4x02 Woody Goes Belly Up

Someone from Woody’s past so early on. Interesting how they padded him but not her.

Hmm, Diane just comes back to work at Cheers with no reintroduction or even need to show it happening? OK then. Sometimes, sitcom continuity is just too much (read: insufficient).

It's kinda impressive how well Woody's young naïveté works as a replacement for Coach's borderline senility and oddball sense of humor. I'm amazed at how quickly the production was able to adapt after unexpectedly losing Nicholas Colasanto toward the end of its third season. Granted, Woody must have been developed over the season break—but it's still no small feat to replace a core cast member with a new character that fills the void quite as seamlessly as Woody has.

Now: Imagine how much more powerful Cheers could have become if they'd also brought Lillian the one-episode wonder back! (Instead of having Diane return to mine once more the tired old "ex-lovers" tropes…)