Any Friend of Diane's (4 Nov. 1982)

One of Diane's old college friends comes to the bar. She is vulnerable and looking for a man to give her an afternoon of unbridled passion, and Sam predictably jumps at the opportunity.

Director:

James Burrows

Writers:

Glen Charles (creator), Les Charles (creator),

Stars:

Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Ted Danson	...	Sam Malone
Shelley Long	...	Diane Chambers
Nicholas Colasanto	...	Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso
Rhea Perlman	...	Carla Tortelli
George Wendt	...	Norm Peterson
Julia Duffy	...	Rebecca Prout
Macon McCalman	...	Darrell Stabell
John Ratzenberger	...	Cliff Clavin

Storyline

Rebecca, an old friend of Diane's from her Bennington years, stops by the bar for a visit. Rebecca breaks down that she has broken up with her long time boyfriend, and is looking for something she's never had before: a foolish night of unbridled passion with a man of "peasant stock", tall, dark, handsome, and most importantly unintellectual. Although Diane knows that description fits Sam to a T, she doesn't mention it to Rebecca. However Sam appears and Rebecca knows immediately he is what she's looking for. Diane confides to Sam that Rebecca is at a vulnerable state, however Sam goes off with her anyway for an afternoon tryst. After a couple of hours, Sam returns to the bar, alone, telling Diane that nothing happened between him and Rebecca, since she was such a depressing bore. Rebecca returns to the bar distraught that someone like Sam would find her so repulsive. To boost Rebecca's confidence, Sam and Diane concoct a lie which has some basis in reality that they don't yet realize....

---

Plot Keywords:

bad poetry

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

4 November 1982 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last eight minutes of this episode had to be rewritten and reshot because it did not work with the studio audience. The new scene was filmed after the filming of episode 1.10 "Endless Slumper". That episode's studio audience was used for the new scene.

---

Quotes

Diane Chambers: [about her friend, Rebecca] Sam. That woman over there is a dear friend of mine. Now she is going through a very difficult period. So whatever she asks you, please, just say no.
Sam Malone: [confused] What?
Diane Chambers: No.
Rebecca Prout: [approaching Sam and Diane] Diane?
Diane Chambers: Yes?
Rebecca Prout: Would you excuse us a moment?
Diane Chambers: Fine.
[as she leaves Sam and Rebecca alone, Diane emphatically mouths the word "no" to Sam]
Rebecca Prout: Would you object to joining me in my hotel room for a afternoon of wild animal passion?
Sam Malone: [loudly so that Diane can hear] No!
[...]

---

Connections

References Ordinary People (1980)

User Reviews