1988-89: THE SEVENTH SEASON

Year-End Rating: 22.3 (4th place)

Cupid's arrow finds its mark behind the bar in season seven, when Jackie Swanson arrives in the role of heiress Kelly Gaines, who will come to play an increasingly large role in bartender Woody's romantic life over the course of the show's remaining seasons. Behind the scenes, longtime producers David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee are promoted to supervising producer status for the season, which is produced by Cheri Eichen and Bill Steinkellner, and co-produced by Tim Berry. Other notable contributors to the show's seventh-season scripting sessions include co-producer Phoef Sutton, executive story editors Brian Pollack and Mert Rich, executive script consultant Bob Ellison, and creative consultant David Lloyd.

147 How to Recede in Business    First Aired: October 27, 1988
Writer: David Angell
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Brian Bedford, Peter Schreiner, Al Rosen, Robert Pescovitz, Tim Cunningham

Sam receives a promotion in the wake of the bar's latest management shake-up, while Rebecca finds herself left out in the cold.

148 Swear to God    First Aired: November 3, 1988
Writer: Tom Reeder
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Eric Christmas, Kim Johnston Ulrich, Shanna Reed

Playboy Sam struggles to live up to a celibacy vow he made during a moment of rash judgment; and Woody is cast as an unlikely understudy for the role of Moses.

Eric Christmas makes his debut as the bar's resident clergyman, Father Barry, who would continue to drop into the bar on an as-needed basis throughout the show's remaining seasons.

149 Executive Sweet    First Aired: November 10, 1988
Writer: Phoef Sutton
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Alex Nevil, Gerald Hiken, Nathan Purdee, David Schall

In a desperate attempt to ward off the unwanted advances of her underage boss, Rebecca convinces Sam to pose as her steady beau.

150 One Happy Chappy in a Snappy Serape    First Aired: November 17, 1988

Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Alex Nevil, Gerald Hiken, Fred Asparagus, Marco Hernandez, Loren Farmer

Rebecca's elaborate scheme to keep her unwanted suitor at bay begins to unravel when Sam is dispatched to tend bar at a remote Mexican resort.

151 Those Lips, Those Ice    First Aired: November 24, 1988
Writers: Peter Casey, David Lee
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jay Thomas, Isa Anderson, Alan Koss, Hugh Maguire

Carla is convinced that Eddie is having an affair with a figure skater from an ice show.

152 Norm, Is That You?    First Aired: December 8, 1988
Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jane Sibbett, George Deloy, B.J. Turner, Craig Branham, Al Rosen

Norm frets over the ribbing he'll get from the gang at the bar after he accepts a string of lucrative assignments as an interior decorator.

153 How to Win Friends and Electrocute People    First Aired: December 15, 1988
Writer: Phoef Sutton
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Robert Benedetti, Steve Bean, Ed Wright, Shirley Prestia, Andrew Lowery

Cliff goes to shocking extremes when he embarks on an ill-fated self-improvement campaign.

154 Jumping Jerks    First Aired: December 22, 1988
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: J. Kenneth Campbell, Thomas Sanders, Hugh Maguire, Peter Schreiner

The guys at the bar put their courage to the test when they take to the skies for a death-defying skydiving excursion.

155 Send in the Crane    First Aired: January 5, 1989
Writer: David Lloyd
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Sandahl Bergman, Chelsea Noble, Patricia Morison

Rebecca taps Frasier to play the clown at a children's party; and Sam is forced to choose between an attractive woman and her equally fetching daughter.

156 Bar Wars II: The Woodman Strikes Back    First Aired: January 12, 1989
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Joel Polis, Robert O'Reilly, Greg Collins, Vincent Pantone, Time Winters

Woody is the bar's designated mixer when Cheers competes against Gary's Old Towne Tavern in a Bloody Mary making contest.

157 Adventures in Housesitting    First Aired: January 19, 1989
Writers: Patricia Niedzialek, Cecile Alch
Director: James Burrows
Guest Star: Michael Currie

Rebecca hopes to curry favor with her boss by volunteering to dogsit his prize-winning pooch.

158 Please Mr. Postman    First Aired: February 2, 1989
Writers: Mert Rich, Brian Pollack
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Annie Golden, Howard Mungo

Romance blossoms in the post office when Cliff's new postal trainee develops a crush on him.

Annie Golden makes her debut as Cliff's new sweetheart, Maggie O'Keefe. The love-struck postal worker would continue to pay occasional visits to the bar throughout the show's remaining seasons.

159 Golden Boyd    First Aired: February 6, 1989
Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jackie Swanson, Tyrone Power, Jr., Richard Doyle, Gary Bergher

After Woody is bested by a blueblood during a party scuffle, the bartender plots to salvage his flagging self-respect by making a play for the wealthy bully's date.

Jackie Swanson arrives in the role of Woody's fiancée-to-be, heiress Kelly Gaines. Actor Richard Doyle also logs the first of many appearances as Kelly's father, Mr. Gaines.

160 I Kid You Not    First Aired: February 16, 1989
Writer: Rob Burton
Story: Rick Beren
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jarrett Lennon, Jackie Swanson

Frasier and Lilith test their parenting skills when they babysit Carla's precocious six-year-old son.

Child actor Jarrett Lennon is introduced in the first of his occasional appearances as Carla's child prodigy, Ludlow.

161 Don't Paint Your Chickens    First Aired: February 23, 1989
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Stefan Gierasch, Lisa Aliff, Sarah Marshall, Ralph Meyering, Jr.

Determined to prove her management skills, Rebecca signs on as marketing consultant for Norm's painting business; and Sam struggles to keep pace with a fitness-obsessed woman.

162 The Cranemakers    First Aired: March 2, 1989
Writer: Phoef Sutton
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Star: James R. Winker

A newly pregnant Lilith decides to become one with nature when she and Frasier embark on a woodland retreat; and Rebecca presses Woody to take a well-deserved vacation.

163 Hot Rocks    First Aired: March 16, 1989
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Admiral William J. Crowe, Jr., Al Rosen

Rebecca flies in the face of protocol when she accuses a visiting government dignitary of pocketing her diamond earrings.

Admiral William J. Crowe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appears as himself.

164 What's Up, Doc?    First Aired: March 30, 1989
Writers: Brian Pollack, Mert Rich
Director: James Burrows
Guest Star: Madolyn Smith Osborne

Sam implies that he's struggling with a bout of impotence in an effort to invoke the sympathies of Frasier's attractive psychology colleague, an expert on human sexual dysfunction.

165 The Gift of the Woodi    First Aired: April 6, 1989
Writer: Phoef Sutton
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jackie Swanson, Bruce French, Richard Doyle, Vaughn Armstrong

Woody runs afoul of Kelly's materialistic tendencies when he tries to present her with a heartfelt musical tribute in lieu of a more tangible birthday gift.

166 Call Me, Irresponsible    First Aired: April 13, 1989
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jay Thomas, Ann Guilbert, Fredric Cook

Carla worries that Eddie, on the road with the team, will forget their second wedding anniversary.

Actress Ann Guilbert, fondly remembered for her role as Millie Helper on The Dick Van Dyke Show, contributes a cameo in the show's opening teaser.

167 Sisterly Love    First Aired: April 27, 1989
Writer: David Lloyd
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Marcia Cross, Richmond Harrison

Sam attempts to soothe a long-standing rift between Rebecca and her sister Susan.

Rebecca's feuding sibling is played by Marcia Cross, who would eventually return to prime time--with a vengeance--in the role of the decidedly deranged Dr. Kimberly Shaw on the Fox-TV melodrama Melrose Place.

168 The Visiting Lecher    First Aired: May 4, 1989
Writer: David Lloyd
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: John McMartin, Joanna Barnes, Fabiana Udenio, Nicholas Miscusi

The gang suspects that Rebecca may be crying "wolf" in more ways than one when she insists that a visiting authority on marital fidelity has been making passes at her.