Cheers 4:20: “Save the Last Dance for Me”

Airdate: 2/27/86

“The Boston Boppers” is back in town – a 60s dance show that Carla and Nick were regulars on, and perhaps the two can make the magic happen again. Alas, their inability to get along when not cutting a rug keeps them from entering together, so Nick signs up with his wife, Loretta, and Carla with Sam, who initially declines lest he be labeled too “graceful.” Come competition time both couples get eliminated, but Nick protests, and asks his ex-wife to dance to “Unchained Melody” to prove to everyone why they were once considered king and queen of the dance floor. They win, and Carla celebrates, alone, back at Cheers. Nick invites her and Loretta to come to Hawaii with him; his answer comes in the form of a raw egg.

 Fun, charming episode with a great highlight – the dance contest, an “American Bandstand”-style show replete with corny emcee and great rock ‘n roll music. Funniest fall on Cheers thus far: when Carla’s original dance partner, a legendary hoofer, falls down the stairs outside the Cheers front door. We do get to see him carried away in a stretcher, but I think it would have been funnier for him to remain anonymous.

Cold open: Woody wants some pointers on how to converse with a woman from Diane, who drives him away with boredom when she rambles ad infinitum about herself.

Norm’s opener: Woody: “How’s life, Mr. Peterson?” Norm: “I look at it every once in a while when I’m on the john.”