Ep 19. Coach Buries a Grudge

Coach Buries a Grudge is the nineteenth episode of the second season of Cheers, which originally aired on February 21, 1985. The show revolves around the regulars who come to Cheers bar, where everyone knows their name. This comedy series showcases the ups and downs of the bar owner Sam Malone and the people around him.

In this episode, the lovable and funny Coach Ernie Pantusso has been holding a grudge against a friend for over thirty years and refuses to let it go. Coach, who is typically cheerful and well-liked by everyone, is unusually angry and snappy when he first enters the bar. When his friends ask him what's wrong, he reveals that he has just received a letter from his former baseball team manager, who he is still angry with for firing him from the team.

As a former member of the Boston Red Sox and a coach at Cheers, Coach is passionate about baseball and hasn't been able to let go of the grudge he has against his former manager, Jack McGuire. Even after all these years, Coach still gets angry at the mere mention of Jack's name and cannot reconcile with the fact that he was given the sack. Of course, his friends at Cheers try to help him get over this grudge, but it is easier said than done.

Sam, the bar owner, tries to listen to Coach and understand why he's so angry, but he can't help but find the whole situation amusing. Diane, the barmaid, tries to reason with Coach, and Carla, another waitress, offers to help him get revenge against Jack, but nothing seems to work. Eventually, they all realize that Coach needs to work through his issues himself and give him the space and time he needs.

Meanwhile, other characters in the bar engage in their own mini-adventures. Norm, the customer who is constantly drinking beer, is trying to come up with a new ad campaign for the company where he works, but he's stuck for ideas. Cliff, the postal carrier, is excited because he's written a letter to his mother, and he gets particularly excited every time she writes back. As always, the other customers in the bar, including Frasier, chat and drink and have a good time.

Eventually, Coach decides to write a letter back to Jack McGuire and to express his feelings. He pours his heart out in the letter, telling Jack how devastated he was when he was fired from the team. He talks about how he felt like he let his family down, how ashamed he was of himself, and how upset he was at Jack. The episode ends with Coach finally burying the hatchet and feeling lighter and happier. The letter gives him the closure he needed, and he finally realizes that he can let go of his grudge and move on.

In summary, Coach Buries a Grudge is an episode that addresses the importance of forgiveness and moving on from grudges that take up precious mental space. The show uses the character of Coach to illustrate the negative impact of holding onto anger and resentment for decades. Through his interactions with his friends at the bar, the episode emphasizes the value of a social support network in helping people overcome their issues. Overall, the episode is both comedic and poignant, and it is consistent with the themes of friendship and loyalty that Cheers is known for.