Title: Save the Last Dance for Me
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Heide Perlman
Air Date: February 27, 1986
Previous: Dark Imaginings
Next: Fear Is My Co-Pilot
Guest Starring: Dan Hedaya, Jean Kasem
"Save the Last Dance for Me" is the 20th episode of the fourth season of Cheers.
It seems that, before Carla Tortelli was a downtrodden waitress with way too many kids, she was a minor, local TV star! Back in the day, teenaged Carla and her boyfriend Nick were regular dancers on "Boston Boppers", a New England ripoff of nationally-televised American Bandstand. Unfortunately for Carla, Nick knocked her up, and they both got kicked off the show.
Carla comes into the bar very excited, because "Boston Boppers" is airing an anniversary show and inviting its old dancers to return. The show will be a dance contest in which the winners get $500 each and tickets to Hawaii. After Carla gets the bar to call Nick for her so she doesn't have to call herself, they agree to go together and win the prize. However, Nick's obnoxiousness causes a fight, and Nick decides he will dance in the contest with Loretta. Carla, in return, goes with Sam Malone.
Tropes:
- Bland-Name Product: Nick is pursuing a second business as a manager for fifth-rate talent acts. Loretta is in a singing group called the Lemon Sisters (read: the Lennon Sisters), and he also manages a guy named Wayne Newman (read: Wayne Newton).
- Could Say It, But...: How Carla gets the gang to call Nick for her.Carla: There's no way I'd call and ask him. And I really don't want anyone else getting any crazy ideas, like calling him in Atlantic City at 555-4397. Well, here I go, out of earshot in the poolroom for about 15 minutes.
- Dance-Off: Nick and Carla compete in a televised dance contest—against each other, Nick dancing with Loretta and Carla dancing with Sam.
- Disco Dan: Apparently the case with one of the other dancers. Asked who she admired the most back in the '60s, she says "Frankie Avalon." Asked who she admires now, she replies "I'd have to say...Fabian."
- Et Tu, Brute?: Diane says "Et tu, Woody?" after Woody echoes Sam and talks about "picking up the babes."
- Hypocritical Humor: Woody asks Diane for advice on talking to women. Diane advises Woody against an It's All About Me approach, noting scornfully that "People have an endless fascination with their own little world." Then she starts yammering on and on about herself, not even noticing when Woody leaves and Cliff replaces him on the barstool.
- ...Or So I Heard: Sam says that the reason behind Mikhail Baryshnikov's sex appeal is those ballet tights. Cliff says that he bets Baryshnikov is "padded", and says "Probably ordered it from that catalogue."Norm: What catalogue?
Cliff: [Beat] Well, I heard some guys talking. - Polyamory: Well, Nick gives it his best shot. He invites Carla to go to Hawaii with him. She's overjoyed, until she asks "What about Loretta?", and Nick replies "What about her? She's waiting at the airport!" Carla smashes an egg on Nick's forehead and the episode ends.Nick: Is that a no?
- Staircase Tumble: Carla tells Nick that she's going to dance with Eddie Csznyk, "The Polish Prancer." Eddie accepts, but he trips on the stairs down to Cheers and injures himself.
- Titled After the Song: The title is obviously a shout-out to R&B classic single "Save the Last Dance for Me".
