Customer Reviews

Cheers, Vol. 1 - Give Me a Ring Sometime (Pilot) [VHS]

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Yep, the very first Cheers! Diane Chambers and her fiance come into Cheers to make a telephone call on their way to a romantic wedding in the Caribbean. Diane's fiance has to leave for a bit, but never returns. Sam makes the biggest mistake of his life when he offers Diane a job.

Seeing this recently, I was reminded how much Cheers' premiere was paced like a fine one-act play. The humor was smart, the acting wonderful. This went well beyond normal TV fare. It's hard to match this.

"Give Me A Ring Sometime," the pilot episode for the celebrated television sitcom "Cheers," still stands up 20 years later. Sam "May Day" Malone (Ted Danson), the ex-Red Sox relief pitcher and recovering alchoholic, runs his Boston bar with the less than able assistance of his old pitching coach Ernie Pantusso (Nicholas Colasanto) and Carla Torteli (Rhea Perelman), the wise-cracking waitress. Into this madhouse comes Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), a teaching assistant about to leave for the Caribbean with her current fiance and former literature professor, Summer Sloan (Michael McGuire). By the end of the episode Diane has been jilted, Sam offers her a job as a waitress, and the rest is televison history. Written by Glen Charles & Les Charles, the script sells us on the characters right away. My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen more bar arguments like the one they have in this episode concerning "the Sweatiest Movie" of all time. Summer Sloan might be a nattering boob, but the man does know his sweaty films. This tape is the first volume in the "Cheers" series.

I purchased ep. 1 to replace a missing episode from a collection. I don't remember ever seeing ep. 1 before, so this was a real treat to see how it all began. I've been watching "Cheers" lately (on WGN America) the past few weeks (5:00 ET) and it revived my interest in this great show. Another one of those "there will never be another like it" classics. (btw, the item arrived on time and was in excellent shape)

Paramounts smash hit sitcom, Cheers enjoyed an astoundingly successful run between 1982 - 1993. In that time, a total of 270 episodes were made and (purley from my own personal opinion) most of the series finest episodes were amongst the first handful of seasons which saw the odd but enjoyable match of Ted Danson and the adorable Shelley Long who played neurotic accademic, Diane Chambers to utter perfection. Ted Danson is equally effective who is the central figure in the series, running the aptly named Cheers bar. He plays the likeable Sam Malone whose previous claim to fame had been as a relief pitcher for the Boston Red Scox baseball team. Diane Chambers arrives at Cheers with her snobbish fiancee. He leaves her alone at Cheers whilst he says he'd be back within the hour - he doesn't show up and knowing full well she'd been jilted in favour for someone else she takes a job as a barmaid at Cheers which soon brings her more down to earth and likeable and slowly succumbs to Sam's boyish charm. Their rocky on-off relationship was fun to watch and both spark off each other and show naturalistic affection for each other making it all the more beleavable. Giving superb backing support is Rhea Perlman as the tough-talking, fiery Carla who provides many laughs through the series. Her timing and witty delivery is simply immpecable and was a key element in making the series such a clear winner.
These collection of episodes are classics and remind you of what a fantastically, well-written series this truly was. Give Me A Ring Sometime was the fabulous premier episode where Sam and Diane first meet, Sam At Eleven is where a local sports writer interviews Sam but the story is cut from going on air. Truce Or Consequences is of particular interest where it features some well-crafted scenes between Shelley Long and Rhea Perlman who both sparkle through the diaogue. Carla lies to Diane about Sam and on finding out Diane is enraged with anger. There truly is some hilarious moments in this one and the climax of the episode is wonderfully funny. The Boys In Blue is also another classic where Sam discovers his best friend is gay and has to forced to face up to his prejudices at the insistence of Diane.
Each and episode is excellent and a must see and the acting is superb all-round with the rest of the regulars at Cheers being Norm Peterson, well known for his usual seating spot on the corner of the bar, Coach played brilliantly by Nicholas Calasanto and Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger. All actors shine to perfection, complimenting the tremendous scripts that rides along like a roller coaster. A classic, feel-good, consistently amusing and essential U.S sitcom that was rewarded in its day with several awards for its outstanding appeal!