Recap / Cheers S 6 E 8

Episode: Season 6, Episode 8
Title: Bidding on the Boys
Directed by: Thomas Lofaro
Written by: David Lloyd
Air Date: November 19, 1987
Previous: The Last Angry Mailman
Next: Pudd'n Head Boyd
Guest Starring: Bebe Neuwirth, Sharon Barr

"Bidding on the Boys" is the 8th episode of the sixth season of Cheers.

Rebecca is hosting a bachelor auction for charity at the bar, because it's fun, it's for a good cause, and it will attract attention to Cheers. Sam is miffed when she doesn't ask him to participate, although he pretends that he isn't. He eventually insists on being part of the auction.

Meanwhile, Frasier brings up the prospect of a prenuptial agreement with Lilith. She flips her lid. A very nasty spat between the two of them breaks out, one that eventually leads Lilith to buy a date from Sam Malone at the bachelor auction.

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Tropes:

• Abhorrent Admirer: Woody is intimidated by the woman who buys him at the bachelor auction. She's way older, she's got a frazzled Lady Drunk look about her, and she smokes like a chimney.
  Norm: I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this is not her first time in a bar.
• Bachelor Auction: Rebecca hosts one at the bar.
• The Ghost: Yet another mention of the unseen Evan Drake, as Rebecca talks to him on the phone and tells the others that he approves of the bachelor auction.
• Hypocritical Humor: Frasier and Lilith are still fighting in the hotel room when Sam, shuffling out the door with his pants around his ankles, says "Do you have any idea how ridiculous you look?"
• Nausea Dissonance: Woody is unperturbed by Carla's graphic description of how varicose veins are removed—while eating spaghetti no less!—but is disgusted when Frasier loudly exclaims about an article about psychological distress full of technical jargon, unable to eat anymore.
• Prenup Blowup: Frasier and Lilith have a fight after he mentions the possibility of getting a prenuptial agreement.
• Put Off Their Food: In the cold open, Woody sits and eats spaghetti while Carla gives a very graphic description of the surgery she just had to take care of varicose veins. That doesn't bother him at all, but when Frasier reads an article and says "Can you believe maintaining that post-coital tristesse is gender oriented?", Woody is put off his food.
• Victoria's Secret Compartment: Where Lilith drops Sam's car keys when he wants to leave.
• Whammy Bid: Rebecca is horrified to realize that she might be stuck with a $1250 bid for Sam Malone, when Lilith emerges from the restroom and bids $2000.
• Word, Schmord!: A desperate Sam in the hotel room keeps talking about how great Frasier is, only for Lilith to say "Frasier Schmasier, let's have some fun!"