Christmas Cheers (17 Dec. 1987)

It's the Christmas season. Frasier is in a anti-Christmas bah-humbug mood much to Lilith's chagrin. Norm has a part-time job he fails to mention. And Cliff is collecting food for the needy ... See full summary »

Directors:

James Burrows, Thomas Lofaro

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Danson	...	Sam Malone
Kirstie Alley	...	Rebecca Howe
Rhea Perlman	...	Carla LeBec
John Ratzenberger	...	Cliff Clavin
Woody Harrelson	...	Woody Boyd
Kelsey Grammer	...	Dr. Frasier Crane
George Wendt	...	Norm Peterson
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Dr. Lilith Sternin
Jayne Modean	...	Tracy
Harry Frazier	...	Kris
Michael Donovan O'Donnell	...	Santa #1
Hal Havins	...	Santa #2
Joseph V. Perry	...	Santa #3
Vincent Lucchesi	...	Vincent
Al Rosen	...	Al

Storyline

It's the Christmas season. Frasier is in a anti-Christmas bah-humbug mood much to Lilith's chagrin. Norm has a part-time job he fails to mention. And Cliff is collecting food for the needy all in an effort to win a trip to Disney World. Rebecca has Carla, Woody and Sam all working Christmas Eve as will she. Carla doesn't mind the extra money. Woody isn't going back to Hanover so he doesn't mind. But Sam hates working what he considers the holiday. When it's close to closing time on Christmas Eve, Carla, Woody and Sam decide to exchange their gifts with each other. That's when Sam learns that everyone seems to have a present for Rebecca - which he doesn't - and in turn Rebecca has a gift for everyone. In a panic, Sam rushes out trying to find somewhere - anywhere - that is still open so he can get a gift for her. The second problem may be to find something appropriate, which strikes that perfect balance of being not too expensive but still saying "I want to sleep with you". He may get ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | real movie shown in fictional situation

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian Spanish French Hebrew

Release Date:

17 December 1987 (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:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Woody Boyd: I landed a part in our children theater's production of "The Story of Snow". I play the King of the Flakes.

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Connections

Features It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

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Soundtracks

"Deck the Halls"
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

A Very Yuppie Christmas

Cynical and sweet, witty and stupid, "Christmas Cheers" is the ultimate 80's holiday thrill-ride, in which Sammy learns the true meaning of Christmas: stealing gifts from a semi-retarded woman is alright as long as you give them to your frigid corporate supervisor in an attempt to bang her. Norm is Santa for for no particular reason and Frasier spends the episode feeling the bitter sting of the consumer culture until a corny, inexplicable change of heart sends him rushing to the piano to pound out "Deck The Halls."

Cliff is stuck in one of the most poorly-written B-stories in the series' run: he's competing in a canned-food drive against rival mailman Walter Twitchell, but we never see the canned goods or Twitch himself... the whole story is told through heavy exposition and a clunky TV News broadcast. The one saving grace here is Jayne Modean, the lusciously-adorable guardian angel who agrees to a lingerie fashion show on Christmas Eve.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

GRADE: C+