What's not to like about a television season that introduces Dr. Frasier Crane to the world? 1984 was the year Kelsey Grammer's beloved psychiatrist character was brought into the Cheers fold (and, along with his spin-off series Frasier, accounted for 20 years of NBC history), initially playing a new love interest for Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), who left boyfriend Sam Malone (Ted Danson). Cheers' third season finds the sardonic, brilliantly-written show at a new peak, with a number of Emmy-nominated episodes spreading the comic wealth among the regular cast. Postman Cliff (John Ratzenberger) meets a woman he likes at a costume party, but he's afraid of letting her see him in the real world. Norm (George Wendt) has a vision of mortality and decides to move to Bora Bora. Carla (Rhea Perlman) tries to reconcile with her ex while figuring out what to do with her hoodlum kids. Civilized Frasier seeks advice from Sam about Diane, and for his efforts is fooled into participating in a snipe hunt. This was also the season in which Nicholas Colasanto, the actor who played Coach, died (the producers used outtakes to include Coach in posthumous scenes, and his character was written out before season four). All in all, this is a consistently inspired, very funny 25-episode set, par for the show. Presented in a four-disc boxed set with five bonus featurettes (including a tribute to Colasanto and a bar tour), Cheers: Season 3 is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (T. Keogh)
Cheers: Season 3
Paramount, 4 discs, 619 min., not rated, DVD: $49.99 July 26, 2004
Cheers: Season 3
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