Golden Boyd

Woody runs afoul of a young man at a party catered by Cheers. He is insulted by the rich people, but it draws a pretty young, somewhat vacuous rich girl named Kelly. After her boyfriend clobbers Woody, it actually works in his favor because she is intrigued by his simplicity. She will be an interesting factor as the show goes on.

Looking back it's strange that Woody hasn't had a steady girlfriend until this point. Harrelson was young and hunky (and still had his hair), so why didn't Woody get some lovin' like Sam did? Previously they used Woody's naïveté and attachment to Indiana to keep him from dating, but now they've finally let him meet somebody.

In her first appearance Kelly Gaines isn't quite the blissfully clueless rich princess she becomes later, but otherwise this is the template for most future Woody/Kelly stories. Woody is the good-natured hayseed and Kelly is sweet and innocent despite her wealthy background. There's a bit of conflict involving Kelly's boyfriend Nash (played by Tyrone Power, Jr., who looks frighteningly similar to his Hollywood legend father) but it's not much. The subplot involving Sam getting extra tips based on his hard luck stories is kind of funny.

OCCUPYING pretty much the same cinematic niche and functioning in very much the same manner as did the old one and two reel comedies; the TV sitcom has been the most popular and long lasting of Television's programming genres. Getting a winning premise, format and cast are essential for success; but once these are attained, a series is good for several years of first run and seemingly an eternity of reruns in syndication.

SO it is with CHEERS (Charles/Burrows/Charles Prod./Paramount Television/NBC, 1982-93), we have a fine example of a winning combo; which has managed to become an important road stop in our pop cultural highway. Just how this is accomplished is often times a mystery; as one can never be certain just what will tickle the collective fancy of the viewing audience. With the only certain necessary element being good old Dumb Luck; a creative team can only try to strike a balance in character, subject matter and setting, hoping for success.

CHOOSING the main venue of a bar gives a good, natural reason for moving characters through the stage. Much like the precinct house in BARNEY MILLER, motivational driving forces flow very naturally. There is never any need to waste any energy of exposition in order to carry a storyline; as most of it is already there in the Bar and its denizens; both of which are well known to the viewers.

TODAY'S dissectee, the CHEERS Episode, "Golden Boyd" starts out an obvious play on the title of the Clifford Odetts Broadway Stage Play, "THE GOLDEN BOY"; which is about a young Boxer. Having gotten that out front, the audience is prepared to laugh along with young Woody BOYD (Woody Harrelson). We know there will be some fisticuffs in some form.

THIS brings up the highly important ingredient of having well developed, continued characters. Once they are established, there is no need of serving up each and every episode as an experimental cinematic guinea pigs.

WHEN we view a CHEERS episode, we know the idiosyncrasies of each character. While one could classify them by painting with a broad brush as being "dumb", there are much better descriptive terms available. When examined closely, each one is not exactly lacking intelligence; but suffer more from misplaced motivation. This is true from top to bottom, with the exception of the Late Nicholas Colosanto's characterization as "Coach".

WOODY, to our way of thinking, is more of a naïve and innocent kid; who will grow out of it some day, with the addition to his persona of a generous helping of life experience. Hence, the humor generated by his character is very similar to that of Andy Griffith's Will Stockdale in NO TIME FOR SERFEANTS (Warner Brothers, 1957).

IN this episode, Woody gets into a fight with the Rich Kid (Tyrone Power, Jr.) over a Wealthy young debutante-type, Kelly Gaines(Jackie Swanson). It all starts when Woody and Sam (Ted Danson) are working a private party at the Gaines Home. AS it turns out, Nash was a Collegiate Boxing Champion and Woody bravely takes his lumps. But, whereas Woody has lost the battle, he wins the war; for the fair Miss Kelly seems to be a female version and fine match for him, because her personality seems to have much of the same traits displayed by Woody.

THE Kelly character proved to be a great success; as she became a semi-regular, appearing sporadically in episodes featuring Woody as the main character.

Schultz and I both give it ** ½.

POODLE SCHNITZ!!