In his three hit sitcoms, Ted Danson lent a listening ear as a bartender (Cheers), a doctor (Becker), and now a psychotherapist in his new series, Help Me Help You. We sat in on a conference call with this veteran TV comedy star to find out, among other things, whether he's everyone's confidant in real life.

Why do you think you're often cast as the guy people turn to with their problems?
I think I give good appearance. I look like I should be together. I think the funny comes from how un-together I am, and I think that’s pretty true in life. I remember on the Cheers set, whenever I decided to give, like, a directorial note, everyone pretty much knew to do the exact opposite.

Which of the characters in the Help Me Help You therapy group do you most identify with?
All of them! (Laughter) Which is the fun part of playing Bill Hoffman. He is as angry and confused as all of his patients. I’m probably closer to Bill Hoffman than my patients. I’m constantly thinking I’m on top of my game and quite full of myself, only to turn around and step in the proverbial pile of poo. I’m always being cut down to size. I feel that Bill Hoffman is the perfect character for me to be playing now in life.

Like Cheers before it, Help Me Help You got off to a slow start in the ratings. Given the quick hook network programmers give struggling shows these days, do you think Cheers would survive a similar start today?
One week in that first year [of Cheers], we were dead last. I think we were in the 70s at the very end. Clearly, I bring this up because at the moment, Help Me Help You is the Little Engine That Could. Each week, we seem to be increasing our audience in little bites, which is a great thing. One hopes that there is the patience to let it grow. So I don’t know. I don’t know whether it would.