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'{{Use American English|date=November 2013}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}} {{Good article}} {{Infobox television episode | series = [[Cheers]] | image = Two guys kissing Norm's cheeks in "The Boys in the Bar".png | caption = Two men kissing Norm's [[cheek kissing|cheeks]] at the end of this episode | season = 1 | episode = 16 | writer = [[Ken Levine (TV personality)|Ken Levine]]<br/>[[David Isaacs (writer)|David Isaacs]] | director = [[James Burrows]] | producer = | music = | photographer = | editor = | production = | airdate = [[NBC]]:<br />January 27, 1983 ([[United States|Continental U.S.]])<br />February 10, 1983 ([[Alaska]]) | length = 30 minutes (with commercials) | guests = * [[Alan Autry]] as Tom Kenderson | prev = Father Knows Last | next = Diane's Perfect Date | season_article = Cheers (season 1) | episode_list = List of Cheers episodes }} "'''The Boys in the Bar'''" is the sixteenth episode of the first season of the American [[situation comedy]] television series ''[[Cheers]]''. It originally aired on January 27, 1983, on [[NBC]]. It is co-written by [[Ken Levine (TV personality)|Ken Levine]] and [[David Isaacs (writer)|David Isaacs]] and directed by [[James Burrows]]. This episode's narrative deals with [[homosexuality]], [[coming out]], and [[homophobia]].<ref name=bjorklund291/><ref name=shapiro122/> It was inspired by the coming out story of former [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] baseball player, [[Glenn Burke]]. In this episode, Sam's former teammate, Tom{{mdash}}portrayed by [[Alan Autry]]{{mdash}}reveals his homosexuality and Sam slowly becomes supportive of him. The bar's regular customers express their disdain toward Sam's support and fear that because of Sam's support of Tom, the bar will become a place full of homosexuals. The episode's [[Nielsen ratings]] at its initial airing were low but improved after subsequent airings on NBC. This episode has received more attention since. == Plot == [[File:Alan Autry.jpg|upright|thumb|alt=Portrait of Alan Autry looking directly at the camera | [[Alan Autry]] portrays Tom Kenderson, a [[Boston Red Sox]] player coming out as gay in this episode.]] Tom Kenderson ([[Alan Autry]]), an old friend and baseball teammate of bartender [[Sam Malone]] ([[Ted Danson]]), announces in his forthcoming autobiography that he is homosexual. At a press conference held at the bar, Sam, having not read the book in advance, is shocked by Tom's revelation.<ref name=shapiro122/> [[Diane Chambers]] ([[Shelley Long]]) helps Sam to calm down, and they discuss Tom. Moments later, Sam publicly accepts and supports Tom and his sexuality, which local newspapers report. The next day, as they read the newspaper, the bar's regular patrons—including [[Norm Peterson|Norm]] ([[George Wendt]])—express their disdain toward homosexuals. They worry that Sam's support for his old friend will turn Cheers into a [[gay bar]].<ref name=shapiro122/> Diane criticizes their [[homophobia]] telling them that gays are normal people and reveals there are two gay men in the bar as they speak.<ref name=tropiano192/> The regulars conclude that three male newcomers are homosexual and try to persuade Sam to escort them from the bar. Sam becomes concerned about dividing his loyalties between his regular customers and potential gay customers. Employees and regulars—pulled in by Diane—argue over the three newcomers in the billiard room. When the newcomers congratulate Sam for supporting Tom, Sam decides not to eject them to avoid [[Heterosexism|discriminating]] among his customers. Norm and the other regulars trick the three men into assuming that 7:00&nbsp;pm is the [[last call (bar term)|last call]] for drinks at and escort them from the bar.<ref name=tropiano192/> Diane tells the regulars that the men they escorted out are not homosexual and that the two gay men are still present. The two men in question kiss Norm on his cheeks.<ref name=bjorklund291/><ref name=shapiro122/><ref name=tropiano193/> == Production == "The Boys in the Bar" was co-written by [[Ken Levine (TV personality)|Ken Levine]] and [[David Isaacs (writer)|David Isaacs]] and was directed by [[James Burrows]].<ref name=bjorklund291/> The coming out story of former Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player [[Glenn Burke]] was the inspiration for the plot. Levine wanted to explore homophobia in a sports bar in this episode. However, [[NBC]] deemed the story "too risky" for ''Cheers'', whose Nielsen ratings were low during its [[Cheers (season 1)|first season]] in 1982–83.<ref name=shapiro122/><ref name=kenlevineblog/> Nevertheless, the production of this episode went ahead for five days; rehearsals were problem-free and some minor tweaks that did not have major effects on the script were made. The cast rehearsed for the first three days of production, the camera crew rehearsed on the fourth day and a studio audience were present on the fifth. The cast—including Ted Danson, who advised Levine not to change a word—loved this episode, and the crew found it—especially the cheek-kissing scene at the end—hilarious. However, according to Levine, the live studio audience remained silent during filming; the ending was reshot with Norm given an extra line, "better than Vera", referring to the character's wife's kissing.<ref name=shapiro122/><ref name=kenlevineblog/> {{quote|1=Silence. Dead silence. You could hear crickets. It wasn't like some people got it and others didn't. Nobody laughed. Not a single person&nbsp;... No one had an explanation.<ref name=shapiro122/><ref name=kenlevineblog/>|author=Ken Levine}} [[Extra (acting)|Background actors]] portraying bar customers are [[John Furey]], [[Michael Kearns (actor)|Michael Kearns]], [[Kenneth Tigar]], [[Lee Ryan (American actor)|Lee Ryan]], Jack Knight, and [[Tom Babson]].<ref name=bjorklund291 /> Shannon Sullivan<!--do not link; it redirects to "James E. West (politician)"--> and John Bluto portray reporters at the press conference.<ref name=bjorklund291 /> [[Harry Anderson]] reprises his role of Harry "the Hat" Gittes in the [[cold open]].<ref name=bjorklund291 /> == Broadcast and ratings == "The Boys in the Bar" aired at 9:30&nbsp;pm on NBC on January 27, 1983,<ref name=bjorklund291/> competing against [[CBS]]'s ''[[Simon & Simon]]'' and [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC's]] ''[[It Takes Two (1982 TV series)|It Takes Two]]''.<ref name=latjan27>"Television Schedule" (January 27, 1983). ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', Part VI (Calendar section), page 8, Library edition ([[microfilm]]).</ref> It ranked 41st out of 67 nationally-broadcast programs and garnered a Nielsen rating of 14.9.<ref name=03feblat>"Television Ratings" (February 3, 1983). ''Los Angeles Times'', Part VI (Calendar section), page 10, Library edition (microfilm).</ref> In [[Alaska]], it aired on February 10, 1983, at 8:00&nbsp;pm [[Alaska Time Zone|AKT]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vLAnAAAAIBAJ&pg=1464%2C4059245 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124172649/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vLAnAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wQQGAAAAIBAJ&pg=1464,4059245 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |title=Television (Thursday) |date=February 10, 1983 |newspaper=[[Anchorage Daily News]] |via=[[Google News Archive]] }}</ref> The episode was broadcast again on July 28, 1983, at 9:30&nbsp;pm against a rerun of ''Simon & Simon'' and ABC's television film ''Shooting Stars''.<ref name=lodi28july>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=75ozAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=7021%2C3186534 "Television (Schedule)"]. ''[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]'' [Lodi, California] July 28, 1983: 12. ''[[Google News]]''. Web. June 13, 2012.</ref> It ranked 25th with a Nielsen rating of 12.8 and a 23 share.<ref name=miamiaug03>"NBC Wins Nielsen Race." ''[[Miami Herald]]'' August 3, 1983: 7B. via [[NewsBank]]. Web. June 13, 2012. {{registration required}}. Article at MiamiHerald.com: {{subscription required}}.</ref> It aired again on January 17, 1985, at 9:00&nbsp;pm against ''Simon & Simon'' and a rerun of ABC's television film ''[[Who Will Love My Children?]]'',<ref name=lodi1985>"Television (schedule)". ''Lodi News-Sentinel'' [Lodi, CA] January 17, 1985: 18. via Google News. Web. June 13, 2012.</ref> ranking 13th with a Nielsen rating of 20.4—equivalent to 17.5 million homes.<ref name=miami1985>{{cite news |last=Rothenberg |first=Fred |date=January 23, 1985 |title=Surprise! Super Bowl top show |page=C6 |newspaper=[[Daily Breeze]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[NewsBank]] }} {{registration required}}. A rating equals one percent of 84.9 million homes with a television set.</ref> == Critical reaction == {{quote box|width=27.5em|1=[...] In the 28 years since that episode aired, the number of male professional athletes that have come out is staggeringly low, and the number of highly visible, well-known athletes to do is essentially zero. Progress has been made, but 28 years doesn't feel like a very long time when it's unclear how [many of] the audience [are] behind [[Sam and Diane]] in this episode and how many of them are secretly siding with Norm the entire time.<ref name=avclub/>|2=Ryan McGee from ''The A.V. Club'', January 12, 2012}} Cory Barker of the website ''TV Surveillance'' disdained Norm's comments about homosexuals but called them "honest for the time and circumstances".<ref name=tvsurveillance>{{cite web |last=Barker |first=Cory |date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014142723/http://tvsurveillance.com/2011/07/19/surveillance-summer-watch-cheers-father-knows-last-the-boys-in-the-bar-and-dianes-perfect-date/ |url=http://tvsurveillance.com/2011/07/19/surveillance-summer-watch-cheers-father-knows-last-the-boys-in-the-bar-and-dianes-perfect-date/ |title=Surveillance Summer Watch: ''Cheers'', 'Father Knows Last', 'The Boys in the Bar' and 'Diane's Perfect Date' |work=TV Surveillance |archive-date=October 14, 2011 |via=Internet Archive }}</ref> According to the book ''What's Good on TV'', Sam's concerns about losing regular, anti-homosexual bar customers if Cheers were to become a gay bar is depicted as sympathetic towards regulars and "a practical argument" instead of a "strong moral argument".<ref name=watson-arp211/> Stephen Tropiano called this episode "the definite highlight of Season One" in ''[[PopMatters]]''<ref name=popmatters>{{cite web |last=Tropiano |first=Stephen |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/cheers-complete-1 |title=''Cheers: The Complete First Season'' review |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=June 23, 2003 |access-date=April 7, 2012 }}</ref> and, in the 2002 book ''The Prime Time Closet'', Tropiano called it a moral lesson about judging a person based on appearances.<ref name=tropiano193/> Nevertheless, Tropiano said that the fictional baseball player Tom Kenderson is typical of gay characters related to a series regular, appear just once, are exploited for delivering a message about homosexuality to the audience, and are then discarded, never to be "seen, heard, or mentioned again".<ref name=tropiano191-192/> ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' critics discussed this episode in 2012. Phil Nugent found it unfunny and intended as a message to tolerate homosexuals by making Norm and other regulars appear "ridiculous". Noel Murray said that the episode's "bifurcated structure" prevented more development for Sam's old baseball teammate, and he found the [[LGBT stereotypes#Gay men|"stereotypes" of gay men]] dated. He and Donna Bowman considered it to be more about men securing their own [[machismo]] than tolerating homosexuality. Ryan McGee found the studio audience's reactions to this episode ambiguous, especially years after this episode aired.<ref name=avclub>{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/articles/father-knows-lastthe-boys-in-the-bar,67475/ |title='The Boys in the Bar' review |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=January 12, 2012 |access-date=May 31, 2012 }}</ref> ''[[New York Post#Decider|Decider]]'' critic Brett White wrote in 2017 that this episode is "structured to deconstruct the notion of stereotypes" and shows that despite some regular bar patrons' lack of "open-minded[ness], Cheers is a bar for everyone". White also noted that Norm's [[gaydar]] is tainted with "uninformed stereotypes".<ref name="White">{{cite web |first=Brett |last=White |date=March 28, 2017 |title=That Gay Episode: How Sam Malone Showed Acceptance Is Macho On ''Cheers'' |url=https://decider.com/2017/03/28/that-gay-episode-cheers-the-boys-in-the-bar/ |website=[[New York Post#Decider|Decider]] |access-date=August 26, 2019 }}</ref> However, White also wrote: <blockquote>As progressive as this episode is for 1983, it still falls short in the same ways that most sitcoms of the 20th century did when handling LGBT issues. There are no regular LGBT characters in the cast, so Cliff, Norm and Carla aren't challenged to grow after this episode. Sam's friend Tom disappears after the press conference, never to be seen again. Even the supposedly gay guys turn out to probably not be gay. In the absence of any actual dynamic gay characters, it's Diane that takes on the ally role and acts as the voice of gay rights.</blockquote> ''[[Screen Rant]]'' critic Simone Torn wrote in 2019 that the characters' homophobic remarks would "[make] this episode uncomfortable to modern audiences" and is one of "ten things from ''Cheers'' that have not aged well."<ref>{{cite web |first=Simone |last=Torn |date=August 20, 2019 |title=10 Things From Cheers That Have Not Aged Well |url=https://screenrant.com/cheers-not-aged-well/amp/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=August 20, 2019 }}</ref> Joseph&nbsp;J. and Kate Darowski in their 2019 book ''Cheers: A Cultural History'' rated the episode three out of four stars ("good episode").<ref>{{cite book |first1=Joseph J. |last1=Darowski |first2=Kate |last2=Darowski |year=2019 |chapter=The Episodes: An Opinionated Compendium |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lTKODwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156 |title=Cheers: A Cultural History |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]] |location=Lanham, Maryland |page=156 |isbn=9781538113875 |lccn=2018056821 }}</ref> == Accolades == This episode was nominated for "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series" at the [[1983 Primetime Emmy Awards]], but lost to "[[Give Me a Ring Sometime]]"—the [[television pilot|pilot episode]] of ''Cheers''.<ref name=emmys/><ref name=bjorklund457/>{{#tag:ref|"Diane's Perfect Date" was nominated for the "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series" award at the 1983 Primetime Emmy Awards.<ref name=emmys/><ref name=bjorklund457/>|group=note}} In 1984, it won the [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Screenplay - Episodic Comedy]] award, along with "Give Me a Ring Sometime".<ref name="writers guild foundation">"[http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/title/titleAwards.ashx?id=2387 Cheers&nbsp;– Boys in the Bar, The] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105034547/http://librarycatalog.wgfoundation.org/title/titleAwards.ashx?id=2387 |date=November 5, 2013 }}." ''The Writers Guild Foundation'', 2010. Web. 7 April 2012.</ref> In 1983, the Alliance for Gay and Lesbian Artists in the Entertainment Industry (AGLA) awarded this episode <ref name=stevecap>Capsuto, Steven, ed. "[http://stevecap.com/alternatechannels_net/articles/kudos.htm Kudos! AGLA's and GLAAD's Gay and Lesbian Media Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219111715/http://www.stevecap.com/alternatechannels_net/articles/kudos.htm |date=February 19, 2012 }}." ''Alternate Channels'', 2005. Web. 7 April 2012.</ref> for its "realistic [depiction] of homosexuals" and for Sam's support for homosexuals in the bar.<ref name=realistic>"[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fzgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ijIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=2031%2C2292320 Gay Artists Applaud Programs]." ''[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]'' [Lodi, CA] 20 September 1983: 10. ''[[Google News]]''. Web. 7 April 2012.</ref> == References == '''Footnotes''' {{Reflist|group=note}} '''Inline references''' {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=shapiro122>Shapiro 2011, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ymAWgveoxW8C&lpg=PA122 p. 122]. "A Spoonful of Sugar".</ref> <ref name=bjorklund291>Bjorklund 1993, p. 291. "Season One (1982–1983)".</ref> <ref name=bjorklund457>Bjorklund 1993, p. 457. "Appendix: Emmy Nominations and Awards".</ref> <ref name=emmys>"[http://www.emmys.com/shows/cheers Cheers]." ''[[Emmy Award|Emmys]]'', 2012. Web. 7 April 2012.</ref> <ref name=watson-arp211>Watson and Arp 2011, [https://books.google.com/books?id=XwCqRGdhzu8C&lpg=PA211 p. 211].</ref> <ref name=tropiano192>Tropiano 2002, [https://books.google.com/books?id=CeqG46cYjuMC&lpg=PA192 p. 192]. ''[[Google Books]]''.</ref> <ref name=tropiano193>Tropiano 2002, p. 193. ''[[Amazon.com]]''.</ref> <ref name=tropiano191-192>Tropiano 2002, pp. [https://books.google.com/books?id=CeqG46cYjuMC&pg=PA191 191]–192. ''[[Google Books]]''.</ref> <ref name=kenlevineblog>Levine, Ken. [http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-cheers-im-still-writing-in-my-head.html "The Cheers Episode I'm Still Writing in my Head."] ''Must Always Read''. Reprinted as "[https://web.archive.org/web/20151005033420/http://www.aoltv.com/2008/07/08/the-cheers-episode-ken-levines-still-writing-in-his-head/ The Cheers episode Ken Levine's still writing in his head]" by Keith McDuffee (8 July 2008). ''[[HuffPost|HuffPost TV]]''. Archived from the [http://www.aoltv.com/2008/07/08/the-cheers-episode-ken-levines-still-writing-in-his-head/ original] on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 31 December 2021.</ref> }} === Bibliography === * Bjorklund, Dennis A. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=pEN6sTeG20AC Cheers TV Show: A Comprehensive Reference]''. Praetorian Publishing, 1993. ''[[Google Books]]''. Web. 7 April 2012. [https://books.google.com/books?id=hKbxOW2ONGEC Another edition]. * [[Ben Shapiro|Shapiro, Ben]] (2011). [https://books.google.com/books?id=ymAWgveoxW8C ''Primetime Propaganda: The True Hollywood Story of How the Left Took Over Your TV'']. New York City: Broadside–[[HarperCollins]]. {{ISBN|9780062092106}}. * Tropiano, Stephen. ''The Prime Time Closet: A History of Gays and Lesbians on TV''. New York: [[Applause Theatre and Cinema Books]], 2002. {{ISBN|1-55783-557-8}}. * Watson, J. C., and Robert Arp. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=XwCqRGdhzu8C What's Good on TV: Understanding Ethics Through Television]''. United Kingdom: [[Wiley–Blackwell]], 2011. ''[[Google Books]]''. 7 April 2012. Hardcover: {{ISBN|978-1-4051-9476-1}}. Paperback: {{ISBN|978-1-4051-9475-4}}. == Further reading == * Dalton, Mary M., and Laura R. Linder. ''The Sitcom Reader: America Viewed And Skewed''. Albany, NY: [[State University of New York]], 2005. Hardcover: {{ISBN|0-7914-6569-1}}. Paperback: {{ISBN|0-7914-6570-5}}. * D'Orso, Mike. "[http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1136495/2/index.htm Out Of A Bar, Into A Ballpark]." ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' 3 September 1990. ''[[CNN]]''. Web. 7 April 2012. == External links == * {{IMDb episode|0539884}} * [http://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=Cheers&p=1&item=T84:0393 "The Boys in the Bar"] at the [[Paley Center for Media]] {{Cheers}} {{WritersGuildofAmericaEpisodicComedyScreenplay 1980s}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Boys in the Bar, The}} [[Category:1983 American television episodes]] [[Category:Cheers (season 1) episodes]] [[Category:American LGBT-related television episodes]] [[Category:Television episodes directed by James Burrows]]'