CHEERS: HOW DO I LOVE THEE? . . . LET ME CALL YOU BACK (TV)
Summary
One in this comedy series about a group of regulars at a Boston bar.
Diane goes to great expense to get Sam a pair of tickets to a big prize-fight, although she doesn't wish to go with him. Sam is very appreciative of her gift, and as he's going into his office tells her "I love you." This has a profound effect on Diane, although she is disappointed to learn that Sam didn't mean anything by it. She tries to use this as an opportunity to talk about their relationship and what it means to Sam, although he is simply anxious to leave and get to the fight. Diane reveals that she has put a great deal of time and effort into trying to define their relationship, whereas Sam views it in a far more casual fashion. They start to get into an argument but Sam breaks it off to go to the fight, leaving Diane frustrated.
Later, Sam visits Diane's apartment, where he finds her quite inebriated. He tries to apologize to her for leaving in the middle of their discussion, and gives her a boxing glove-shaped purse as a present. Diane tells Sam that she's decided that if Sam isn't going to take their relationship seriously, then they should break it off. Sam thinks they can resolve the issue and asks that they spend about a week apart so that both of them can think more clearly about what they mean to each other. Both of them believe that they can come up with some sort of answer by week's end. Diane passes out and Sam lays her on her couch before leaving.
Sam spends the week going out with the guys and having a good time, so much so that he neglects to fully consider his relationship with Diane. So far he has not come up with a satisfactory answer to the question of their relationship, but insists that he can "come through in the clutch" when the time comes. Diane unexpectedly arrives at the bar in the middle of the night while Sam and the others are playing cards. Sam, unprepared, tries to stall Diane and retreats into his office to try and improvise a last-minute answer, but Diane follows soon thereafter. He has Diane share her thoughts first: her conclusion is that while both of them are very close, they have not yet fully committed to each other. Sam responds only with "ditto," infuriating Diane. Sam admits that he couldn't come up with anything and that he has no idea why they're together. Diane admits the same thing, revealing that she got her answer from a book. Sam believes that thinking too much about their relationship will spoil it, and now finds that he is unable to say "I love you" to Diane. Diane interprets this as a sign that she is important to Sam after all. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 8, 1983 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:05
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:70736
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Women's Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1982-1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- James Burrows … Producer, Director, Created by
- Glen Charles … Producer, Created by
- Les Charles … Producer, Created by
- Tim Berry … Associate Producer
- Earl Pomerantz … Writer
- Craig Safan … Music by
- Judy Hart Angelo … Theme Music by
- Gary Portnoy … Theme Music by
- Ted Danson … Cast, Sam Malone
- Shelley Long … Cast, Diane Chambers
- Nicholas Colasanto … Cast, Ernie "Coach" Pantusso
- Rhea Perlman … Cast, Carla Tortelli
- John Ratzenberger … Cast, Cliff Clavin
- George Wendt … Cast, Norm Peterson
- Harry Anderson … Cast, Hary Gittes
- Alan Koss … Cast, Alan
- Kevin Rooney … Cast, Phil
- Gerald Berns … Cast, Dave