Gift SubscriptionsJackie Swanson
On the wild desert planet of Oblivion, a man called Sweeny comes to search for a corporate saboteur. Though deceptively dressed as a greenhorn city dude, Sweeny is the most effective bounty hunter in the galaxy. He stays in the town where she (he knows nothing about her) is supposed to reside. He finds plenty of suspicious women and even gets romantically involved with the widow Mattie Chase, stealing her away from her steady beau Marshal Adams. Like its predecessor, this feature attempts to create a fresh new genre by combining science fiction and western with comic elements. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Meg Foster, Maxwell Caulfield, (more)
- 1991
Woody (Woody Harrelson) has at last worked up the nerve to propose to Kelly (Jackie Swanson). Alas, the golden moment is spoiled by the intervention of Kelly's French acquaintance Henri (Anthony Cistaro). With his visa about to expire, Henri sweet-talks Kelly into marrying him so that he can stay in the country. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
In Cheers' hour-long tenth season finale, Woody (Woody Harrelson) and Kelly (Jackie Swanson) experience last-minute trepidations about getting married -- but this doesn't stop them from a bit of pre-nuptial hanky panky. When the big day finally arrives, the loving couple must overcome such matrimonial roadblocks as a terrorized chef, a gun-toting outraged lover, and a dead minister. This episode is currently available in syndication as either a one-hour "special" or two half-hour installments. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Robert Prosky guest stars as Admiral Franklin Howe, Rebecca's (Kirstie Alley) father. Convinced (and not without reason) that his daughter is living a life of dissipation, Howe insists that she move back to San Diego with him. On the subject of moving, Kelly (Jackie Swanson) refuses to transfer her belongings to her husband Woody's (Woody Harrelson) shabby Chinatown apartment. Ethel Kennedy, of all people, makes a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Restauranteur John Hill (Reid Shelton), the pompous bête noire of Sam Malone (Ted Danson), suffers a heart attack. Much to everyone's surprise, Hill's current amour Carla (Rhea Perlman) seems sublimely indifferent to her lover's condition. But Cliff (John Ratzenberger) can't be bothered with this emotional intrigue; he's convinced that his new neighbor is Adolf Hitler. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
While tending bar at a party Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is catering for her bosses, Woody (Woody Harrelson) is humiliated by a wealthy young jerk. In retaliation, Woody makes plans to steal his tormentor's girlfriend. Fans of the old sitcoms The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, Gilligan's Island, and The Beverly Hillbillies will get a chuckle out of some of the character names in this episode, which also serves to introduce Jackie Swanson in the role of Woody's debutante heartthrob Kelly Gaines. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1991
Sam (Ted Danson) is unprepared for the adventure awaiting him when he agrees to babysit for the son of Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth). Meanwhile, Woody (Woody Harrelson) frets and fusses when wide-eyed Kelly (Jackie Swanson) goes to work at Cheers as part of a school project. Twin children Christopher and Kevin Graves make their first joint appearance as little Frederick Crane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1989
Wondering if they're qualified for parenthood, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) practice their parenting skills on Carla's (Rhea Perlman) six-year-old son Ludlow (Jarrett Lennon) -- who happens to be something of a genius, despite his heritage. Meanwhile, Sam (Ted Danson) horns in on Woody's (Woody Harrelson) date with Kelly (Jackie Swanson), but not for the expected reasons. This episode ends with a major surprise for one of the principal characters. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Fed up with the interference of his wealthy father-in-law Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle), Woody (Woody Harrelson) confronts the man for a showdown. Startlingly, Mr. Gaines acquiesces to Woody's every demand; after all, the old man has been caught with a woman other than his wife, and how does he know that Woody isn't out for blackmail? Meanwhile, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) plans an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner at Cheers. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Now that Woody (Woody Harrelson) has been elected city councilman, Carla (Rhea Perlman) offers to tend bar at Cheers. What follows is a long night of drunken revelations thanks to Carla's mystery mixture of strong stimulants. When the sun comes up, Carla knows that she's slept with someone at the bar -- but can't remember who. This is the episode in which ubiquitous supporting player Paul Willson finally takes center stage. "It's Lonely on the Top" was the last Cheers episode produced, but not the last to be shown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Carla's careless daughter Serafina (Leah Remini) has to get married before she begins to "show." Though Carla (Rhea Perlman) is not too upset over Serafina's pregnancy, she is outraged at the girl's wedding plans. It seems that Serafina wants her father, Carla's disreputable ex-husband Nick Tortelli (Dan Hedaya), to walk her down the aisle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1990
The wealthy father (Richard Doyle) of Woody's sweetheart Kelly (Jackie Swanson) arranges for the girl to be sent to study in Europe. In desperation, Woody (Woody Harrelson) draws up a plan to elope with his beloved. Elsewhere at Cheers, Norm (George Wendt) has been appointed the evening's designated driver -- but he is really, really thirsty. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Anxious to afford an engagement ring for Kelly (Jackie Swanson), Woody (Woody Harrelson) takes a part-time job as a gravedigger. Unfortunately, the extra work load -- combined with the spookiness of his new surroundings -- causes him to begin hallucinating, not a pretty sight to behold for Kelly's hypersensitive grandmother (Celeste Holm). Elsewhere at Cheers, it is Rebecca's (Kirstie Alley) turn to take a fantastic voyage into the furnace duct. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Originally telecast as a two-hour special (including a 25-minute retrospective of series highlights), the famous final episode of Cheers has since been re-edited as three separate half-hour installments for syndication. In part one, Sam (Ted Danson) is surprised to see his former fiancée Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) on TV, accepting a screenwriting award. Phoning Diane to congratulate her, Sam saves face by claiming that he's happily married -- and she, for the same reason, says the same thing. Meanwhile, plumber Don Santry (Tom Berenger) proposes to Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), who finds it extremely hard to accept even though all of her wants to do so. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Originally telecast as a two-hour special (including a 25-minute retrospective of series highlights), the famous final episode of Cheers has since been re-edited as three separate half-hour installments for syndication. In part two, Sam (Ted Danson) persuades Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) to pose as his wife during an evening out with his old heartthrob Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), who brings along a "husband" who is about as authentic as Sam's spouse. Although the evening is a disaster, it serves to rekindle the fires of passion between Sam and Diane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
Originally telecast as a two-hour special (including a 25-minute retrospective of series highlights), the famous final episode of Cheers has since been re-edited as three separate half-hour installments for syndication. In the concluding 30 minutes of this fourth-highest-rated series finale in TV history, Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) have rekindled their romance and are on the verge of getting married. But this would require Sam to relocate to California -- and to close up Cheers. And what will become of the rest of the gang? Well, at least we know what happened to Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The opening sequences of this episode lead the Cheers gang to conclude that Cliff (John Ratzenberger) has, at long last, murdered his mother (Frances Sternhagen). On a less morbid note, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is led to believe that Kelly's wealthy father Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle) is romantically interested in her. Originally a one-hour episode, "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" has since been re-edited into two half-hour programs for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1993
The mystery of Cliff's (John Ratzenberger) missing (and possibly murdered) mother is finally solved. After making the assumption that Kelly's (Jackie Swanson) wealthy father Mr. Gaines (Richard Doyle) is enamored with her, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) is in for a shock when she learns Gaines' true motives for inviting her to his home. Originally a one-hour episode, "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" has since been re-edited as two half-hour programs for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) eagerly anticipates a reunion with her high school sweetheart Mark, "the only man I ever loved." The gang at Cheers can't bring themselves to tell her how radically Mark has changed over the years (and since he is played by Harvey Fierstein, it should not be necessary to provide full details about his "transformation"). Meanwhile, Sam (Ted Danson) launches a support group with other people whose Corvettes have been stolen, and Kelly (Jackie Swanson) makes a bid to be one of "the guys." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1992
Down-to-earth Woody (Woody Harrelson) is a changed man upon returning from an expensive London vacation with Kelly (Jackie Swanson). The gang at Cheers takes it upon themselves to de-Anglicize the now-imperious Woody and bring him back to normal. In another development, Sam (Ted Danson) becomes Frasier's (Kelsey Grammer) athletic trainer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Although, at 22 episodes, the seventh season of Cheers' was the series' shortest since 1983, there was no lack of fascinating plot developments nor any shortage of colorful new characters. Having lost her job as manager of Cheers, Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) swallowed her pride and went to work as the subordinate of the bar's new manager (and former owner) Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Sam continued hoping to make his relationship with Rebecca personal as well as professional, but she wasn't buying. Determined to land a man of wealth who could advance her career, Rebecca was unflagging in this mission. More successful in affairs of the heart were psychologists Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth), now husband and wife -- with a baby on the way. Bartender and erstwhile actor Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) also found the love of his life, a pampered young socialite named Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson). Postal worker Cliff Clavin (John Ratzenberger) endured the first of three amorous confrontations with mixed-up Margaret O'Keefe (Annie Golden). And Carla (Rhea Perlman) began to wonder if she could place her trust in her oft-absent hockey player husband Eddie LeBec (Jay Thomas). Perhaps because the series' seventh season began relatively late (October rather than September), Cheers slipped slightly in the overall ratings, from third to fourth place. Even so, the show was again honored generally at Emmy time, with Perlman taking home her fourth Outstanding Supporting Actress statuette and Harrelson winning in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. (There were also four other Emmy nominations). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
As Cheers entered its eighth season, viewers began to wonder if the long-awaited romance between Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) would ever blossom. Certainly Rebecca had not backed down from her determination to marry into wealth, as witnessed by her torrid relationship with Trump-like billionaire corporate raider Robin Colcord (Roger Rees). Perhaps hoping to prove his value in Rebecca's eyes, Sam spent most of season eight trying to buy back Cheers -- only to realize this goal in a most surprising fashion. In other developments, psychiatrists Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) became parents with the birth of baby Frederick. Not long afterward, the much-married Carla (Rhea Perlman) became a widow when her hockey-star husband Eddie LeBec died in a freak accident; Carla's grief quickly turned to rage when she discovered that, not only had Eddie been unfaithful to her, but he'd had another wife in another town all along. Meanwhile, the romance between guileless bartender Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and wealthy Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson) continued along its bumpy but generally satisfying path. The season came to a riotous conclusion when Rebecca's boyfriend Robin was arrested for illegal insider training -- with Sam turning Colcord in out of fear that Rebecca would be implicated. Out of gratitude, the corporation that owned Cheers gave the bar to Sam as a present, leading Rebecca to conclude that Sam had blown the whistle on Robin out of greed. But before Rebecca could renounce Sam once and for all, the couple found themselves locked in a very amorous embrace on the couch in Sam's office -- at which point the seventh season reached its cliffhanger ending. Cheers returned to third place in the ratings during the 1989-90 season, beaten out only by The Cosby Show and the sophomore season of Roseanne. Three Emmys were bestowed upon the series: Ted Danson finally copped a statuette as Outstanding Lead Actor in a comedy; Bebe Neuwirth (not yet a an "official" regular) won as Outstanding Supporting Actress; and the series' sound-mixing team (Robert Crosby, Thomas J. Huth, Sam Black, and Robert Douglass) walked away with its fourth award. Finally, although Cheers spawned no spin-offs this season, it can be said to have godfathered a similar ensemble sitcom assembled by two former Cheersstaffers: Wings, which began a long and healthy run in April 1990, and in the Thursday-night time slot following its "parent" series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
Season nine of Cheers picked up where the eighth had left off, with Sam Malone (Ted Danson) and Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) poised to consummate their newfound romance on the couch in Sam's office. "Interruptus" came in the form of Rebecca's billionaire boyfriend Robin Colcord (Roger Rees), now on the lam from the law for illegal stock trading. Gradually, Sam came to realize that his relationship with Rebecca was not to be -- although upon agreeing to marry the newly-released Robin, Rebecca developed an acute case of cold feet at the very last minute, leaving her technically free for a unique "business arrangement" dreamed up by Sam. Elsewhere, Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) continued juggling careers as a bartender and actor, and also persisted in his romantic relationship with wealthy Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson), despite the interference of Kelly's amorous French acquaintance Henri (Anthony Cistaro). Sam Malone likewise had a new nemesis in the form of the imperious John Hill (Keene Curtis), landlord of the building housing Cheers and the owner of the posh restaurant Melville's, which occupied the building's second floor. After babysitting for new parents Frasier and Lilith Crane (Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth), a profoundly affected Sam decided that he, too, would like to be a father. It so happened that he had also selected the perfect mother for his child: Rebecca. And on this discordant note, season nine came to a close. This was the year that Cheers finally graduated to number one in the ratings, enjoying a 21.3 share. It also earned four more Emmys -- Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Direction (James Burrows), Outstanding Lead Actress (Kirstie Alley), and Outstanding Supporting Actress (the second such honor for Bebe Neuwirth) -- not to mention nominations in nine other categories. And finally, this was the year that former series regular Shelley Long returned -- albeit briefly, and at a considerable distance from her former co-stars -- during an NBC special celebrating Cheers' 200th episode. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
Picking up where season nine left off, the tenth season of Cheers began with Rebecca Howe (Kirstie Alley) reluctantly agreeing to be the mother of Sam Malone's (Ted Danson) child. Romance did not enter into the picture: Both Rebecca and Sam were responding to the incessant ticking of their respective biological clocks. Ultimately, the consummation never came off, and the two agreed to stay friends, and friends only. Having spent several seasons as a recurring character, Lilith Sternin-Crane (played by Emmy-winner Bebe Neuwirth) was elevated to "also starring" status, although she still did not appear in every episode. Meanwhile, Lilith's husband, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), finally grew the beard that would remain his trademark until the series finally breathed its last. Season ten concluded with the series' first hour-long episode, in which Woody Boyd (Woody Harrelson) and Kelly Gaines (Jackie Swanson) were married. The event was deemed worthy of a TV Guide cover -- and it certainly did not disappoint, filled as it was with such last-minute complications as a dead minister and a gun-wielding jealous husband. Having attained the number one slot during its previous season, Cheers dropped back to fourth place, tied with ABC's Home Improvement. For the first time since the series debuted in 1982, Cheers was not honored with an Emmy, although it earned eight nominations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ted Danson, Kirstie Alley, (more)
