Cheers (season 9)

Cheers (season 9)
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	27
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 20, 1990 – May 3, 1991

The ninth season of Cheers, an award-winning American television sitcom, originally aired on NBC in the United States between September 20, 1990, and May 3, 1991. The show was created by director James Burrows and writers Glen and Les Charles under production team Charles Burrows Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Television.

Background

Cheers is an award winning sitcom that started in 1982. After originally having low ratings for its first season the show became a part of mainstream culture. The sitcom is set in a Boston bar where Sam Malone, a retired baseball pitcher, works/owns. He along with cocktail waitress Carla, bar tender Woody Boyd and manager Rebecca Howe work at the bar and deal with the patrons of the bar Norm Peterson, Cliff Clavin and Frasier Crane. The sitcom was the involved in the NBC Thursday night slot.

Cast and Characters

• Ted Danson as Sam Malone
• Kirstie Alley as Rebecca Howe
• Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli
• George Wendt as Norm Peterson
• John Ratzenberger as Cliff Clavin
• Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd
• Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane

Recurring Characters

• Bebe Neuwirth as Lilith Sternin-Crane
• Jackie Swanson as Kelly Gaines

Episodes

No. in series	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	U.S. viewers (millions) [1] [2]
195	1	"Love Is a Really, Really, Perfectly Okay Thing"	James Burrows	Phoef Sutton	September 20, 1990	32.9
After Sam and Rebecca spend the night together, it turns out to be harder to brag about it than originally thought.
196	2	"Cheers Fouls Out"	James Burrows	Larry Balmagia	September 27, 1990	28.4
In an attempt to beat Gary's Olde Towne Tavern in an annual employee basketball game, Cheers acquires Boston Celtic Kevin McHale by insisting the game is for charity.
197	3	"Rebecca Redux"	James Burrows	Teleplay: Phoef Sutton, Bill Steinkellner and Cheri Eichen Story: Bill Steinkellner	October 4, 1990	30.4
Sam hires a new manager that everyone takes a liking to, while Rebecca accepts a new job that is slightly less-than-perfect.
198	4	"Where Nobody Knows Your Name"	Andy Ackerman	Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson	October 11, 1990	32.9
Rebecca becomes upset when one of Robin's past lovers claims to be having an affair with him.
199	5	"Ma Always Liked You Best"	Andy Ackerman	Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson	October 18, 1990	31.7
Cliff's mom begins to take a liking to Woody, much to Cliff's chagrin. Meanwhile, Norm gets caught in one of the bar's windows.
200	6	"Grease"	James Burrows	Brian Pollack and Mert Rich	October 25, 1990	29.9
Norm attempts to save the Hungry Heifer after it makes the decision to close its doors. Cliff's mother moves in with Woody against Cliffs attempts to deter her. Robin is sentenced to community service picking up refuse along the highway which lends its way to Sam's persistent mocking of Rebecca.
201	7	"Breaking In Is Hard to Do"	Andy Ackerman	Ken Levine and David Isaacs	November 1, 1990	33.2
Frasier and Lilith debate over who should stay home and take care of Frederick. Carla helps Rebecca sneak into prison to visit Robin in an attempt to seduce him.
202/203	8/9	"Cheers 200th Anniversary Special" (double-length episode)	James Burrows and Andy Ackerman	Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner and Phoef Sutton	November 8, 1990	45.9
A special recap of the first 199 episodes of Cheers, hosted by John McLaughlin, includes discussions with the cast, writers and directors of the series.
204	10	"Bad Neighbor Sam"	James Burrows	Cheri Eichen and Bill Steinkellner	November 15, 1990	34.1
The new owner of Melville's restaurant, John Hill, turns out to be a stickler for the rules. After Sam prevents Melville's customers from using the staircase between Cheers and the restaurant, Hill has Sam's car towed and then locks the pool room and toilets behind a brick wall until Sam agrees to pay rent for them.
205	11	"Veggie-Boyd"	James Burrows	Dan Staley and Rob Long	November 22, 1990	29.1
Woody is nervous about being able to act the part of a bartender in a commercial while Cliff is upset because of the attention that new trivia napkins in the bar are getting. When Woody discovers that he hates the product that he endorsed in the commercial, it is up to Frasier to help him.
206	12	"Norm and Cliff's Excellent Adventure"	James Burrows	Ken Levine and David Isaacs	December 6, 1990	32.7
Woody discovers the shopping channel and becomes hooked. Norm and Cliff go too far when they start a fight between Sam and Frasier. NOTE: This episode is dedicated to Al Rosen who played Al in the show.
207	13	"Woody Interruptus"	James Burrows	Dan Staley and Rob Long	December 13, 1990	33.8
Kelly brings Henrí (Anthony Cistaro) with her to Boston after a trip to France. Unbeknownst to her, his plan is to steal her away from Woody, who in turn becomes jealous and worried. Sam suggests a motel to improve Woody and Kelly's relationship. Later, Woody takes Kelly out to a cheap motel for their evening together. However, Carla arrives to stop them from doing it in the motel and tells them that making out in a cheap motel is a bad idea and bad luck for their precious love. Therefore, the couple decide to save their moment for the right time, while Carla brings in and tries to seduce Henrí. Meanwhile, Cliff tells his friends that he plans to freeze his head after death, but they mock him and his plans. Therefore, Cliff and Frasier pull a prank on the other patrons by bringing a box of apparently a frozen head to the bar, which turn out to be only a microcassette in a metal box. In the end, Norm and Paul pull a prank on Cliff, walking through the bar apparently decapitated. This episode marks Anthony Cistaro's first appearance as recurring character Henrí.[3] Awards: Outstanding Directing - Comedy Series (Emmy Awards, 1991);[4] Outstanding Directing - Comedy Series (Directors Guild of America Awards, 1990)[5]
208	14	"Honor Thy Mother"	James Burrows	Brian Pollack and Mert Rich	January 3, 1991	38.6
Carla refuses to carry out the family tradition of naming one of her children after grandparents, as it would result in her son becoming Benito Mussolini. Woody gets Cheers featured in a free coupon booklet, with John Hill taking advantage of it by "buying" a round of drinks for everyone in the bar, using the coupons to pay.
209	15	"Achilles Hill"	Andy Ackerman	Ken Levine and David Isaacs	January 10, 1991	36.3
Woody finds a foosball table that Carla believes is evil and brings it into the bar. Sam begins dating Hill's daughter to get back at Hill.
210	16	"The Days of Wine and Neuroses"	James Burrows	Brian Pollack and Mert Rich	January 24, 1991	32.3
Robin Colcord proposes to Rebecca shortly before he is released from prison but Rebecca responds by getting drunk because she has doubts. Frasier becomes obsessed with the Karaoke machine that is replacing the jukebox while it is away being repaired.
211	17	"Wedding Bell Blues"	James Burrows	Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson	January 31, 1991	32.7
On the morning of her wedding, Rebecca seems to have forgotten her doubts and decides to go ahead with the wedding. After she finally realizes that she only loved Robin for his money he leaves, with $6 million that he had hidden in a money belt that was attached to the underside of Rebecca's desk drawer. Guest appearance by Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers.
212	18	"I'm Getting My Act Together and Sticking It in Your Face"	Andy Ackerman	Dan Staley and Rob Long	February 7, 1991	31.5
Two days after the aborted wedding, Rebecca is still locked in Cheers' office. She leaves town but later returns. When she does, Sam thinks she's coming back to say she loves him.
213	19	"Sam Time Next Year"	James Burrows	Larry Balmagia	February 14, 1991	31.9
Sam has a date with an old valentine, played by Barbara Feldon, but throws his back out when he slips down the stairs outside Cheers. Guest appearance by Michael Dukakis.
214	20	"Crash of the Titans"	James Burrows	Dan Staley and Rob Long	February 21, 1991	33.3
Sam and Rebecca both try to buy the bar's pool room and toilets from John Hill.
215	21	"It's a Wonderful Wife"	James Burrows	Sue Herring	February 28, 1991	35.9
Vera is fired and Rebecca gets her a job as the hat check girl at Melville's so Norm decides to look for a new bar.
216	22	"Cheers Has Chili"	Andy Ackerman	Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner and Phoef Sutton	March 14, 1991	30.3
While Sam is away, Rebecca turns the pool room into a tea room, much to Sam's annoyance. He makes a deal with Rebecca; if she can't make $500 in one day from the tea room, he'll get the pool room back. It looks like Sam will get the pool room back, until Rebecca starts selling chili made by Woody.
217	23	"Carla Loves Clavin"	James Burrows	Dan Staley and Rob Long	March 21, 1991	28.8
The "Miss Boston Barmaid" contest is being held at Cheers and Sam is upset because the rules have changed. Carla enters as the prize is a new car. She wonders if her effort is worth it when she finds that Cliff Clavin is one of the judges. Meanwhile, Rebecca hires Norm to paint Sam's office.
218	24	"Pitch It Again, Sam"	James Burrows	Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson	March 28, 1991	30.8
Sam is invited to pitch to an old nemesis at Yankee Stadium. Meanwhile, Woody finds a dog and becomes attached to it.
219	25	"Rat Girl"	James Burrows	Ken Levine and David Isaacs	April 4, 1991	33.4
Sam strikes out with a girl who apparently prefers Paul to him, Rebecca goes on a healthy eating kick and Lilith has an unhealthy obsession with her dead lab rat, "Whitey".
220	26	"Home Malone"	Andy Ackerman	Dan O'Shannon and Tom Anderson	April 25, 1991	27.7
Kelly needs a job so Rebecca lets her work in the bar. Sam baby-sits Frasier and Lilith's son Frederick, which is not as easy as it seems.
221	27	"Uncle Sam Wants You"	James Burrows	Dan Staley and Rob Long	May 2, 1991	31.3
Sam becomes obsessed with Frederick and starts to wonder if it is time he became a father.

References

1. http://tvaholics.blogspot.com.br/search?q=1990
2. http://tvaholics.blogspot.com.br/search?q=1991
3. Bjorklund 2008, p. 415
4. Bjorklund 1993, p. 462. "Emmy Nominations and Awards."
5. "DGA Awards History". Directors Guild of America. Retrieved 2012-03-26.