Samuel "Mayday" Malone is a fictional character on the American television show ''
Cheers
''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...
'', portrayed by
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'', for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. ...
and created by
Glen and Les Charles
Glen Gerald Charles (born February 18, 1943) and Les Charles (born March 25, 1948) are American screenwriters and television producers, best known for ''Taxi'' and '' Cheers''.
Early life and careers
The Charles brothers attended University o ...
. The protagonist of the series, Sam, a former
relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue (medical), fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection (sports), ejection, or for other strategic ...
for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
baseball team, is the owner and bartender of the bar called "Cheers". He is also a recovering alcoholic and a notorious womanizer. Although his celebrity status was short-lived, Sam retains that standing within the confines of Cheers, where he is beloved by the regular patrons. Along with
Carla Tortelli
Carla Maria Victoria Angelina Teresa Apollonia Lozupone Tortelli LeBec, commonly known as Carla Tortelli, is a fictional character in the American television show '' Cheers'', portrayed by Rhea Perlman. Outwardly, at least, Carla is a mean-spiri ...
and
Norm Peterson
Hilary Norman Peterson is a regular fictional character on the American television show ''Cheers''. The character was portrayed by actor George Wendt and is named Hilary after his paternal grandfather.
Norm appeared in all 275 episodes of '' ...
, he is one of only three characters to appear in all episodes of ''Cheers''. Sam has an
on-again, off-again relationship
An on-again, off-again relationship (also known as an on–off or off–on relationship) is a form of personal relationship between two persons who keep breaking up only to reconcile afterwards, thus repeating a cycle.
Researcher Kale Monk, an a ...
with the bar waitress
Diane Chambers
Diane Chambers is a fictional character in the American television situation comedy show '' Cheers'', portrayed by Shelley Long and created by Glen and Les Charles. After her fiancé Sumner Sloan abandons her in the Cheers bar in the pilot ep ...
(
Shelley Long
Shelley Lee Long (born August 23, 1949) is an American actress, singer, and comedian. Long portrayed Diane Chambers on the hit sitcom '' Cheers'' and received five Emmy nominations, winning in 1983 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Se ...
) for the series' first five seasons until
her departure from the series. Then he tries to seduce Diane's replacement,
Rebecca Howe
Rebecca Howe is a fictional character of the American television sitcom ''Cheers'', portrayed by Kirstie Alley and created by Glen and Les Charles. Rebecca appeared in 147 episodes of ''Cheers'' between 1987 and 1993 and in one episode of ''Wi ...
(
Kirstie Alley), who frequently rejects his advances. Sam also appears in "
The Show Where Sam Shows Up
"The Show Where Sam Shows Up" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American sitcom ''Frasier''. This episode originally aired on February 21, 1995, on NBC, intended as part of a February ratings sweep by the network. It features a speci ...
", a crossover episode of the spin-off ''
Frasier
''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons. It premiered on September 16, 1993, and ended on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee (as Grub ...
''.
Other actors auditioned for the role. Producers decided to give Danson the role for primarily his scenes with Shelley Long as Diane. Critical reception for the character has been mostly positive. Some academics considered Sam an example of satirizing
masculinity. For his performance as Sam, Ted Danson won two respective
Emmy Award
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
s as an
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emm ...
in 1990 and 1993 and two
Golden Globe Awards as a
Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series.
Role
At the time the series debuted in 1982, Sam has been the bartender and owner of Cheers for five years.
["]Give Me a Ring Sometime
"Give Me a Ring Sometime" is the first episode of the American situation comedy '' Cheers''. Written by Glen and Les Charles and directed by James Burrows, the episode first aired September 30, 1982, on NBC. The pilot episode introduces the cha ...
." ''Cheers: Season 1: The Complete First Season on DVD''. Paramount, 2003. DVD.["Sam at Eleven." 1982. ''Cheers: Season 1: The Complete First Season on DVD''. Writ. ]Glen Charles
Glen Gerald Charles (born February 18, 1943) and Les Charles (born March 25, 1948) are American screenwriters and television producers, best known for ''Taxi'' and ''Cheers''.
Early life and careers
The Charles brothers attended University of ...
and Les Charles. Paramount, 2003. DVD. Chronologically within the series, Sam, who is
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholics are an ethnoreligious group native to Ireland whose members are both Catholic and Irish. They have a large diaspora, which includes over 36 million American citizens and over 14 million British citizens (a quarter of the British ...
, dropped out of high school in his senior year to play professional baseball.
["Teacher's Pet". 1985. ''Cheers: Season 3: The Complete Third Season on DVD''. Paramount, 2004. DVD.]
Sam began his career in the minor leagues, where he met
Coach Ernie Pantusso
Ernie Pantusso (or Pantuso), commonly known as "Coach", is a fictional character on the American television show ''Cheers'', portrayed by Nicholas Colasanto between 1982 and 1985. Coach is Sam Malone's former baseball coach, who becomes a bartend ...
(
Nicholas Colasanto
Nicholas Colasanto (January 19, 1924 – February 12, 1985) was an American actor and television director who is best known for his role as "Coach" Ernie Pantusso in the American television sitcom ''Cheers''. He served in the United States Nav ...
). He eventually became a relief pitcher for the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
, wearing number 16. His major league career lasted approximately five years; he specifically mentions having pitched in 1973, and was a member of the 1975 AL champion Red Sox team. As well, Martin Crane saw him pitch at the
Kingdome, which opened in 1977 – also the year that he became the owner of Cheers. Although his baseball career is not highly detailed throughout the series, Sam was at times a good-to-very-good pitcher (stories of him retiring star batters occur during the series), and was the team's bullpen ace for a while. Sam's baseball career declined when he became an
alcoholic
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomina ...
, and there are also numerous stories of him pitching poorly and giving up tape-measure home runs. Over time, Sam's role as a bartender turns him into the "resident ringleader for an assortment of poor souls and wanna-be's".
Throughout the series, Sam has had casual female partners, usually one-dimensional or sexually very available, and sometimes takes them along in his red
Chevrolet Corvette
The Chevrolet Corvette is a two-door, two-passenger luxury sports car manufactured and marketed by Chevrolet since 1953. With eight design generations, noted sequentially from C1 to C8, the Corvette is noted for its performance and distinctiv ...
. However, in "Sam Turns the Other Cheek" (episode 49, 1984), Sam reveals that he avoids "married, underage, and comatose" women, so he does have some ethical standards. In "Teacher's Pet" (season 3, 1985), Sam earns his high school diploma despite an overall bad grade from the high school geography teacher, with whom he had a brief affair while he was her student. The episode "Sam's Women" (episode 2, 1982) reveals that Sam was married to his somewhat more sophisticated ex-wife, Debra (
Donna McKechnie
Donna McKechnie (born November 16, 1942) is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer. She is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on ...
). (In some syndicated prints, Sam's past marriage is omitted, although it is mentioned again in the 5th-season episode, "Young Dr. Weinstein".) Notably, he has an
on-and-off relationship with "a bright, attractive graduate student", Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). One time after Sam and Diane ended their on-and-off relationship, in "Rebound, Part One" (episode 45, 1984), Sam relapses into alcoholism and excessively womanizes. Diane finds this out from Coach, and involves her new love interest
Frasier Crane
Dr. Frasier Winslow Crane (born ) is a fictional character who is both a supporting character on the American television sitcom ''Cheers'' and the titular protagonist of its spin-off ''Frasier'', portrayed by Kelsey Grammer. The character debu ...
(
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor and producer. He gained notoriety and acclaim for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1984-1993) and its spin-off ''Frasier'' (1993-2004), ...
) in helping Sam slowly regain his sobriety in the following episode, "Rebound, Part Two". In the three-part episode "Strange Bedfellows" (episodes 93–95, 1986), Sam dates an intelligent, attractive politician Janet Eldridge (
Kate Mulgrew
Katherine Kiernan Maria Mulgrew (born April 29, 1955) is an American actress and author. She is best known for her roles as Captain Kathryn Janeway on '' Star Trek: Voyager'' and Red on ''Orange Is the New Black''. She first came to attention ...
), who eventually ends the relationship because of Sam's visible feelings for Diane. Throughout the
fifth season (1986–87), Sam cyclically proposes to Diane, but she rejects every proposal until, in "Chambers vs. Malone" (episode 108, 1987), Diane finally accepts his latest proposal. In "
I Do, Adieu" (episode 121, 1987), Sam and Diane try to marry but call off the wedding to let her start a supposedly promising writing career.
In the following episode "
Home Is the Sailor" (episode 122, 1987), Sam sells Cheers to the Lillian Corporation six months before the episode and later returns to the bar to work under employment of the "voluptuously beautiful"
new manager,
Rebecca Howe
Rebecca Howe is a fictional character of the American television sitcom ''Cheers'', portrayed by Kirstie Alley and created by Glen and Les Charles. Rebecca appeared in 147 episodes of ''Cheers'' between 1987 and 1993 and in one episode of ''Wi ...
. Within this period, Sam constantly flirts with and attempts to seduce Rebecca, but she rejects all of his advances.
In "Cry Harder" (episode 194, 1990), Sam is able to buy back the bar from the Lillian Corporation after Sam has saved the corporation from financial victimization by
Robin Colcord
This is a list of characters from the American television sitcom, '' Cheers''.
Original main characters
Before the ''Cheers'' pilot, " Give Me a Ring Sometime", was finalized and then aired in 1982, the series originally consisted of four emp ...
(
Roger Rees
Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh actor and director, widely known for his stage work. He won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the lead in ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby''. He also re ...
), Rebecca's lover. At the last minute, Sam and Rebecca embrace and kiss. However, in the following episode "Love Is a Really, Really, Perfectly Okay Thing" (episode 195, 1990), Sam devastatingly tells Rebecca that he has no feelings for her. In "The Days of Wine and Neuroses" (1990), Sam rejects Rebecca's advances one night while she is drunk over her doubts when now-impoverished Robin proposed to her. In the tenth season (1991–92), they try to conceive a child, but by then they have decided to stay friends. In "The Guy Can't Help It" (1993), Sam plays with the idea of marrying Rebecca (as a safety net "in case no one better comes along"), but several bar patrons and even Carla tell Sam his womanizing is getting him nowhere, prompting him to join Dr. Robert Sutton's (
Gilbert Lewis) group meetings for sex addicts, a referral made by Frasier. In the series finale, "
One for the Road" (1993), Sam reunites with Diane after six years of separation. They try to rekindle their relationship, but just before they fly off together to California, Sam and Diane begin to have doubts about their future together, and they re-separate. Sam returns to the bar, where his friends celebrate his return. Then, when Norm and Sam remain while everyone else leaves, Norm reassures Sam that Sam would return and never leave his one "true love"which the ''
TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...
'' implies is the Cheers bar.
["TV's Best Finales Ever"]
''TV Guide
TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or t ...
'', 2010. Web. 1 June 2012.[ Record no at '']NewsBank
NewsBank is a news database resource that provides archives of media publications as reference materials to libraries.
History
John Naisbitt, the author of the book ''Megatrends'', founded NewsBank.Andrews 1998, p. 17. The company was launched ...
'': 113001A60C3FB35B .
In a ''Frasier'' episode, "
The Show Where Sam Shows Up
"The Show Where Sam Shows Up" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American sitcom ''Frasier''. This episode originally aired on February 21, 1995, on NBC, intended as part of a February ratings sweep by the network. It features a speci ...
" (1995), Sam is engaged to Sheila (
Téa Leoni
Téa Leoni (; born Elizabeth Téa Pantaleoni; February 25, 1966) is an American actress. In her early career, she starred in the television sitcoms '' Flying Blind'' (1992–93) and '' The Naked Truth'' (1995–98). Her breakthrough role was in ...
), a fellow sex addict whom he met during group therapy, but he breaks off the engagement after she admits that she slept with two regular Cheers customersPaul Krapence and
Cliff Clavin
Clifford C. Clavin, Jr. (born 1947 or 1949) is a fictional character on the American television show '' Cheers'' played by John Ratzenberger. A postal worker, he is the bar's know-it-all and was a contestant on the game show ''Jeopardy!'' Cliff ...
during their engagement. Unbeknownst to Sam, she slept with Frasier, which she does not reveal to Sam.
Skit appearances
Ted Danson reprised the role of Sam Malone in pre-game segments of the
1983 Super Bowl[ Microfilm.] and of one of the baseball games of the
1986 World Series,
[ At '']NewsBank
NewsBank is a news database resource that provides archives of media publications as reference materials to libraries.
History
John Naisbitt, the author of the book ''Megatrends'', founded NewsBank.Andrews 1998, p. 17. The company was launched ...
'': . At official website: . Record no. 861005579. ''
The Magical World of Disney
The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 to the present. The pr ...
'' episode "
Mickey's 60th Birthday
''Mickey's 60th Birthday'' is a 1988 American live-action/animated television special broadcast on ''The Magical World of Disney'' on November 13, 1988 on NBC. As the title suggests, it was produced for the 60th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse ...
",
[ '']NewsBank
NewsBank is a news database resource that provides archives of media publications as reference materials to libraries.
History
John Naisbitt, the author of the book ''Megatrends'', founded NewsBank.Andrews 1998, p. 17. The company was launched ...
'': . Syracuse.com: . Record no. 8811110139. and ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...
'' episode "
Fear of Flying
Fear of flying is a fear of being on an airplane, or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also referred to as flying anxiety, flying phobia, flight phobia, aviophobia, aerophobia, or pteromechanophobia (although a ...
".
In the Super Bowl pregame skit, Sam and his customers at the bar chide Diane for not knowing and ridiculing football. They meet
Pete Axthelm
Pete Axthelm (August 27, 1943 – February 2, 1991) was a sportswriter and columnist for the '' New York Herald Tribune'', ''Sports Illustrated'', ''Newsweek'' and its ''Inside Sports''. During the 1980s, his knowledge of sports and journalistic ...
, an NBC sportscaster who visits the bar.
[''Super Bowl XVII Pregame''. NBC. January 30, 1983. Television.] In the pregame skit of the 1986 World Series game,
Bob Costas
Robert Quinlan Costas (born March 22, 1952) is an American sportscaster who is known for his long tenure with NBC Sports, from 1980 through 2019. He has received 28 Emmy awards for his work and was the prime-time host of 12 Olympic Games from 19 ...
interviews Sam at the bar.
[ In "Mickey's 60th Birthday", Sam forgets Rebecca's birthday and begs Mickey Mouse to sing "]Happy Birthday to You
"Happy Birthday to You", also known as "Happy Birthday", is a song traditionally sung to celebrate a person's birthday. According to the 1998 ''Guinness World Records'', it is the most recognised song in the English language, followed by " Fo ...
" as her birthday present. Rebecca chooses Mickey over Sam, who still wants to seduce her.["Mickey's 60th Birthday". '']The Magical World of Disney
The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 to the present. The pr ...
''. NBC. November 13, 1988. Television. In ''The Simpsons'', Sam is dating twins while trying to marry Diane without Rebecca knowing.[
]
Development
Conception, writing, and casting
Before the series began in September 1982, various actors considered or were considered for the role of Sam Malone. Before he was cast, Ted Danson
Edward Bridge "Ted" Danson III (born December 29, 1947) is an American actor. He achieved stardom playing the lead character Sam Malone on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'', for which he received two Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards. ...
appeared in films and television series. Danson appeared in the 1979 film '' The Onion Field'', adapted from the nonfiction book of the same name, as Officer Ian Campbell, who was murdered by two criminals. Danson also appeared in ''Taxi
A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choic ...
'' episode, "The Unkindest Cut" (1982), as one-time character Vincenzo Senaca—"a flamboyant and decidedly effeminate hairdresser, who ruined Elaine's but got his comeuppance at the end." ''Cheers'' creators Glen and Les Charles—along with James Burrows—were executive consultants for the episode. Danson, William Devane
William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'' (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas '' 24'' (2001–2010) and '' ...
and Fred Dryer
John Frederick Dryer (born July 6, 1946) is an American actor, radio host, screenwriter and former professional football player.
He was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL)
for 13 years, participating in 176 games starting in ...
were shortlisted for the role of Sam Malone.[ ]Ed O'Neill
Edward Leonard O'Neill (born April 12, 1946) is an American actor and comedian. His roles include Al Bundy on the Fox Network sitcom '' Married... with Children'', for which he was nominated for two Golden Globes, and Jay Pritchett on the a ...
auditioned for the role but did not win the part. John Lithgow missed the audition because he was ill.
Originally, Sam Malone was intended "to be a former wide receiver for the American football team, New England Patriots."[Meade, Peter.]
We'll Cry In Our Beers As Sam, Diane Split
" '' Spartanburg Herald-Journal TV Update'' partanburg, NCApril 29, 1984: 14. ''Google News''. Web. January 21, 2012. Fred Dryer was initially chosen for that role because he is a former football player, but the Charles brothers chose Danson because NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American English-language commercial broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast, its headquarters are l ...
executives noticed the chemistry between him and Shelley Long. The character then evolved into a former relief pitcher
In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue (medical), fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection (sports), ejection, or for other strategic ...
for the baseball team Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
.[ To prepare for the role, Danson attended a bartending school in ]Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in the southeastern end of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Located northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank has a population of 107,337. The city was named after David Burbank, w ...
.
Fred Dryer later appeared as Dave Richards, one of Sam Malone's friends and a sports commentator, in ''Cheers''. Danson said:
Sam is "athletically handsome" and a womanizer who casually dates and has sex with various women "who want to have fun".[Craig, Steve. p. 15][Hecht, 235. ''Google Books''. Web. February 11, 201]
However, his relationships invariably fail.[Blake, Marc. ]
How Not to Write a Sitcom: 100 Mistakes to Avoid If You Ever Want to Get Produced'
. London: A & C Black, 2011. ''Google Books''. Web. January 31, 2011. Les Charles said that Sam was a "straight man
The straight man is a stock character in a comedy performance, especially a double act, sketch comedy, or farce. When a comedy partner behaves eccentrically, the straight man is expected to maintain composure. The direct contribution to the c ...
" to Diane; after Shelley Long's departure, he became more "carefree" and a "goof-off."
Ted Danson wore a hairpiece to conceal his baldness for the role of Sam Malone during filming of ''Cheers''. His baldness was revealed at the 42nd Primetime Emmy Awards (1990). In the episode "It's Lonely on the Top" (1993), Sam Malone reveals his baldness to Carla (Rhea Perlman
Rhea Jo Perlman (born March 31, 1948) is an American actress. She played head-waitress Carla Tortelli in the sitcom '' Cheers'' (1982–1993). Over the course of 11 seasons, Perlman was nominated for ten Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting ...
).
Danson earned per episode as Sam Malone during the last few years of ''Cheers''.[Zurawik, David.]
Last Call for Cheers. The Boston Bar is just a Sitcom Set, but for Viewers It Has Become a Real Place, Where Friends Hang Out
" ''The Baltimore Sun
''The Baltimore Sun'' is the largest general-circulation daily newspaper based in the U.S. state of Maryland and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries.
Founded in 1837, it is currently owned by T ...
'' May 16, 1993. Web. January 17, 2012.[Lippman, John.]
Future of `Cheers' uncertain
" ''Los Angeles Times
The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...
'' February 7, 1991: 1D. Rpt. in ''The Gainesville Sun
''The Gainesville Sun'' () is a newspaper published daily in Gainesville, Florida, United States, covering the North-Central portion of the state. The paper is published by Lynni Henderson, the paper's Executive Editor is Douglas Ray and the edi ...
'' ainesville, FLFebruary 10, 1991: 7D. ''Google News''. Web. January 17, 2012. In the final season of ''Cheers'' (1992–93), Danson decided to stop portraying Sam Malone, which contributed to the end of ''Cheers''. Danson said about the way the character changed, "He got older, you know ... he writerstried to make him Sammy again. But he's 45 now. I'm 45. It's OK to be chasing around when you're 37. But when you're 45, it's kind of sad to be chasing around that way." The producers tried to continue the show without Ted Danson, and they attempted to move the show to the first-run syndication, but these ideas were shelved.[
]
Characterization and analysis
Sam's on-screen relationships with Diane and Rebecca were inspired by works about the "mixture of romance and antagonism of two people, ortrayed_by_Spencer_Tracy_and_Katharine_Hepburn.html" ;"title="Spencer_Tracy.html" ;"title="ortrayed by Spencer Tracy">ortrayed by Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn">Spencer_Tracy.html" ;"title="ortrayed by Spencer Tracy">ortrayed by Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn], in a competitive situation".
Sam is subject to a satire of masculinity. He is described as "a sleazy, promiscuous, aggressive, exhibitionistic narcissist",[Hundley, p. 219] one of the "new macho eroes of the 1980s pop culture, "the target of humor," and not a "likely andidateto lead the post-feminist counter revolution." A new macho hero of the 1980s is the opposite of a pre-1980s macho hero that "constituted an antifeminist backlash".[Kibby, Marjorie.]
Representing Masculinity
" '' The University of Newcastle'' ustralia(1997). ''Miami Vice Chronicles''. Web. January 17, 2012.
Steve Craig from the University of North Texas
The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public research university in Denton, Texas. It was founded as a nonsectarian, coeducational, private teachers college in 1890 and was formally adopted by the state 11 years later."Denton Normal School," ...
wrote in his 1993 journal that Sam is a parody of "traditional male values" and of a negative stereotype of masculinity. Craig wrote that Sam's attempts to define and exemplify "his version of masculinity" are satirized throughout the series "to explore gender identity" without threatening the viewer's own definition of one's own gender. In his 2011 book ''Primetime Propaganda
''Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV'' is a 2011 book by conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro. In it he argues that producers, executives and writers in the entertainment industry are using ...
'', Ben Shapiro
Benjamin Aaron Shapiro (born January 15, 1984) is an American attorney, businessman, columnist, conservative political commentator, and media personality. At age 17, he became the youngest nationally syndicated columnist in the United States. ...
, an American conservative commentator, called Sam "a dog, a feminist caricature of men", and a cultural representation of the "lower-class conservative," in contrast to portrayer Ted Danson, who identifies himself as liberal.[Shapiro, Ben. p. 122.] Glen Charles, a creator of ''Cheers'', considered Sam "a spokesman for a large group of people who thought that he women's movementwas a bunch of bull and look with disdain upon people who don't think it was".
Heather Hundley wrote that the series sends "double standards" about promiscuous men and women. Hundley said that Sam is portrayed as heroic.[ She further wrote that Sam never suffers from consequences of his promiscuity and has been happily single and childless,][Hundley, p. 217] while it portrays Carla Tortelli as a "nymphomaniac" who regrets her own promiscuities, which lead to out-of-wedlock pregnancies.[ She said the series' portrayal of premarital sex is "negative and unhealthy", omitting other dangers of promiscuity such as ]sexually transmitted disease
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also referred to as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and the older term venereal diseases, are infections that are spread by sexual activity, especially vaginal intercourse, anal sex, and oral ...
s and HIV/AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual ...
.[Hundley, p. 218] Mark LaFlamme of the '' Sun Journal'' called Sam's relationship with Rebecca Howe "mundane" and his flirtation with her "bawdy".
Throughout most of ''Cheers'', Sam is "allowed to be happy nd to livea rich life". Towards the end of the series' run, however, Sam undergoes therapy for sex addiction. In a 1995 episode of ''Frasier'' called "The Show Where Sam Shows Up
"The Show Where Sam Shows Up" is the 16th episode of the second season of the American sitcom ''Frasier''. This episode originally aired on February 21, 1995, on NBC, intended as part of a February ratings sweep by the network. It features a speci ...
", Sam is depicted as a self-identified sexual addict; he gets help from group meetings and commits to changing himself.[Hecht, 236. '']Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. ( ) is an American multinational technology company focusing on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. It has been referred to as "one of the most influential econo ...
'' Web. February 11, 201
Use search term "cheers sam" for results there.
Sam Malone has been compared with some of Ted Danson's later roles. In 1998, David Bianculli from ''New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'' called Danson's guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other p ...
as a plumber in ''Veronica's Closet
''Veronica's Closet'' is an American sitcom television series created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, that aired on NBC for three seasons, from September 25, 1997, to December 7, 2000. The show stars Kirstie Alley as Veronica "Ronnie" Chase, ...
'' Sam Malone's "close cousin: a confident womanizer, and not the brightest guy in the room".[Bianculli, David.]
Deja Coup: Kirstie & Ted Together Again 'Cheers' Alumni Meeting Brightens 'closet'
" ''New York Daily News
The New York ''Daily News'', officially titled the ''Daily News'', is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, NJ. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in ta ...
'' February 5, 1998. Web. March 29, 2012. In 1999, Danson said that Sam Malone and John Becker (''Becker
Becker () is one of the German-language surnames, along with Bäcker and Baecker, that derive from the root, which refers to baking. The surname began as a name for a baker (and thus his family). In northern Germany it can also derive from the ...
'') are both "very lonely men".[Meisler, Adam.]
Aging and Grumpy but With a Bit of Sam Malone
" ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' December 12, 1999: 3. Web. March 29, 2012
Whole article
/ref>
Reception
Bill Simmons writing for ESPN
ESPN (originally an initialism for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by ESPN Inc., owned jointly by The Walt Disney Company (80%) and Hearst Communications (20%). The ...
praised Danson's performance for giving life and color to Sam Malone. In ''The Complete Idiot's Guide'' book, John Steve and Carey Rossi said Sam Malone "rings
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
magic to establishment" and is praised for "successfully running 'Cheers''"[John Steve, and Carey Rossi. ''The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting and Running a Bar''. New York: Alpha, 2008. ''Google Books''. Web. January 14, 2012.] ''The Shark Guys'' website ranked Sam at number three on its list of the "top ten coolest bartenders of all time".["The Top 10 Coolest Bartenders of All Time (Part 2)." ''The Shark Guys'' February 29, 2008. Web. May 21, 2012 .] In a 2009 NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
interview, Terry Gross
Terry Gross (born February 14, 1951) is an American journalist who is the host and co-executive producer of '' Fresh Air'', an interview-based radio show produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia and distributed nationally by NPR. Since joining N ...
called Sam "the opposite of intellectual".
Woody Harrelson, who played Woody Boyd, called Sam the person who brings an ensemble together. Roger Rees
Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh actor and director, widely known for his stage work. He won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the lead in ''The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby''. He also re ...
, who portrayed Robin Colcord in ''Cheers'', said that no other character could fill in Sam Malone's spot if he was written out of the show.[ Rees also said that the show would not survive without Sam and Danson.][ Television critic Phil Rosenthal from '' Los Angeles Daily News'' said Danson's performance as Sam was irreplaceable and that no other actor could capture Sam's "sexiness, vulnerability, and goofiness". Rosenthal credited Sam Malone for helping the series survive by becoming the show's central character.]
According to the April 1–4, 1993, telephone survey of 1,011 people by the Times Mirror Center for the People and the Press (now Pew Research Center), Sam Malone was a top favorite character by 26%. The survey asked which character Sam should marry. 21% voted Diane Chambers, 19% voted Rebecca Howe, 48% voted Sam to stay single, and 12% had "no opinion" on this matter.[Mills, Kim I.]
TV viewers glad Sam stayed single
" '' The Sunday Gazette'' chenectady, NYMay 2, 1993: A3. ''Google News''. Web. January 21, 2012. In this web source, scroll down to see its headline.[Leefler, Pete.]
Show Piles Up Viewer Cheers
" ''The Morning Call
''The Morning Call'' is a daily newspaper in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1883, it is the second longest continuously published newspaper in the Lehigh Valley, after '' The Express-Times''. In 2020, the newspaper permanently closed its ...
'' llentown, NYMay 2, 1993: A01. Web. January 17, 2012. When asked which character should star in a spin-off, 15% voted Sam, 12% voted Woody Boyd
Woodrow Tiberius Boyd is a character on the American television show ''Cheers'', portrayed by Woody Harrelson. Woody came to Cheers at the beginning of the fourth season of ''Cheers'' in 1985 in the episode "Birth, Death, Love and Rice".
Woody ...
(Woody Harrelson
Woodrow Tracy Harrelson (born July 23, 1961) is an American actor and playwright. He is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, in addition to nominations for three Academy Award ...
), 10% voted Norm Peterson
Hilary Norman Peterson is a regular fictional character on the American television show ''Cheers''. The character was portrayed by actor George Wendt and is named Hilary after his paternal grandfather.
Norm appeared in all 275 episodes of '' ...
(George Wendt
George Robert Wendt Jr. (born October 17, 1948) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the television sitcom '' Cheers'' (1982–1993), which earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Em ...
), and 29% voted no spin-offs. Frasier Crane
Dr. Frasier Winslow Crane (born ) is a fictional character who is both a supporting character on the American television sitcom ''Cheers'' and the titular protagonist of its spin-off ''Frasier'', portrayed by Kelsey Grammer. The character debu ...
(Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer (born February 21, 1955) is an American actor and producer. He gained notoriety and acclaim for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the NBC sitcom ''Cheers'' (1984-1993) and its spin-off ''Frasier'' (1993-2004), ...
), whose own spin-off ''Frasier'' debuted in September 1993, was voted by 2% to have his own show.
According to a 1993 article in ''People
A person (plural, : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of pr ...
'' magazine, newspaper columnist Mike Royko chose Diane to be with Sam. Novelist Jackie Collins
Jacqueline Jill Collins (4 October 1937 – 19 September 2015) was an English romance novelist and actress. She moved to Los Angeles in 1985 and spent most of her career there. She wrote 32 novels, all of which appeared on The New York Times B ...
picked Rebecca. Celebrated personality Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor (, ; born Sári Gábor ; February 6, 1917 – December 18, 2016) was a Hungarian-American socialite and actress. Her sisters were actresses Eva and Magda Gabor.
Gabor competed in the 1933 Miss Hungary pageant, where she ...
chose both as Sam's potential partner. Tennis player Martina Navratilova found Sam too good for either of them. Novelist-archaeologist Clive Cussler
Clive Eric Cussler (July 15, 1931 – February 24, 2020) was an American adventure novelist and underwater explorer. His thriller novels, many featuring the character Dirk Pitt, have reached ''The New York Times'' fiction best-seller list m ...
said Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman) was "Sam's best bet."
Sam's appearance in ''Frasier'' received mixed notices. Scott D. Pierce from ''The Deseret News
The ''Deseret News'' () is the oldest continuously operating publication in the American west. Its multi-platform products feature journalism and commentary across the fields of politics, culture, family life, faith, sports, and entertainment. Th ...
'' found him too "old and iring"[ Record no. at '']NewsBank
NewsBank is a news database resource that provides archives of media publications as reference materials to libraries.
History
John Naisbitt, the author of the book ''Megatrends'', founded NewsBank.Andrews 1998, p. 17. The company was launched ...
'': 9502210256. Nevertheless, John Martin, a syndicate writer from ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', enjoyed Sam's interaction with main characters of ''Frasier''.[ '' Google News Archive''.] Frazier Moore from ''The Associated Press
The Associated Press (AP) is an American non-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association. It produces news reports that are distributed to its members, U.S. newsp ...
'' called Sam's appearance a ratings ploy but a must-see for a ''Cheers'' fan and any other viewer who lacks interest in the show ''Frasier''.[ '' Google News Archive''.]
Accolades
The role of Sam Malone earned Ted Danson two Emmy Awards
The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...
as the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. The award is presented to the best performance by a lead actor in a television comedy series. Beginning with the 18th Primetime Emm ...
: one in 1990 and another in 1993. It also earned Danson two Golden Globe Awards as the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy Series: one in 1990 and another in 1991. Danson was awarded an American Comedy Award
The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films. They began in 1987, billed as the "f ...
as the Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series.
References
;Notes
;Primary sources
From ''Cheers'':
From others:
;Non-primary sources
Bibliography
*
* Craig, Steve.
Selling Masculinities, Selling Femininities: Multiple Genders and the Economics of Television
" ''The Mid-Atlantic Almanack'' 2 (1993): 15–27. ''Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
Wayback Machine''. 1–21. Web. January 14, 2011.
* Hecht, Jennifer Michael. ''The Happiness Myth: Why What We Think is Right is Wrong: A History of What Really Makes Us Happy''. New York: HarperCollins
HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News ...
, 2007. .
*
* Shapiro, Ben.
Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV
'. New York: Broadside–HarperCollins, 2011. ''Google Books''. Web. January 15, 2012. .
* Tankel, J. D., and B. J. Banks. "The Boys of Prime Time: An Analysis of `New' Male Roles in Television." ''Communication and Culture: Language, Performance, Technology, and Media'' 4 (1990): 285–95. Print.
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Malone, Sam
American male characters in television
Television characters introduced in 1982
Cheers characters
Fictional bartenders
Fictional baseball players
Fictional businesspeople
Fictional characters from Boston
Fictional alcohol abusers
Crossover characters in television
Fictional Irish American people