Cheers 3.25: “Rescue Me”

Airdate: 5/9/85

Frasier pops the question to Diane in Italy and, after much deliberation and soul-searching, she accepts. Sam also has ambivalent feelings; he daydreams about rescuing her from the altar and starting their relationship anew, on his terms. Following his heart, he gets on the next plane to Italy; Diane tests his feelings by calling the bar to see if he’s on a plane or not. She thinks he’s there when she hears his voice, but it’s really the new answering machine he had installed.

The Sam/Diane soap opera continues… Will she marry? Will he stop her? Off-location filmed sequences abound in this entertaining season finale, which leaves the summer for Cheers fans to catch up in reruns or wait for the conclusion of this saga… as the world turns!

Funniest scene: Dian and Frasier eat at an Italian restaurant where the maitre ‘d is still mourning the loss of the head chef.

Cold open: Coach misidentifies an old ball player as a blind man, even though it’s clear he has sight. (Note: this may be filmed at an earlier time, as the actor playing Coach, by this time, may have passed.)

Norm’s opener: Norm’s already at the bar.