Cheers: The Complete Fourth Season review, Cheers: Season Four DVD review
Starring
Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger, Woody Harrelson, Kelsey Grammer, Bebe Neuwirth
Director
Various
Cheers: The Complete
Fourth Season

Reviewed by Gerardo Orlando

()

A

fter three seasons, “Cheers” had established itself as the best comedy on television, and it was on its way to becoming one of the best sitcoms ever. Not even the sudden death of actor Nicholas Colasanto (Coach) before the start of season four slowed the series down. Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) was introduced as Coach’s replacement, and because he was just as dumb as Coach and almost as funny, the show didn’t miss a beat.

Despite the loss of Coach, season four ranks up there as one of the best seasons of this great series. Season three ended with Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Diane (Shelley Long) heading off to Italy to get married, with Sam going after them to stop the wedding. In the first episode, we learn that Sam (Ted Danson) never found them, but Diane left Frasier at the altar. Frasier was always a great character on “Cheers,” and Kelsey Grammer parlayed that character into his own successful series, but watching Frasier in a constant state of humiliation and despair during this season of Cheers is absolutely hilarious. Frasier’s rage and hatred towards Diane provided laughs in episode after episode as he played the role of the pathetic, scorned lover.

In addition to Woody, season four also introduced us to Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth) on her first date with Frasier. The character was so funny that she was brought back in season five and became a regular on the show. One episode also featured Nick Tortelli and his dopey wife, Loretta, as Carla (Rhea Perlman) and Nick are invited to a cast reunion of an old television dance show. As for guest appearances, my favorite was Jennifer Tilly as Candi, Sam’s hot and dim-witted friend who falls for Frasier.

The fireworks between Sam and Diane continue throughout season four, and in the last episode Sam makes a phone call proposing marriage. If you’re a fan of the series you know who he called, but for those of you who haven’t seen it or don’t recall, it was either a call to Diane or the hot councilwoman Sam was dating in the final three episodes. The writers left it as a cliffhanger leading into season five.

The only disappointment with this DVD is the lack of extras; otherwise, it would have deserved five stars. “Cheers” always represented the best that television had to offer, and the series easily stands up to the tests of time.

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