Cheers 5:8: “Knights of the Scimitar”

Airdate: 11/20/86

Diane confides in Sam that she and a college student could very well be an item, despite their age difference. He just happens to be good-looking on the level of a Greek god, so much so that Sam doesn’t believe he exists. Enter Lance Apollonaire, dreamboat extraordinaire – so real, in fact, that Carla passes out twice. He’s asked Diane out for a weekend in Vermont, but she delays answering, mainly because she’s hoping it will make Sam insanely jealous. Does it? After playing it cool, he teaches Diane a lesson on how to make another man green with envy – by planting a passionate smooch on her to indicate that perhaps he’s got some longing for her after all. Subplot: Cliff gets Norm to join his lodge, the Knights of the Scimitar. Reluctant at first, he starts warming up to his “brothers,” until they pass a referendum… to ban beer at all meetings.

Despite its title, this episode is really more about the Sam/Diane story, and it’s a good one. The hitherto episodes about Diane still trying to reclaim Sam’s heart after declining his marriage proposal may be over – what comes next could be anyone’s guess. Funniest scenes involves Carla’s throbbing lust for Lance, especially the final joke in which she kisses him to show how to make someone jealous.

Cold open: one of Cliff’s postal co-workers busts his chops for a uniform violation. Cliff gets back with the old “peer through viewfinder and get inky eye” trick.

Norm’s opener: Woody: “What’s the story, Mr. Peterson?” Norm: “Zsa Zsa marries a millionaire, Norm drinks a beer. Film at 11.”