Title: Behind Every Great Man
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Ken Levine & David Isaacs
Air Date: February 21, 1985
Previous: Bar Bet
Next: If Ever I Would Leave You
Guest Starring: Alison La Placa, Kelsey Grammer
"Behind Every Great Man" is the 19th episode of the third season of Cheers.
Paula Nelson (Alison La Placa), a reporter for "Boston Scene" magazine, comes to the bar to get material for a feature on the Boston singles scene. Carla guides her to Sam, who immediately deploys all his crude come-on lines. Paula is so repulsed that she gets up to leave the bar, which causes Sam to switch gears and pretend that his crude come-on lines were jokes. Surprisingly, this works, and Paula agrees to go up to Melville's with Sam.
A couple of dates later, Sam finds himself badly wanting to impress his serious, brainy new girlfriend. He goes to his serious, brainy old girlfriend, Diane, to get help with smart things to say, as well as help understanding art. Diane, who is having a tiff with Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), totally misinterprets Sam's sudden desire to be more intellectual. She becomes convinced that Sam is trying to win her back.
The second episode that Nicholas Colasanto missed due to his declining health, before his death in February 1985.
Tropes:
- The Cameo: George R. Wendt, George Wendt's father, appears briefly sitting next to his son at the bar. He's credited as "George".
- Continuity Nod: This time it's Cliff complaining about the Hungry Heifer, the awful steakhouse where Norm likes to eat.
- Foreshadowing: Frasier and Diane's relationship is getting tense, and it's not helped by Diane thinking Sam wants her back.
- I Resemble That Remark!: Annoyed at Diane, Frasier snaps "oh, so you're saying I'm redundant? That I repeat myself? That I say the same things over and over?"
- One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Diane thinks Sam is talking about the two of them going away for a romantic weekend. Sam is actually talking about Diane tending bar while he and Paula go away for a romantic weekend.Diane: Yes. I overheard your conversation. Perhaps I shouldn't have, but I couldn't help it. You're going to ask about this weekend, aren't you?
Sam: Yeah. Yeah. The first time we tried it, it didn't turn out too hot. Well, I'm going to take full responsibility for that.
Diane: Well. I'm sure that I was at fault too.
Sam: Well, whatever, whatever. I think the important thing is that it'll be better this time, now you know where everything is.
Diane: (Beat) Well, I suppose that's true. - Out-of-Context Eavesdropping: Diane is rummaging for something under the bar when Sam talks to Carla about his feeling for Paula, saying "Ever since that woman walked in the door, I've wanted her." Carla replies "Well I don't like her." Diane draws the entirely erroneous conclusion that he wants to start things back up with her.
- Running Gag: Another episode where Cliff is reduced to stammering in gibberish when faced with the prospect of talking to a woman.
- Shoddy Knockoff Product: Norm tells an appalled Cliff that the steak they ate last night was "bef", a "meat-like substance". When Cliff reacts negatively Norm says "What do you expect for four bucks? Do you hear me complain about the loobster?"
- Written-In Absence: Coach's absence was explained as him being off at a family reunion—it's not his family, but he went there by mistake once and has been going for years.
