Title: Finally! Part 1
Directed by: James Burrows
Written by: Ken Levine and David Isaacs
Air Date: January 25, 1990
Previous: What Is...Cliff Clavin?
Next: Finally! Part 2
Guest Starring: Roger Rees, Gail O'Grady, Bill Medley
"Finally! Part 1" is the 15th episode of the eighth season of Cheers.
Robin and Rebecca are going out to a black tie party for Red Sox Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. He winds up inviting Sam along to school him up on baseball, something Robin knows zero about. Rebecca is irritated at this, and even more irritated when Sam's date Laura bails on him, causing Sam to be a third wheel in Robin's limo.
Rebecca's fuming in the limo as they drive to the dinner, which spirals into an argument with Robin—which spirals into them making out in the backseat, much to Sam's mortification. They wind up ditching him. The next morning Rebecca comes in with the "I've just had sex" look written all over her face. She reveals that after they dumped him, she and Robin wound up going to some greasy-spoon burger place instead of the black tie dinner. Then they went home and, yes, finally consummated their relationship.
On their next date Robin tells Rebecca that he loves her. Delirious with joy, Rebecca invites the gang out to celebrate at the greasy-spoon diner. While they're there, Sam sees Robin Colcord arrive, with another woman.
Laura, the hot babe that Sam invites to the fancy dinner, is played by Gail O'Grady, who was a few years away from being a regular on NYPD Blue.
Tropes:
- Animation Bump: A live-action equivalent, this episode has several sequences shot in exteriors and cinematic shots, very different from the usual style of the show.
- And Starring: Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers gets a "Special Appearance By" credit.
- Auto Erotica: Sam is rendered acutely uncomfortable when Rebecca and Robin start making out in the limo.
- The Cameo: Since Rebecca's favorite song is "You've Lost That Loving Feeling", Robin hired Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers to sing it for her in the bar.
- Continuity Nod: Rebecca not having had yet sex with Robin (as explored earlier this season) is the center of the episode.
- Sam's unresolved feelings for Rebecca, which were also explored in the second episode (and were a reocurring theme since Season 6 and specially 7) also get the spotlight in this episode.
- Did You Just Have Sex?: It seems like Rebecca must have wanted the bar to know, the way she strolls in with an expression that is both dreamy and smug, while saying stuff like "Hello, everyone. It's such a beautiful day I thought I'd walk to work" in a semi-stoned voice.
- Funny Background Event: As Sam is leaning towards the camera in the foreground, digging champagne out of the cooler and complaining about how MLB's pension doesn't take care of "the marginal player", Rebecca and Robin start making out passionately in the back seat.
- Gold Digger: Carla says this directly when Rebecca is complaining about Robin being late picking them up.Rebecca: He can't give me a call? I'm getting sick of this. I don't know why I put up with it.
Carla: Rebecca, don't you remember? You're a gold digger.
Rebecca: Well, I'm tired of wasting my time and cleavage on him. - Multi-Part Episode: A two-parter in which Robin and Rebecca's relationship takes an unexpected twist.
- Perfumigation: Woody noticeably winces when Sam slaps on some cologne before approaching Laura.
- Rewatch Bonus: Knowing that Robin has another girlfriend puts a different spin on earlier episodes in the season, like how he was often away on business trips, or he was strangely patient in the wait for Rebecca Howe to put out.
- Seinfeldian Conversation: The gang is debating the best car song. Frasier wins with "Little GTO".
- Side Bet: The bar had a bunch of bets going on regarding Rebecca's love life. Frasier wins by guessing August 1992 as the moment when she and Robin would finally do the deed.
- Third Wheel: Rebecca is greatly annoyed when her date with Robin is turned into Sam giving Robin baseball lessons.
- To Be Continued: How the episode ends, after Sam sees Robin with his girlfriend at the burger joint.
- Visual Pun: Just as Sam leaves (well, is thrown out) of Robin's limousine, a train passes him by, just as Rebecca has passed him by and he can "catch" her anymore.
- Furthermore, this happens just as Rebecca and Robin are left alone in the limousine.
