Where There's a Will...

The Cheers writers seem to have a thing for millionaires. Over the years a few different ones have come through the doors to buy a few rounds for the gang.

This time the rich guy is Malcolm Kramer, played by George Gaynes, best known as Punky Brewster's curmudgeonly guardian on Punky Brewster and the befuddled Commandant from the Police Academy movies. Kramer announces to Diane that he has six months to live, and Sam decides to let him take over the bar for a few hours.

Kramer turns out to be a fun guy, singing songs and mixing drinks blindfolded. As he leaves, instead of a tip he leaves an amendment to his will, giving the bar $100,000. The rest of the episode involves the regulars squabbling over the money.

The only word for this episode is "charming." It plays out like an O Henry or Mark Twain story, showing how greed can make fools of men and women. Although Christmas is never mentioned, it's a Christmas episode in spirit, showing us how our real treasure is in our friends and family - but wouldn't you want the money, too?

I guess i took this too seriously. It is, obviously, a comedy, so what happens is for laughs. From my perspective, the result was ridiculous. Once the vultures decided to engage with one another over the promise of money, that was it for me. Sam had the right to do what he wanted. If he had any integrity at all he could have sorted things out at a future time. The poor guy who was dying ends up with the money and it will go to some government agency.