Top 5 Episodes of Cheers

"Cheers" was the hit sitcom of the 1980s for adults. When I as 12 in 1991, I discovered the show and quickly watched all of the episodes, thanks to the magic of reruns. Like many television viewers worldwide, I've enjoyed the show ever since. Whether you first saw the show on NBC or in re-runs, through the Columbia House video library or now through the full season DVDs, there are some episodes that undeniably stand out as the best of the best.

Season 1, Episode 1: Give Me a Ring Sometime

Yes, the premiere episode makes it onto the list. Seemingly snooty Diane enters "Cheers" with her professor boyfriend Sumner Sloane (and it's not the last we will see him on the series). She spends much of the episode waiting for his return, as she then gets to know the various personalities of Cheers. We meet the bitter Carla, the regular patron Norm, the hilarious Coach and the playboy owner of the bar and former pitcher for the Red Sox, Sam "Mayday" Malone.

"Give Me a Ring Sometime" is the episode that introduces us to the great chemistry between Sam and Diane, with story prompts that lead Diane to reveal a message from one of Sam's cheap dates and for Diane to unwittingly reveal that she just may be perfect for the open cocktail server position.

Episode 96, Part of Season 5: The Proposal

Sam and Diane are finally getting together; yet, they cannot seem to come to an agreement on the actual proposal. Unable to accept Sam's original proposal, she prompts Sam to be more romantic and plan a proposal, keeping in mind that she doesn't care for theme parks or miniature golf.

Sam does just that. He plans a romantic proposal at sea. It doesn't work out either, somehow. Sam and Diane are suddenly at their feuding best again. Yet, somehow, it's not until the two end up in court that things reach a boiling point. It's not until Sam proposes under court order to get out of going to jail, that Diane is able to accept.

In frustration, Sam reasons, "So I have to propose to her to keep from going to jail, where I wouldn't be going in the first place if she'd said yes to any one of my three proposals." The response from the court? "That's a very ironic way of putting it."

Episode 33, Part of Season 6: Christmas Cheers

This episode aired during the show's sixth season, its first with Kirstie Alley and its first without Shelley Long. Despite fears from the cast and crew of the show and fans themselves, the show was still funny and solid with the new leading lady character of Rebecca. The writers and creators were smart enough to not even try to duplicate the sparks between Sam and Diane. Instead, Sam's relationship with Rebecca was that of friend,boss and occasional business nemesis. That didn't stop Sam from trying to seduce her, anyway.

In this episode, we find Cliff trying to collect food for charity with a passion. For kids? No, because the winner gets a trip to Orlando. Frasier is cynical and not in the spirit whatsoever, and Norm is playing Santa as his job of the season. After Rebecca gifts the crew with company logo presents, it dawns on Sam that he should have bought her a present, so he goes on a mad Christmas Eve search for a store where he can get presents. When he accidentally gets Rebecca diamond earrings, the results aren't what he could have expected: a late night gathering with Rebecca...and the whole Cheers cast of characters...to celebrate the season.

Fellow "It's a Wonderful Life" fans will enjoy the opening gag for the episode as well.

Episode 244, Part of Season 10: An Old-Fashioned Wedding

In the season 10 finale, Woody and Kelly finally get married. After they consummate their marriage the night before the wedding, the chaos of the wedding truly begins. Complete with a drunken Rebecca and a corpse in the kitchen, there's a lot of physical comedy and verbal comedy in this hour-long episode. It's "Cheers" at its finest and funniest.

Episode 269, Part of Season 11: One for the Road

The Bull and Finch Bub, the actual bar in Boston which was the inspiration for the series and who retained the licensing rights to merchandise of Cheers, sold a T-shirt to celebrate and commemorate this important episode, the final episode of the series. Originally airing in May of 1993, this episode had what viewers had long wanted: an episode with both Diane and Rebecca.

Eternally star-crossed sitcom lovers Diane and Sam give it another go, and Rebecca does good by marrying a plumber. All of the cast of characters get a proper send-off, establishing how they will go on with life as usual or how their lives have changed. Sam, for one, realizes that, in his own words, he's the lucking SOB on earth. Do Sam and Diane end up together? You have to watch the episode for yourself.

Sources cited:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-super-bowl-tradition-lost-cheers.html