LAST CALL FOR ‘CHEERS’ BARMAID SHELLEY LONG

The on-again, off-again romance between the highbrow barmaid and the ex-jock barkeeper on NBC’s hit sitcom “Cheers” is over, actress Shelley Long announced Tuesday.

Long, who has played the role of Diane Chambers opposite Ted Danson as Sam Malone since “Cheers” premiered in 1982, gave formal notice that she will be leaving at the end of the season. She cited family commitments and her recently launched movie ventures.

“I feel very sad to be leaving, but I’m fortunate to have many wonderful things in my future,” Long said. A spokesperson for the Emmy Award-winning actress said that Long will complete about nine more “Cheers” segments before leaving the show in March.

Long’s Itzbinso Long Productions recently joined with Walt Disney Studios in a series of movie projects. She also will appear next month in a separate Disney film, “Outrageous Fortune,” with Bette Midler.

The producers of “Cheers” promised that the popular series--it ranks third among prime-time series this season--will continue.

“It has been a great five years working with Shelley Long as Diane Chambers,” producers Glen Charles, James Burrows and Les Charles said in a joint statement. “ ‘Cheers’ will never be the same without her. We do not know what the show will be without Shelley but we look forward to our sixth season as an exciting challenge.”