<P> Sam is subject to and satire of masculinity . He is described as "a sleazy, promiscuous, aggressive, exhibitionistic narcissist", one of the "new macho (heroes)" of the 1980s pop culture, "the target of humor," and not a "likely (candidate) to lead the post-feminist counter revolution ." Like Sam, a new macho hero of the 1980s is the opposite of a pre-1980s macho hero that "constituted an antifeminist backlash". </P> <P> Steve Craig from the University of North Texas wrote in his 1993 journal that Sam is a parody of "traditional male values" and of a negative stereotype of masculinity . Craig wrote that Sam's attempts to define and exemplify "his version of masculinity" are satirized throughout the series "to explore gender identity" without threatening a viewer's own definition of one's own gender . In his 2011 book Primetime Propaganda, Ben Shapiro, an American conservative writer, called Sam "a dog, a feminist caricature of men", and a cultural representation of the "lower - class conservative," in contrast to portrayer Ted Danson, who identifies himself as liberal . Glen Charles, a creator of Cheers, considered Sam "a spokesman for a large group of people who thought that (the women's movement) was a bunch of bull and look with disdain upon people who don't think it was". </P> <P> Heather Hundley wrote that the series sends "double standards" about promiscuous men and women . Hundley said that Sam is portrayed as heroic . She further wrote that Sam never suffers from consequences of his promiscuity and has been happily single and childless, while it portrays Carla Tortelli as a "nymphomaniac" who regrets her own promiscuities, which lead to out - of - wedlock pregnancies . She said the series' portrayal of premarital sex is "negative and unhealthy", omitting other dangers of promiscuity such as sexually transmitted diseases and HIV / AIDS . Mark LaFlamme of the Sun Journal called Sam's relationship with Rebecca Howe "mundane" and his flirtation with her "bawdy". </P> <P> Throughout most of Cheers, Sam is "allowed to be happy (and to live) a rich life". Towards the end of the series' run, however, Sam undergoes therapy for sex addiction . In a 1995 episode of Frasier called "The Show Where Sam Shows Up", Sam is depicted as a self - identified sexual addict; he gets help from group meetings and commits to changing himself . </P>

Who does sam from cheers end up with