The Two Faces of Norm (26 Oct. 1989)

Sam is trying to save money to buy back the bar, but things are going slowly. Rebecca suggests he sell his beloved Corvette to raise the money. After deliberating, he decides to do so, but ... See full summary »

Director:

Andy Ackerman

Writers:

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

Stars:

Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, Rhea Perlman

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
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
Eric Allan Kramer	...	Rudy
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Doris
Rob Moran	...	Dennis Hammill
Gordon Hunt	...	Gordon
Mark Knudsen	...	John
James C. Victor	...	Scott (as J.C. Victor)
Jacqueline Alexandra Citron	...	Jennifer
Kristen Amber Citron	...	Veronica

Storyline

Sam is trying to save money to buy back the bar, but things are going slowly. Rebecca suggests he sell his beloved Corvette to raise the money. After deliberating, he decides to do so, but he makes the process difficult for anyone to buy the car. After selling it and getting a cheaper replacement vehicle, he has seller's remorse. Can he get his beloved car back? Meanwhile, Norm is swamped with painting work, so Rebecca and Woody suggest he hire some painters to work under him. Norm is reluctant as he wouldn't know how to act as the boss. He does end up hiring three guys - Rudy, John and Scott - who end up being more buddies than employees. Their work ethic is lax. When Norm thinks out loud that he needs to hire another tough guy to be the boss, Frasier suggests that all he needs to do is develop an alter ego. The alter ego Norm develops is named Anton Kreitzer, who is akin to a Nazi dictator. To further the masquerade, Norm rents office space for him and Kreitzer, and hires a meek ...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 October 1989 (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

Gordon: Is Sam Malone here?
Carla LeBec: He'll be back in a minute. Can I give him a message?
Gordon: Well, I want to let him know right away. I got his test results back. I'm afraid he's got a serious blockage.
Carla LeBec: Oh God, his heart?
Gordon: No, his fuel line. I'm Sam's mechanic.
Carla LeBec: Oh my God, it's the Corvette. Why couldn't it have been his heart?

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Connections

References The Three Faces of Eve (1957)

User Reviews

I Gotta Get My Car Back...

Norm creates a vicious alter-ego to help manage his employees. For those of you wondering the answer is yes- Norm has employees now. He hired a trio of brain-dead drones to help him paint the walls, and not surprisingly these goons aren't very motivated.

What else is a beer-guzzling lard-wallet to do but shout into an empty chug-mug and call himself Kreitzer? Norm goes schizo, but it's not particularly funny. He's supposed to be a sane man pretending to be a lunatic, but he just comes off like an actual lunatic. Frasier's character is damaged when the writers actually have him advise Norm to create a second identity in order to run his business... bad medicine from the good Doctor.

Meanwhile, Sam sells his car to buy the bar back, because when he owns the bar he'll be making enough money to buy the car back. Again. Grand plan, Sam Malone.

Cynthia Stevenson guest-stars as Doris, Norm's fake-secretary. Her timid, mousy nature makes her just funny enough for this one episode: to have her back again would be too much, and unfunny in every way. No chance of that happening.

This is a decent episode but we're starting to play fast and loose with reality... the entire bar shouting "Anton" in unison...? If you say so.

GRADE: B-