"The key to sitcom success is miserable people. If you see a happy couple, it's just gone, like when Sam and Diane got together on Cheers"

In this quote, star Matthew Perry is suggesting that the secret to a successful sitcom is having characters who are unhappy or miserable. He believes that if a couple in a sitcom is represented as pleased, it takes away from the comical element of the show. Perry references the popular comedy Cheers, where the characters Sam and Diane lastly got together after an extended period of tension and will-they-won't-they minutes. He indicates that as soon as they became a happy couple, the program lost a few of its appeal. This quote highlights the significance of dispute and stress in creating a successful comedy, along with the idea that joy may not constantly produce excellent comedy.