Title: Cheerio, Cheers
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Sam Simon
Air Date: April 11, 1985
Previous: The Executive's Executioner
Next: The Bartender's Tale
Guest Starring: Kelsey Grammer
"Cheerio, Cheers" is the 22nd episode of the third season of Cheers.
Frasier enters the bar with big news: he has been named the next visiting professor at the University of Bologna. Diane is surprised by this news and surprisingly unenthusiastic about the prospect of six months in Italy. Frasier guesses correctly that the real reason Diane is not too enthused about a dream vacation is her unresolved feelings for Sam, but Diane plays it off as being worried about Sam The Alcoholic falling Off the Wagon like he did after he and Diane broke up. Sam, on his part, is encouraging and agrees to throw a Bon Voyage party at the bar.
After her hesitation Diane feigns enthusiasm and agrees to leave Cheers and go away to Italy with Frasier. But she still can't get past her feelings for Sam, leading to a confrontation.
Nicholas Colasanto's last appearance as Coach (Colasanto died on February 12, 1985), with the exception of a Deleted Scene that was repurposed as the Cold Open for the Season 3 finale. (This was after Coach missed four episodes in a row. Given Shelley Long's noticeably smaller baby bump, it seems likely that this episode was filmed earlier, before Colasanto had to quit working.)
Tropes:
- Ask a Stupid Question...:Frasier: Diane and I are going to Europe.
Sam: (shocked) Europe? Overseas?
Diane: Well, we were going to go to the local one but it's all booked up! - Crisis of Faith: Carla the fundamentalist Catholic questions the existence of God. She's depressed about her life as a struggling single mother with five kids and another on the way, and says that if there were a God, he wouldn't let her suffer the way she does. Carla's faith in God is instantly restored when Sam steps out of his office and announces to the bar that Diane is leaving forever.
- Double-Meaning Title: Albeit unintentionally. Although “Cheerio, Cheers” serves as a send-off for Diane, this was also Nicholas Colasanto’s final episode as well due to his passing a few days later after filming this episode. This remains his final acting credit.
- Exact Words: Norm and Cliff bid Diane goodbye. As they're leaving the bar Diane says "Hey, come on, you two. I'm waiting for a kiss." So Norm and Cliff kiss each other.
- Literal-Minded: Coach, one last time. As she leaves, Diane tells him to stand by Sam. So Coach starts going to actually stand next to Sam. Diane has to stop him and change her request to watch over him.
- Moment Killer: Surprisingly, Sam. Earlier in the episode Sam tells Frasier how Diane can never be spontaneous and has to analyze everything. At the end when they are locked in a passionate embrace and headed for the door, Diane says "Wait, Sam." Sam immediately freaks out, yelling "I KNEW you couldn't be spontaneous!" All Diane wanted was to get her purse, but the moment is thoroughly killed, and Diane goes home alone.
- Speak in Unison: Frasier takes Sam into the office in the guise of examining Sam's unresolved feelings about Diane, but instead pours out to Sam his own anxieties about Diane really liking Sam. Sam reassures Frasier that he and Diane are finished. Diane enters the office and asks "How is he?", and Sam and Frasier both say "He'll be fine."
- Split-Screen Phone Call: Even after bidding Sam goodbye, supposedly forever, Diane still can't stop herself from calling Sam from London.
