My Top 5 Favorite Rebecca Howe Moments. A Tribute To The Late Great Kirstie Alley.
I grew up watching reruns of Cheers as a kid and fell in love with basically all the characters, but there was one in particular that I shamefully have to admit that I related to and identified with the most: Ms. Rebecca Howe aka “Backseat Becky” aka that lovable neurotic nutcase aka the biggest loser in the bar. Kirstie Alley had a herculean task of replacing Shelley Long on Cheers. Long’s Diane Chambers and her on again\off again relationship with Ted Danson’s Sam Malone was an essential piece of the Cheers puzzle the first five seasons. But once Long left to pursue a film career the show’s future was in doubt until Kirstie’s Rebecca came on the scene and not only helped keep the show affloat, but also helped skyrocket the show’s ratings and overall success to a new level.
Unfortunately we lost Ms. Alley back in December of 2022, but the incredible career she left behind will keep her alive in our hearts and minds for the rest of time. Here are my five favorite Rebecca moments in Cheers.
5. Her introduction in “Home Is The Sailor.” Season 6, episode 1.
This classic moment introduced Sam as well as us, the audience, to the new girl in town. A perfect set up that tricks us into believing that the new boss was going to be some uptight, frumpy looking hard ass, and instead revealed a very attractive woman who immediately catches Mayday Malone’s attention and sets up that dynamic for the rest of the series. Without saying a word, Kirstie Alley gave us a perfect introduction to Ms. Howe with her beauty and grace on display.
4. Rebecca pays Sam and gets her job back. “The Little Match Girl.” Season 11, episode 1.
The dynamic between Sam and Rebecca was the complete opposite of Sam and Diane’s relationship. While Sam and Diane’s courtship was mainly held together by fights, romance, bickering and sex over and over and over again, Sam and Rebecca’s relationship evolved over time. What was once merely a horny ex baseball pitcher trying to get his hot new boss into bed grew into a genuine friendship between two kindred spirits. In the season 11 premiere episode that friendship between the two was put to the ultimate test when Rebecca accidentally sets the bar on fire by carelessly tossing away a cigarette. The two key moments in the scene that make it great is 1. When she tells him that she never wants to see him or the bar again and Sam offers to rehire her and she starts crying “I really do!” and they hug is both sweet and hilariously funny. And 2. After Rebecca asks why Sam is giving her a second chance and he answers that he’s only repaying her for when she helped him out when he was at his lowest. It was a great call back to where their relationship first started as well as a great comment on how far they’ve come.
3. A lit cigarette skillfully hidden in her mouth. “My Fair Clavin.” Season 6, episode 11.
This remains one of Kirstie Alley’s most iconic moments in her whole career, much less one of her greatest moments as Rebecca Howe. It’s a weird little talent that’s so funny and so unbelievably cool that it leaves us in awe as if watching a magic trick. Alley mentioned on twitter that her uncle taught her that trick when she was eight years-old. Thanks, Unc!
2. Rebecca’s attempt at a last fling before her wedding. “Days of Wine and Neuroses.” Season 9, episode 15.
The scene where a drunk, depressed Rebecca spills her guts to Sam about her doubts of marrying Robin Colcord and then trying to have a fling with him earned Kirstie an Emmy, and deservedly so, because in this scene her acting abilities were on full display ranging from poignant and sad to outrageously funny. It’s amazing how such a beautiful woman could make herself so repulsive looking yet still with that special charm.
- Rebecca married a Plumber. “One For The Road part 2.” Season 11, episode 26.
I think most fans would have this at the top of all the great Rebecca moments. What perfect irony that the gold digging social climbing Rebecca Howe would end up marrying an ordinary plumber. Kirstie was truly on fire in this scene. It was a pitch perfect comedic performance with epic comedy crying on the level of Ms. Lucille Ball. What’s even funnier about this scene is that a few years later on Frasier it was revealed that Don got rich after inventing some new plumbing tool and dumped her. As Sam put it, Rebecca ended up back at the bar… no, not working at Cheers again, just back at the bar.
Honorable Mentions:
“Definite maybe.” “Hot Rocks”. Season 7, episode 17.
It was always fun when Sam and Rebecca had these type of moments and in this one Sam finally gets to lay a steaming hot kiss on Backseat Becky who despite her cool diposition couldn’t deny the whopper that Mayday Malone layed on her. Ted Danson and Kirstie Alley just made magic together whenever they shared the screen.
Take me now, oh baby, baby. “The Sam in the Gray Flannel Suit.” Season 6, episode 20.
After many failed attempts by Sam to get Rebecca to sleep with him she perhaps gave him her best rejection in this classic scene. Sam Malone truly met his match.
R.I.P. Kirstie. Thanks for the laughs!