Title: The Crane Mutiny
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: David Angell
Air Date: October 29, 1987
Previous: Little Carla, Happy at Last: Part 2
Next: Paint Your Office
Guest Starring: Bebe Neuwirth
"The Crane Mutiny" is the 5th episode of the sixth season of Cheers.
Frasier is nervous about his relationship with Lilith. Apparently they had a nasty fight because Lilith wants to get married and he is reluctant. Cliff and Norm could be supportive and lend a friendly ear, but instead they decide to trick Frasier into thinking that Rebecca is interested in him. Actually, Rebecca does not even know who Frasier is (after all, she's only been managing the bar a short while), but Frasier falls for it. Then things go too far when Frasier breaks up with Lilith in order to pursue Rebecca.
In the B-plot, Sam's undermining of Rebecca's authority comes to a crisis point when she wants to remove the picture of Sam playing baseball, and replace it with one of her.
Tropes:
- Commitment Issues: Frasier starts getting jumpy when Lilith presses him about marriage. Naturally, at the end he asks her to marry him.
- "Dear John" Letter: Frasier chickens out and leaves a letter for Lilith telling her that he wants to break up. Then he tries recovering it, only to learn he's a little late.
- Failed a Spot Check: Woody's bought a new apartment, and fails to notice it's in Boston's Chinatown, despite the several hints. A phone call to his landlady, Ms. Chung, helps clear the matter up for him.
- Food Slap: After feigning ignorance about the breakup letter, Lilith throws a drink in Frasier's face.
- Male Gaze: Rebecca says "And stop looking at my rear end!" to Sam as she goes back into the office.
- Manchild: Sam childishly mimics Rebecca's words back at her.
- The Matchmaker: It was accidental but at the end Norm and Cliff take pride in getting Frasier and Lilith together.
- Mustache Vandalism: Sam and Carla react to Rebecca hanging her picture in the bar by drawing her to look like Groucho Marx, with glasses and mustache.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: One of the few times Lilith blows her stack, after thinking Frasier's cheating on her.Frasier: (after getting a drink thrown in his face) ... I take it you've read the letter?
Lilith: Yes, I've read the letter, you licentious QUACK! - Sarcasm Mode: When Rebecca licks her lips at Frasier, a shocked Frasier wonders if she's really flirting with him. Norm says "No, she was trying to wipe something off her lip!" She was trying to wipe something off her lip, as Cliff, standing behind Frasier, tricked her into thinking something was there by pointing to his lips and licking.
- Ship Tease: This would be the first reference to Frasier's attraction to Rebecca, something that the show would come back to every once in a while for the rest of the run.
- Shout-Out: The title is a shout-out to famous novel/play/movie The Caine Mutiny.
- Skewed Priorities: Lilith nearly starts throwing things at Frasier, getting him as horrified as we ever see him. Lilith agrees that smashing priceless bowls is beyond the bounds of decorum.
