Frasier (1993) s03e12 – Come Lie with Me

The episode begins with Jane Leeves in bed with boyfriend Tony Carreiro, having slept in, and her antics trying to get him out of the apartment unseen. Since she’s not up to referee John Mahoney and Kelsey Grammer, they’re already bickering with one another. There’s a nice layering to the plot threads, which all come together at the worst possible moment. With Eddie the dog then able to up the awkward. It’s really funny, giving Leeves more of a chance with physical comedy than she’s had lately.

Grammer goes about his day, starting at the coffee shop—where he doesn’t tell David Hyde Pierce about the incident (Hyde Pierce is kept ignorant of Leeves and Grammer’s entire arc this episode, presumably intentionally). Instead, he’s busy with his own subplot about Maris not inviting him to one of her charity benefits, keeping him from seeing their hoity-toity friends.

The subplot will lead to a cowboy hat—the charity event’s called “Hoedown for the Homeless”—and figure into Grammer and Mahoney’s eventual arc, which is nice plotting from Levitan. Even though Hyde Pierce is sort of absent, it’s cohesively done.

Because Grammer is going to talk to Peri Gilpin about the incident with Leeves and he is not going to heed any of her—or Mahoney’s advice—and he is going to demand Leeves not have any sex while living under his roof. Not because he’s a prude, but because imagining it will interrupt his reading.

The episode itself is mostly going to center around Mahoney and Grammer, who it turns out can’t live alone together. There’s some great material for Mahoney, both sight gags and dialogue-based jokes. He and Grammer both play annoyed quite well.

It’s a good episode. Lots of laughs. Leeves gets more substantial screen time even if it’s less than it ought to be given it’s kind of her episode; it’s not like they satisfactorily unpack Grammer’s assumption he can control Leeves’s personal life.

Frasier (1993) s03e11 – The Friend

It’s the first Kelsey Grammer-centric episode in a while, with Grammer realizing he doesn’t have any friends outside his family and ending up stuck with annoying new bestie Griffin Dunne, who Grammer can’t dump because Dunne’s in a wheelchair and what if Dunne thinks it’s about the wheelchair. Kind of wants to turn ableism inside out. Or outside in. It was the nineties, wheelchairs were still sight gag.

The script’s from one of the show’s co-producers, Jack Burditt, and it’s his first time with a script credit. There’s still a lot of funny stuff, but the hook has to do with Grammer getting two tickets for the track and David Hyde Pierce not being able to go with him.

To the track.

To watch the ponies.

It leads to a Maris joke, which might’ve been the point, but it’s a long way to get there and a very strange detail. Especially since Grammer apparently does not take Dunne to the race track. After their first meeting, the action jumps ahead two weeks. Maybe they went to the race track. Probably should mention it.

Anyway.

Hyde Pierce has a fun subplot about trying to make new friends too. John Mahoney and Jane Leeves both get solid jokes. Peri Gilpin gets an awesome couple scenes—totally as backup to Grammer—so Burditt does give everyone something, even when the focus is on Grammer and Dunne.

It’s a funny episode. It’s an easy sitcom, but it’s definitely funny, and well-acted from Grammer and Hyde Pierce in particular. Dunne’s fine. It’s fine. Just not particularly special.

Frasier (1993) s03e10 – It’s Hard to Say Goodbye If You Won’t Leave

I thought this episode was the season finale but, no, it’s not even halfway through the season.

As Kelsey Grammer realizes he’s still pining for station manager Mercedes Ruehl (they’ve behaved since their on-air tryst) and commits to doing something about it, Ruehl is accepting a transfer to Chicago. They’ve both been fantasizing about each other—a hilarious use of stock footage and some original, with an additional gag after Peri Gilpin makes the mistake of imagining the couple. She finally finds out Ruehl was Grammer’s partner for the on-air escapade, but doesn’t seem to remember she should be upset Grammer was getting busy with his negotiation adversary for Gilpin and the station personnel’s raises.

It works out real funny, just seems like a missed opportunity in Steven Levitan’s script but, what can you do, sitcom continuity.

After a good conversation scene with John Mahoney—David Hyde Pierce and Jane Leeves are there, but they have their own running comedy bit about old movies going—Grammer decides to tell Ruehl how he feels and see what happens.

It ends up being another fine showcase for Ruehl and Grammer, with some great dialogue and some funny twists. It’s not the best they’ve ever been together, but it’s a solid—albeit functional—episode. Grammer does a particularly good job as the romantic hero here, keeping enough of the character’s goofiness, but finding the heart under it all.

The ending tag is particularly cute too, because it involves Hyde Pierce doing physical comedy and the dog being the dog.

Frasier (1993) s03e09 – Frasier Grinch

I really wish I were keeping some kind of track of “Frasier” episodes. I’m half-assing the watch-through. I wasn’t sure if this episode was the first “Frasier” Christmas or not, but it turns out its the first one where we get the Crane family having Christmas onscreen. And find out John Mahoney is a Christmas enthusiast of the whole home decorating variety, which Kelsey Grammer really doesn’t like.

He liked it as a kid, but eventually got to the age where the mom had to tell he and David Hyde Pierce “shut up or you’ll hurt [Mahoney's] feelings.” It’s a great bit; writer David Lloyd has numerous repeat anecdotes and sight gags and they’re always good.

There’s a fun radio station Christmas party where Dan Butler and Edward Hibbert try to prank Grammer on air for his annual original Christmas story, which I know we haven’t gotten before. This one is about Olaf the Lonely Goat Herd (I haven’t seen Frozen yet, is Olaf in Frozen a lonely goat herd?). It’s a really funny sequence. Great pace from director Philip Charles MacKenzie and Butler and Hibbert prove a fine team.

The main story has Grammer all of a sudden needing a Christmas gift for visiting son Luke Tarsitano, which leads to he and Hyde Pierce having to go out among the commoners to a shopping mall. Grammer and Hyde Pierce toy store shopping is an outstanding scene.

The conclusion involves Grammer and Mahoney having a nice, heartwarming scene without it drawing too much attention to their relationship being the show’s original concept. It’s a good Christmas episode.

Taristano’s iffy as the kid, though he gets off a good joke at Hyde Pierce’s expense.

Speaking of Hyde Pierce, he’s got a reliably funny subplot involving separated wife Maris cancelling his credit cards.

Oh, and the dog wears an elf costume. It’s obnoxiously adorable.

Frasier (1993) s03e08 – The Last Time I Saw Maris

Despite some very silly—and funny (well, not really Paul Mazursky’s call, it’s Paul Mazursky after all)—opening shenanigans, it quickly turns into a very dramatic episode.

The opening antics involve station “Star Trek” nerd Patrick Kerr—weird how Paramount self-advertised its properties in the nineties—organizing a petition to get an homage to Peri Gilpin on “Trek.” It’s kind of lazy writing from Ian Gurvitz, but he makes up for it going forward. It’s funny, it’s just easy.

The main plot is Maris going missing, causing David Hyde Pierce to panic… after a delay; Maris not speaking to him for three days straight doesn’t raise any eyebrows. There’s a big scene at Hyde Pierce’s house with the family—Kelsey Grammer gets there last, John Mahoney is already phoning his cop buddies to put out a search—“thin, very thin; Caucasian, very Caucasian” is a great bit—and Jane Leeves gets to do her psychic thing for the first time in a while.

It’s a really funny scene (you’ve got to wonder how Maris not being an actual character affected the trajectory of long-term story arcs), culminating in Grammer butting into Hyde Pierce’s martial problems to offer some advice. Much to Mahoney’s chagrin, which is going to be a running subplot with a great punchline.

It quickly turns into a Hyde Pierce showcase and a very good one. Grammer—and Mahoney—still get things to do and there’s a fun small bit for Leeves, but it’s Hyde Pierce’s show in the end. Great supporting work from Irene Olga López as the maid too.

And although Philip Charles MacKenzie’s been doing a fine job directing most of the season’s episodes, this one is the first where it’s particularly well-done. The way the episode toggles from comedy to drama and back, sometimes in the span of a sentence or two, is outstanding.

It’s one of those exemplar “Frasier” episodes.

Oh, and the end credit bit is pretty great too.

Frasier (1993) s03e07 – The Adventures of Bad Boy and Dirty Girl

The episode opens at the coffee shop and it stands out because it’s the first time this season there’s been a coffee shop scene. Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce have a quick scene post “previously on” to talk about Grammer’s “tawdry” romance with boss Mercedes Ruehl. Ruehl then shows up, so exit Hyde Pierce, then in comes Peri Gilpin, and so exit Ruehl. Lots of quick character interactions and a setup—Grammer and Gilpin have to cover the night shift.

Covering the night shift is important because it leads to Ruehl and Grammer having a liaison live on air, which is pretty funny stuff on its own but then there’s how it impacts the supporting cast. Particularly Hyde Pierce. His reaction shots are the oomph of the punchline. Excellent stuff.

While the episode’s ostensibly the second part of a two-parter, it’s got a different credited writer (Joe Keenan), a different director (Philip Charles MacKenzie), and a somewhat different supporting cast. Apparently all the workplace troubles are over because only Dan Butler shows up at the station—besides Gilpin—where he congratulates Grammer for his on-air tryst. Gilpin rightly points out she doesn’t want to be hearing any more slut shaming from Grammer (I wonder if it holds from this point on).

Then the plot gets into the fall out and how it affects Grammer and Ruehl, professionally and personally.

John Mahoney’s got a subplot with an amorous romance novelist (Pamela Kosh) moving out of the building and trying to get him in her apartment. Lots of good material for Mahoney and it ties into the main plot quite nicely at the finish.

The episode’s quite good. Real funny, really good acting from Grammer and Ruehl and everyone else–Jane Leeves maybe gets the best moment embarrassing the erstwhile couple; it’s only a few seconds, but they’re all amazing.

Frasier (1993) s03e06 – Sleeping with the Enemy

Mercedes Ruehl’s really funny. She’s been good on “Frasier” before and the casting is working out great, but this episode she’s occasionally really, really funny. Like they must’ve had this episode in mind when casting the part because she and Kelsey Grammer’s back and forth yelling is next level phenomenal.

They’re yelling because Ruehl’s frozen the salaries for the station staff—i.e. not the talent—which leads Peri Gilpin and her colleagues (specifically guest star Patrick Kerr) to near organizing. They back down when Ruehl yells at them; luckily, Grammer’s going to champion their cause and get the on-air talent to support them in a strike.

The moment where Grammer goes from being an opinionated, disconnected blowhard to committing to helping is a really nice one, courtesy credited writers Linda Morris and Vic Rauseo. It’s a little moment but a very good one, character development-wise.

There’s a great scene at the apartment where Grammer’s trying to rally the talent, with David Hyde Pierce showing up to feel uninvited, then Jane Leeves and John Mahoney getting to meet Edward Hibbert. Mahoney and Hibbert are perfect foils for one another, little bit less when Hibbert sneers at Leeves.

The organizing scene turns out to be a really good one, particularly for Mahoney, with some very deliberate pacing.

But the episode’s not even to the hook yet–Ruehl and Grammer’s distain for one another turning into lust. Here’s where the chemistry between Grammer and Ruehl really starts to pay off, their timing from the yelling banter working with everything else; great comedy acting from the actors.

There’s a “to be continued” tag—can Grammer successfully negotiate the deal given his new romantic predicament—but the cliffhanger nicely still allows for a great end credits sequence for Kerr.

Frasier (1993) s03e05 – Kisses Sweeter Than Wine

It’s an apartment episode, very much an apartment episode; such an apartment episode, the apartment plays a vital role in the plot.

The episode opens with the obligatory radio station scene, giving Peri Gilpin a chance to reminisce about the great cheese state of her birth with a caller (Brooke Adams) to Kelsey Grammer’s utter disinterest. Grammer’s planning for a wine club soirée, nothing to interest the “Women of the Cheese Belt.”

The action moves to the apartment, where Grammer’s trying to figure out what to do with John Mahoney and his gross chair. He and David Hyde Pierce try to get it out of sight and it slips, scuffing the floor. Luckily Hyde Pierce knows the best floor guy in Seattle (Tony Carreiro) and they’re going to get everything taken care of, plenty of time, Mr. Fawlty.

Contractor finding more and more wrong on main set is a fairly standard sitcom episode, but the A plot here quickly becomes Carreiro’s flirtation with Jane Leeves, which brings out the worst in Hyde Pierce.

Not only do we get physical comedy Hyde Pierce, we also get—well, what’s the word for non-dangerous insidious—but basically we get Hyde Pierce scheming to foil the flirtation. It leads to actual character development for Hyde Pierce especially, but Leeves and Grammer as well. The script—credited to a solo Anne Flett-Giordano–knows how to work the characters (or how the cast will work them) and it gets around the discussing some issues the show’s been sitting on for… well, since episode one. The character development Flett-Giordano gets in is some very good work.

And the episode’s also got a phenomenal punchline. Excellent performances from Hyde Pierce, Leeves, and Grammer too… not to mention guest star Peter Siragusa, who’s perfect in a particular role.

Frasier (1993) s03e04 – Leapin’ Lizards

Mercedes Ruehl is back, initially as a quick foil for David Hyde Pierce and Kelsey Grammer. Hyde Pierce is visiting Grammer at work—there’s a brief, welcome Peri Gilpin eye-roll in Hyde Pierce’s direction—and they run into Ruehl. She quickly shows them both up, which is hilarious, and then seems to disappear–“Frasier” has these outstanding pivots from episode setup to A plot, with the setup rarely even showing up as a subplot.

For example, once Ruehl has shown herself to be better informed than Hyde Pierce and Grammer, the opening with the brothers goes nowhere. Instead, Ruehl gets involved with Grammer’s subplot with sports radio host Dan Butler. Butler pranked Grammer, Grammer complained, Ruehl finds out how much more engagement Butler gets from his listeners; so she tells Butler to keep up the pranks and we get an episode.

Can Grammer, with the ever-mentioned Harvard degree, find a way to best Butler with pranks or is it going to go bad real fast….

Butler’s pranks are hilarious—Grammer’s great playing the butt of jokes, it’s kind of a staple of the performance from “Cheers” days—and the plot nicely involves everyone: John Mahoney’s a faithful Butler listener, Gilpin’s Grammer’s sidekick whether she likes it or not, and then Hyde Pierce is his sounding board.

Nice support from Michael Whaley as Butler’s comically suffering (he works for Butler, after all) producer.

Chuck Ranberg and Anne Flett-Giordano are the credited writers. They’re quite good at finding the right situational comedy for “Frasier,” like, all you need is the spark and you get a great episode thanks to the cast, which makes me think it’s when “Frasier” starts taking itself for granted is when the slide begins.

Frasier (1993) s03e03 – Martin Does It His Way

After a couple professional episodes where John Mahoney and Jane Leeves are interactive scenery, Martin Does It His Way is an apartment episode. There’s a radio station setup—with some great work from Kelsey Grammer and Peri Gilpin—establishing Grammer’s aunt has died and he’s leaded to the lawyer’s to talk about the estate.

Cut to after the meeting, Grammer’s got to give the eulogy and David Hyde Pierce has got to dispose of the ashes. The dead aunt was a mean aunt, so the episode’s full of stories about her from Grammer, Hyde Pierce, and Mahoney.

Somehow the talk of the dead aunt’s final wishes leads to Leeves telling Grammer and Hyde Pierce about Mahoney’s hidden shoeboxes of unfulfilled dreams, then runs off to get them. It’s a great scene for Leeves even if connecting the two plots isn’t exactly organic. Writer David Lloyd correctly assumes the laughs will mask the tape.

Turns out Mahoney spent his years on stakeouts writing songs for Frank Sinatra, but never submitted any of them. Despite both having to work on their aunt’s last wishes, Grammer and Hyde Pierce decide they’re going to finish one of Mahoney’s songs. There are some really funny music-related jokes and anything to let Grammer sing.

The conclusion brings the plots together well—with some nice, wholesome family stuff—and some great Hyde Pierce physical comedy.

Season three “Frasier,” so far, is leaning heavy into its established successful types of episodes—last time it was Crane brothers, this time it’s Crane family. Even with a sort of silly A plot–Sinatra songs, but without any product placement—it works out. Just because there’s a formula doesn’t mean the results aren’t excellent.