David Lloyd, Comedy Genius & Emmy-Winning Writer Of CHEERS, TAXI & THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, Joins Chuckles In Funny Heaven

I am – Hercules!! Multiple Emmy-winning writer and comedy colossus David Lloyd, whose name is on teleplays for some of the best episodes of some of the best television series across four decades, passed away Wednesday. Because he’s dead now, the obituaries are obligated to point out that Lloyd famously won one of those Emmys for writing “Chuckles Bites The Dust,” an episode many consider the funniest of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He was Emmy-nominated nine times for writing: THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW “Lou and That Woman” (1975) “Chuckles Bites The Dust” (1976) “Mary Midwife” (1977) “The Last Show” (1977) RHODA “Rhoda’s Wedding” (1975) TAXI “Elaine’s Strange Triangle” (1981) CHEERS “Diane’s Perfect Date” (1982) “Homicidal Ham” (1984) “Sam Turns The Other Cheek” (1982) He was nominated four more times as one of the producers of “Frasier.” According to IMDb, he wrote or co-wrote 31 episodes of “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” three episodes of “The Bob Newhart Show,” five episodes of “Rhoda,” two episodes of the hugely underrated and largely forgotten “Tony Randall Show,” seven episodes of the underrated and largely forgotten “The Associates,” six episodes of “Lou Grant,” 12 episodes of “Taxi,” 25 episodes of “Cheers” and 10 episodes of “Frasier.” These represent only nine of the 24 series he scripted between 1963 and 2001. He wrote for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” between 1963 and 1970, when it was still shot in New York. Without using a typewriter, he created fellow sitcom writers Chris Lloyd (“Modern Family”) and Stephen Lloyd (“How I Met Your Mother”). My heart always leapt a little when I saw his name at the top of “Cheers” episode; it always signified a stellar half-hour. The list of the “Cheers” episodes on which Lloyd was credited as writer: “The Spy Who Came in for a Cold One” (1982) Cliff believes a quiet stranger may be a spy. “Diane's Perfect Date” (1983) Sam unwittingly fixes Diane up with an ex-con. “Homicidal Ham” (1983) Diane tries to help a murderous actor. “Just Three Friends” (1983) Diane suspects her hot visiting friend (Markie Post) is coming on to Sam. “Cliff's Rocky Moment” (1984) Cliff’s cowardice is gauged when a stranger challenges him to a fight. “Coach Buries a Grudge” (1984) Coach becomes furious when he learns his recently deceased friend once had an affair with Coach’s wife. “Sam Turns the Other Cheek” (1984) Sam lies about how a bullet became embedded in his hinder. “Diane Meets Mom” (1984) Frasier’s mother nonchalantly threatens to kill Diane if she doesn’t leave her son. “Diane's Allergy” (1984) When Diane moves in with Frasier she comes to suspect she may be allergic to him. “The Mail Goes to Jail” (1985) After the cops catch Norm delivering mail for an ailing Cliff, Cliff sells Norm down the river. “Diane's Nightmare” (1985) Diane learns the actor who tried to strangle her to death has escaped. “Take My Shirt... Please?” (1986) Sam is devastated when no one bids on his baseball jersey during a charity auction. “Bidding on the Boys” (1987) Sam and Woody are not excited about who wins them in a charity auction. “A Kiss Is Still a Kiss” (1987) Rebecca recruits Sam to prove to her boss she’s not a lesbian. “Let Sleeping Drakes Lie” (1988) A snooping Rebecca finds herself trapped in her boss’ home. “How to Recede in Business” (1988) New management appoints Sam as Rebecca’s boss. “Send in the Crane” (1989) Frasier (Kelsey Grammer just before he became Sideshow Bob) must fill in as a party clown as Sam finds himself hitting on the daughter of an old girlfriend. “Sisterly Love” (1989) Sam tries to bring Rebecca together with her estranged movie-star sister (Marcia Cross). “The Visiting Lecher” (1989) A married expert on infidelity hits on Rebecca. “The Stork Brings a Crane” (1989) Lilith goes into labor during the bar’s 100th anniversary celebration. “Sam Ahoy” (1989) Sam, Norm and Carla discover the yacht they’re racing has a bomb on board. “50-50 Carla” (1990) Carla agrees to split her inheritance with Eddie LeBec’s other widow before she finds out how big it is, and Woody wrestles with his nude scene in a stage production of “Hair.” “An Old-Fashioned Wedding” (1992) Chaos ensues when the minister for Woody’s wedding dies from a heart attack and has to be hidden in a kitchen dumbwaiter. “Love Me, Love My Car” (1992) Sam tries to seduce the new widow (Dana Delany) who inherited his beloved Corvette. “Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses” (1993) As everyone else wonders if Cliff murdered his own mother, Rebecca wonders if Kelly’s rich dad wants to bone her.