Ep 3. The Tortelli Tort

In this classic episode of Cheers, season 1 episode 3, titled "The Tortelli Tort," Carla Tortelli's ex-husband, Nick, comes back into her life with a proposition that she just cannot refuse. The episode opens with Carla in a tizzy, as she learns that her son, Anthony, has been taken by social services due to his unapproved living conditions. In her desperation to get her son back, Carla agrees to go on a date with Nick, which he offers in exchange for his influential connections to help win Anthony back.

Carla's co-workers at Cheers are amazed at her willingness to give Nick another chance after all the havoc he wreaked when they were together. Meanwhile, Coach, Sam, and Diane pool their resources to come up with a plan to rescue Anthony and bring him back to Carla, who is beside herself with worry. Meanwhile, as the situation worsens, Nick reminds Carla that he has connections that could potentially save the day.

The plan that Sam, Diane, and Coach come up with involves all of them impersonating social services officials in order to rescue Anthony from the squalor in which he is living. The three create a plan involving fake documents, a phony inspection, and even a fake kitten, under the pretense that Anthony's living situation is actually better than reported. Meanwhile, Carla and Nick go on their date, much to the chagrin of the Cheers barflies who are sure it's a bad idea.

Along the way, the Cheers crew experiences some setbacks, with Cliff's fake badge getting him into deep trouble, and the cat getting loose and causing chaos. Carla's date with Nick proves to be less than successful, as she realizes that the things she wanted to discuss with him regarding Anthony are overshadowed by their failed relationship. Meanwhile, the truth about the barflies' involvement in the fake social services scheme comes to light, and they are forced to come up with yet another plan to save their own skins.

In the end, the kids are reunited with Carla, and everything seems to be back to normal. The Cheers crew members share a drink in honor of their successful scheme, and it ends up being another great night at the bar. The episode is a classic example of the show's mix of humor, heart, and charm, as it puts its ragtag group of characters in an unusual and high stakes situation, and ultimately comes up with a clever plan to save the day. With impressive acting from the cast, witty writing that never takes itself too seriously, and a lighthearted sense of fun, "The Tortelli Tort" is a must-watch episode of Cheers.