Ep 24. Cheers: the Motion Picture

It's closing time at Cheers and the gang is discussing their favorite movies. Woody, always starstruck, mentions that he's heard a rumor that they're making a movie about the bar, and all the regulars are excited about what it could mean for their newfound fame. Everyone starts daydreaming about which Hollywood actor could play them, with Carla suggesting that Meryl Streep should play her. Meanwhile, Sam is apprehensive about the idea of a movie because he doesn't want the bar to change or for people to start treating them differently.

The next day, a filmmaker named Jackson comes into the bar and tells the gang that he's writing and directing a movie about Cheers. He films them going about their daily routines and interviews them about their lives and experiences at the bar. However, everyone is disappointed when they realize that Jackson's vision of the film is quite different from their expectations. He imagines Cheers as a dark and dramatic thriller, with Sam as a hardboiled detective and Carla as a femme fatale. The characters are upset by their portrayals in the script and worried about looking foolish on screen.

As filming continues, tensions rise between the crew and the regulars. Jackson insists that the actors stick to his script, while the regulars struggle to maintain their authenticity. At one point, a fight breaks out between the actors trying to mimic the bar's regulars and the real regulars themselves. Woody even ends up knocking an actor out cold after he insults Coach. Needless to say, Jackson is not happy with the outcome.

Despite these disagreements, filming moves forward and the movie is eventually completed. The gang gathers at the bar for the premiere, and they're all anxious to see how the finished film turns out. Surprisingly, they end up loving it. Jackson's movie is a hilarious spoof of classic film noir, with each of the regulars playing exaggerated versions of themselves. Woody leads his own dance sequence, Carla's role as the seductive and deadly "Ms. Long" steals the show, and Sam is thrilled to see himself as the hero he always imagined himself to be.

Although the movie goes on to become a cult classic, it doesn't change the bar's fundamental nature. Everyone still comes to Cheers for the same reasons they always have, and the regulars continue to be their usual, lovable selves. In the end, they all agree that the movie was a wild ride and that they're proud to be a part of the Cheers legacy.