Recap / Cheers S 9 E 2

Episode: Season 9, Episode 2
Title: Love Is a Really, Really Perfectly OK Thing
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Phoef Sutton
Air Date: September 27, 1990
Previous: Love Is a Really, Really Perfectly OK Thing
Next: Rebecca Redux
Guest Starring: Bebe Neuwirth, Roger Rees, Kevin Mc Hale, Joel Polis

"Cheers Fouls Out" is the second episode of the ninth season of Cheers.

It's that time of year again, Cheers versus Gary's Old Towne Tavern, and the sport of choice this time is basketball. Gary just happens to have hired two incredibly tall guys are ringers. Naturally, Cheers are just as willing to cheat as he. It turns out that Sam recently played golf with none other than Kevin McHale, an all-star for the Boston Celtics. Sam gets Kevin to agree to play in the game, by lying and telling Kevin that the game is for charity.

Meanwhile, Frasier and Lilith have had a falling out, and as punishment, Lilith's denying Frasier sex.

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Tropes:

• As Himself: Kevin McHale of the Boston Celtics appears as himself, getting duped into being a ringer.
• The Bad Guy Wins: Gary, slimy bastard that he is, gets away with scamming Cheers out of their money. The only consolation the bar can take is that they're not as big a bunch of weenies as Frasier.
• Blatant Lies: Not actually when the episode aired, but a kind of implied retroactive example. Frasier claims that both his parents are dead in a lighthearted attempt to get Sam to give him the charity money intended for orphans. At the time the episode aired, it was intended that both his parents would be dead. Frasier will establish his father is still very much alive and well.
• Blue-and-Orange Morality: Carla admits that bringing Kevin in as a ringer is cheating, but it's good cheating.
• Cross-Referenced Titles: Oddly, averted. While the other "Bar Wars" episodes from Season 6 to Season 11 were all titled with some variation of "Bar Wars", this one is simply titled "Cheers Fouls Out". It should be called "Bar Wars IV: Cheers Fouls Out".
• Facepalm: Frasier does in one in despair after Lilith screws with his head.
• Hypocritical Humor:
  • Woody gets grumpy about calling in a ringer from French Lick, because they think people from Hanover are doofuses, when everyone from Hanover knows people from French Lick are the doofuses.
  • Watching Sam try to talk Kevin into being their ringer, Frasier declares no amount of begging, pleading or cajoling can change a person's mind. Kevin then agrees to work at Cheers. Frasier asks if Sam can call Lilith for him.
  • Seeing Frasier unravelling, Cliff proclaims his getting aroused by a wine glass is pathetic, then asks Woody to give him a drink in a "girly" glass.
  • After playing a few minutes of basketball, Norm declares he can't move anymore. Then Sam suggests he goes and gets a beer. Norm bolts out of the room.
• I Never Got Any Letters: The cold open has Rebecca visiting Robin in prison, asking him about those sexy pictures she sent him, which Robin's never seen, or heard of. Three guesses which Boston barmaid has them, and what she's doing with them.
• Insult Backfire: Carla tells Woody he's a doofus. Woody proudly states he'd rather be a doofus from Hanover rather than a doofus from French Lick.
• Lightbulb Joke: Kevin McHale shares an Indiana-themed one from Larry Bird, which insults Hanover - how many people from Hanover does it take to change a lightbulb? None, because they have to go to French Lick just to get a light bulb.
• Little Known Facts: Basketball was invented by the Ancient Celtics, as was the parquet floor.
  Frasier: (after hearing this) You've been working without your hat, haven't you, Cliff?
• Lysistrata Gambit: As punishment for saying the wrong thing about her weight, Lilith denies Frasier sex.
• No Fair Cheating: Cheers gets basketball player Kevin McHale as a ringer. They win, but Gary cleverly tricks Sam into donating the $5000 to charity while Gary gets the credit.
• Oh, Crap!: In the beginning, Frasier enters the bar to find Norm tending bar, and is horrified, thinking he's wound up in one of Norm's dreams.
• Once a Season: The yearly battle with Gary's Olde Towne Tavern.
• Prison: Rebecca visits Robin Colcord in jail.
• Schmuck Bait: What Lilith asked Frasier was whether she looked fat. Frasier unthinkingly responded that she looked fine.
  Norm: Oh, rookie mistake.
• Series Continuity Error: One of many reference on Cheers to Frasier's father being dead, retconned on Frasier.
• Troll: Lilith realizes the effect not getting any is having on Frasier, and she's enjoying every moment of it.
  Lilith: Look at my day planner, we've made love every night this weekend. Oh, good heavens that wasn't you.
  Frasier: What do you mean it wasn't me?
  Lilith: I'm kidding, see? Look how tense you are, you wouldn't enjoy it.
  Frasier: Well, fine. (sulkily) I don't want it anyway.
  Lilith: Yes, you do.
  Frasier: I do not.
  Lilith: You do so.
  Frasier: Alright, I do.
  Lilith: Well, you're not getting any. (smirks) Oh, Frasier, isn't it enough I'm doing it to your mind?
• White-Dwarf Starlet: Carla's impersonation of Sam reminding people about his Sox days consists of grabbing people and screaming "YA GOTTA REMEMBER ME!"
• You Need to Get Laid: Frasier, denied sex, starts to mentally unravel. He starts to really unravel.
  Frasier: (looking at a wine glass) Boy, look at the curves on that glass. Feel that...
  Norm: Boy, he's really not getting any, is he?

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