"Showdown" is the two-part first-season finale of the American television sitcom Cheers, written by Glen and Les Charles and directed by James Burrows.
In the Cheers pilot, college-educated Diane Chambers was neglected by her previous lover and then hired as a waitress by bartender Sam Malone.
Bartender Sam Malone (Ted Danson) has been jealous of his brother Derek, who is more successful, better-educated, multi-talented and handsome, for years, and discovers that he is arriving in Boston on his private jet.
Derek (an unseen character voiced by George Ball) arrives unexpectedly at the bar and entertains the patrons with his talents, which include singing, playing a pool table, tap dancing and telling stories.
Derek offers a job to regular patron Norm (George Wendt), teaches Coach Spanish (increasing his chances of being hired) and impresses waitress Diane (Shelley Long) with their common interests.
[1] Lois de Banzie and Helen Page Camp[4] portray Carla's customers, who annoy her by randomly changing their orders until they choose "two boilermakers: Wild Turkey [whiskey] and Bud [beer]".
[17] In September 1983, television critic Rick Sherwood found the "sibling rivalry" plot "nothing new", but praised it as "fresh" and sophisticated.
[24] Lisa M. Dresner in her 2007 book The Female Investigator in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture also considered unseen character Derek Malone a writer's tool to bring the couple together.
[25] David Hofstede in his 2006 directory 5000 Episodes and No Commercials called Sam and Diane's first kiss at the end as one of Cheers' greatest moments.
Ryan McGee cited the concealed appearance of Derek Malone, Sam and Diane's first kiss and their volatile confrontation.
[32] In June 2019, Vox critic Emily St. James noted that Part 2's ending inspired onscreen romances and an increase of cliffhangers in later sitcoms.
[33] Alan Sepinwall of The Star-Ledger said that, in an episode from the third season of How I Met Your Mother, "Everything Must Go", the taxicab ride scene of regular character Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) and recurring character Abby (Britney Spears) features a homage to Sam and Diane's office scene from this episode, which includes lines, like "Are you as turned-on right now as I am?"