Send in the Crane

Episode aired Jan 5, 1989
TV-PG
30m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

514

YOUR RATING

Comedy Drama

Sam gets a call from an old flame, Judy Marlowe. Sam and Judy haven't seen each other in fifteen years. Back then, Judy, a divorcée, and Sam spent much of their time together with Judy's you... Read allSam gets a call from an old flame, Judy Marlowe. Sam and Judy haven't seen each other in fifteen years. Back then, Judy, a divorcée, and Sam spent much of their time together with Judy's young daughter, Laurie. Upon meeting again, Sam is relieved to see that Judy is still a knock... Read allSam gets a call from an old flame, Judy Marlowe. Sam and Judy haven't seen each other in fifteen years. Back then, Judy, a divorcée, and Sam spent much of their time together with Judy's young daughter, Laurie. Upon meeting again, Sam is relieved to see that Judy is still a knock-out. What he doesn't expect though is that Laurie is now all grown up and is equally as b... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

514

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
From the redecoration at the start of season six up until the eighth episode of season seven the thermostat had been located on the wall next to the brass ship's wheel. In order to support the word association gag in this episode, the thermostat vanished from the wall.

Goofs
Actor George Wendt screws up the joke about the tightrope walker, he's supposed to say they had to put a net over him, he says under him.

Quotes
Sam Malone: [to Norm, Cliff and Pete] Why do you guys remember my love life better than I do?
Norm Peterson: Well, I think it meant more to us, Sammy.

Connections
Referenced in Svengoolie: Calling Dr. Death (2016)

Soundtracks
Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Written by Judy Hart-Angelo and Gary Portnoy
Performed by Gary Portnoy

User reviews6

Review

Featured review

7/10

Funny Frasier, Sleazy Sam

This is a tried and true two plot episode, and it's a measure of Kelsey Grammer's talent that Frasier gets the title plot.

Ironically, a later episode of the Simpsons with Grammer shows why this plot works: in a flashback the tweed-suited, patrician Bob Terwilliger gets a pie in the face and immediately becomes Sideshow Bob. A clown is only sometimes funny; an Oxford-educated snob in a clown suit is always funny.

Sam's plot is, let's face it, creepy. Reunited with his old flame Judy Sam is relieved to find out she's still sexy, but he's also conflicted because her now grown-up daughter is also rather fetching. This kind of plot might show up on It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia or even Seinfeld, but it's a bit too twisted for Cheers.