Title: Coach in Love, Part 1
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: David Angell
Air Date: November 8, 1984
Previous: Sam Turns the Other Cheek
Next: Coach in Love, Part 2
Guest Starring: Bette Ford, Ellen Regan
"Coach in Love, Part 1" is the sixth episode of the third season of Cheers.
A mother-and-daughter pair, eventually named as Irene and Sue Blanchard (Bette Ford and Ellen Regan) come into the bar. Coach is instantly smitten with Irene—instantly as in he's struck dumb the second he sees her, and after he comes back behind the bar he tells Sam he's going to marry her.
Together, Coach and Sam introduce themselves to Irene and Sue. Sue has no interest at all in Sam, much to his consternation. Irene however finds Coach charming and accepts his invitation to dinner. One week later, Coach asks Irene to marry him, and she accepts. Sam is pouring champagne for the happy couple when the celebration is interrupted with a call for Irene from her daughter. Irene, it turns out, just won two million dollars in the lottery! Diane congratulates her on two wonderful things happening at the same time, after which a giddy Irene says "What was the other thing?"
Tropes:
- The Bore: The teaser has the gang desperately trying not to give Cliff a reason to start droning on about Florida again. As he's leaving Sam says "Later," which cues Cliff to say "It's not actually later in Florida...", and he continues to blather on as the others moan in despair.
- Girls Love Stuffed Animals: An already established part of Diane's character is referenced again when she mentions that she gave Sam "Brian the Lion", her favorite furry hand puppet. She is not happy when she finds out that Sam gave the puppet to Carla to use as a bar rag.
- I Have to Go Iron My Dog: Sue declines Sam's invitation to a date by saying she's going out with her mother for the first time in months. This is immediately followed by Irene saying that she and her daughter have had dinner out every day that week.
- Love at First Sight: Coach is slack-jawed upon seeing Irene enter the bar. Immediately upon returning to his place behind the bar, he tells Sam he's going to marry Irene.Coach: It's what we Italians call the thunderbolt.
- Multi-Part Episode: The first of two, with a story about Coach and his new girlfriend.
- Running Gag
- Six episodes into the season and Cliff is still talking about his summer vacation to Florida.
- Sam cannot abide Sue just blowing him off. Throughout the episode he keeps trying to get her to go out with him, and he grows increasingly agitated as she refuses.
- Shrunk in the Wash: Sam made the mistake of throwing Diane's hand-knitted wool sweater into the laundry. It's now doll-sized.
- To Be Continued: The episode ends with a freeze-frame and "To Be Continued" after Irene says "What was the other thing?", and the others realize she has already forgotten all about Coach.
