Ep 6. Any Friend of Diane's

In the sixth episode of Cheers’ first season titled "Any Friend of Diane's," Diane Chambers, who is a barmaid at Cheers pub and a graduate student, invites her old friend Heather, who is also a student, to come to the bar for a catch-up. Heather comes with an unusual request- Diane to be a surrogate mother of a child, since she and her husband cannot have children and she is willing to pay Diane for her services. Diane doesn’t want to be selfish and is reluctant since Sam, the owner of Cheers and her love interest, is not comfortable with Heather’s odd proposal. Therefore, she tries to talk with him and makes him understand that it’s none of his business and he doesn't have any right to make decisions for her, especially when it comes to her body and choices.

However, Sam sticks to his concept of feminism which is holding Diane’s right to say no and maintaining ethical boundaries. Throughout the episode, Sam tries to convince Diane that she shouldn’t become a surrogate mother just for money and she might face many complications, emotional distress and it could ruin their relationship. He shares his experience of how he would never ask a woman to carry his child for money and explains every aspect of why he doesn't think it’s a good idea. This creates a conflict between Diane and Sam and we see their different personalities and views on life.

Meanwhile, Coach, the amicable bartender, has an eye on Heather and tries to impress her but turns out his stories are not too great. The episode also features the story of Norm, who is a regular customer of the bar and an accountant. Norm's wife, Gloria, doesn't like him hanging out with his friends at the Cheers, but Norm doesn't want to give up his tradition of drinking with his friends every day after work. Therefore, he comes up with his idea and convinces Gloria to let him go to the bar by telling her that he is taking part in a bowling league after work which allows him to be away from his wife and carry on with his everyday schedule of drinking with his friends. This storyline reveals how men come up with creative solutions to ensure they don't have to give up their personal freedoms such as hanging out with friends at a bar.

Despite the discussions and conflicts, Diane and Sam conclude by coming to understanding each other's principles, which makes this episode even more interesting to watch. Cheers fans will appreciate this episode and its themes centered around ethics, feminism, and personal choices. The writers have managed to create a well-constructed episode that highlights the pertinent issues of the time.