We were trying to figure who to cast for Ronny’s part. I had seen John Mahoney on Broadway in The House of Blue Leaves, so I knew he played the piano. We hired him. He came out and we shot a few scenes, then I said, “John, now you have to play the piano.” John said, “I don’t play the piano.” We had actually killed Frasier’s father off in the ninth season of Cheers. Frasier walked in with a stuffed owl and said his father was a famous professor and the owl was his prized possession. He asked Sam if he wanted to keep it in the bar. Sam said, “Hell, no.” Frasier told him, “Toss it.” That was the
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