Cheers: "Bar Wars III: The Return Of Tecumseh"

Sam:"Boy, fun is fun, and I like being humiliated as much as the next guy, but--yeah, but this, taking Tecumseh, that--that crosses the line!"

Norm:"Sammy's right! He could take Cliffie, strip him naked, paint him green like a shamrock, drag him through boston, this is going too far!"

Cliff:"This time...it's personal!"

Aired March 15, 1990
The Cheers gang is preparing for St Patrick’s Day, breaking out leprechaun hats and green decorations for the bar. It's normally one of the craziest nights of the year.

Carla (Rhea Pearlman) is worried about what sort of prank Gary’s Old Town Tavern will play on Cheers . On the previous St. Paddy's, Gary filled the Cheers stairwell with potatoes, nearly causing Woody (Woody Harrelson) to become "the second member of my family to be buried alive by potatoes".

Rebecca (Kirstie Alley) says that the feud between Cheers and Gary’s must end and forbids the Cheers staff from taking part in pranks. Gary and Rebecca signed a peace treaty and “solemnly” swore to “cut it out”.

Sam (Ted Danson) says everyone needs to relax, and recommends everyone rub the stomach of the Tecumseh (the wooden Indian statue near the Cheers entrance) for good luck. But there’s a problem:Tecumseh is missing! Everyone says only one person who could have done such a thing:Gary! It’s war! The Cheers customers start chanting "Get Gary, Get Gary!".

A recent photo of the Tecumseh statue (taken by Ernie Orr at the Cheers bar in Boston)

Sam, Norm (George Wendt) and Cliff (John Ratzenberger) pose as city construction workers and block off the streets surrounding Gary’s. Forcing the bar to close. They then wait in anticipation for Gary's reprisal...but nothing happens. The waiting begins to weigh on the gang. They grow suspicious and even start fighting among themselves!

What will Gary do to them on St. Patrick's Day? And will Tecumseh ever be returned to Cheers?

J.A. Morris says:

Our first St. Patrick's Day review!

Bar Wars III is a solid episode that shows how great Cheers' ensemble cast was, even in the 8th of 11 seasons. It does a good job showing how adults sometimes let occasions like St. Patrick's Day cause them to lose perspective and act like children. There's also a funny moment when Frasier and Cliff seem to swap personalities.

They're aren't that many St. Patrick's Day episodes (compared to other holidays), but this is one I could see watching in years to come. As the title indicates, this is the 3rd time Cheers and Gary's have done battle, but you don't need to see Bar Wars I & II to enjoy this episode.

Bar Wars III:The Return Of Tecumseh can be found on the Cheers Season 8 dvd set and it also streams on Netflix.

It's not a classic, but this episode reminded me why I loved Cheers while I was growing up.

My rating:

3 Shamrocks.