"A House is Not a Home" is the second Christmas episode of the NBC sitcom Cheers, produced and aired as the twenty-fifth episode of the show's fifth season.
Synopsis[]
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Diane is haunted by the memories of the couple who lived a long and happy life together in the home she and Sam have purchased.
As Sam and Diane prepare for their (then-upcoming) wedding, they find their dream house, at first merely arguing over things such as Sam's like and Diane's disdain for the famous 'Dogs Playing Poker' painting. But as they start to finalize the purchase, the older couple now set to vacate the home remember the many happy times there, especially the holidays. Seeing their children and grandchildren also bemoaning no more Christmases in that house proves too much for Diane, who feels the house can never be theirs until this family is given one last Christmas in that home. An exasperated Sam relents, even dressing up as Santa for the kids, despite the unseasonably warm weather. Diane exults as the family enjoys all their usual holiday festivities. When one of the family members expresses regret that they won't see another Easter there, Diane immediately begins to suggest their next holiday there, at which point Sam draws the line. Refusing to wear a bunny suit and expressing some terms that thankfully go over the kids' heads, Sam asserts that the house is now theirs, and politely asks the family to go. Oddly, the family suddenly is more excited about the older couple's new condominium and runs off happy. Diane feels both liberated and aroused by Sam's assertion of dominion over their new home, even asking him to keep the Santa suit on as they make for their new bedroom. The moment is put off very briefly as a frustrated Diane removed the painting of the dogs playing poker from the bedroom.
Availability[]
The episode was made available on the Cheers: The Complete Fifth Season DVD set, released by CBS DVD through Paramount Home Entertainment on May 17, 2005. CBS Home Entertainment (through Paramount) re-released the episode on the Cheers: The Complete Series DVD set on May 5, 2015. It will make its high-definition debut on the Cheers: The Complete Series Blu-ray set, to be released on April 25, 2023.
Cast[]
Actor/actress | Character |
---|---|
Ted Danson | Sam Malone |
Shelley Long | Diane Chambers |
Rhea Perlman | Carla Tortelli |
John Ratzenberger | Cliff Clavin |
Woody Harrelson | Woody Boyd |
Kelsey Grammer | Dr. Frasier Crane |
George Wendt | Norm Peterson |
Billie Bird | Lillian Miller |
Douglas Seale | Bert Miller |
Stephanie Walski | Naomi |
Marc Smollin | David |
Stefanie Mason | Annie |
Lou Bonacki | Man |
Penny Krompier | Mom |
Al Rosen (uncredited) | Himself |