Title: Hot Rocks
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Air Date: March 16, 1989
Previous: The Cranemakers
Next: What's Up, Doc?
Guest Starring: William J Crowe Jr
"Hot Rocks" is the seventeenth episode of the seventh season of Cheers.
Rebecca's gotten all dolled up for a special event. She's going to visit the USS Constitution, even getting a fancy dress and a date to go with it. Sam soon shows up equally dressed to the nines. Seems he's confident Rebecca's date will cancel at the last minute. Sure enough, he does... as does Sammy's date. Never one to let failure get him down, Sam asks Rebecca out but she refuses, who decides to go visit the gala on his own.
Sam returns with no less than Admiral William J. Crowe, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (the actual Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time). After a few beers, and some annoyance from Cliff, the admiral leaves. Soon after he's gone, Rebecca becomes convinced the man's stolen some very expensive earrings from her. In desperation to find them, she makes a vow: If Sam finds them, she will in fact sleep with him.
Tropes:
- And I'm the Queen of Sheba: Cliff, snarking about the apparent theft of Rebecca's earrings, when Norm suggests Crowe is a cross-dresses, does this.Cliff: Yeah, and I wear lady's underwear.
Woody: Carla, you were right! - And Starring: William J. Crowe gets a "Special Appearance by" credit.
- As Himself: Admiral William J. Crowe, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.note
- Blatant Lies: Rebecca insists she's not upset by her doctor date dumping her at the last minute, even as she's beginning to start tearing up.
- Brick Joke: In the cold open, Woody hears Frasier give a scientific explanation about knuckle cracking, and responds with "makes sense". Part way through the episode, he hears Frasier give another scientific explanation and again responds with "makes sense". He then turns to the others and tells them he's figured if you say that to Frasier, it stops him talking.
- Idiot Ball: Rebecca. "What's the number for 911?"
- Implausible Deniability: Rebecca's frantic denial at the end that she characterized Sam as a "definite maybe."Rebecca: I said you kiss like my uncle Abie!
- Male Gaze: As Rebecca probes the sofa in her office for the earrings, Sam gets a good view of her rear.
- Napoleon Delusion: Frasier incorrectly thinks Admiral Crowe suffers from this.
- Navel-Deep Neckline: Rebecca's dress is cut very low, to the point it reaches her stomach.
- Patriotic Fervor: Cliff's obnoxious jingoism shows up once more, fanboying over Admiral Crowe, then trying to write Rebecca up for treason just for thinking he might've stolen her earrings.
- Ship Tease: At the very end of the episode, Rebecca and Sam get a little fuel, when Rebecca admits she sees him as a definite "maybe".
- Stalker without a Crush: Cliff knows a lot about Admiral Crowe, including his birthday and the names of his family.
- Would Rather Suffer: Rebecca tells Sam she not only doesn't want to go out with him, she'd rather have her gall bladder removed than go out with him.
