Title: Tan 'N' Wash
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Cheri Eichen and Bill Steinkellner
Air Date: November 6, 1986
Previous: House of Horrors with Formal Dining and Used Brick
Next: Young Dr. Weinstein
Guest Starring: Paul Willson
"Tan 'N' Wash" is the sixth episode of the fifth season of Cheers.
Norm has tickets to a Red Sox-Yankees doubleheader (in November?), and the gang is impressed. Norm explains to Sam that he did well investing funds for a client and the tickets are a thank you. After Sam presses him further Norm reveals his next business idea: a combination laundry and tanning salon called "Tan 'N' Wash". Everybody gets excited, and everybody (except Woody, who's surprisingly skeptical) invests.
Unfortunately, Boston is having unseasonably warm, sunny weather. Tan 'N' Wash looks like it might be a bust. Sam, Cliff, and Carla start to panic, and demand their money back, much to Norm's irritation.
In the B-plot, Diane goes out on a date with a doctor named Chad, in an obvious attempt to make Sam jealous.
Tropes:
- Answer Cut: Paul is skeptical of the gang's new business, saying "Outside of someone with a financial interest in the place, who'd be stupid enough to spend a minute in your rip-off joint?" Cue Woody (the only one who didn't invest) coming in the door with an unnaturally deep tan.
- Ask a Stupid Question...: Frasier may be suffering from his Embarrassingly Painful Sunburn, but at least he can still mock Diane.Diane: Frasier, a sunburn?
Frasier: No, I'm doing my impression of a blood blister. - Did You Just Have Sex?: Diane desperately tries to invoke this on Sam's part, strolling into the bar the day after her date singing "Isn't It Romantic?", but Sam doesn't bite.
- Embarrassingly Painful Sunburn: While everyone else gets unnatural mahogany tans, a malfunctioning booth leaves Frasier looking like a tomato. Carla makes sure to slap him on the back.
- Hypocritical Humor: The gang is pumping Norm for details on the new investment, but he won't tell.Sam: Yeah? Like what?
Norm: Mmm, no, sorry guys. My lips are sealed.
Sam: Buy you a beer.
Norm: It's called "Tan 'N' Wash"... - Never Lend to a Friend: Never do business with a friend. Norm is reluctant to let the Cheers gang into Tan 'N' Wash, thinking that it will ruin his friendships. He's mostly right. Woody refuses to back the business, but still helps Norm promote it. Awww.Woody: You know, when I left home, my father gave me some very sound advice. Never trust a man who can't look you in the eye, never talk when you can listen, and never spend venture capital on a limited partnership without a detailed analytical fiduciary prospectus.
- "Not Wearing Pants" Dream: In the cold open the gang is discussing stock nightmares, and someone mentions having the not-wearing-pants dream. This is followed by Woody describing a much more surreal nightmare in which he came to a fancy restaurant to eat, and had to check his legs at the door.
- Operation: Jealousy: Diane goes on a date in a very obvious attempt to make Sam jealous. He seems more irritated than anything else.
- Phrase Catcher: Averted. Or maybe inverted? Norm enters the bar sporting a snazzy new coat and hat, Tan 'N' Wash having finally taken off, but the gang is resentful because they bailed on the investment and didn't see any of the profits. So when he says "Afternoon everybody!", he's ignored. So Norm himself has to say "NORM!". He even repeats Diane's "Norman."
