Cheers season 2#ep26

During season one (1982–1983), the show's Nielsen ratings were very low, despite strong, positive reviews. Nonetheless, NBC renewed the show for another season, which was announced on March 13, 1983.{{cite news|date=March 13, 1983|title=Cheers for a second season|page=D7|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MvZVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2960%2C2540368|access-date=June 28, 2012|newspaper=Beaver County Times|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Beaver Newspapers, Inc|location=Beaver County, Pennsylvania}} In mid-1983, reruns improved the show's ratings, which rose into the top 20 for most episodes.{{cite news|page=37|date=September 22, 1983|access-date=July 6, 2012 |via=Google News Archives|agency=United Press International|title=Cheers Boosted by Reruns|author=Scott, Vernin|newspaper=Reading Eagle|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7hsiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4298%2C928434}} Four days before the second season premiered, the show won five Emmy Awards out of thirteen nominations, including an Outstanding Comedy Series of 1982–83.{{cite news|page=B10|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jWEsAAAAIBAJ&pg=6857%2C6310083|title=Television's Best Honored at 35th Annual Emmy Awards|newspaper=Spartanburg Herald-Journal|author=Thomas, Bob|date=September 26, 1983|location=Spartanburg, South Carolina|access-date=July 5, 2012 |via=Google News Archives|agency=Associated Press}} Note: Lexington Herald-Leader credits an author, not the Spartanburg.{{sfn|Bjorklund|1993|pp=457–458}} Meanwhile, Taxi and Fame, two shows that were originally part of NBC's 1982–83 Thursday night lineup, struggled with low ratings. Taxi was moved from Thursday to Saturday,{{cite news|author=Bob Wisehart|newspaper=The Gazette|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UVwxAAAAIBAJ&pg=4352%2C383340|page=B-6|location=Montreal|title=Taxi switch distressing news for tuned-in television viewers}} and Fame was moved into first-run syndication.{{cite news|page=3-D|access-date=September 18, 2012| via=Google News Archive|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BlpJAAAAIBAJ&pg=4066%2C2370461|date=October 8, 1983|author=Ron Miller|title=Fame now in syndication, sporting a new look}} As announced in May 1983, the Fall 1983 Thursday lineup consisted of, in order of time sequence starting at 8 pm (Eastern) / 7 pm (Central), Gimme a Break!, Mama's Family, We Got It Made, Cheers and Hill Street Blues. In December, We Got It Made was on hiatus and later moved to Saturdays,{{cite news|title=We Got It Made moves|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BspOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6980%2C6041037|date=March 23, 1984|newspaper=Wilmington Morning Star|page=5C|author=Rick Sherwood|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google News}} Buffalo Bill took over the 9:30 pm time slot, and Cheers was shown at 9 pm.{{cite news|title=Buffalo Bill Returns Dec. 15|date=December 2, 1983|newspaper=The Miami Herald}} Record no: 8304060082. NewsBank:, {{registration required}}

• Sam Malone (Ted Danson)—a bartender, bar owner, recovering alcoholic, and ex-baseball player.
• Diane Chambers (Shelley Long)—a college student and waitress. She is often pretentious, annoys customers with her lengthy speeches, and becomes the butt of their jokes.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WYAkAAAAIBAJ&dq=carla-tortelli&pg=2740%2C3316051|title=Cheers provides tough education|date=January 23, 1983|access-date=August 24, 2012|via=Google News Archive|author=Buck, Jerry|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|at=p. 3, TV Magazine}}{{Dead link|date=November 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• Ernie "Coach" Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto)—an aging bartender and retired baseball coach. Coach is vulnerable to other people's exploits, and is a father figure{{mdash}}especially to Sam and Diane. Although he lacks intelligence, he reveals a glimmer of deep wit.
• Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman)—a brassy, divorced waitress. She gives birth to a baby girl and watches her disloyal ex-husband Nick (Dan Hedaya){{mdash}}unseen in the first season{{mdash}}marry Loretta, an unintelligent blonde.
• Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger)—a mailman. During this season it is revealed that he is Norm's best friend. Cliff constantly makes misleading and trivial references, which others find annoying and excessive. In the first season, Ratzenberger was often credited as a guest star, but he appears in the opening credits of the main cast in this season and thereafter.{{sfn|Bjorklund|1993|pages=281}}
• Norm Peterson (George Wendt)—semi-unemployed accountant who during this season separates from, then reconciles with, his wife, Vera.

Sam and Diane finally pair up, but their relationship is dysfunctional and has problems. They have fulfilling casual sex but seem to have little else in common. They constantly compete with each other, argue, break up, and make up again until they end their on-again, off-again relationship at the end of the season.

{{further|List of Cheers episodes}}

Original air dates of following episodes are not actual premiere dates for some television stations of the United States, like KTUU-TV from Anchorage, Alaska. In those areas, episodes may have been broadcast at later dates.{{cite news|date=October 13, 1982|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UHEoAAAAIBAJ&pg=4846%2C6892420|title=Television (Thursday)|newspaper=Anchorage Daily News|access-date=November 15, 2012 |via=Google News Archive}} The season premiere "Power Play" aired on October 13, 1983, in Anchorage, Alaska.

{{Episode table|background=#e2a482|overall=|season=|title=|titleR={{harvnb|pages=297–310|Bjorklund|1993}} "Season Two: 1983–84".|director=|writer=|airdate=|airdateR=|aux4=|aux4T=Rating/share/rank
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{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=23

| EpisodeNumber2=1

| Title=Power Play

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|9|29}}

| WrittenBy=Glen Charles & Les Charles

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.4 / 29 / #19{{cite news|title=AfterMASH Wins Viewers|date=October 5, 1983|page=6B}} Record no: 8303200181. 65 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary= After their first kiss, Sam and Diane pick her apartment for a place to have sex. There, he makes fun of her stuffed animals, prompting Diane to throw him out. On Carla's advice, Sam shows up and kicks Diane's door open and kisses her. Diane responds by saying she has called the police. Sam apologizes for his inappropriate behavior, and Diane admits that she never actually called the police.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=24

| EpisodeNumber2=2

| Title=Li'l Sister Don't Cha

| AltTitle=Little Sister Don't Cha

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|10|13}}

| WrittenBy=Heide Perlman

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.6 / 28 / #21{{cite news|title=World Series Is a Hit with Nielsen Viewers|date=October 19, 1983|page=18A}} Record no: 8303240057. 66 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Carla goes into labor and her sister Annette Lozupone—also played by Rhea Perlman—substitutes for her at the bar. At first Annette is seen as a goody two-shoes, but she flirts with seemingly every man in Boston, especially those in the bar. Cliff falls in love with Annette and plans to propose to her, but his best friend Norm convinces him that she is not what she seems, and Cliff ends his relationship with her. Coach announces that Carla has given birth to a girl and makes a film which shows Carla dealing with her unruly children.

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Actress Rhea Perlman actually gave birth to her child in March 1983.{{cite news|author=Buck, Jerry|newspaper=The Press-Courier|at=TV Week, p. 7|date=April 24, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_T9KAAAAIBAJ&dq=rhea%20perlman%20pregnancy%20cheers&pg=3781%2C5675087|access-date=July 23, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|location=Oxnard, California|title=Rhea Perlman Mixes Real Life with Series}}
Cheers was pre-empted on October 6, 1983, by a nationally broadcast baseball game.{{cite news|title=Television Schedule (Thursday)|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|at=p. 8, part VI (Calendar)|date=October 6, 1983}}

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=25

| EpisodeNumber2=3

| Title=Personal Business

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|10|20}}

| WrittenBy=Tom Reeder

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=17.4 / 26 / #29{{cite news|page=16A|title=CBS' Simon Is No. 1|date=October 26, 1983}} Record no: 8303250883. 70 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Diane begs Carla to let her take one night off, but Carla refuses and complains that Sam treats the incompetent waitress Diane too well. Sam and Diane become convinced that lovers cannot work together in the same place, so Diane resigns to find a job elsewhere. Mr. Hedges offers Diane a position, but she refuses it when Mr. Hedges asks Sam whether he saw her naked, making her realize that she is being hired as a sex object rather than for meticulous reasons. Disappointed, Diane returns to her job at Cheers but accuses Sam of rehiring her for the same reasons as Mr. Hedges. Sam assures her that this is not the case, so she is mollified. Norm and his wife Vera are separated. Norm cannot find himself another woman, but Vera is revealed to be dating another man.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=26

| EpisodeNumber2=4

| Title=Homicidal Ham

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|10|27}}

| WrittenBy=David Lloyd

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.0 / 28 / #22{{cite news|title=6 CBS Programs in Nielsen Top 10|page=14A|date=November 2, 1983}} Record no: 8303280050. 72 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Diane's former blind date Andy (Derek McGrath), who studied acting in high school, is unemployed because of his criminal record. He returns to Cheers intending to commit an armed robbery. Sam grabs Andy's unloaded gun, and Carla restrains him. Diane convinces her colleagues not to turn Andy in to the police, and decides to try to reform him. Andy becomes infatuated with Diane and becomes jealous when he sees her kissing Sam. During a live performance of Othello, Andy wrings Diane's neck. Sam thinks that this is part of the play until Andy begins ranting about Sam. Sam rescues Diane while Norm and Cliff ably restrain Andy.

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On the date that this episode aired, President Ronald Reagan performed his address on live television at 8pm Eastern (ET)/5pm Pacific (PT).{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ya5RAAAAIBAJ&pg=7003%2C6455698|title=Reagan to address nation at 8|author=Rick Sherwood|access-date=August 29, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date=October 27, 1983|page=19}}{{cite news|at=p. 14, "Accent" section|access-date=August 29, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|date=October 27, 1983|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=724aAAAAIBAJ&pg=3227%2C4985451|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|title=Television Tonight (Thursday)}} The episode was broadcast at 10pm ET/9pm Central rather than its regular time slot. In Pacific and Mountain Time Zones (MT), it still aired at 9:30pm PT/8:30pm MT.{{cite news|title=On TV (Thursday)|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0DtWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6684%2C7139469|newspaper=The Register-Guard|location=Eugene, Oregon|page=8B|date=October 27, 1983|access-date=August 31, 2012 |via=Google News Archive}}{{cite news|title=Television (Thursday)|page=14|date=October 27, 1983|location=Lodi, California|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=njgzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6879%2C6738623|access-date=August 31, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel}}

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=27

| EpisodeNumber2=5

| Title=Sumner's Return

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|11|3}}

| WrittenBy=Michael J. Weithorn

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=15.3 / 23 / #34{{cite news|date=November 9, 1983|page=5B|title=ABC Wins Nielsen Race}} Record no: 8303290980. 68 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Sam and Diane agree to have dinner with her ex-fiancé Sumner Sloane (Michael McGuire). Fearing that he is not sophisticated enough for Diane and may lose her to more sophisticated Sumner, Sam spends five days reading the novel War and Peace, recommended by Cliff, without sleep. Unfortunately for Sam, Diane and Sumner find the novel too well-known to discuss during dinner. Feeling left out, Sam confesses his jealousy toward Sumner and accuses Sumner of attempting to steal Diane away from him. Sumner admits that Sam was correct and that he and his ex-wife Barbara split up weeks before. Diane chooses Sam for his touching efforts in reading War and Peace, which he learns has been adapted into a movie.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=28

| EpisodeNumber2=6

| Title=Affairs of the Heart

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|11|10}}

| WrittenBy=Heide Perlman

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.1 / 26 / #24{{cite news|date=November 16, 1983|page=4B|title=CBS Sweeps Nielsens}} Record no: 8304010721. 67 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Tough, street-talking Carla turns down a date offer from sweet, intelligent Hank (Don Amendolia). Diane advises Carla to enjoy quality time with Hank, so Carla decides to have sex with him. Since both of their homes are unavailable, Diane reluctantly lets Carla and Hank use her apartment. Later, Coach tells Sam and Diane that Hank has a heart condition and that any exertion, especially during sex, will endanger his life. Sam and Diane arrive at Diane's apartment to stop Carla and Hank having sex, but no one is there. When Carla and Hank arrive, Sam and Diane tell Carla about Hank, prompting her to break up with Hank. Sam raises the price of his beer, and Norm struggles to lower his consumption to save his money. However, Norm cannot manage this and has other customers pay for his beers.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=29

| EpisodeNumber2=7

| Title=Old Flames

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|11|17}}

| WrittenBy=David Angell

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=17.2 / 25 / #25{{cite news|title=ABC Nukes Networks in Week's Nielsens|date=November 23, 1983|page=5B}} Record no: 8304040716. 64 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Because of his relationship with Diane, Sam declines to accompany his old divorced friend, sportscaster Dave Richards (Fred Dryer), on a trip to have casual sex with women. Dave assures Sam and Diane that their relationship would only last 24 hours. At first implausible, Sam uses his address book, filled with women's contact details, to give a woman's telephone number to Dave, which shocks Diane. Sam refuses to discard his book for Diane's sake, prompting a temporary break between them. Later, he spends the previous night with Didi (Elizabeth McIvor), arranged by Dave, at the hotel, but he does not sleep with her. The following day, Sam tells Dave that his relationship with Diane is not over and that Dave must accompany someone else. When Dave tells them that Sam kissed Didi last night, Diane bites Sam's lip during a kiss.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=30

| EpisodeNumber2=8

| Title=Manager Coach

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|11|24}}

| WrittenBy=Earl Pomerantz

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=14.2 / 25 / #42{{cite news|page=4D|title=The No. 1 A-Team Couldn't Defeat CBS|date=November 30, 1983}} Record no: 8304050380. 63 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Coach accepts a coaching position for the Titans, a Little League Baseball team. The Titans win games under Coach, but he becomes tyrannical and either berates the players or kicks them out of the team for minor issues. Tired of his tyranny, the players want to quit the team but Coach refuses to let them. Sam reminds Coach about a teacher who tormented Coach during his boyhood and how he's doesn't want to be remembered like that. To cheer the team up, Coach promises changes: a fewer baseball practice sessions and his buying sodas for the team. Carla takes her newborn daughter Lucia to Cheers for breastfeeding, which patrons find disturbing when Coach sees Carla burping the baby, she also helps Coach by gently leaning him against her shoulder, and burping him. Cliff loans Norm $500, and Norm spends some money to take Cliff to dinner.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=31

| EpisodeNumber2=9

| Title=They Called Me Mayday

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|12|1}}

| WrittenBy=David Angell

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=16.9 / 25 / #30{{cite news|page=6D|title=Gambler Film Makes CBS an Easy Winner|date=December 7, 1983}} Record no: 8304070545. 65 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Dick Cavett (himself) enters the bar and meets Sam, whom he recognizes as a former baseball player. Dick suggests that Sam should write an autobiography. The next day, Diane's biography of Sam—which she wrote under the pseudonym Jessica Simpson-Bourget—is rejected by Dick's publisher for not being controversial enough. As Cavett recommends, Diane reluctantly writes more about Sam's sex life in order to get the book published. Wally (Walter Olkewicz), Norm's old high school wrestling rival, dates Norm's ex-wife Vera. Jealous Norm and Wally wrestle for hours until Coach declares Norm the winner. However, Norm reluctantly approves Wally and Vera. When one of Coach's old teammates dies after becoming unfit, Coach begins an exercise program.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=32

| EpisodeNumber2=10

| Title=How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Call You Back

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|12|8}}

| WrittenBy=Earl Pomerantz

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=16.4 / 25 / #28{{cite news|title=Seven Top 10 Shows Give CBS Nielsen Win|page=2B|date=December 15, 1983}} Record no: 8304090704. 69 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Sam tell Diane that he loves her; Diane is romantically awestruck until Sam tells her that it was a casual remark that he often says to others, including other women and Coach. Diane and Sam argue and then break up for one week. After time passes, Sam says "ditto" to Diane, which does not impress her. Enraged with her inappreciativeness, Sam tries to literally and comprehensively say, "I love you," but his ineptitude is obvious, which ironically impresses her.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=33

| EpisodeNumber2=11

| Title=Just Three Friends

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|12|15}}

| WrittenBy=David Lloyd

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=16.0 / 26 / #34{{cite news|page=6B|date=December 22, 1983|title=CBS' 60 Minutes Wins Ratings Race}} Record no: 8304110387. 65 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Diane's old friend Heather (Markie Post), who has recently moved to Boston, flirts with Sam, who takes it as a sexual overture. However, she and Heather tell him that Heather's flirtations were meant as a compliment. The three make up and plan to have dinner at Diane's apartment. Carla convinces Diane that Sam and Heather may be sexually attracted to each other, making Diane paranoid. During dinner at her apartment, Diane accuses Heather of flirting with Sam. Heather regrets going to Diane's apartment for dinner and decides to leave. Diane realizes her error, apologizes to Heather for her misunderstandings, and tells her that they are still best friends. Coach brings a ferocious dog to Cheers and locks it in the bar office. Norm gives the dog an alcoholic cocktail in attempt to sedate it, but the dog becomes amorous while drunk.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=34

| EpisodeNumber2=12

| Title=Where There's a Will...

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1983|12|22}}

| WrittenBy=Nick Arnold

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.3 / 27 / #15{{cite news|title=Monday Night Football Suffers Its Worst TV Season|page=10C|date=December 29, 1983}} Record no: 8304120897. 66 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Beloved Malcolm Kramer (George Gaynes), who has six months to live, gives a signed will of $100,000 inheritance to Cheers' patrons. When people become greedy, Sam apparently burns the will, disappointing all except Diane, who is glad that the madness has stopped. Sam had burned a copy of the will and still retains the original one. Diane berates him for crossing his friends, so Sam burns the paper before her eyes. Suspecting that Sam has tricked her again, Diane warns him that anyone responsible for such a devious trick would be eternally guilty. Infuriated by her morals, Sam reluctantly burns the actual will.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=35

| EpisodeNumber2=13

| Title=Battle of the Exes

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|1|5}}

| WrittenBy=Ken Estin & Sam Simon

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=19.6 / 28 / #23{{cite magazine|date=January 16, 1984|title=CBS wins week, NBC's 'Riptide' moves network into second|magazine=Broadcasting|volume=106|issue=3|page=98|id={{ProQuest|1016910894}}}}

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Carla wants to bring a date to the wedding of her ex-husband Nick (Dan Hedaya), soon to be married to ditzy blond Loretta (Jean Kasem). With no one available, prompting Carla to almost decline, Sam poses as Carla's boyfriend. After the wedding, Nick begs Carla to start a relationship again, but she refuses in favor of Sam. Nick kisses her, but Carla tells him that the spark is already gone. When Nick leaves, Carla weeps and tells Sam that the kiss reignited the spark. Then Sam and Carla passionately kiss, which befuddles them, but they decide they are better off as friends.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=36

| EpisodeNumber2=14

| Title=No Help Wanted

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|1|12}}

| WrittenBy=Max Tash

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=17.3 / 26 / #29{{cite news|title=Amelia wins over viewers|page=6B|date=January 18, 1984}} Record no: 8401050111. 71 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Norm has almost run out of unemployment funds and has reduced himself to washing dishes at Melville's. At Diane's request, Sam reluctantly hires Norm as the bar's new accountant. Norm files tax forms that claims a $15,000 tax refund. The next day, Norm finds out from a telephone call that Sam has sent the tax forms that his long-time accountant had prepared, which resulted in Sam paying about $3,000 in tax every year. Betrayed, Norm wants to leave the bar and to never return. However, then he weeps and begs Sam not to fire him. Feeling guilty, Sam rehires Norm for the next tax season, and Norm reluctantly accepts.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=37

| EpisodeNumber2=15

| Title=And Coachie Makes Three

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|1|19}}

| WrittenBy=Heide Perlman

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=18.5 / 27 / #21{{cite magazine|date=January 30, 1984|title=CBS wins big with Super Bowl|magazine=Broadcasting|volume=106|issue=5|page=98|id={{ProQuest|963233510}}}}

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=At night, Coach shows up at Diane's apartment and spoils Sam and Diane's attempt at sex. Rather than throw him out, they reluctantly let him stay. This causes Coach to constantly hang out with the couple, allowing them no private time. Sam and Diane set Coach up with Katherine (Eve Roberts)—a woman from the bank. After Coach drops Katherine at the bus stop, he returns to Diane's apartment to watch television. Sam and Diane reluctantly tell Coach not to bother them anymore. The next day, Sam and Diane regret their actions until, to their relief, Coach tells them that he had a wonderful evening with Katherine at her place and would like to see her again.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=38

| EpisodeNumber2=16

| Title=Cliff's Rocky Moment

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|1|26}}

| WrittenBy=David Lloyd

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=19.3 / 29 / #20{{cite magazine|date=February 6, 1984|title='Seasons,' Hammer' nail down first for CBS|magazine=Broadcasting|volume=106|issue=6|page=166|id={{ProQuest|963242202}}}}

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Victor (Peter Iacangelo), a Cheers patron, confronts Cliff for his know-it-all attitude and challenges him to a fight. Cliff runs off and, the following day, unsuccessfully attempts to have someone else fight on Cliff's behalf. Later, Victor demands that Cliff either admit he is a liar and a coward, or leave the bar and never return. Cliff disappoints his friends by leaving the bar. After Sam kicks Victor out, the regulars are surprised when Cliff returns with bricks and a piece of wood to prove that he has practiced karate. Cliff kicks the wood and then breaks a brick with his head, making the crowd cheer. Cliff secretly tells Diane that he has never practiced karate and is going to faint. While his friends review the broken pieces, Diane secretly struggles to carry Cliff from the bar to a hospital. Meanwhile, Diane has beaten Sam consecutively in betting on American football teams, outraging Sam.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=39

| EpisodeNumber2=17

| Title=Fortune and Men's Weight

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|2|2}}

| WrittenBy=Heide Perlman

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=13.1 / 19 / #51{{cite news|date=February 8, 1984|page=5C|title=No. 3 Dynasty helps ABC wins ratings race}} Record no: 8401100023. 65 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Everyone tries out a 40-year-old fortune-telling machine that was bought by Coach. Norm's fortune says "Your most troublesome problem will soon be solved." One night, Norm discovers that his "blind date"—set up by a friend—is his ex-wife Vera. Norm and Vera have sex and reconcile their marriage. Sam and Diane deny that these fulfilled predictions are anything more than mere coincidences. However, Diane becomes concerned when her fortune says "Deception in romance proves costly." At closing time the next day, Diane tells Sam about a platonic evening with her male classmate, with whom she shares interests. Sam feels betrayed and argues with her, bringing them to the cusp of a breakup. Infuriated, Sam kicks the machine, which immediately ejects a card. Deciding that the message will decide the fate of their relationship, they're shocked to read "Machine empty. Order more fortunes today."

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=40

| EpisodeNumber2=18

| Title=Snow Job

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|2|9}}

| WrittenBy=David Angell

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=17.1 / 25 / #26{{cite news|title=NBC takes Nielsen lead for first time in season|date=February 16, 1984|page=6B}} Record no: 8401120302. 59 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Diane learns that, in the past, Sam sought women at ski trips with his friends in Stowe, Vermont. Sam enters the bar and tells Diane that he is going to Vermont for the "funeral" of his uncle Nathan, supposedly killed by a bus in a hit-and-run accident. Not wanting to fall for Sam's lies, Diane says she'll scrutinize obituaries to confirm the death of Sam's uncle. To prevent her from doing so, Sam admits that the funeral and Uncle Nathan are nonexistent. Diane admits that she knew the whole situation all along and did not read obituaries to catch him out. Sam threatens to go on the trip anyway, but he returns seconds later, just as everyone predicted. Norm befriends George Foley (James Gallery)—another unemployed man—making Cliff jealous. George ditches Norm at a hockey game, causing Norm to remember who his real friend is. Coach tries to break his record of fewest glasses broken, but is denied when he slips on a banana peel.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=41

| EpisodeNumber2=19

| Title=Coach Buries a Grudge

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|2|16}}

| WrittenBy=David Lloyd

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=14.6 / 21 / #33{{cite news|title=ABC leads ratings with Olympics shows|date=February 22, 1984|page=12D}} Record no: 8401130864. 49 programs.

|LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Coach returns from his old friend T-Bone's funeral in Phoenix, Arizona and decides to hold T-Bone's memorial in the bar, as Diane suggests. He overhears Sam revealing that T-Bone once made a pass at Coach's wife Angela, enraging him. At the memorial, Coach discovers that T-Bone did the same to another man's wife and did inappropriate things to Coach's friends. He and his old friends become angry and try to dishonor T-Bone by destroying a cardboard picture of him. However, when they hear Diane sing "Amazing Grace", they quell their anger and sing along. Norm learns from Vera that her parents, who disdain him for being unemployed, have already arrived at Norm and Vera's house, so he claims employment search to avoid his in-laws.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=42

| EpisodeNumber2=20

| Title=Norman's Conquest

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|2|23}}

| WrittenBy=Lissa Levin

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=17.2 / 26 / #22{{cite news|page=4B|title=CBS is Master of ratings game|date=February 29, 1984}} Record no: 8401150603. 56 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Married Norm is attracted to his client Emily Phillips (Anne Schedeen). Rather than seduce her, Norm drops Emily off at her apartment and suddenly leaves. In the billiard room, Norm tells Sam that he loves Vera, who is the only woman he wants for life, especially during the 11-year marriage. Diane encourages Norm to stand up for Vera. However, Norm later tells his bar mates his jokes about Vera to cover-up his feelings for her, disappointing Diane.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=43

| EpisodeNumber2=21

| Title=I'll Be Seeing You, Part 1

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|5|3}}

| WrittenBy=Glen Charles & Les Charles

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=13.9 / 21 / #32{{cite news|title=The Nielsens|date=May 11, 1984|page=5B}} Record no: 8402040812. 65 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=Diane learns that Sam has concealed their relationship from the Boston Magazine, which includes him on its "20 Most Eligible Bachelors" list. To make peace with Diane, Sam takes Carla's suggestion that he commission a portrait of Diane by an artist Cliff knows. Philip Semenko (Christopher Lloyd), a pretentious artist who insults Sam and his lack of originality, becomes attracted to Diane. Sam fires Philip, but the artist, who Diane recognizes and admires, decides to paint an original portrait of her. Sam warns her that, if she does anything with Philip, their relationship will end. Coach fails to encourage unenthusiastic bar patrons into signing up for picnic and softball, and Norm warns his friends to stay away from a new restaurant—the Hungry Heifer—for its bad service and bad food.

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Cheers season 2

| EpisodeNumber=44

| EpisodeNumber2=22

| Title=I'll Be Seeing You, Part 2

| OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1984|5|10}}

| WrittenBy=Glen Charles & Les Charles

| DirectedBy=James Burrows

| Aux4=13.6 / 22 / #30{{cite news|page=9B|title=The Nielsens|date=May 17, 1984}} Record no: 8402060339. 61 programs.

| LineColor=e2a482

| ShortSummary=A week passes: Coach resorts to do the "pathetic old man" trick, prompting unenthusiastic bar patrons into signing up for the picnic and softball. Norm still dislikes the Hungry Heifer, but he often dines there to take advantage of its special offers. Sam discovers that Diane has betrayed him by commissioning Philip to paint her portrait—which she brings in—and chides her for it. Tired and exhausted, she contends that her relationship with Sam "has always been a contest of wills" and has degraded into immaturity. As she is leaving, Sam orders her to leave and never return. Without Diane around, Sam unwraps Philip's painting and says, "Wow!"

}}

}}

The second season of Cheers was scheduled against CBS's Simon & Simon and various ABC programs, including the short-lived sitcom It's Not Easy and short-lived medical drama Trauma Center.{{cite news|date=November 17, 1983|page=22-D|newspaper=The News and Courier/New York Evening Post|location=Charleston, South Carolina|title=Thursday, Nov. 17; Highlights|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OgJgAAAAIBAJ&pg=4024%2C3494426|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google News Archive}} The season scored an average rating of 17.6 and achieved a 27% audience share in its first seven weeks.{{cite news|at=TV Week, p. 31|newspaper=The Register-Guard|location=Eugene, Oregon|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jg5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=5717%2C2722351|title=Cheers sparkling dialogue – a rare commodity on network TV|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|date=December 10, 1983}} At the end of the season, Cheers finished in 35th place in the Nielsen ratings,{{cite news|title=The Shows Readers Love and Hate Most|newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer|author=David Bianculli|date=May 14, 1984|page=D01}} Record no: 8401260419. NewsBank: {{registration required}}. a considerable improvement over its debut season, which finished under top 70.

This season was reviewed at the time of its first broadcast on NBC. According to April 26, 1984, survey from The Philadelphia Inquirer (polled by almost 5,000 people) and an April 1984 survey from The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cheers was one of the top ten favorite programs. David Bianculli from Knight Ridder news agency praised it as "the best comedy on TV".{{cite news|title=Can NBC Recapture Thursday Glory?|page=D3|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|agency=Knight Ridder News Service|date=June 14, 1984|access-date=September 14, 2012|author=David Bianculli| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LH&s_site=kentucky&p_multi=LH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB736C66EAB0DA5&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM}} Record no: 8401240406. NewsBank: {{registration required}}. Ron Miller and Steve Sonsky from the same news agency gave the same praise. Sonsky said the show was hilarious, unrealistic, absurd, superbly crafted and " ... its just the way comedy should be: comic exaggeration built on a grain of truth you can identify with".

Other reviews were less than positive. According to Sonsky, Harry Stein writing for TV Guide said Cheers and shows like it are "destructive". Sonsky wrote that Stein and other critics "call[s] such shows to task for failing to display ... commendable and enduring relationships, based on trust and moral values". Mike Boone from the Montreal newspaper The Gazette wrote that the romance between Sam and Diane lasted far too long, spoiled the atmosphere of the bar, and transformed the supporting cast into a "Greek chorus of concerned bystanders".{{cite news|page=E12|last=Boone |first=Mike |title=Cheers! Sam and Diane's breakup is a TV event worth drinking to|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c1wxAAAAIBAJ&pg=1158%2C600615|work=The Gazette |date=2 May 1984 }} Fred Rothenberg from Associated Press said the program's second season "had some great shows, but dwelled incessantly on the conflict between Sam and Diane without developing the other characters .{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-qUvAAAAIBAJ&dq=cheers%20sam%20diane&pg=1222%2C3533137|page=A15|title=William Daniels, St. Elsewhere get critic's vote|author=Fred Rothenberg|date=September 21, 1984|agency=Associated Press|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|newspaper=Beaver County Times}}

Twenty years after the series was first broadcast, reviews grew more positive. Adam Arseneau from DVD Verdict gave the series a rating of 90 percent on the story and 93 percent on acting.{{cite web|title=Cheers: The Complete Second Season|author=Adam Arseneau|work=DVD Verdict|access-date=September 19, 2012|date=March 8, 2004|url=http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/cheersseason2.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216151246/http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/cheersseason2.php|archive-date=December 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}} Shannon Nutt from DVD Talk rated it four stars out of five for content.{{cite web|title=Cheers: The Complete Second Season|date=January 6, 2004|work=DVD Talk|access-date=September 19, 2012|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/9008/cheers-complete-second-season/|author=Shannon Nutt}} Kyle Crawford from TheBoxSet.com called it "smartly written and well acted".{{cite web|title=Cheers - The Complete Second Season|url=http://www.theboxset.com/review.php?id=216|date=February 11, 2004|work=TheBoxSet.com|author=Kyle Crawford|access-date=September 19, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301021711/http://www.theboxset.com/review.php?id=216|archive-date=March 1, 2012|df=mdy-all}} Robert David Sullivan ranked the two-part season finale "I'll Be Seeing You" at number four in his list of top 100 favorite sitcom episodes, and wrote that trying to change each other and hurting each other{{mdash}}physically or emotionally{{mdash}}took its toll on Sam and Diane's relationship.{{cite web|author=Sullivan, Robert David|work=Robert David Sullivan|date=December 11, 2012|title=Top 100 sitcom episodes of all time, No. 4: "I'll Be Seeing You," Cheers (1984)|url=http://robertdavidsullivan.typepad.com/my_weblog/2012/12/top-100-sitcom-episodes-of-all-time-no-4-ill-be-seeing-you-cheers.html}} The A.V. Club graded "I'll Be Seeing You" A−. Meredith Blake of that website wrote that a fight scene{{mdash}}which she described as a "[t]hree Stooges-esque nose-pinching, face-slapping farce"{{mdash}}is "sublimely well-executed, but it also has a troubling subtext". Blake added, "[w]hen Diane expresses her shock over the violence, Sam fires back that he hadn't hit her as hard as he wanted to. It sounds less like a defense of his behavior than a confession to even darker emotions."{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/cheers-i-ll-be-seeing-you-1798172563|work=The A.V. Club|title=Cheers: "I'll Be Seeing You" (season 2, episodes 21-22); originally aired 5/3 and 5/10/1984|date=April 26, 2012}} TV Guide named "How Do I Love Thee... Let Me Call You Back" a "classic episode".{{cite book|page=54|title=TV Guide: TV on DVD 2006: The Ultimate Resource to Television Programs on DVD|year=2005|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1N4Okbxfz5YC&q=carla+cheers+tortelli&pg=PA54|isbn=0-312-35150-X|last1=Guide|first1=T. V.}}

In response to criticism on Diane and Sam's relationship, Cheers{{'}} creators said that they still entertained viewers without diminishing the show's quality and going out of character. Les Charles, the co-creator, co-writer, and producer of Cheers, said that the on-and-off relationship between Sam and Diane would evolve into consummation and was never meant to last. Charles said that Sam and Diane have strong chemistry but incompatible backgrounds. Glen Charles said that Sam and Diane still antagonize each other, no matter what the state of relationship.{{cite news|author=Fred Rothenberg|date=October 13, 1983|page=E11|title=Love won't spoil Sam and Diane on Cheers|work=Anchorage Daily News|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UHEoAAAAIBAJ&pg=1635%2C6890976|access-date=September 18, 2012|via=Google News Archive|archive-date=January 3, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103083410/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UHEoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=n6cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1635,6890976|url-status=dead}} Director James Burrows said that pairing Diane and Sam was not a mistake and that keeping them apart for the whole season would have been worse.{{cite news|newspaper=The Modesto Bee|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7nYkAAAAIBAJ&dq=cheers%20sam%20diane&pg=950%2C107327|page=B-8|author=Vernon Scott|agency=United Press International|date=August 11, 1984|title=Cheers remodeled for new season|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google News Archive}} The cliffhanger after their breakup in the two-part season finale "I'll Be Seeing You" was intended so that "[t]he audience will have all summer to wonder whether Sam will ever see Diane again", said Charles. Meanwhile, writers planned to give Diane another love interest for the next season.

On August 25, 1983, a fire broke out at Paramount Studios where Cheers was filmed. Two or three sound stages and four outdoor sets were destroyed; the show's production set and the rest of the studios were unharmed.{{cite news|title=Fire destroys sets, stages at Paramount|date=August 26, 1983|page=18|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9S8aAAAAIBAJ&dq=paramount%20fire%20cheers%20star-trek&pg=6670%2C8783024|newspaper=Times-News|location=Hendersonville, North Carolina|access-date=August 17, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|agency=Associated Press|author=John Antczak}}{{cite news|title=Fire destroys Paramount sound stages|date=August 26, 1983|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CJszAAAAIBAJ&dq=paramount%20studios%20fire%20cheers%20star-trek&pg=3449%2C6550609|agency=United Press International|newspaper=Lodi News-Sentinel|location=Lodi, California|access-date=August 17, 2012 |via=Google News Archive}} Diane's apartment is the first place outside the bar to appear on screen since the season premiere "Power Play". John Ratzenberger, who appeared frequently as a guest star in the first season, was billed in the second season as a permanent character on the opening credits.{{sfn|Bjorklund|1993|pp=281–295}} In 1984, NBC renewed the show for its third season (1984–1985).

Cheers received twelve Emmy Award nominations for the 1983–84 season and won four, including Outstanding Comedy Series. Rhea Perlman won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, David Angell won Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series for "Old Flames", and Andrew Chulack won Outstanding Film Editing for a Series.{{sfn|Bjorklund|1993|p=458}} Cheers received three Golden Globe nominations for Best Musical/Comedy Series of 1983; Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy Series (Ted Danson), and Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series (Shelley Long);{{cite news|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|page=C11|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=87QqAAAAIBAJ&dq=golden%20globe&pg=6933%2C5342451|title=Terms of Endearment, Yentl lead Golden Globe nominations|date=January 11, 1984|agency=United Press International|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google}} neither were won in 1984.{{cite news|title=Terms Top Golden Globe winner|date=January 30, 1984|page=16|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7htKAAAAIBAJ&dq=golden%20globe&pg=6829%2C3447193|agency=Associated Press|access-date=September 18, 2012| via=Google}} Of the nominees for 1984, Shelley Long won a Golden Globe in 1985 as the Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy Series.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hLEfAAAAIBAJ&dq=golden%20globe&pg=2609%2C2219534|title=Golden Globe awards list|page=2|access-date=September 18, 2012 |via=Google|newspaper=Southeast Missourian|location=Cape Girardeau, Missouri|date=January 28, 1985}}

This season was released into Region 1 DVD on January 6, 2004, almost twenty years its first television broadcast. Adam Arseneau of DVD Verdict rated the video 91 percent. He rated audio 84 percent and found it "less spectacular".

The second season did not receive its own separate release on Blu-ray. It was released as part of the Cheers: The Complete Series box set on April 25, 2023, with the DVD special features intact.

• {{cite book |last=Bjorklund |first=Dennis A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pEN6sTeG20AC |title=Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference |publisher=Praetorian Publishing |year=1993|isbn=9780967985237 }} [https://books.google.com/books?id=hKbxOW2ONGEC Another edition]

{{reflist|2|refs=

{{cite news|date=July 23, 1984|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=j8w_AAAAIBAJ&pg=4002%2C2668540|page=8D|newspaper=The Ledger|location=Lakeland, Florida|author=Ron Miller|access-date=September 13, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|title=Tube Notes|agency=Knight Ridder}}

{{cite news|page=C5|agency=Knight Ridder|author=Steve Sonsky|newspaper=Calgary Herald|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EndkAAAAIBAJ&dq=cheers%20best%20%7C%20excellent&pg=1261%2C1708471|date=May 4, 1984|location=Calgary, Alberta (Canada)|access-date=September 14, 2012 |via=Google News Archive|title=Cheers has quick shot of suspense}}

{{cite news|title=Splitting Up Takes Nights For Sam, Diane Of 'Cheers' |work=The Blade |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4VZQAAAAIBAJ&pg=6868%2C2662620 |location=Toledo, Ohio|date=May 3, 1984 |page=P6 |agency=Associated Press}} "[The breakup]" was originally "It". "It" may also refer to "[the relationship]", but the relationship of Sam and Diane has evolved into on-again, off-again over the years.

{{cite news|page=30|newspaper=The Bulletin|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ro9TAAAAIBAJ&dq=cheers%20diane's%20apartment&pg=5185%2C3095194|title=Cheers Surges from Ratings Slump|agency=United Press International|date=September 30, 1983|access-date=July 7, 2012 |via=Google News Archives}}

{{cite news|page=D5|author=Jory, Tom|title=Taxi, Fame Get the Ax as NBC Announces Fall Lineup|newspaper=Lexington Herald-Leader|location=Kentucky|date=May 11, 1983|via=NewsBank}} Record no: 8301230394. {{registration required}}

}}

These sources were accessed at NewsBank, which requires registration. Except where noted, they were originally published in print editions of The Miami Herald newspaper.

{{reflist|2|group=rat2}}

• [http://cocatalog.loc.gov/ Production order of Cheers season 2] at Copyright Catalog
• Click "Set Search Limits", select "Range", select "Motion Pictures" at "Item Type", type "1983" at left box and "1984" at right box, either hit "Enter" or click "Set Search Limits"
• Then, after above step, search by title, type "Cheers", and hit "Enter" or click "Begin search"
• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083399/episodes?season=2 Cheers, season 2] at IMDb
• [http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/cheers/episodes-season-2/100083 Cheers, season 2] at TV Guide

{{Cheers}}

{{EmmyAward ComedySeries}}

2

Category:1983 American television seasons

Category:1984 American television seasons

Category:Television episodes directed by James Burrows