about the show, and comes across as intelligent, mature, tactful, and still very beautiful!

It seems like Shelley Long started having difficulties with the cast starting in season 4. Sometimes in high fame situations, people let certain ideas get to their head. The first conflict came when she tried to get Kelsey Grammer fired (since he stole some of the intelligent humor), which made her distant from the cast. After she decided to leave CHEERS to focus on her film career and spend time with her daughter, the entire cast/crew became upset (feeling the show was in jeopardy). I think it was this time when most of the insults and bitter feelings arose in interviews. However, by the time the finale of the show came around, most of the bitter feelings seemed to be gone. At the NBC 75th Anniversary, Danson and Long were very close. Furthermore, Kelsey Grammer said the FRASIER episode: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back" is one of his favorites because he and Long made amends from their time on CHEERS (which mirrored the plot of the episode, where Diane and Frasier make amends).
As for why Shelley Long "freaks out" over interviews, it is likely because she has been asked about leaving CHEERS constantly since 1987, I think after 23 years, she would be pretty tired of it.
I'm glad she is getting positive reviews and praise for her appearance on Modern Family, she deserves it.

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Is there a link to any of these interviews?

true, i remember Ted Danson sayin that he can't think of a single good thing about Long

Really?? I've mainly heard she didn't get along well with most people from the Cheers set.

Maybe that means she does regret it as I understand the show's cast was very close and it's quite likely she regretted having to give that up

i just remember her walking out on 3 seperate interviews afew years ago - literally got up and walked out.

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