What is… Cliff Clavin?

Infobox Television episode
Title = What is...Cliff Clavin?
Series = Cheers
Season = 8
Episode = 14
Airdate = January 18 1990 (US)
Production = 184
Writer = Dan O'Shannon
Tom Anderson
Director = Andy Ackerman
Guests = Alex Trebek (himself)
Johnny Gilbert (himself)
Prev = Sammy and the Professor
Next = Finally!"What is... Cliff Clavin?" is the name of an eighth season episode of the American television series "Cheers". The episode has become notable for its focus on know-it-all character Cliff Clavin's appearance on the American game show "Jeopardy!" The episode's name is a reference to the "Jeopardy!" rule that all contestant responses must be stated in the form of a question.

This episode is somewhat unique in that a bulk of the plot takes place outside the bar. It was also directed by Andy Ackerman rather than James Burrows, who directed 243 of "Cheers"' 273 episodes.

Plot outline

Cliff Clavin qualifies to appear on a special episode of "Jeopardy!" taping in Boston, Massachusetts. As a large trivia fan, this has been Cliff's dream for years.

The categories on the first round board (CIVIL SERVANTS, STAMPS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, MOTHERS AND SONS, BEER, BAR TRIVIA, and CELIBACY) were described by Woody as Cliff's "dream board." (The identical categories were used much later in a May 10, 2005 episode of the "Jeopardy!" Ultimate Tournament of Champions.)

After a presumably successful first round (given the board) and Cliff's high score by the time Final Jeopardy comes around, Cliff gains some confidence and begins acting cocky. The Final Jeopardy category is "Movies" and the answer is "Archibald Leach, Bernard Schwartz and Lucille LeSueur" and Cliff bets all his money, $22,000, on his response "Who are three people who have never been in my kitchen?"(February 16, 2004)(2006) [http://www.funtrivia.com/ask.cfm?action=details&qnid=44352 Fun Trivia question on the episode] ] (The correct response to the Final Jeopardy! clue was "What were the real names of Cary Grant, Tony Curtis and Joan Crawford?") Cliff suggests that his response should be correct because those people have, in fact, never been in his kitchen.

Cliff loses all of his money and Norm meets Alex Trebek in Cheers after the show (Trebek goes on to say that Cliff "scares me").(2006) [http://www.tv.com/cheers/what-is...-cliff-clavin/episode/14254/summary.html What is...Cliff Clavin on TV.com] ]

While the "Jeopardy!" story is the main plot of the episode (characters in Boston even watch Cliff on television, a show-within-a-show), there is another plotline at the bar. Sam begins getting calls from women he used to date, angry with him for making dates and never showing up. He eventually discovers that someone has taken his little black book, and he enrolls the help of men around the bar to track down his book. Through their detective work he discovers the caller is working through the book alphabetically, and Rebecca Howe is the next on the list. The thief turns out to be a teenaged boy who wants to become a "babe hound" like Sam himself.

References

ee also

*List of Cheers episodes