Ep 17. To All the Girls I've Loved Before

In Cheers season 6 episode 17 titled "To All the Girls I've Loved Before," the gang at Cheers is thrown into quite a frenzy as Gary, an old friend of Sam's, shows up at the bar with a video he made using Sam's old little black book. As it turns out, Sam had filled that book with the names of every girl he'd ever dated or slept with, and Gary thought it would be hilarious to track down as many of those women as he could and interview them on camera.

The episode revolves around the reactions of the Cheers regulars as they watch the video and hear about Sam's exploits. Diane is predictably upset, but even Rebecca, who is normally more easygoing about Sam's past, becomes irritated by the sheer volume of women he's been with. Carla, meanwhile, is fascinated by some of the other women's stories and starts to wonder what might have been if Sam had given them a chance.

The video itself is mostly a collection of short interviews with the different women, both from Boston and other parts of the country, who talk about their experiences with Sam. Some of them have fond memories, while others are less than impressed. There's even a brief appearance from an ex-girlfriend of Norm's who is now married to a woman. Despite the varied responses, it's clear that Sam had a profound impact on many of these women's lives.

As the night wears on, the bar's patrons start to get a little rowdy. Some of the guys (and women) start bragging about their own sexual exploits, while others become belligerent. At one point, Gary even tries to set Sam up with a woman who is clearly only interested in him because she thinks he's loaded.

Throughout the chaos, Sam remains mostly calm. It's clear that he's embarrassed by the video and the attention it's getting, but he's also a little proud of himself for having lived such a wild and carefree life. As the night goes on, he starts to reflect on some of his past relationships, particularly the ones that didn't work out.

In the final scene of the episode, Sam is sitting alone at the bar, nursing a drink. Diane comes up to him and tries to console him, but he brushes her off. "I don't need to be consoled," he says. "I'm happy with my life. I may not be perfect, but at least I'm not some guy who's too scared to go out and live it."

It's a poignant moment, underscoring the underlying themes of the episode: that we all have our pasts, and that sometimes it's best to embrace them rather than run away from them. Despite the sometimes crass and rowdy atmosphere of Cheers, the show has always had an undercurrent of sentimentality and pathos, and this episode highlights that perfectly.

Overall, "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" is a classic episode of Cheers that showcases both the show's humor and its more introspective side. The thread of Sam's little black book runs throughout, providing a fun and compelling story that is equal parts comedy and drama. Whether you're a die-hard Cheers fan or just dipping your toes into the world of Sam, Diane, and the rest of the gang, this episode is well worth a watch.