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Cheers
S5.E20
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

Dinner at Eight-ish

  • Episode aired Feb 26, 1987
  • TV-PG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
929
YOUR RATING
Kelsey Grammer and Bebe Neuwirth in Cheers (1982)
ComedyDrama

Frasier and Lilith announce that they are moving in together and as the instigators of the relationship, they invite Sam and Diane over as their first dinner guests. Just prior to Sam and Di... Read allFrasier and Lilith announce that they are moving in together and as the instigators of the relationship, they invite Sam and Diane over as their first dinner guests. Just prior to Sam and Diane's arrival, the new couple analyze their relationship and who manipulated who into doin... Read allFrasier and Lilith announce that they are moving in together and as the instigators of the relationship, they invite Sam and Diane over as their first dinner guests. Just prior to Sam and Diane's arrival, the new couple analyze their relationship and who manipulated who into doing what, which starts an evening long argument. As Sam and Diane arrive, the evening goes o... Read all

  • Director
    • James Burrows
  • Writers
    • Glen Charles
    • Les Charles
    • James Burrows
  • Stars
    • Ted Danson
    • Shelley Long
    • Rhea Perlman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.8/10
    929
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • James Burrows
    • Writers
      • Glen Charles
      • Les Charles
      • James Burrows
    • Stars
      • Ted Danson
      • Shelley Long
      • Rhea Perlman
    • 5User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Ted Danson
    Ted Danson
    • Sam Malone
    Shelley Long
    Shelley Long
    • Diane Chambers
    Rhea Perlman
    Rhea Perlman
    • Carla Tortelli
    John Ratzenberger
    John Ratzenberger
    • Cliff Clavin
    Woody Harrelson
    Woody Harrelson
    • Woody Boyd
    Kelsey Grammer
    Kelsey Grammer
    • Dr. Frasier Crane
    George Wendt
    George Wendt
    • Norm Peterson
    Bebe Neuwirth
    Bebe Neuwirth
    • Dr. Lilith Sternin
    Zetta Whitlow
    • Jill
    Doris Grau
    • Corinne
    Al Rosen
    • Al
    Lee Allen
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Joan Carey
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Ken DuMain
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Katherine Hittelman
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Gary S. Materna
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Audrianne Norwood
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    Joseph Paz
    • Bar Patron
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • James Burrows
    • Writers
      • Glen Charles
      • Les Charles
      • James Burrows
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    8.8929
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10stuart-smith729

    Season 5 / Epi20 and possibly the best at this point?

    Frasier and a pretty Lilith have Sam/Diane over for dinner and it's a classic. I'm curious to see the change in Lilith as i remember being pale and in black, she looked great.
    10dgplatt-60121

    Fun and Games at Frasier and Lilith's

    Most great Cheers episodes are like great short stories. This episode is like a perfect three act play, pitched somewhere between Noël Coward and Edward Albee. In fact, it feels like a dry run for Frasier's own series, six years avant la lettre, as Diane would no doubt say.

    What works about this episode is that both the writers and the actors know the characters. (This is even true for Lilith, here in only her third appearance) Diane, Frasier, and Lilith each have their own neuroses, while peacemaker Sam is too busy thinking about food.

    Everything is pitched perfectly here, and while the rest of the gang don't get much screen time you don't really miss them.
    8edward-a-bowden

    Why shrinks should never marry

    This is a wonderful episode and was the whole basis for Frasier getting his own show.

    Bebe Neuwirth is beautiful, her Lilith a fascinating mix of terrifying and sex-crazed, and Kelsey Grammer's Frasier is brilliantly neurotic.

    The show is standard farce, with characters taking turns to storm off set as the argument progresses, but because the characters of Lilith and Frasier are relatively new it feels fresh.
    9Hitchcoc

    Dinner from Hell

    This is a very funny episode. Frasier and Lilith decide to move in together and ask Sam and Diane over for their first dinner. Frasier hasn't been entirely honest with Lilith and they begin to spar. When Sam and Diane come, all Sam can think about are the chips and the dip. Soon each couple is exposing his or her dirty linen and surprising the others. There is a subplot with Cliff babysitting Carla's kids.

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In later seasons there are jokes about Lilith not having a good singing voice. Here, Bebe Neuwirth sings in her natural (Broadway level) voice.
    • Goofs
      When Lilith and Frasier are arguing at home before Sam and Diane arrive, Lilith throws a stack of magazines at Frasier. If you pay close attention, Bebe Neuwirth [Lilith] throws the books so hard that she backs into the couch and falls...but she bounces back up so quickly that it's hardly noticeable.
    • Quotes

      Dr. Frasier Crane: [after Lillith has locked herself in the bathroom, Sam and Diane arrive and ask of her whereabouts] Oh, she's around somewhere.

      [Calling out to Lillith in the bathroom]

      Dr. Frasier Crane: Peach Blossom: don't make yourself too beautiful, I can hardly stand to look at you now!

    • Connections
      References Dinner at Eight (1933)
    • Soundtracks
      Our House
      (uncredited)

      Written by Graham Nash

      Performed by Kelsey Grammer & Bebe Neuwirth with Shelley Long

    Top picks

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 26, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions
      • Paramount Television
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 30m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1
      • 4:3

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