What do we all think of Frasier?

Boskowski · 30-09-2014 1:23pm

After 10 years it's safe to say it's my favourite comedy show ever. I can flick into a random show that I've seen a dozen times and it still makes me laugh.
Just zapped into the Klingon bar mitzvah the other day and it was brilliant.

Reason is what's been said already. Witty, intelligent never stale, Niles! Everything.

OldRio · 30-09-2014 1:46pm

It's just the best. IMHO.

Daith · 30-09-2014 1:49pm

Probably mentioned but just an amazing performance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86UyxGZ_pgQ

Pacifico · 30-09-2014 1:56pm

Daphne's brother was incredibly annoying!!

castletownman · 30-09-2014 4:15pm

The episode where Frasier takes a stand by refusing to pay the car park attendant, and ends up getting his wires crossed with Roz's story live on air at the end, is one of the best comedic moments I've ever seen on telly.

Still watch it with my father if I happen to come across it on the telly. Still laugh out loud. Love the intellectual jokes, snobbery and wit.

And Roz is a lasher too

kryogen · 30-09-2014 4:19pm

Love it, still watch it

syklops · 30-09-2014 4:35pm

castletownman wrote: »

And Roz is a lasher too

Roz is unreal looking.

dnme · 30-09-2014 5:57pm

My favourite tv comedy ever!

The two brothers, their fusty ways, sheer snobbery, sibling rivalry, their constant bickering and oneup-manship is brilliant. I was such a fan of Niles, I once named a labrador after him

The two brothers are renowned psychiatrists yet they both have every neurosis known to man. Remember Niles' narcolepsy

Who can not love the episode where they bring in a dog psychiatrist to help Eddie who is feeling down

In the earlier episodes, remember the way Frasier would come home and catch Niles in some compromising situation with Daphne, maybe she was trying on dresses, or his tie gets stuck in her zipper etc. "Niiiiles... what are you doing?" almost became a catchphrase of Frasiers

By the way, did ye realise that our very own bishop Len Brennan (Jim Norton) was in at least one episode. IIRC he played a butler in one of the stuffy gentlemans clubs that the boys wanted to join.

I totally agree that the later series lost some of the magic as happens to most sitcoms eventually. Daphne's family were goddam awful. And as with all will they / wont they scenarios, once Niles and Daphne get together, it looses the magic also.

I recently googled the cast and was shocked to see how much they have aged

DazMarz · 30-09-2014 6:17pm

You must remember, that it is 21 years since Frasier first hit our screens. David Hyde Pierce (Niles) was only 34 when he first appeared, now he's 55. Very few people age THAT gracefully. And even more to warp our perceptions is that it is 10 years since the show ended. So the cast aged 11 years over the course of the show (in our eyes, so it would have been a "gradual" ageing). And then aged 10 years when we did not see them constantly. So it comes as a bit of a shock.

Still, one of the best comedy series ever. My personal favourite comedy. Everything about it was so top drawer.

As an aside, regarding Daphne's brothers and their patchwork accents, this was geared for an American audience. For sure, to our ear there is a huge difference between a London and Northern England accent. But to Americans, it all just sounds "English", so they don't bother with regionalising it. Even Roz comments on how Simon Moon sounds just like a prince (the stereotype that all English accents sound cultured in America, even Mockney ones. :P )

cloud493 · 30-09-2014 6:55pm

You can definitely watch Kelsey Grammar age throughout, just watch his hair.

TheEnigma · 30-09-2014 9:43pm

It is very good indeed, I have not seen every episode though, it would be my 3rd favourite sitcom

marty_crane · 30-09-2014 11:15pm

Niles (thinking Martin is dying):

"I'm not ready for him to go yet. Who's going to teach my son to throw a football ball?"

Nanny G (Nanette) to Frasier:

"I'm bored. Have you any idea what it's like to play the same character for TWENTY YEARS?"

Others have mentioned Nile's silent scene but another one worth a mention is when Ben (Elvis Costello) asks a reluctant Niles to accompany him and Niles gets completely sucked in.

I never thought another comedy would overtake Only Fools and Cheers but for me this one did.

And yeah, Roz is a dinger

Tarzana · 30-09-2014 11:27pm

Too lazy to write my opinion on Frasier again so will quote this one I made in the Friends thread today:

Tarzana wrote: »

I love Frasier but I've been watching a lot of it on Netflix lately and it has gone down a bit in my estimations. A lot of really set up storylines that you see how they will unfold long before the punchline, a lot of embarrassing clichés and stereotyping. I would have long said before that Frasier is smarter than Friends but on reflection, not really. And both make me laugh out loud a lot.

Also, HATED Daphne's family, they were a real misstep.

Niles, Martin and Roz are wonderful characters though.

Tarzana · 30-09-2014 11:29pm

Beano wrote: »

I was never terribly keen on the freddie character but it if meant that Bebe Neuwirth might appear then i was willing to put up with him.

My BF fancies Bebe Neuwirth too. And Roz.

Tarzana · 30-09-2014 11:32pm

Jellybaby1 wrote: »

Just remember the one where he was ironing his trousers - very Chaplinesque!

That is a great sequence.

Beano · 30-09-2014 11:33pm

Tarzana wrote: »

My BF fancies Bebe Neuwirth too. And Roz.

He is a wise man with excellent taste. You should cherish him dearly.

Tarzana · 30-09-2014 11:34pm

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

There was a special type of brilliance that managed to make two fusty metrosexual snobby doctors so endearing to the masses.

Spot on. You should hate them but you don't.

Tarzana · 30-09-2014 11:37pm

cloud493 wrote: »

I actually forgot about Bulldog, can't believe he wasn't in it for so long, how long was it, a season or so? 'THIS STINKS, THIS IS TOTAL BS, THIS IS oh wait no its ok'

I was shocked that Kenny only appeared about halfway through the run.

Jellybaby1 · 01-10-2014 12:09am

I've seen 'Bulldog' in other programmes, he is a fine serious actor as well. This link gives information on the cast 'after Frasier'.

http://showbizgeek.com/what-ever-happened-to-the-cast-of-frasier/

Caprica · 01-10-2014 12:29am

My favourite sitcom of all time. Have the box set and watch it most mornings on C4. There was so many great episodes, I could watch them over and over again, some of my favourites are

The Klingon bar mitzvah
Niles and Lilith hooking up
Where Niles tells Daphne he lover her
When Daphne returns from fat camp
Cam Winston and his american flag
Anything with Bebe (best agent of all time)
When Daphnes English boyfriend came to visit and she pretended she was married to Niles
Nanny G

The introduction of Daphnes family was not the shows finest hour but I still enjoyed them somewhat. I liked Freddie and his crush on Daphne and how Niles was jealous of him.

JP Liz V1 · 01-10-2014 12:45am

madmaggie wrote: »

It was simply brilliant. I loved the way Martin would remind the sons of their roots whenever they were being really pompous. That, and the tatty armchair, and what was the name of the dog, it's bugging me?

Eddie the dog was my favourite character

Jellybaby1 · 01-10-2014 12:49am

I was never completely sold on the Niles/Daphne romance. Considering his character and personality, Niles would never have gone for someone like Daphne, but I suppose love is blind, as they say!

D.Q · 01-10-2014 1:58am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylJ5PP3W9zQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHWoYoW5zWA

two of my favourites. While the writing is great, i find its the little nuances in the performances of Kelsey Grammar and David Hyde Pierce that really carry it to brilliance.

AllGunsBlazing · 01-10-2014 2:13am

The casting of David Hyde Pierce was a stroke of genius. Niles is one of the all time great sitcom characters.

FunLover18 · 01-10-2014 2:16am

Pacifico wrote: »

Daphne's brother was incredibly annoying!!

Her mother was the worst!

I love Frasier's outbursts. When Felicity Hoffman's character insults his towels. I also love this clip, could be used in practically every AH thread ever

FunLover18 · 01-10-2014 2:18am

It had to be posted

Tarzana · 01-10-2014 9:33am

AllGunsBlazing wrote: »

The casting of David Hyde Pierce was a stroke of genius. Niles is one of the all time great sitcom characters.

I totally agree. He wasn't planned either, just written into the show once David Hyde Pierce auditioned for something else.

_Brian · 01-10-2014 9:36am

Wonderful show.
Niles and Lylith were my favourite characters.

The episode where Niles cuts his finger and faints each time he looks at was just gold, pure gold, comic writing at it's best.

cloud493 · 01-10-2014 10:53am

Thats the chaplin esque bit

jmayo · 01-10-2014 11:06am

Pacifico wrote: »

Daphne's brother was incredibly annoying!!

He is Australian.
Sorry couldn't resist now going to hyde.

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

Eddie the dog was my favourite character

Which one ?
AFAIK there were a couple because the original Eddie (Moose) got old.
I think it was his son that first took over as stunt double and then as actual Eddie.

I recall hearing John Mahoney, say something along the lines of Eddie actually wasn't that friendly dog in real life.
Maybe he was a bit of a prima dona.

They had to smear oil or pate on themselves for him to lick them.

Chip Whitley · 01-10-2014 12:39pm

Love this show. If I'm channel surfing, and I see it I'll always leave it on, without fail.

A few episodes that stand out to me:

The 'Prank' episode, where Frasier tries to prank Bulldog with zombies and there is all sorts of double-crossing going on...

the Halloween episode where they dress up as their heroes and Niles dresses like Martin. There is a scene towards the end of that episode that has me bawling like a baby, every time...

The Christmas episode where Martin has to work and the boys plan to surprise him and swap the real presents for the fake presents in the lobby where he works...

The Radio Awards episode where Frasier has a journalist tailing him for the night morning awards show and iirc he has to get Roz's stuck-up sister to be his date...

Someone mentioned it already, but the episode where he refuses to pay the carpark ticket is great.

The episode where Niles flukes making the basketball shot at the stadium and Martin has never been prouder of him so Frasier sets out to prove it was a fluke...

Frasier is just a perfectly written TV show imo.

Degag · 01-10-2014 5:44pm

Brendão wrote: »

The 'Prank' episode, where Frasier tries to prank Bulldog with zombies and there is all sorts of double-crossing going on...

That reminds of another episode where the radio station gets new breakfast dj's and they prank Frasier by making him sing on the radio and get people to take pictures of his backside for $100.

A picture of Roz's only got you a six pack:pac:

cloud493 · 01-10-2014 5:48pm

'Pranks are supposed to be fun!'

JohnMearsheimer · 01-10-2014 6:17pm

I have great time for Frasier. My favourite episode is the Ham Radio one, it's probably my favourite episode of a sitcom of all time. 'Look out, he's got a nug!', ha.

I also love The Doctor Is Out episode. Patrick Stewart's turn as a gay director who fancied Frasier is great.

Welsh Megaman · 01-10-2014 7:28pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I agree that her family were badly written though, they're meant to be from Manchester and yet her brother has a strong Cockney accent? Research department fail!

I used to cringe when her brother would make an appearance.

Worst. British accent. Ever!

Anthony La Paglia is a great actor too, always wondered why they couldn't have just cast a British actor to play the part.

''Naah, where's the nearest paaab?''

Jellybaby1 · 01-10-2014 8:33pm

The few British actors in it really hammed it up.

Dirty Dingus McGee · 01-10-2014 8:54pm

This Episode , The Matchmaker was a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFV3e0FHKgQ

cloud493 · 01-10-2014 9:16pm

I thought John Mahoney was great in it. Might have hammed it up for sure, but it felt like character development, he comes from withdrawn and grumpy in the first episodes to coming out of his shell a bit and eventually remarrying.

dnme · 01-10-2014 9:31pm

Dirty Dingus McGee wrote: »

This Episode , The Matchmaker was a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFV3e0FHKgQ

"Why not just lather Daphne up with baby oil, and hurl her over the wall of a prison yard"

marty_crane · 01-10-2014 10:13pm

I haven't the post count to link but another classic for me was when Dr. Mary came on and took over Frasier's show. He didn't know how to broach it with her because she was black so he did the role play with Niles and Frasier hams it up playing Dr. Mary.

Funny, reading these posts, it's amazing how many people enjoyed the episodes where there was a gay theme. I find all those listed exceptional episodes also as did I enjoy the one where Frasier and Niles believed Roz's boyfriend to be gay and it led to Frasier dancing in the gay bar in his tight fitting squash shorts. Classic.

Despite seeing all the episodes over and over I've only recently started looking at the footage at the end when the credits roll. Turns out the episodes weren't actually over at all....

efb · 01-10-2014 10:31pm

There were a lot of gay actors in Frasier

castletownman · 02-10-2014 12:41am

No one has mentioned the last ever episode. Probably the ideal conclusion to a sitcom of all time.

The moment from when Frasier and everyone else in the room have their wires crossed (they think he's dying when he's really moving to San Fran), to when he gives his farewell send-off on air, has me in a flood of tears every time.

"For eleven years you heard me say "I'm listening". Well you were listening too. And for that I'm enternally grateful. Goodnight Seattle".

cloud493 · 02-10-2014 7:36am

Its a nice episode but... (I'm not just here to find faults, honestly) Charlotte was not my favourite of Frasiers girlfriends.

Rachineire · 02-10-2014 1:57pm

cloud493 wrote: »

Its a nice episode but... (I'm not just here to find faults, honestly) Charlotte was not my favourite of Frasiers girlfriends.

Ditto she drove me crazy. you know who i liked? Claire. she was like his perfect match.

castletownman · 02-10-2014 2:03pm

That episode actually started with Daphne after giving birth and Martin, his wife and Frasier arriving late to the vets to find Niles nursing and feeding a baby monkey

CountyHurler · 02-10-2014 5:39pm

this is one of the best lol moments.

At the start of the episode, Martin scares Frasier a number of times with a few different childish pranks. So when treating a new patient for coulrophobia (fear of clowns), Frasier decides to carry out a practical joke of his own..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz76d7h1sM0

cloud493 · 02-10-2014 10:05pm

I liked Lana best, as a character anyway.

CountyHurler · 02-10-2014 10:12pm

castletownman wrote: »

"For eleven years you heard me say "I'm listening". Well you were listening too. And for that I'm enternally grateful. Goodnight Seattle".

You reminded me of another funny little "in-joke"... In one episode, Frasier's ex wife Nannette happens to be visiting town. She's a children's TV entertainer, going by the stage name Nanny G, and she confides in Frasier about how difficult it is having to play the same role every day.. :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zUR56ctNQI

kingtiger · 02-10-2014 10:19pm

efb wrote: »

There were a lot of gay actors in Frasier

aye thinking about it David Hide Pierce didn't come out until 2007, find it hard to believe that he guarded his sexually so for such a long time

Back to the brilliance of Frasier, always loved the Nialls and Roz putdowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e54bSacwAIU

leahyl · 02-10-2014 10:21pm

Love, love, love Frasier! Niles was the best! One of my favourite episodes was the one where Frasier and Niles are competing to buy the best birthday present for Martin

Dr. Niles Crane: Hello, Daphne, Sherry.
[to waitress]
Dr. Niles Crane: Double latte, please.
[sits]
Dr. Niles Crane: Is Frasier with you?
Sherry Dempsey: No, he's out shopping for your dad.
Dr. Niles Crane: That jackal!
[Niles races out of the café. A minute later, Frasier comes in]
Daphne Moon: Dr. Crane, did you find something?
Dr. Frasier Crane: Yes, I did. It took me most of the afternoon but I finally came up with something I think is just about perfect!
Sherry Dempsey: Oh, Niles forgot his coffee.
Dr. Frasier Crane: Niles was here?
Sherry Dempsey: Yes, but you know, when I mentioned that you were out shopping for your dad he just shot out of here like a bullet...
Dr. Frasier Crane: That little worm!

And the episode where Frasier is sick: "Fine, I guess I'll just have to make my own tea!"

What do we all think of Frasier?

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