although the program was short lived, several of the principals subsequently became involved in long-running and popular sitcoms created after the show's demise. series creators crane and kauffman went on to develop "friends", which lasted 10 years. among the actors, joseph gordon-levitt took a role in "3rd rock from the sun", robin bartlett played a recurring part on "mad about you", peter macnicol would soon reach fame with a similar eccentric character (as john cage) in fox's "ally mcbeal", and david hyde pierce was chosen for his role as niles crane in the series "frasier" partly on the basis of his work in this program. holland taylor also went on to greater sitcom stardom later in the cbs sitcom "two and a half men".