What is...Cliff Clavin?
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| “What is...Cliff Clavin?” | |
|---|---|
| Cheers episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 8 Episode 14 |
| Guest stars | Alex Trebek (himself) Johnny Gilbert (himself) |
| Written by | Dan O'Shannon Tom Anderson |
| Directed by | Andy Ackerman |
| Production no. | 184 |
| Original airdate | January 18, 1990 (US) |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "Sammy and the Professor" | "Finally!" |
"What is...Cliff Clavin?" is the name of an eighth season episode of the American television series Cheers. The episode has become notable for its focus on know-it-all character Cliff Clavin's appearance the American game show Jeopardy!
Contents |
[edit] Plot outline
Cliff Clavin qualifies to appear on a special episode of Jeopardy! taping in Boston, Massachusetts. As a large trivia fan, this has been Cliff's dream for years. After a presumably successful first round (given the board and Cliff's score by Final Jeopardy) Cliff gains some confidence and begins acting cocky. The Final Jeopardy answer is "Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz and Lucille LeSueur" and Cliff bets all his money, $22,000, on his response "Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?"[1] Cliff loses all of his money and Norm meets Alex Trebek in Cheers after the show (Trebek goes on to say that Cliff "scares him").[2]
While the Jeopardy! story is the main plot of the episode (characters in Boston even watch Cliff on television, a show-within-a-show), there is another plotline at the bar. Sam begins getting calls from women he used to date, angry with him for making dates and never showing up. He eventually discovers that someone has taken his little black book and enrolled the help of men around the bar to track down his book. Through their detective work he discovers the caller is working through the book alphabetically, and Rebecca Howe is the next on the list. The thief turns out to be a teenaged boy who wants to become a "babe hound" like Sam himself.
[edit] Trivia
- The episode's name is a reference to the Jeopardy! rule that all contestant responses must be stated in the form of a question.
- The categories on the first round board (CIVIL SERVANTS, STAMPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, MOTHERS AND SONS, BEER, BAR TRIVIA, and CELIBACY) were described by Norm as Cliff's "dream board" and were used much later in a May 10, 2005 episode of the Jeopardy! Ultimate Tournament of Champions.[2]
- The correct response to the Final Jeopardy! clue was "What were the real names of Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and Joan Crawford?" [1]
- This episode is somewhat unique in that a bulk of the plot takes place outside the bar. It was also directed by Andy Ackerman rather than James Burrows who directed 243 of Cheers' 273 episodes.
[edit] Quotes
- Cliff: I'm nothing but a loser. I'm no good for anything.
Guy: Oh, that's OK, Cliff. We understand.
Cliff: I can't believe I lost on Jeopardy.
Guy: Oh… you were on Jeopardy? - Sam: The man's gone through my entire list of babes. First the A's, then the B's, all the way through the G's. Where's he gonna strike next?
Frasier: The H's?
Woody: That's good work, Dr. Crane; you gotta think like a criminal.
Frasier: Or just someone acquainted with our alphabet.
[edit] References
- ^ a b (February 16, 2004)(2006) Fun Trivia question on the episode
- ^ a b (2006) What is...Cliff Clavin on TV.com
