
Laid-back Sam Malone, a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, owns and runs Cheers, a cozy bar in Boston. He hires smart, uptight -- and jilted -- Diane Chambers as a server, out of sympathy, but their attraction causes constant bickering. Wacky characters fill the bar: sarcastic waitress Carla, beer-loving accountant Norm, know-it-all postman Cliff. When Diane leaves Boston much later, Sam sells the bar, buys a boat and sails the world, but his boat sinks, so he returns. New, ambitious manager Rebecca Howe hires him back, but they love to hate each other too.

When Woody's parents insist that their son return to Indiana to escape the decadence of Boston, the gang produces a home movie to refute their claims.

Diane, who has always wanted to be a writer, is offered to have one of her novels published; can Diane combine her work with marriage?

Sam returns to the bar when his trip around the world is cut short by a sunken craft; his attempts to regain his old job are hampered by the bar's management.

Sam tries to keep Rebecca from finding out about his second job as a substitute for a local sportscaster.