Title: Strange Bedfellows, Part 3
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: David Angell
Air Date: May 15, 1986
Previous: Strange Bedfellows, Part 2
Next: The Proposal
Guest Starring: Kate Mulgrew, David Paymer
"Strange Bedfellows" is the 26th episode of the fourth season of Cheers. It was the third part of the three-part series finale.
After the umpteenth nasty argument between Sam and Diane, she has quit the bar (again) and is working a checkout counter at a grocery store. Sam and his latest paramour, city councilor Janet Eldridge (Kate Mulgrew) are still dating. Janet tells Sam that reporters are starting to ask questions about him, and that she would like him to think about his intentions for the relationship. Sam promises that he will.
Diane manages to accidentally overhear this conversation, just like she did in the last episode. The next day, Janet holds a press conference at the bar, which a jealous Diane decides to ruin.
In the B-plot, Norm is still complaining about his horny, clothing-allergic sister-in-law Donna, whose presence is even more uncomfortable now that Vera is out of town.
Tropes:
- Cliffhanger: Ends with Sam picking up the bar phone at Cheers and proposing marriage to...someone. (This was the fourth, and last, season to end with a Sam-Diane cliffhanger).
- Death Glare: Janet is pissed after Diane blows up the press conference. Sam says "You can't help but laugh," followed by Janet shooting him a murderous death glare, followed by Sam saying "...unless you try pretty hard."
- Enemy Mine: Diane and Carla both dislike Janet, and team up to torpedo her relationship with Sam.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: An unusual positive example. Sam's depressed after Janet dumps him. Woody offers to introduce Sam to a single girl in his apartment, saying that she's cute and fun and she has a great body. Then he says "And if I were a young single guy in this town—", before coming to a realization and making a quick exit.
- The Ghost: Norm's sexy sister-in-law Donna, just as much of a ghost as Vera.
- Multi-Part Episode: The last part of the three-part Season 4 finale.
- Previously on…: The events of "Strange Bedfellows, Part 2" are summed up by Woody as he records an audio letter for his parents. Apparently, he screwed up the recording because when he hits playback, we hear Winston Churchill's "we shall fight on the beaches" speech.
- Romantic False Lead: Did anyone think Sam was asking Janet to marry him? No, they did not.
- Shameless Fanservice Girl: Donna. Norm claims that she got dressed on the front lawn. After Cliff visits a sheepish Norm admits that he may have exaggerated, only for Cliff to say that Donna came on to him.
