After two seasons of struggle with low ratings and schedule shifts[1][2] NBC's Best Night of Television on Television 1984–85 Thursday lineup, consisting of (from 8 pm Eastern) The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Cheers, Night Court and Hill Street Blues, was a ratings success.

Callers who voted for either woman expected the love triangle to continue during this season, or felt that Sam and Diane should live happily ever after.

At dawn, after a night's sleep, Cliff and Carla are awakened by shaking, loud noises and bright lights.

Carla begins a relationship with Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas), a goalie from Quebec playing for the Boston Bruins.

Diane tries to persuade the jury to convict Bill Grand (Brent Spiner) for the attempted murder of his wife, Sherry (Suzanne Collins).

At a hotel, she tricks Cliff into signing a waiver-of-liability form and ends their relationship, citing a (nonexistent) husband.

The late Coach Ernie Pantusso's brother asks Sam in writing to look after his daughter, Joyce (Cady McClain) from Reedsport, Oregon, who is attending Boston University.

However, Sam and Diane convince her to think about the effect on her family, so Joyce decides to stay in school, maintaining her relationship with Woody.

Due to President Ronald Reagan's live presidential news conference at 8pm ET, this episode aired at 9:30pm ET / 8:30pm CT in the East Coast.

[39] Specials In January 1986, Shelley Long, who portrayed waitress Diane Chambers, announced her plans to leave the series when her contract would end, shortly before the beginning of the start of the sixth season.

[48][49] In December, she decided to leave her role as Diane to concentrate on her film career and family,[50][51] while Ted Danson signed a contract for the next season (1987–1988) as Sam Malone.

[59] On the other hand, Monica Collins of USA Today called Diane a friendless, "snitty, selfish snob" and was relieved to see her leave the series.

Robinson found Woody Boyd improved over the previous season, and Diane's departure poorly-written but "sad".

He praised the humor as well-aged, not topical (apart from references to then-President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union) and "rarely forced".

[65] IGN called "Thanksgiving Orphans" the fourth best Cheers episode and topped the season finale "I Do, Adieu" in the list.

Michael Ballin, Bob Douglass, Doug Gray and Thomas J. Huth received Emmys for Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series for the season premiere, "The Proposal" (1986).