1990-91: THE NINTH SEASON

Year-End Rating: 21.3 (1st place)

Sam meets a worthy foil when Keene Curtis is introduced in the role of restaurateur John Allen Hill in the show's ninth season, which is once again co-executive produced by Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner, and Phoef Sutton. Tim Berry and Andy Ackerman are producers for the year, which is co-produced by Larry Balmagia, Brian Pollack, Mert Rich, Dan O'Shannon, and Tom Anderson. Other important players on the show's ninth-season roster include story editors Dan Staley and Rob Long, creative consultants David Lloyd, Ken Levine, and David Isaacs, and executive script consultant Bob Ellison.

195 Love Is a Really, Really Perfectly Okay Thing    First Aired: September 20, 1990
Writer: Phoef Sutton
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Roger Rees, Eric Christmas, Edmund Gaynes, Christopher Abraham

Sam struggles hard to remain discreet about what went on behind closed doors during his spontaneous romantic interlude with Rebecca.

196 Cheers Fouls Out    First Aired: September 27, 1990
Writer: Larry Balmagia
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Roger Rees, Kevin McHale, Joel Polis, James Hornbeck, James Nardini, Lee Vines

The players from Gary's Old Towne Tavern cry foul when Sam recruits a basketball pro to play on the Cheers team as the rival bars prepare to face each other on the court.

Boston Celtics star Kevin McHale appears as himself.

Though not officially numbered as such, this episode would serve as the fourth installment in the "bar wars" series that had been launched with Ken Levine and David Isaacs' eponymously titled sixth-season entry, "Bar Wars"--an episode that was itself inspired by Peter Casey and David Lee's fourth-season show, "From Beer to Eternity."

197 Rebecca Redux    First Aired: October 4, 1990
Writers: Phoef Sutton, Bill Steinkellner, Cheri Eichen
Story: Bill Steinkellner
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Bryan Clark, Perry Anzilotti, Randy Pelish, Timothy Fall, Tony DiBenedetto, Peter Schreiner, Stanley Bennett Clay, Paul Cira

Rebecca takes a dim view of her post-Cheers employment prospects after she's forced to accept part-time work as an auto-show model.

198 Where Nobody Knows Your Name    First Aired: October 11, 1990
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Roger Rees, Arsenio Hall, Catherine MacNeal, Ron Ulstad, Paul Willson

Rebecca tries to play it cool when her rival for Robin Colcord's attentions boasts about her own lock on the jailed financier's affections.

Talk-show host Arsenio Hall contributes a cameo appearance, as himself, in this episode.

199 Ma Always Liked You Best    First Aired: October 18, 1990
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Frances Sternhagen, Rocky LaPorte, John Posey, Paul Willson, Peter Schreiner, Ken Foree, James F. Dean

Cliff's mother takes a shine to Woody, whom she fancies to be the son she never had.

200 Grease    First Aired: October 25, 1990
Writers: Brian Pollack, Mert Rich
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Sheldon Leonard, John Reger

Norm launches a campaign to keep his favorite local eatery from closing its doors.

The legendary actor and television pioneer Sheldon Leonard guest stars as Sid Nelson, the feisty proprietor of Norm's favorite all-beef restaurant, The Hungry Heifer.

201 Breaking in Is Hard to Do    First Aired: October 31, 1990
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Roger Rees, Clive Rosengren, John Boyle, Edward Penn, Paul Willson, Philip Perlman

Rebecca schemes to arrange an unscheduled conjugal visit with the incarcerated Robin Colcord; and Frasier and Lilith cope with the demands of parenting a gifted child.

Rhea Perlman's real-life dad, Philip Perlman, logs his first credited appearance on the show with this episode. Perlman's elderly barfly, Phil, would be a fixture at the bar throughout the show's remaining seasons.

202 The Cheers 200th Anniversary Special (one hour)    First Aired: November 8, 1990
Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner, Phoef Sutton
Directors: James Burrows, Andy Ackerman

Political pundit John McLaughlin hosts a retrospective look at highlights of the show's first eight and a half seasons.

Designed to commemorate the filming of the show's 200th episode, this hour-long special was anchored by an in-depth panel discussion with the series's creators, as well as most of the show's past and current cast, including Shelley Long.

203 Bad Neighbor Sam    First Aired: November 15, 1990
Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Keene Curtis, Carl Mueller, Sandy Edgerton, Tamara Mark, Phil Perlman, E.E. Bell, Aileen Fitzpatrick, Fred Slyter

Sam finds himself caught up in a feud with the haughty owner of Melville's restaurant, John Allen Hill.

Keene Curtis--best known for his long-running role as Little Orphan Annie's Daddy Warbucks in the Broadway warhorse Annie--debuts in the role of John Allen Hill in the 200th Cheers episode filmed.

204 Veggie Boyd    First Aired: November 22, 1990
Writers: Rob Long, Dan Staley
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Tom Everett, Debbie Gregory, John Cervenka, Philip Perlman, Michael Holden, Tony DiBenedetto

Woody lands a job as spokesperson in a commercial for a new vegetable drink; and know-it-all Cliff faces unexpected competition from the bar's new trivia napkins.

205 Norm and Cliff's Excellent Adventure    First Aired: December 6, 1990
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Tom Klunis

Norm and Cliff ferment a feud between Sam and Frasier; and Woody finds himself addicted to a televised home-shopping show.

206 Woody Interruptus    First Aired: December 13, 1990
Writers: Dan Staley, Rob Long
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Jackie Swanson, Anthony Cistaro, Michael Keenan, Douglas MacHugh, Paul Willson, Tony DiBenedetto

Woody's girlfriend Kelly returns from overseas with an attractive Frenchman in tow; and Cliff decides to have his brain cryogenically preserved after his death.

Anthony Cistaro debuts in the role of Frenchman Henri Fourchette, who would continue to make regular appearances at the bar throughout the show's remaining seasons.

207 Honor Thy Mother    First Aired: January 3, 1991
Writers: Brian Pollack, Mert Rich
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Sada Thompson, Keene Curtis, Oceana Marr, Josh Lozoff, Carol Ann Susi, Randy Pelish

Carla rebels against her domineering mother after the dotty matriarch issues an impossible deathbed decree.

Carla's eccentric Mama Lozupone is played by Sada Thompson, a veteran character actress best-remembered by TV audiences for her portrayal of Kate Lawrence on ABC's mid-'70s dramatic series Family.

208 Achilles' Hill    First Aired: January 10, 1991
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Keene Curtis, Valerie Mahaffey, Eric Christmas

Sam hopes to get John Allen Hill's goat by romancing the restaurateur's unsuspecting daughter; and Carla is convinced that the bar's foosball table is possessed.

209 Days of Wine and Neuroses (Part 1)    First Aired: January 24, 1991
Writers: Mert Rich, Brian Pollack
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Calvin Jung, Paul Willson, Shad Willingham, Kristine Knudson

Rebecca debates the wisdom of accepting an ill-timed marriage proposal from Robin Colcord; and Frasier fancies himself a crooner after the bar installs a karaoke machine.

210 Wedding Bell Blues (Part 2)    First Aired: January 31, 1991
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Roger Rees, Bobby Hatfield, Ray Stricklyn, Paul Willson, Ron Abel, George Case

In spite of her initial doubts, Rebecca appears surprisingly gung ho as the hour of her wedding approaches.

The singer Bobby Hatfield, formerly of The Righteous Brothers, appears as himself.

211 I'm Getting My Act Together and Sticking It in Your Face    First Aired: February 7, 1991
Writers: Dan Staley, Rob Long
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Jeff McCarthy, Paul Willson, Jan Gan Boyd

Rebecca struggles to recover from her break-up with Robin; and Frasier attempts to regale the gang with a reading from Dickens.

212 Sam Time Next Year    First Aired: February 14, 1991
Writer: Larry Balmagia
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Barbara Feldon, Mike Dukakis, Roger Eschbacher, Gibby Brand, Don Took

Sam finds himself unexpectedly incapacitated on the eve of his annual Valentine's Day tryst with an old girlfriend.

Sam's anniversary waltz partner is played by Barbara Feldon, who co-starred as Agent 99 on the long-running 1960s sitcom Get Smart. Former Democratic presidential candidate Mike Dukakis also logs a brief appearance in the episode's pre-credit teaser.

213 Crash of the Titans    First Aired: February 21, 1991
Writers: Dan Staley, Rob Long
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Keene Curtis, Jeremiah Morris, Paul

Willson, Philip Perlman, Tony DiBenedetto, Peter

Schreiner, Adele Baughn, Anadel Baughn

Rebecca and Sam compete for John Allen Hill's favor after word leaks out that the bar's long-term lease may be up for grabs.

214 It's a Wonderful Wife    First Aired: February 28, 1991
Writer: Sue Herring
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Keene Curtis, Anthony Cistaro, Heather Lee, Peter Schreiner, Tony DiBenedetto

The bar celebrates Frasier's birthday, but it looks as though the party may be over for Norm when his wife, Vera, lands a job upstairs at Melville's.

The voice of Norm's wife is provided by George Wendt's real-life spouse, Bernadette Birkett. The actress had earlier appeared on the show--in a different role--in the third-season episode "Fairy Tales Can Come True."

215 Cheers Has Chili    First Aired: March 14, 1991
Writers: Cheri Eichen, Bill Steinkellner, Phoef Sutton
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Robert Machray, Peter Schreiner, Stanley Bennett Clay

Sam is skeptical of Rebecca's latest marketing brainstorm, an ill-conceived plan to transform the bar's pool room into a chili parlor.

216 Carla Loves Clavin    First Aired: March 21, 1991
Writers: Dan Staley, Rob Long
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Danté Di Loreto, Nathan Davis, Jessie Scott, Paul Willson

Carla is forced to observe an uneasy truce with Cliff after she discovers that the postman has been chosen to serve as a judge in the annual Miss Boston Barmaid contest.

217 Pitch It Again, Sam    First Aired: March 28, 1991
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Michael Fairman, Henry Woronicz, Zachary Benjamin, James Reynolds, Peter Kevoian, Michael Cannizzo, Joel Anderson, Victoria Barrett, Leanne Griffin

One of Sam's old baseball rivals shows up to challenge the former pitcher to one final battle on the mound.

218 Rat Girl    First Aired: April 4, 1991
Writers: Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Paul Willson, Beth Toussaint, Cheryl Lynn Bruce, Andre Miripolsky, Peter Schreiner

Lilith grieves the passing of her favorite lab rat; and rotund Cheers regular Paul is taken aback by the unexpected advances of an attractive young woman.

219 Home Malone    First Aired: April 25, 1991
Writers: Dan O'Shannon, Tom Anderson
Director: Andy Ackerman
Guest Stars: Jackie Swanson, Anthony Cistaro, Kevin and Christopher Graves, Paul Willson, Peter Schreiner, Philip Perlman, Gary Lee Davis, Norm Compton, Steve Hulin

Sam plays part-time papa when Frasier and Lilith draft him into service as Frederick's babysitter; and Woody has his hands full when Kelly lands a part-time job at the bar.

220 Uncle Sam Wants You    First Aired: May 2, 1991
Writers: Dan Staley, Rob Long
Director: James Burrows
Guest Stars: Pete Willcox, Kevin and Christopher Graves, Tress MacNeille, Paul Willson

Sam is surprised to discover that playing surrogate dad to Frasier's kid has put him in touch with his own latent parental yearnings.