Cheers is filmed before a live studio audience.
Hey, holy moly, guacamole!
- Normie. - Huh?
See that guy down there?
I think that might be Spanky McFarland from the old Little Rascals.
- Yeah, I think so. - Really?
I'll go ask him. I'll go check it out.
Hey, how you doing, sir?
- Hi. - Hey, my name's Cliff Clavin.
Hello, Cliff.
You know, I know you've probably heard this a thousand times before,
but you do resemble that child actor Spanky McFarland from The Little Rascals.
- Well, that's because-- - 'Cause I'm one of the biggest
Little Rascals fans that ever was.
I mean, I got every episode on tape.
You know, well, except Free Eats and Captain Spanky's Showboat.
- That's great-- - Yeah, Alfalfa,
Darla, Buckwheat. Heh!
You know, I got to confess, I had quite a big crush on Darla.
I got to tell you, you know, if you were Spanky,
boy, I could sit here and chew on your ear for hours
about Happy Birthday, Mr. Hood
and the He-Men Women-Haters Club.
And, hey, remember the sound the cake made coming out of the oven?
Waaa-ohh. Huh?
So... Are you Spanky?
Nope.
Ah! Take care.
Catch you later.
You are Spanky, aren't you?
Oh, yeah.
Oh, no. Who's this guy?
Oh, well, that's Mr. Kevin Fogerty, our city councilman.
He's been there for three consecutive terms.
Running for re-election now. Nobody dares run against him.
He's also very, very rude to voters
who call with perfectly normal and good suggestions.
Okay, Mr. Clavin, remember the rules.
You have to keep at least 50 feet
from Mr. Fogerty at all times.
I know. All right, all right.
Just to be safe, I better go back in the poolroom.
I remember Fogerty.
He was here a couple of years ago trying to get our votes.
Oh, yeah. He bought me a beer.
Did you vote for him?
He bought me a beer.
Something has to be done, and the time is now.
There he goes,
spouting a bunch of meaningless platitudes,
and sure enough, the people are lapping it up like milk.
The mentality of the voter in this country fascinates me.
Someday I ought to do a paper about it.
What's your problem with Fogerty? He's not a bad guy.
Oh. All right, Sam. Why don't you ask him a question?
I'll bet you ten bucks all he gives you is
some meaningless politician's rhetoric.
Yeah, all right.
Come on. You're on.
Excuse me, Mr. Fogerty, sir.
Can I speak to you for a second?
I'm Sam Malone. I'm the owner of the bar.
Got a question for you.
I'm a small businessman, and I was just wondering,
when is this economy gonna turn around?
I'm glad you asked that.
I say now is the time
to roll up our shirt-sleeves and get to the bottom of this.
The only way we're going to defeat this thing
is if we all do it together.
I think you owe me ten bucks.
Hi. Kevin Fogerty, City Council.
Kevin Fogerty, City Council.
I hope I have your vote on election day.
And why exactly should I vote for you, Mr. Fogerty?
Well, because I'm a hard worker.
I take a stand.
On what, exactly?
The issues of the day.
Which are?
The things that concern you and your family the most.
I think you're making an ass out of yourself.
I am not! I simply want the councilman
to say one concrete thing.
Yes, I understand. You don't trust me.
A lot of people don't trust politicians.
I know how it is. I have been out there.
What does that have to do--
May I finish, please?
Maybe we need someone to blame.
Maybe if we pick some faceless person at City Hall
to be responsible for all our problems,
then we won't have to accept any responsibility at all.
Well, people, I say now is the time
to start looking in the mirror,
because if this thing is going to work,
we are all going to have to make it work,
the way a bunch of people made something work
at Lexington and Concord.
You may remember it. It's called...
America.
Yes! Bravo!
Whoo!
But he didn't say anything!
Thank you, people, for proving my point.
The voters of Boston are sheep.
No, I thought that was just a Hanover thing.
Look, all I'm saying is that when it comes to voting,
people just shut off their brains.
I submit we could put a chimpanzee on the ballot
and garner ten percent of the vote.
Ho ho! Two Hanover things in one day?
You're exaggerating a little bit, aren't you?
No, Sam, I'm not.
Look, you know what? I'll go you one better.
I'll bet we could put Woody on the ballot and get ten percent of the vote.
Yeah, all right. I'll take ten dollars of that.
All right. You're on.
You know, come to think of it,
this'll make a fascinating study of voter psychology.
I submit if we just put Woody's name on the ballot,
circulate a few posters of his attractive, smiling face
over some meaningless slogan, come election day,
we'll get ten percent of the vote.
Come on, man.
Oh, okay, I'll prove it to all of you.
I'll start the process by getting his name
on the ballot this very afternoon.
I don't know, Dr. Crane. I'm not so sure
I want to get mixed up in all this.
Mixed up in what, Woody?
Oh, Dr. Crane wants me to run for City Council.
Oh, Woody, that's a wonderful idea.
- It is? - I'd be so proud if you were a politician.
Oh, Kelly, I'm not going to get mixed up in politics.
You live your life in a fishbowl,
everybody hates you,
the press is always criticizing you.
There's no way I'm running for public office.
All right, Mr. Stubborn.
From now on, you can dance naked
in front of the lava lamp all by your lonesome.
Well, maybe just one term.
Well, step one of my plan is complete.
Woody Boyd is now on the ballot for City Council.
I'll be damned. How'd you do that?
Well, it was really no trouble at all.
I simply stood out in front of a supermarket
with a petition.
When people asked me who I was supporting, I said,
"Woody Boyd, the man who stands for the American way."
Well, the sheep couldn't sign their names fast enough.
I also put up about three hundred of these guys here.
Three hundred? You think that's gonna be enough?
Well, there's no need to go crazy.
I only need to get ten percent of the eligible vote.
Well, in that case, why don't you just
put them up on Carla's headboard?
Oh...
Clavin, Clavin, Clavin.
When are you going to learn?
You see, now, I have to retaliate.
No, you don't have to, Carla.
You know, we could just pretend I didn't say anything
and just forget all about it, huh?
I can't forget. You know that.
All right. Well, just get it over with fast, then, will you?
All right. Thank you.
No, that's for even asking.
You can't hurry an artist. Ha ha ha ha!
Woody Boyd?
Right here.
Holly Matheson, Boston Herald.
I understand you're running for City Council.
- Yes, ma'am.
- You mind if I ask you a few questions?
Oh, I guess that would be okay.
Ha ha! Here's where your great experiment hits the wall, pal.
Well, maybe, maybe not.
It's all part of the experiment.
Let's start with our police force--
Morale is at an all-time low.
Officers are underpaid and overworked.
What do you plan to do?
Well, I don't know much about big city stuff.
I was raised on a farm.
Oh, I get it. This is your hook.
You're the innocent farm boy telling the big city slickers
to clean up the barn and all that farm crap.
Well, no, it's not crap.
If you don't clean up the barn, you get rats.
Yes, yes.
So, in other words, it's time to clean up City Hall.
Well, I'm just saying that if you let the rats go,
then, you know, pretty soon you don't have a barn.
You just have kind of a... A rat place.
Okay, so if we don't do something now
we'll loose our fair city. Blah, blah, blah.
You know my Grandpa Boyd caught a rat the size of a pig
or was it a pig the size of a rat?
Well either way, it was a big hit at the county fair.
So what you're saying is,
there are no easy answers.
Well, not for me, there aren't.
You really believe this farm stuff, don't you?
All my heart.
Well, it's kind of a cornball message,
but you just might be the kind of guy who can sell that stuff.
Oh, thanks, ma'am.
Woody, that was absolutely brilliant.
Ha. Some reporter.
She didn't even want to ask me about politics.
Oh, listen to this.
"Race in District Three is the one to watch
between incumbent Kevin Fogerty
and his idealistic young challenger, Woody Boyd.
Even this cynical reporter
was impressed by Boyd's simple, straightforward approach."
Ha ha ha!
Well, according to the latest poll,
candidate Boyd now stands at eight percent.
Now, do I need to go for the two remaining percent,
or have I proved my point?
You have proved your point. You win.
Ha ha ha! Very well. Thank you very much.
I guess I can put an end to this farce.
I'll take the posters down tomorrow.
Hey, hey, turn on the news.
Fogerty just got arrested for public drunkenness.
- You're kidding. - Good God, this will be a major scandal.
You know, this could really rock his campaign.
I bet the person who's running against him is pretty happy.
You know, I bet if we just
printed up a few more posters...
Yeah. Maybe some door-to-door canvassing...
Yeah. Make some personal appearances...
We're going for it!
Yay! Yeah!
Whoo!
Going for what? I missed a step.
Hi. I'd like to tell you about candidate Woody Boyd.
He's challenging the status quo
and he's listening to the voters for a change.
And while I have you on the phone,
could I get two large pizzas with everything?
So... You don't plan to vote for Woody Boyd?
Now according to the phone book your address is 151 Richmond?
Do your children like to run and play?
No, it's Boyd. B-O-Y-D.
Well, he's destined for greatness.
He's one of the sharpest young political minds
to come along in quite a long time.
He's absolutely brilliant.
Me?
Well, I am... I'm 26.
You're not 26.
If Woody can be brilliant, I can be 26.
Well, never seen all you guys work so hard.
Yeah, well, Paul, you see,
most of us guys who hang around here day in, day out,
now, we frankly don't have much going for ourselves,
and Woody here has a shot at actually making the big time.
It's like he stands for all of us losers.
Even me?
Especially you, Paul.
Wow.
Everyone, I'd like your attention, please.
As you know, it's just 48 hours
until the big election day.
And I've been charting our progress up until now,
and I'd like to say with all confidence that I'm going to win!
We're going to win!
Woody Boyd is going to be
the next city councilman of this fair district!
Gosh, Dr. Crane--
Not now Woody, I'm talking
Now listen. I know we're not in the lead
but I can smell victory.
Now I just want you all to keep up the heat.
Let's not stop until we reach the victory party!
Well, Carla, I see you retaliated.
Yeah, it turns out she slipped me a mickey
so I'd fall asleep in the poolroom.
As it turns out, I woke up to find that she had tied my shoelaces together.
Fortunately, I noticed it before I took my first step.
Good try, Carla.
Better luck next time.
Excuse me. I have to go do my route now.
Excuse me. Kevin Fogerty, City Council.
I just wanted you to know
that I have always supported you people.
Too little, too late, Fogerty.
Woody Boyd.
Hi, Mr. Fogerty.
So you're the young man everyone is talking about.
Well, it's nice to finally meet you in person.
You know, you remind me of a bright young comer
that took this town by storm 30 years ago.
His name was... Kevin Fogerty.
Any relation?
Ah! Ha ha!
Boy, I'm looking forward to our debate tomorrow.
Debate?
Of course. On Channel Six.
It's a tradition whenever there's a challenger.
I think the voters deserve to hear our stands on the issues, don't you?
Oh, yes, of course we do, and we'll be there, sir.
Good.
I'm really looking forward to hearing your opinions.
I don't know if I can handle a debate, Dr. Crane.
I'm not very good at rendering my opinion.
Nothing to worry about, Woody.
Just tell some more of those farm stories.
People seem to love those.
If that doesn't work, just say the word "change" about 100 times.
Come on, let's go to my place and work on it. Trust me, Woody.
With my brains and your smile, who knows how high we can go?
Congressman, senator...
Who knows?
Would you please raise your right hand
and repeat after me?
I, Woodrow Tiberius Boyd, do solemnly swear...
That I will faithfully execute
The Office of the President of the United States
and will to the best of my ability
preserve, protect, and defend
The Constitution of the United States.
That I will faithfully...
Faithfully...
Execute.
Execute...
The...
- Office... - Office...
- Of... - Of...
- The... - The...
- President of the-- - I got that.
The President of the United States...
And will to the best of my ability
preserve and protect and defend
The Constitution of the United States.
Oh, boy.
And...
- Will... - Will...
- Protect... - Protect...
Oh, yeah? Well, I'm calling your bluff.
I'm firing my missiles, too. All of them!
Who was that, Woody?
How the hell should I know?
The phone rings, I answer it.
Aah!
Woody! Thank God I got to you in time.
I got to talk to you.
What are you reading?
I'm boning up on The Constitution
in case I ever decide to run for congreff.
It's congress, Woody.
In colonial times, the S's looked like F's.
Oh. Well, if I'm elected,
that's the first thing I'm going to change.
Yes. Woody, I'm sorry.
There's one thing I've got to tell you. Listen.
You have got to withdraw from the election.
What do you mean, Dr. Crane?
Well, aside from the nagging feeling that your election
Might actually mean the extinction of all life as we know it,
you're just not a politician.
Yeah, but you said it would be easy.
In fact, you said not being a politician was my hook.
I know, Woody. I'm sorry. Listen, I--
I shouldn't have led you on. I guess I was just...
...drawn in by the promise of power.
Oh, but Dr.--
No "but, Dr. Cranes." Now, Woody, just listen to me.
Listen, the right to vote is far too sacred
to cheapen by some vain, psychological experiment.
I mean, your winning an election
without knowing anything at all about politics
would just make a mockery of the entire democratic process.
Woody, you have to withdraw.
Well, there's no sense in arguing with you, Dr. Crane.
I mean, next to Mr. Clavin,
you're the smartest guy I know.
Well, what about the debate?
They're expecting me to go over there.
Woody, you'll just have to make a simple speech
and gracefully bow out.
Oh. I guess you're right, Dr. Crane.
I got to do what I got to do.
It's too bad, though.
I was really looking forward to being a good city councilman
and working hard to make sure that
every person in my district was insured...
Life, liberty...
And the purfuit of happineff.
Welcome to the District Three City Council candidates' debate.
To my immediate right is councilman Kevin Fogerty.
Boo! Boo! Boo!
To his right is the challenger, Woodrow Boyd.
Yay! Yay!
Before we begin the questions,
each candidate will make a brief opening statement.
Mr. Boyd?
Well, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do.
As much as I've enjoyed getting to know you all, I...
I have to bow out of the race.
What the hell? Huh?
The fact is, I'm really not much of a politician.
In fact, I really don't know much about anything.
I just-- I just wanted to--
I thought it'd be nice to be a city councilman. I mean...
I'd do a good job, too. I promise.
How bad could I screw up?
I mean, it's not like a councilman can declare war or anything.
I couldn't, could I?
It's just one vote. I mean, would it kill you to vote for me?
Oh, don't cry, Woody.
Oh, well, this is my wife Kelly,
and she deserves better than just a simple bartender.
Oh, it's all right.
I love you, Woody.
I love you, too, Kelly.
In fact, we both love you.
Both?
Yes.
This probably isn't the ideal time to tell you, but...
You're going to be a daddy.
I'm gonna be...
I'm gonna-- Oh!
Did you hear that, everybody? I'm going to be a daddy!
Ha ha ha ha!
I love this country!
W-A-D-Wis now projecting a winner in District Three.
Challenger Woody Boyd has been elected to City Council.
All right! Way to go, Woody! Hey, congratulations.
I am so proud of you!
Oh, Sam.
Hey, good luck, all right?
Don't forget that little talk we had
about extending unemployment benefits.
Consider it done, Mr. Peterson.
Oh, hey, Dr. Crane, listen...
I just wanted to thank you, you know.
Without you, I couldn't have done this.
In fact, you're directly responsible.
No one can prove that.
I know you don't have a lot of faith in me, Dr. Crane,
but I'm going to prove you wrong.
I'm going to study hard on all the issues
and I'm going to be a great city councilman
and maybe this is just the first rung
on a very long ladder,
and you're the man who made it happen.