"Cheers" Coach Returns to Action (TV Episode 1982)

Top cast27

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Ted Danson

Sam Malone

Shelley Long

Diane Chambers

Nicholas Colasanto

Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso

Rhea Perlman

Carla Tortelli

George Wendt

Norm Peterson

Murphy Cross

Nina

Bill Wiley

The Tour Guide

Keone Young

Tourist #1

Barry Cutler

Tourist #2

Eve Smith

Tourist #1

Julia Hendler

The Little Girl

John Ratzenberger

Cliff

Ebon Alabastur

Bar Patron
(uncredited)

Shirley Blackwell

Tourist
(uncredited)

Joan Carey

Bar Patron
(uncredited)

Linda Carlin

Tourist
(uncredited)

Marcello Clay

Bar Patron
(uncredited)

Ken DuMain

Bar Patron
(uncredited)

Did you know

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Trivia
The conversations between Sam and Nina became the basis of a memorable part of "Superstar Television," an attraction/show that ran from May 1, 1989 to September 26, 1998, at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park (*now called Disney's Hollywood Studios) at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, A park guest was chosen to play the role of Nina and have the "conversation" with Sam. Using video special effects, the park guest actually appeared on the theater's in-house TVs to be talking to Sam. While Sam and the others appeared via special effects, the park guest sat on-stage at a real scale model of the Cheers bar, which was built by Disney as an exact, but smaller, replica.

Goofs
Throughout the series, the women's restroom at Cheers is always the first door on the left (when entering the hallway from the front), while the men's is the second. They are reversed in this episode.

Quotes
Sam Malone: [Norm enters the bar to his usual call of greeting] What's up, Norm?
Norm Peterson: My nipples. It's freezing out there.

Connections
References 12 Angry Men (1957)

Soundtracks
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Written by Judy Hart-Angelo and Gary Portnoy
Performed by Gary Portnoy

A bit of a misstep but there's still some good moments

Coach is, by far, one of the most lovable characters on Cheers, maybe on all of TV. What he's not, however, is a ladies' man. This episode isn't bad but it feels like a miscalculation on the part of the writers, a step in the wrong direction.

It's not a terrible premise - Coach is attracted to a pretty neighbour who happens to be a lot younger than him, and Sam (of course) tries to hit on her himself. But the age gap is pretty big (Nicholas Colosanto was almost twice the age of the actress playing Gina) and frankly, it just seems out,of character for Coach. Diane and Carla's attempt to encourage him seem more patronizing than genuine.

That said, Gina is pretty nice and it's fun seeing her shoot down Sam. As well, there's a bit of fun business with a thirsty tour guide trying to warm up, and Norm's annoyance at having to dress up to use Melville's bathroom. All in all not a terrible episode but it sticks out in an otherwise perfect season.

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