Episode: Season 1, Episode 2
Title:"Sam's Women"
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Earl Pomerantz
Air Date: October 7, 1982
Previous: Give Me a Ring Sometime
Next: The Tortelli Tort
Guest Starring: John Ratzenberger, Angela Aames, Donnelly Rhodes, Donna Mc Kechnie
"Sam's Women" is the second episode of the first season of Cheers.
When a smoking hot but dim-witted blonde named Brandee enters the bar, Sam starts hitting on her, much to Diane's amused derision. Sam is so offended by Diane's scorn that he forgets about Brandee, who promptly leaves the bar with another man. Sam then decides to prove to Diane that he dates smart women, too.
In the B-plot, Coach gives advice to a desperate man who has come all the way from Seattle to seek help from a man named Gus, the former owner of Cheers.
A pre-stardom Keenen Ivory Wayans can be briefly spotted as a background customer.
Tropes:
- The Bartender: In this particular episode a man flies cross-country to consult with former bartender and bar owner Gus when he has a family crisis. Coach takes on the challenge, as it turns out that Gus is dead. (This led to both a Continuity Nod and a Series Continuity Error way out in Season 11, when a very much alive Gus pops back up at the bar.)
- Belligerent Sexual Tension: This plot element, which would run through Shelley Long's entire time on the show, is first introduced here. Diane scorns Sam's bimbo date, Sam reacts with embarrassment and an intense desire to prove her wrong, and they are flirting relentlessly throughout the episode.
- Characterization Marches On: Norm is surprisingly eager and desperate to impress the hot blonde at the bar. Later episodes would have Norm way too checked out of everyday life, and way too faithful to Vera, to do stuff like that.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Sam tries to impress Diane by waltzing into the bar with a "smart" lady named Debra and talking about the Mozart concert that they just saw. Soon after Debra is identified as Sam's ex-wife. She is never seen again.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Norm lights Brandee's cigarette, then nearly sets his own pants on fire when he tries to put the still-lit lighter back in his pocket.
- Dumb Blonde: Brandee lives down to Diane's stereotype of her when she reacts to the idea of going to an Australian movie by saying "No, no Australian films, I hate subtitles."
- Early-Installment Weirdness: This is the first appearance of Cliff's tendency to spout out Little Known Facts, but instead of the other patrons being exasperated by the bizarre nonsense Cliff comes up with they actually seem to have some respect for his knowledge, with Norm and Coach even relying on him to settle a bar bet.
- Even the Girls Want Her: Norm and Coach ogle the legs of a woman outside the bar window and nervously go back to their normal business when they realize she is about to enter. Diane begins to give a speech about how grown men should be above ogling women only to be interrupted when the woman enters the bar and is revealed to be a total bombshell. Diane's respone? "Holy..."
- I Need a Freaking Drink: After Sam puts the romantic moves on Diane at the end, talking about how her eyes look just like a sunset and then saying "Smart women wouldn't fall for that, huh?", a clearly hot-and-bothered Diane downs the drink she was supposed to give to a customer.
- My Nayme Is: Diane's sarcastic amusement is only increased when "Brandee" says she spells her name with two E's.
- Well, Excuse Me, Princess!: Sam gets defensive about his choice in women.Diane: 'Sam—wait a minute: Now, I don't mean to criticize. In a way, I was complimenting you—I think you can do better!
Sam: I don't want to "do better." You see, Diane, there are certain things in this life that I really like—and nobody's gonna change my mind about them. You see, I like fun women—hot dogs!—game shows!—and I don't care what anybody says about them!
Diane: [Squirms] Did you read where they found
rat parts in hot dogs?
Sam: I LIKE "rat parts"—it's my favorite part of the hot dog!
Diane: [Fighting a chuckle] O-kay...?
