The year begins with Cheers' multi-millionaire owner Robin (Roger Rees) heading to a probable term in jail, selling the bar back to Sam (Ted Danson) and putting its manager, Rebecca (Kirstie Alley), who also happens to be Robin's girlfriend, out of work. But what's really interesting is the onset of Sam and Rebecca's intimate relationship at the same time, which ceases soon after it begins but leaves such a residual level of caring that Sam invites Rebecca to come back and work at Cheers when her fortunes flag. In the wonderful "Rebecca Redux," Sam hires an assistant (Bryan Clark) with a mythic all-American grin and such a good, positive thought for everyone that a near-mutiny develops among Cheers' customers when Rebecca replaces him upon her return. While the Rebecca-Sam-Robin relationship dynamic works itself out over the season, other perennial storylines pick up their threads from previous years. "Cheers Fouls Out" is the latest in a long line of mind games between Sam and the (unfortunately superior) Gary, owner of a rival bar that annually kicks Cheers' behind in a basketball game. This time, Gary comes up with a couple of redwood-tall ringers to go up against the likes of Norm (George Wendt) and Woody (Woody Harrelson), but Sam has a secret weapon: Kevin McHale of the Celtics. Not that Sam's luck can be expected to improve even with the odds seemingly in his favor.