Recap / Cheers S 5 E 3 Money Dearest

Episode: Season 5, Episode 3
Title: Money Dearest
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Janet Leahy
Air Date: October 9, 1986
Previous: The Cape Cad
Next: Abnormal Psychology
Guest Starring: Frances Sternhagen, Richard Erdman, Paul Willson

"Money Dearest" is the third episode of the fifth season of Cheers.

An older gentleman, one Duncan Fitzgerald, comes into the bar and buys a round of drinks for the house. Cliff, who's been away on vacation, wonders who he is. He's told that Mr. Fitzgerald is a millionaire who made his fortune by inventing a part used in jet engines. Dollar signs immediately flash before Cliff's eyes as he pictures setting up Fitzgerald with his mother, who is of a similar age.

Cliff brings his mom (Frances Sternhagen, in the first of seven appearances as Esther Clavin) into the bar. Amazingly, his scheme works: not only do Ma and Fitz wind up hitting it off, they get engaged! Cliff throws a party for Fitz at Cheers—and tragedy strikes.

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Tropes:

• Ask a Stupid Question...: Ma Clavin mentions that she's been to Montana. As an increasingly flop-sweaty Cliff tries to get Ma and Fitz talking, he says "You've ridden in jet planes, haven't you?" Ma scornfully answers "No, I walked to Montana."
• Character Filibuster: Evidently the gang let Diane do part of the eulogy for Duncan. Her choice of poem goes on so long she gets cut off, which she's miffed about.
  Carla: We had to, the eternal flame was going out!
• Cool Old Lady: Ma Clavin, much as she may be as much of a know-it-all as her son, actually gets on better with the gang of Cheers than he does.
  • Despite Carla's animosity with Cliff, she gets along famously with Ma Clavin.
• December–December Romance: Cliff's matchmaking pays off, as Fitz and Ma fall in love and get engaged.
• Dirty Old Man: Or old woman. Ma Clavin may be about to get married, but she's got no problem going to Carla's choice of a male strip-joint.
• Fanservice Extra: The two belly dancers that Sam hires to entertain at the bachelor party. It turns out to be a bad idea.
• Five-Second Foreshadowing: A red-faced Fitz is having a whale of a time dancing with the Bedlah Babes. Sam suggests that maybe Fitz should take a rest. He doesn't, and moments later he has a heart attack and dies.
• Incredibly Lame Fun: Carla and Esther want to go take in some sights for her hen night. Diane would rather go to what sounds like a pretentious restaurant instead, so they ditch her. Twice.
• Inelegant Blubbering: Ma's loud, extended wailing as Cliff hugs her leads Cliff to say "Ma, you know, there's a fine line between expressing your feelings and blubbering."
• Little Known Facts: The guys learn something about Cliff when Ma Clavin says that Cliff doesn't talk much at home, then launches into a boring spiel: "It's a little-known fact that arctic wolves who remained in the den too long exhibited a tendency to be reticent in their howling."
• Low Count Gag: After Ma and Fitz get engaged, Cliff decides to throw a party.
  Cliff: Call all my friends.
  Norm: I think he moved.
• Orphaned Punchline: We hear Sam finish a joke with "Well that may be so, but this one's eating my popcorn!". This Orphaned Punchine, also featured in The Sting and Men in Black, happens to be the punchline to a real joke.
• A Round of Drinks for the House: Fitz is introduced when he strolls into the bar and orders a round for everybody. We soon find out that 1) he's rich and 2) he doesn't have any family, which is why he spends his money buying drinks for the folks at Cheers.
• Spit Take: A variation on this. Cliff is drinking a beer when Fitz says he'll give his fortune away. A shocked Cliff then lets the rest of his beer pour down his chin.