oh thanks!  I haven't seen the first few seasons in years!

totally…I've always wondered if that is what the writers/producers always had in mind, or they slowly started to realize what they had in Alley and played to her strengths, allowing her to completely unravel.

the gimmick is that she has been in grad school for YEARS, amassing a whole bunch of credits in a variety of subjects.  I think she never really left academia until the show starts.

Cheers is the greatest sitcom ever.  Bar none.  I personally am more of a fan of the Rebecca years, as I think Kirstie Alley played a loser unlike anyone else ever has, but I also appreciate the Sam and Diane years.  
Question though — you write that Norm is about to go on a blind date?  Isn't he already married to…