Ted Danson felt trapped in a cycle of sitcom roles after his breakthrough success in Cheers, becoming increasingly bored with his career as newer comedy shows with younger talent emerged. The turning point came in 2007 when he joined the legal drama Damages, stepping away from comedy for the first time in years and reminding audiences of his versatility as an actor.

In the post-Cheers era, Danson starred in the short-lived sitcom Ink (cancelled after one season) and the longer-running Becker (six seasons), but largely remained within the comedy genre despite having the opportunity to expand his range. By his 60th birthday, he recognised he was in a creative rut, particularly as he watched programmes like The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and 30 Rock redefine television comedy. His casting as corrupt billionaire Arthur Frobisher in Damages (2007–2010) proved transformative, earning strong critical reviews and subsequently opening doors to dramatic roles including CSI, demonstrating there was far more to his abilities than his long association with sitcoms suggested.