Cheers Cast 2.08: Manager Coach

CHEERS Season 2, episode 8: "Manager Coach"

Hosted by Ryan Daly with special guest Tim Price.

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11 responses to “Cheers Cast 2.08: Manager Coach

  1. Ryan, I’m confused by your assertion that show, if it existed today, would not do the breastfeeding joke the same way. I feel that the show is pointing out the hypocrisy of the guys, feeling ok with looking at breasts only in a sexual context, but horrified in any other. it’s a very pro-feminist, progressive joke, completely undercutting some of the show’s main characters.

    1. I agree, Rob. I think this joke is a microcosm for how forward-thinking and intelligent the writers were for the 1980s. This bit would prob work today just as well. Much like the way they handled the “gay bar” episode in season 1, the writers use their characters’ voices to demonstrate hypocrisy thru humor in non-offensive ways. I loved this bit!

    2. I was just going to post that same comment.

      In fact, the show has (so far) ALWAYS landed on the right side of every single issue it addresses. If there is some sort of boorish or offensive behavior displayed, the person doing it is the butt of the joke or shown to be the bad guy in some other way — including every single main character in one way or another. The show’s overall viewpoint is always respectful and consistently on the side of so-called modern or current morality.

      After 30 or so episodes of CheersCast, it might be nice to stipulate that the Cheers creators have both good intentions and the ability to deal with complex issues with nuance and subtlety. When they show a character displaying negative behavior it’s in service of the plot and the jokes, never to make the person into some sort of role model. The best part about the show is that every character (including Coach after this episode) has both good and bad sides and the creators and cast can successfully explore with the bad side and still make them likable.

      Maybe it has something to do with where and how I was raised, but the attitude of the Cheers creative staff seemed completely in step with the thinking of my parents and other adults I knew in the 80s. I really don’t feel like the Cheers audience in first-run was devoid of the same kind of compassion, understanding and decency that a 2019 audience would have. I also think a modern audience is perfectly capable of taking in the context of the jokes and situations in Cheers.

  2. I don’t recall seeing this episode, but just from your description, I’m getting a slight Bad News Bears vibe from the kids. That movie series and subsequent TV show were pretty popular in the late 70s/early 80s, and was probably the first time kids were portrayed in mass media in a less-than-perfect, more realistic light. And of course, they were a Little League team, so I have to wonder if there isn’t a slight influence here.

    Chris

  3. Great show guys. Always happy to hear Tim slinging his voice on the old podverse.

    One slight complaint. I disagree with you guys about the breast feeding scene. I found that to be a very funny scene that still rings true today. I really see the writers making a perfect point that men would rather gawk at salacious pictures than to allow a perfectly natural act to occur. The fact that the double standard still exists is upsetting, but I applaud the show for calling it out in the mid 80’s.

    Just my 2 cents.

  4. All right, guys, I’m going to try to tackle the baseball manager/uniform thing with the caveat that I could be completely wrong.

    Back in the early days of baseball, the team was managed by one of the players, so therefore in order to play in the game he had to wear the uniform. While it’s rare nowadays, it was very common early. My guess would be after that was pretty much phased out, the tradition of coaches and managers wearing the uniform remained.

    Pete Rose is the most recent player/manager having done it for the Cincinnati Reds from 1984-86.

    As for Tim’s questions about little league coaches and managers wearing the uniform? We don’t, but the league I coach in does provide us with a “coach” t-shirt and a hat.

    Hope that helped.

  5. Great episode, gentlemen. Now, I wonder if this story gives us a glimpse of what Coach used to be like, when he coached professionally, or if this is a new change that just came over him, when he took over the little league team?

  6. Once again I laughed out loud at a clip! “Time to make your own coal,” is something I shall endeavor to use often!

  7. Lots of great feedback, gang. Let me give a follow up on the “breast-feeding bit.” I will admit, I have a personal experience that colors my take on it. You ready? Really, are you ready? You aren’t, but here we go.

    I was on vacation a couple of years ago, in a fairly public tourist site. I was looking at a display on a wall, and a woman was sitting on the floor right in front of it. (Why’s she sitting there? You’re really supposed to keep walking around.) Finally, I figured it out. (OH! She’s breastfeeding her baby! I didn’t realize since I hardly ever see that. Speaking of “see”, stop staring at her, pervo! Look somewhere else! Oh god, did I just glance back at her? STOP IT!)

    Don’t know if this makes a point or not…

    Thank you all for listening to the episode, and Ryan for including me on a double-header of recordings!

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