NAMES IN THE NEWS : ‘Cheers’ Can Live, Danson Says

Ted Danson says “Cheers” could survive his departure.

“It’s a very depressing thought, but it’s true. The show has a life of its own,” said Danson, who will return for a ninth season but isn’t sure about a 10th.

“I’m taking the summer off to think about it,” said Danson, who plays the Lothario bartender Sam Malone on the NBC series.

Danson is filming “Three Men and a Lady,” a sequel to the 1987 box office smash “Three Men and a Baby.” He also appeared in the 1989 movies “Cousins” and “Dad.”

“The question is whether I want to hang around and do a 10th season,” he said recently. “I just don’t have the legs anymore to run around for eight months doing ‘Cheers’ and then run around three more months doing movies.”