The Boys in the Bar (27 Jan. 1983)

When Sam publicly supports an old teammate who has come out of the closet, Norm and the gang are afraid that "Cheers" will become a "gay bar."

Director:

James Burrows

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Nicholas Colasanto

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Danson	...	Sam Malone
Shelley Long	...	Diane Chambers
Nicholas Colasanto	...	Ernie 'Coach' Pantusso
Rhea Perlman	...	Carla Tortelli
George Wendt	...	Norm Peterson
Alan Autry	...	Tom Kenderson
John Furey	...	Larry
Michael Kearns	...	Richard
Kenneth Tigar	...	Fred
Lee Ryan	...	Bob
Jack Knight	...	Jack
Thomas Babson	...	Barney (as Tom Babson)
Wesley Thompson	...	Photographer
Shannon Sullivan	...	Reporter #1
John Bluto	...	Reporter #2

Storyline

Tom Kenderson, Sam's old roommate from his Red Sox days, has just written his autobiography and is launching the book at Cheers since Sam is mentioned in it. Despite Tom asking Sam to read it before the book launch, Sam fails to do so. As the book is launched in front of a few reporters, Sam wishes that he had read it since Tom used the book as his way of coming out, which shocks Sam if only because Tom was a bigger womanizer than even him back then. Sam wants to be supportive of his old friend, but he is also deathly afraid of being construed as being gay himself. His support for Tom eventually wins out, which angers the regulars of the bar, who are afraid that Cheers will turn into a gay bar. Those regulars' concerns extend to being surrounded by what they assume will be stereotypically effeminate accoutrement around the establishment. They are also certain that they could spot a gay man a mile away, and as such they vow to scare off anyone who fits that mold. Sam has to decide ...

---

Plot Keywords:

gay | gay bar | out of the closet | gaydar | coming out | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

27 January 1983 (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:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The autobiography of Sam's gay baseball friend in "The Boys in the Bar" Episode: #1.16 is called "Catcher's mask"

---

Quotes

Diane Chambers: [durring Sams interview when he is jumped with the fact that Tom is gay and starts babaling Diane gives him an out and they are in the back room] I was fast but you were faster.

User Reviews