The main commentary of this episode subsists with the critique of the frequency of civil lawsuits, which was a burgeoning trend, during the run of Cheers, as post-graduates ran to law school to fulfill the claims of those who have suffered injustice or just cling to the authority of the court to mediate public disputes.
The lawsuit here is an assault case, regardless though since the artistic understanding of the politics involved leaves a sentiment that “dropping-the-dime” with a tort is unmanly and comedic in this respect, as represented by this third episode of a fairly intelligent and robust television series.
The suit is against a woman—and a very small woman at that—Carla, played soundly by Rhea Perlman. She’s a spitfire and a champion of Boston’s grittiness, a product of the Boston mean streets.
The episode also conveys the Boston-New York rivalry. Diane early on warns Big Eddie the rude New Yorker who files the case: “Please bear iin mind that you’re in an alien camp”. When the New Yorker refers to Sam’s drinking past the protective Carla goes berserk and drills his skull into the bar wood.
“Listen Sam, you fire her or I’m going to take everything you have. Cheers’s answer is to send Carla off to therapy and maybe Big Eddie will let go of his grudge.
When both meet again, Eddie test Carla’s tolerance with a stream of insults meant to sway her reserve. “Boston stinks”; “this bar stinks”; “you’re a crummy waitress”; “you’re short”; “you’re obnoxious”; “you’re a terrible dresser”; “Sam Malone was a terrible pitcher”; then he insults the Bruins and after giving up his ranting and raving, plus the suit, gets walked out to his car by a suspended Bruins player.
Ironically, the show presents evidence, with every outing, of a true unlawful case of sexual harassment; Sam never lets go of his sights set on Diane. And the ball’s in her court to figure out what to do with his advances.
