Title: Never Love a Goalie, Part 1
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Air Date: January 29, 1987
Previous: Spellbound
Next: Never Love a Goalie, Part 2
Guest Starring: Jay Thomas
"Never Love a Goalie, Part 1" is the 16th episode of the fifth season of Cheers.
Into the bar walks one Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas). Eddie, as it happens, is a hockey player. He's recently been acquired by the Boston Bruins to play goalie. Eddie, a journeyman throughout his NHL career, is playing the best hockey of his life; he's won five consecutive starts with the Bruins.
Carla is enchanted with a pro athlete, as always. Eddie, it turns out, likes Carla as well. They start dating. Come the next Bruins game, the Bruins and the Flyers are in overtime. Carla blows a kiss for luck to the TV—and Eddie immediately gives up the game-losing goal.
In the B-plot, Diane has gotten jury duty in an attempted murder trial, and she won't shut up about it.
First appearance of Jay Thomas as Eddie LeBec.
Tropes:
- And I'm the Queen of Sheba: Carla, nervous as she's talking to Eddie, says "Me? Well, uh, I'm in my mid-20s, never been married, got no kids." As she's passing by Diane sarcastically chirps "You're next in line to the throne of England."
- Jury Duty: Diane bores the bejesus out of everyone, yammering about her attempted murder trial.
- Lab Pet: Frasier is in the dumps, because Bombo the chimpanzee has died. It seems Bombo was important to psychological research.
- Multi-Part Episode: First of a two-parter in which Carla finds love with a goalie.
- Sarcasm Mode: Eddie comes back to the bar and asks if Carla liked her seats for the game. Carla says she loved them, then says "I like your seat too." Diane, passing by, says "Carla, you coquette."
- Shout-Out: Frasier got in a fight at the game and got arrested. He says "Next thing I know, I'm in a holding cell at some North End station house with the cast of The Road Warrior.Woody: Did you get Mel Gibson's autograph?
- Superstition Episode: Eddie has some particular, exacting rituals before a hockey game. He orders a club soda with two limes, and a red straw. Then he lays his napkin on top of his glass and his straw on top of the napkin before he leaves. The implication in this (and the next) episode is that Carla is a bad luck charm that is ruining Eddie's game.
- To Be Continued: The episode ends with a "To Be Continued" title card after Eddie gives up the game-losing goal and Carla looks on in despair.
