WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.660 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Today we are, 00:00:02.660 --> 00:00:04.419 we're doing something a little different, something 00:00:04.419 --> 00:00:06.080 I've actually been looking forward to for a long 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.599 time. Yeah, me too. We are cracking open the 00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:13.019 archives and taking a really granular look at 00:00:13.019 --> 00:00:16.339 season nine of the sitcom Frasier. Right. Now, 00:00:16.339 --> 00:00:17.980 before you say, oh, it's just another season 00:00:17.980 --> 00:00:20.260 of television, hold on a second, because when 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:22.120 you actually look at the source material, the 00:00:22.120 --> 00:00:24.960 episode list, the air dates, the guest stars, 00:00:25.100 --> 00:00:28.199 the plot arcs. This is not just a collection 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:30.660 of jokes. No, not at all. It's a season defined 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:35.979 by really heavy emotional turbulence, major relationship 00:00:35.979 --> 00:00:38.840 milestones, and a very specific, very heavy moment 00:00:38.840 --> 00:00:41.579 in broadcast history. We are talking about the 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:45.020 2001 to 2002 television season. It really is 00:00:45.020 --> 00:00:47.299 a fascinating case study because you have this 00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:51.899 show that is known for high farce, witty banter, 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:54.359 low stakes conflicts about, you know, wine clubs 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:57.299 and dinner parties. And suddenly it's operating 00:00:57.299 --> 00:00:59.799 in a world that has fundamentally changed. And 00:00:59.799 --> 00:01:02.420 within the narrative itself, you see the characters 00:01:02.420 --> 00:01:04.680 grappling with things that feel much heavier 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:06.980 than usual. So today our mission is to unpack 00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:09.680 the evolution of the Niles and Daphne romance, 00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:14.260 which. Take some wild turns this year. It really 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:16.560 does. And we definitely have to talk about Frazier's 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:19.299 own existential crisis and love. Plus the guest 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:21.879 list this season. I mean, it is absolutely stacked. 00:01:22.140 --> 00:01:24.500 Stacked is an understatement. We have everything 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:27.319 from Bill Gates to a full blown cheers reunion. 00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:30.040 But you're right. There is a real mission for 00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:32.810 today's deep dive. We want to understand how 00:01:32.810 --> 00:01:35.969 season nine balances that trademark Frasier farce 00:01:35.969 --> 00:01:38.430 with these much more introspective themes. Right. 00:01:38.510 --> 00:01:40.489 And just for you listening, we're basing this 00:01:40.489 --> 00:01:42.750 analysis on a comprehensive breakdown of the 00:01:42.750 --> 00:01:45.730 season's 24 episodes, the cast lists, and the 00:01:45.730 --> 00:01:47.969 viewership context provided in our source material. 00:01:48.230 --> 00:01:50.549 And I have to say, just looking at the outline 00:01:50.549 --> 00:01:52.349 before we started, there are some plot points 00:01:52.349 --> 00:01:54.090 I had completely forgotten about. Oh, I bet. 00:01:54.230 --> 00:01:56.530 Like, there is a highly surprising hookup near 00:01:56.530 --> 00:01:58.510 the end of the season that we absolutely have 00:01:58.510 --> 00:02:01.299 to get into. Oh, we will get there. That particular 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:05.540 plot point is, well, it's divisive to say the 00:02:05.540 --> 00:02:07.920 least. But it speaks directly to the psychological 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:10.560 state of the Crane family during this specific 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.659 run of episodes. Okay, so let's unpack this. 00:02:12.699 --> 00:02:14.939 We need to start with the context. The shadow 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:18.379 of reality, as we're calling it. Season 9 premiered 00:02:18.379 --> 00:02:21.659 on September 25, 2001. Right. And the finale 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:27.330 aired May 21, 2002. Just looking at those dates, 00:02:27.530 --> 00:02:29.370 I mean, it gives you a chill. It does. And you 00:02:29.370 --> 00:02:31.509 really can't separate the show from that timeline. 00:02:31.770 --> 00:02:34.250 The source material highlights a very specific, 00:02:34.389 --> 00:02:37.129 incredibly tragic detail regarding the second 00:02:37.129 --> 00:02:39.050 episode of the season. Right. So this is episode 00:02:39.050 --> 00:02:42.409 two, titled Don Juan in Hell, part two. It aired 00:02:42.409 --> 00:02:44.830 on September 25th, the exact same night as the 00:02:44.830 --> 00:02:47.550 premiere. And the source notes that this episode 00:02:47.550 --> 00:02:50.110 is dedicated to David Angel and his wife, Lynn. 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:52.680 David Angel was one of the creators of Frasier. 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:54.900 He was a massive creative force behind the show. 00:02:55.020 --> 00:02:56.759 He was one of the key architects of the entire 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:59.860 crane universe. And our source material confirms 00:02:59.860 --> 00:03:01.960 that he and his wife died aboard American Airlines 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:06.199 Flight 11 on September 11, 2001. It's just incredibly 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:08.900 heavy. You are sitting down to watch this comedy, 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:12.180 this piece of escapism. But right there at the 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:14.680 start of the season, there is this stark acknowledgement 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:18.449 of a profound loss. within the Fraser family 00:03:18.449 --> 00:03:22.330 itself. It forces you to look at the season entirely 00:03:22.330 --> 00:03:24.789 differently. Absolutely. And if you think about 00:03:24.789 --> 00:03:27.849 it, that context hangs over the entire production. 00:03:28.880 --> 00:03:31.199 While the scripts are obviously written in advance 00:03:31.199 --> 00:03:34.319 or adjusted as they go, the season begins with 00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:37.560 a dedication to a fallen creator. It adds a layer 00:03:37.560 --> 00:03:40.479 of poignancy to everything that follows. The 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:42.960 show had to go on. It had to provide that comfort 00:03:42.960 --> 00:03:45.159 to millions. I think viewership was hovering 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:47.319 around 19 million for the premiere. But the people 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:49.460 making it were actively grieving. It's a huge 00:03:49.460 --> 00:03:51.520 testament to the professionalism and the heart 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:54.000 of that cast and crew. That is a really important 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:56.219 framing to keep in mind as we move through the 00:03:56.219 --> 00:03:58.580 stories today. And speaking of the stories, let's 00:03:58.580 --> 00:04:01.199 dive right into the central romance. Season 9 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.599 is huge for Niles and Daphne. It is pivotal. 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:06.020 For years, I mean, essentially seasons 1 through 00:04:06.020 --> 00:04:08.180 7, we had the will -they -won't -they dynamic. 00:04:08.439 --> 00:04:11.819 By season 9, they are together. But the source 00:04:11.819 --> 00:04:13.979 material shows that the writers didn't just let 00:04:13.979 --> 00:04:17.209 them be happy and boring. They threw some serious 00:04:17.209 --> 00:04:19.269 domestic obstacles in their way. They really 00:04:19.269 --> 00:04:21.509 did. They're transitioning from the pure fantasy 00:04:21.509 --> 00:04:24.769 of being together to the gritty reality of actually 00:04:24.769 --> 00:04:27.269 cohabitating. And the biggest obstacle being 00:04:27.269 --> 00:04:30.610 their living situation. So in the episode, The 00:04:30.610 --> 00:04:33.269 Proposal, and the ones leading up to it, they're 00:04:33.269 --> 00:04:35.589 getting ready to finally move in together. It's 00:04:35.589 --> 00:04:38.910 supposed to be this blissful step. But then enters 00:04:38.910 --> 00:04:41.970 Gertrude Moon. Played by the legendary Millicent 00:04:41.970 --> 00:04:44.759 Martin. Yes. She is Daphne's mother, and she 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:46.819 becomes this recurring character this season. 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:50.579 And the conflict she brings is just pure farce. 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:53.379 According to the episode summaries, Gertrude 00:04:53.379 --> 00:04:55.300 arrives fully believing that Daphne is still 00:04:55.300 --> 00:04:57.399 a virgin. Which is completely ridiculous. They 00:04:57.399 --> 00:04:59.019 are grown -on -the -gulls. Daphne has lived in 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:02.199 America for nearly a decade. Exactly. But to 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.959 appease her, Niles and Daphne have to pretend 00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:07.220 they aren't living together. It's so silly. It 00:05:07.220 --> 00:05:11.149 forces them into this chaotic charade. right 00:05:11.149 --> 00:05:13.370 when they are trying to solidify their domestic 00:05:13.370 --> 00:05:16.350 life. It's a massive regression. Instead of moving 00:05:16.350 --> 00:05:18.689 forward as a couple, they are sneaking around 00:05:18.689 --> 00:05:21.350 like teenagers just to keep mommy happy. And 00:05:21.350 --> 00:05:24.230 it is not just Gertrude, either. Daphne's brother 00:05:24.230 --> 00:05:27.569 Simon is back. Oh, Simon, played by Anthony LaPaglia. 00:05:27.670 --> 00:05:29.910 Right. And the source notes say he stays with 00:05:29.910 --> 00:05:33.009 Frasier, causing absolute chaos. So you have 00:05:33.009 --> 00:05:36.029 Gertrude with Niles, Simon with Frasier. The 00:05:36.029 --> 00:05:38.250 brothers are basically under siege by the Moon 00:05:38.250 --> 00:05:41.170 family. They really are. And Simon is the antithesis 00:05:41.170 --> 00:05:43.189 of everything Fraser stands for. Oh, completely. 00:05:43.310 --> 00:05:46.149 He's loud, he's drunk, he's messy. Having him 00:05:46.149 --> 00:05:48.209 in that pristine apartment with the African art 00:05:48.209 --> 00:05:51.149 in the Ames chair is just visual comedy gold. 00:05:51.389 --> 00:05:54.230 It perfectly highlights the clash that the show 00:05:54.230 --> 00:05:56.810 loves so much. But let's look at the proposal 00:05:56.810 --> 00:05:59.589 itself, which is episode 15. This is the moment 00:05:59.589 --> 00:06:01.870 Niles has been waiting his entire life for. He 00:06:01.870 --> 00:06:03.829 wants everything to be flawless. He really does. 00:06:03.889 --> 00:06:06.889 He goes all out. hires Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang 00:06:06.889 --> 00:06:11.209 Puck appears as himself to cook the dinner. That 00:06:11.209 --> 00:06:14.269 is a major flex. That is Niles saying, I am pulling 00:06:14.269 --> 00:06:17.629 out absolutely all the stops. It is. But here 00:06:17.629 --> 00:06:20.629 is the twist. And it's a classic sitcom trope, 00:06:20.629 --> 00:06:23.029 but done with that specific Frasier elegance. 00:06:23.910 --> 00:06:26.230 Daphne has the flu. Right. The source says she 00:06:26.230 --> 00:06:28.550 arrives in a terrible state. It's not just a 00:06:28.550 --> 00:06:31.930 little sniffle. She is shivering, sweaty. Completely 00:06:31.930 --> 00:06:34.709 miserable. Frasier has to smuggle guests out 00:06:34.709 --> 00:06:36.889 of the apartment. It's a disaster. Wolfgang Puck 00:06:36.889 --> 00:06:38.889 is in the kitchen looking so confused. It's chaos. 00:06:39.329 --> 00:06:41.490 But the resolution is what actually matters here. 00:06:42.170 --> 00:06:45.170 Niles proposes anyway. And she accepts. Yeah. 00:06:45.290 --> 00:06:47.189 The source material notes that they spend time 00:06:47.189 --> 00:06:49.670 together despite her illness. It reinforces this 00:06:49.670 --> 00:06:52.129 deeper idea that the perfect moment isn't the 00:06:52.129 --> 00:06:54.730 one you rigidly plan. It's the one you commit 00:06:54.730 --> 00:06:57.019 to. That is surprisingly sweet. It grounds their 00:06:57.019 --> 00:06:58.839 relationship in a really nice way. It says, hey, 00:06:58.920 --> 00:07:00.699 I love you even when you're contagious and sweaty. 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:03.720 Exactly. But the drama does not stop there. We 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.800 have to fast forward a bit to the finale arc, 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:08.860 the guilt trippers and moons over Seattle. This 00:07:08.860 --> 00:07:11.180 is where things get genuinely international. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:14.879 Yes, they do. So the conflict here is that Daphne's 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:19.509 parents are estranged. Niles. being Niles, decides 00:07:19.509 --> 00:07:21.629 to make a grand gesture for Daphne's birthday. 00:07:21.790 --> 00:07:24.209 He wants to fix her family. Right, the savior 00:07:24.209 --> 00:07:26.470 complex. He thinks if he can reunite her parents, 00:07:26.629 --> 00:07:28.810 he's the ultimate hero. So he actually flies 00:07:28.810 --> 00:07:31.209 all the way to Manchester, England, and this 00:07:31.209 --> 00:07:33.670 is where we finally meet Daphne's father, Harry 00:07:33.670 --> 00:07:36.930 Moon, who is played by the incredible Brian Cox. 00:07:37.350 --> 00:07:39.730 Brian Cox is such a heavyweight actor. Yeah. 00:07:39.790 --> 00:07:41.829 And the description of his introduction is hilarious. 00:07:42.230 --> 00:07:45.449 Niles finds him in a pub. And Harry throws Niles 00:07:45.449 --> 00:07:48.810 out of the pub, not once, but six times. Six 00:07:48.810 --> 00:07:51.250 times. That is some serious dedication. On both 00:07:51.250 --> 00:07:54.350 their parts, Niles just keeps coming back. Eventually, 00:07:54.470 --> 00:07:56.610 Harry agrees to come to Seattle, but the source 00:07:56.610 --> 00:07:58.889 notes strongly imply it's mostly because Niles 00:07:58.889 --> 00:08:00.870 is paying for a first -class ticket. Oh, of course. 00:08:01.089 --> 00:08:03.050 It's not some romantic reunion for him. It's 00:08:03.050 --> 00:08:05.730 a transaction. Right. So he gets the dad to Seattle. 00:08:05.910 --> 00:08:07.970 They have this big reunion dinner at Chez Henri, 00:08:08.189 --> 00:08:11.269 which is another classic Frasier location. And 00:08:11.269 --> 00:08:13.610 does it go well? Not at all. It is a total disaster. 00:08:14.069 --> 00:08:17.089 Harry leaves. He's absolutely no interest in 00:08:17.089 --> 00:08:19.250 getting back together with Gertrude. Wow. Gertrude, 00:08:19.250 --> 00:08:20.829 however, decides she's going to stay in America. 00:08:21.319 --> 00:08:23.699 But this actually leads to the climax of the 00:08:23.699 --> 00:08:26.560 season for Niles and Daphne. Oh, so. Daphne sees 00:08:26.560 --> 00:08:29.019 what Niles went through. She sees the extreme 00:08:29.019 --> 00:08:32.059 effort he put in. And she rejects the notion 00:08:32.059 --> 00:08:35.460 of true love as some fated magical thing like 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:38.200 her parents supposedly had. Because she clearly 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.580 sees now that her parents are a mess. That's 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:43.159 a huge character moment for Daphne. She's always 00:08:43.159 --> 00:08:45.480 been the slightly psychic one. The one who believes 00:08:45.480 --> 00:08:48.059 in visions and fate. Exactly. And right here 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:51.080 she pivots. She accepts Niles's effort is the 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:53.980 real thing. She chooses agency over destiny. 00:08:54.179 --> 00:08:57.679 And she demands they marry immediately in Las 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:59.679 Vegas. Right. They literally walk out the door 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.899 as the season ends. It's impulsive. It's chaotic. 00:09:02.100 --> 00:09:04.200 But it resolves that tension beautifully. They 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:06.799 are all in. No more planning. No more Wolfgang 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:09.799 Puck. Just them. So Niles and Daphne are off 00:09:09.799 --> 00:09:13.080 to Vegas. But Frasier is in a very, very different 00:09:13.080 --> 00:09:15.860 place. The outline literally calls this Frasier's 00:09:15.860 --> 00:09:18.139 existential crisis. It's a recurring theme for 00:09:18.139 --> 00:09:20.580 him, obviously. But he hits really hard in season 00:09:20.580 --> 00:09:23.779 nine. Think back to the premiere, Don Juan in 00:09:23.779 --> 00:09:27.399 Hell. Frasier is in Belize with the family and 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:30.100 his girlfriend Claire, played by Patricia Clarkson. 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:34.220 But he is totally plagued by dreams. Dreams of 00:09:34.220 --> 00:09:37.590 his ex, Lana, played by Jean Smart. Right. He 00:09:37.590 --> 00:09:40.509 is torn. He has Claire, who is lovely and refined 00:09:40.509 --> 00:09:43.789 and perfect on paper, but he just can't stop 00:09:43.789 --> 00:09:46.210 thinking about Lana. The psychology here is fascinating. 00:09:46.490 --> 00:09:48.870 He meets a stranger, this character named Bob, 00:09:49.029 --> 00:09:51.789 played by Brian Kerwin, and Bob is also torn 00:09:51.789 --> 00:09:54.250 between two women. Frasier gives him advice, 00:09:54.509 --> 00:09:56.870 telling him to choose the one he absolutely can't 00:09:56.870 --> 00:09:59.470 live without. Classic Frasier. And in doing so, 00:09:59.529 --> 00:10:01.889 Frasier realizes he actually needs to take his 00:10:01.889 --> 00:10:04.750 own advice. He intellectualizes his feelings, 00:10:04.889 --> 00:10:06.750 as he always does. So he breaks up with Claire. 00:10:07.149 --> 00:10:09.289 He goes all the way back to Seattle to find Lana. 00:10:09.830 --> 00:10:12.269 And here's where it gets really interesting or 00:10:12.269 --> 00:10:14.649 deeply tragic, depending on how you look at it. 00:10:14.730 --> 00:10:17.490 He goes to a graduation party for Kirby. Kirby. 00:10:17.570 --> 00:10:19.049 We definitely have to talk about Kirby later. 00:10:19.190 --> 00:10:22.149 Oh, we will. But yes, at the party, Frazier discovers 00:10:22.149 --> 00:10:25.590 that the man he met in Belize, Bob, is Kirby's 00:10:25.590 --> 00:10:29.490 father. Bob is Lana's ex. Oh, that is so messy. 00:10:29.950 --> 00:10:32.960 It is deeply messy. Fraser basically coached 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:35.399 his own romantic rival to get back together with 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.519 the exact woman Fraser wanted. Wow. Fraser ends 00:10:38.519 --> 00:10:40.779 up completely alone. He fails to reconcile with 00:10:40.779 --> 00:10:43.100 Lana. He's already lost Claire. And the episode 00:10:43.100 --> 00:10:45.340 ends with him being tormented by thoughts of 00:10:45.340 --> 00:10:48.720 all his failed relationships. Diane, Lilith, 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:51.799 Nanette. They all basically haunt him. It sets 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.600 a very lonely, somber tone. for his character 00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:56.879 arc this whole season. And speaking of Kirby, 00:10:57.039 --> 00:10:59.159 played by Brian Klugman, he becomes this really 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:01.200 prominent recurring figure. He's a nuisance, 00:11:01.220 --> 00:11:03.299 but also kind of an asset. Yeah, he represents 00:11:03.299 --> 00:11:05.379 that younger, slacker energy that completely 00:11:05.379 --> 00:11:07.919 clashes with Frazier and Niles. There was a great 00:11:07.919 --> 00:11:10.460 episode called Sharing Kirby. Frazier and Niles 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:12.620 find out that Kirby actually knows the granddaughter 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:15.580 of a famous wine collector, William Mulvihill. 00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.120 Ah, the wine cellar plot. Exactly. They use this 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:21.360 slacker teenager to get access to rare wine. 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:23.720 They are actively competing to do favors for 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:26.320 him. Like what? Doing his homework, rearranging 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.879 libraries, just to get a tour of his cellar. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:33.339 It's a classic crane display of snobbery. Completely 00:11:33.339 --> 00:11:35.759 overriding their dignity. They will demean themselves 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:38.519 completely if it means sipping a vintage Cabernet. 00:11:38.620 --> 00:11:40.500 I love when they debase themselves for luxury 00:11:40.500 --> 00:11:43.500 goods. It's so funny. But Fraser's love life 00:11:43.500 --> 00:11:45.659 takes a turn that I think really shocked a lot 00:11:45.659 --> 00:11:47.799 of viewers. We have to talk about the Ross complication. 00:11:48.019 --> 00:11:50.820 Yes. This is the surprising hookup you teased 00:11:50.820 --> 00:11:53.820 earlier. Episode 23, The Guilt Trippers. It's 00:11:53.820 --> 00:11:55.899 Daphne's birthday party. Emotions are running 00:11:55.899 --> 00:11:59.340 really high. And Frazier and Roz, they sleep 00:11:59.340 --> 00:12:02.500 together. Frazier and Roz, the dynamic duo of 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:05.200 the KACL radio station, they actually cross the 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:07.759 line. They do. And the immediate aftermath is 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:10.799 sheer panic. Roz flees to a family reunion in 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.840 Wisconsin just to get away from him. That's how 00:12:12.840 --> 00:12:14.899 awkward it is. And Frazier chases her. He actually 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:17.059 flies to Wisconsin to talk it out. Which leads 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:19.960 to a classic farce moment. Roz's family mistakes 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:22.379 Frazier for her boyfriend, Roger. But when they 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:24.740 finally do sit down and talk, the resolution 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:28.070 is surprisingly mature. They decide their friendship 00:12:28.070 --> 00:12:30.970 is just too valuable to jeopardize. They agree 00:12:30.970 --> 00:12:33.309 to stay friends. I want to ask you, though, do 00:12:33.309 --> 00:12:35.509 you think this was a mistake by the writers or 00:12:35.509 --> 00:12:37.470 was it something that inevitably had to happen? 00:12:37.710 --> 00:12:40.629 You know, I think given how close they are and 00:12:40.629 --> 00:12:42.990 how lonely Frasier was feeling all season long, 00:12:43.149 --> 00:12:45.429 remember the Don Juan crisis we just talked about? 00:12:45.649 --> 00:12:48.610 It makes psychological sense. Right. They rely 00:12:48.610 --> 00:12:50.830 on each other. It was a moment of weakness, sure, 00:12:50.970 --> 00:12:54.090 but it actually reinforced that their bond is 00:12:54.090 --> 00:12:57.179 platonic and foundational. It proved once and 00:12:57.179 --> 00:12:59.139 for all that romance isn't the answer for them. 00:12:59.700 --> 00:13:02.039 Sometimes you really have to cross the line to 00:13:02.039 --> 00:13:04.299 realize why the line was there in the first place. 00:13:04.460 --> 00:13:05.960 That makes a lot of sense. Now you mentioned 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.360 Roger. We really need to talk about Roz's journey 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.980 this season because Roger is a huge part of it. 00:13:11.039 --> 00:13:13.600 He is. Roger, played by Tony Goldwyn, he's a 00:13:13.600 --> 00:13:15.559 waste collector. Yeah. A garbage man. And Roz 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:19.019 is dating him. But the class issue really rears 00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:21.879 its ugly head in the episode Love Stinks. Yeah. 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:24.740 Frazier throws a party for the station staff. 00:13:25.220 --> 00:13:27.740 Roz is embarrassed. She doesn't want Roger there 00:13:27.740 --> 00:13:31.379 because of his job. And the worst happens. Roger 00:13:31.379 --> 00:13:33.820 actually overhears her telling Kenny that not 00:13:33.820 --> 00:13:37.000 everyone has a job they're proud of. Ouch. That 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.840 is brutal to hear. It is heartbreaking. Roger 00:13:39.840 --> 00:13:42.980 leaves. They end up breaking up. But Roz later 00:13:42.980 --> 00:13:45.240 admits she is still deeply in love with him. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.419 It's a really sad arc because the barrier isn't 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:51.879 that they aren't compatible. The barrier is Roz's 00:13:51.879 --> 00:13:55.340 own insecurity about status. She has clearly 00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:57.220 absorbed some of Frasier's snobbery, whether 00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:59.379 she wants to admit it or not. And this resolves, 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:01.519 or at least gets processed, in the episode Frasier 00:14:01.519 --> 00:14:03.919 has spoken. Right. Frasier actually helps her 00:14:03.919 --> 00:14:06.139 process the grief on air. How does he do that? 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:08.519 She pretends to be a caller who is afraid of 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:10.759 the dark, but they are really talking about her 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:13.529 emptiness and fear after losing Roger. It's a 00:14:13.529 --> 00:14:15.529 beautiful example of how the radio show functions 00:14:15.529 --> 00:14:17.730 as therapy for the characters themselves. I love 00:14:17.730 --> 00:14:20.029 that. It shows that Frazier is actually a genuinely 00:14:20.029 --> 00:14:22.509 good psychiatrist when he stops thinking about 00:14:22.509 --> 00:14:25.710 himself for five minutes. Very true. Let's shift 00:14:25.710 --> 00:14:29.070 gears to Martin Crane. John Mahoney had some 00:14:29.070 --> 00:14:31.690 really heavy lifting to do this season. He did. 00:14:31.809 --> 00:14:34.230 We see Martin grappling heavily with both the 00:14:34.230 --> 00:14:36.889 past and the present. In the episode The Return 00:14:36.889 --> 00:14:39.309 of Martin Crane, he actually takes a new job 00:14:39.309 --> 00:14:41.730 as a security guard. He really wants to feel 00:14:41.730 --> 00:14:44.230 useful again. And this triggers a major flashback. 00:14:44.250 --> 00:14:47.330 We actually see the day he was shot. Yes. We 00:14:47.330 --> 00:14:49.690 see his partner Frank, played by Tom Irwin. We 00:14:49.690 --> 00:14:51.870 see the actual robbery event at the convenience 00:14:51.870 --> 00:14:55.370 store. Wow. It's a stark reminder of the trauma 00:14:55.370 --> 00:14:58.110 Martin carries with him every day. It grounds 00:14:58.110 --> 00:15:00.389 the character so much. He's not just the grumpy 00:15:00.389 --> 00:15:02.789 dad sitting in the recliner. He's a man who suffered 00:15:02.789 --> 00:15:04.690 a life -changing injury in the line of duty. 00:15:05.190 --> 00:15:07.669 It adds weight to every single step he takes 00:15:07.669 --> 00:15:09.750 with that cane. But then in the present day, 00:15:09.830 --> 00:15:11.950 he deals with something very relatable but frustrating. 00:15:12.590 --> 00:15:14.950 Workplace bullying. And bully for Martin, his 00:15:14.950 --> 00:15:17.570 supervisor Rich, played by M. Emmett Walsh, is 00:15:17.570 --> 00:15:19.850 just terrible to him. And Frazier tries to help, 00:15:19.889 --> 00:15:22.309 of course. Oh! Because Frazier just cannot help 00:15:22.309 --> 00:15:24.470 himself. Natural. He calls the owner of the company, 00:15:24.649 --> 00:15:28.700 who just happens to be Rich's son. And it backfires 00:15:28.700 --> 00:15:31.120 completely. It just ends up humiliating Martin 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:33.679 further. Typical. It's that recurring friction 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:36.000 where Frazier's earnest attempt to fix things 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:38.399 completely undermines Martin's independence. 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:42.019 Martin just wanted to handle it like a man. And 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:44.500 Frazier inadvertently turned him into a tattletale. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:46.600 And we really can't talk about Martin without 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:49.240 talking about the chair. Episode 7, Blasey Boy. 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.840 It is the eighth anniversary of Martin moving 00:15:51.840 --> 00:15:54.919 in. Right. And Frazier is irritable. And then 00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:58.429 the incident happens. Martin tries to fix a squeak 00:15:58.429 --> 00:16:00.330 in his beloved chair and accidentally spills 00:16:00.330 --> 00:16:02.610 oil all over Frazier's custom carpet. Frazier 00:16:02.610 --> 00:16:05.129 literally calls it a hostile act. He does. He 00:16:05.129 --> 00:16:07.429 views it as subconscious aggression. They end 00:16:07.429 --> 00:16:09.870 up in full -blown mediation with Niles. It's 00:16:09.870 --> 00:16:11.990 hilarious, but it also shows that after eight 00:16:11.990 --> 00:16:14.389 full years of living together, that roommate 00:16:14.389 --> 00:16:17.649 tension is still very much alive. The chair is 00:16:17.649 --> 00:16:20.070 so much more than furniture. It's a symbol of 00:16:20.070 --> 00:16:22.350 Martin's enduring presence in Frazier's carefully 00:16:22.350 --> 00:16:24.789 curated life. Speaking of tension in the building, 00:16:24.889 --> 00:16:27.029 we have to talk about the feud. Frasier versus 00:16:27.029 --> 00:16:31.029 Cam Winston. Cam Winston is the absolute perfect 00:16:31.029 --> 00:16:34.590 foil for Frasier. He's basically Frasier, but 00:16:34.590 --> 00:16:37.509 bigger. He's Frasier maxed out. And he drives 00:16:37.509 --> 00:16:40.490 a bigger car. The parking wars arc in episode 00:16:40.490 --> 00:16:44.269 13 is legendary. Cam has this massive SUV that 00:16:44.269 --> 00:16:47.029 constantly encroaches on Frasier's parking space. 00:16:47.389 --> 00:16:49.509 So Frasier goes to the condo board. He gives 00:16:49.509 --> 00:16:51.350 this incredibly impassioned speech about the 00:16:51.350 --> 00:16:54.309 behemoth at the gates. And he actually gets the 00:16:54.309 --> 00:16:57.830 SUV. banished to the sub -basement. But Cam retaliates, 00:16:57.830 --> 00:16:59.450 and this is honestly one of the most memorable 00:16:59.450 --> 00:17:02.269 visuals of the entire season, the flag. Yes. 00:17:02.570 --> 00:17:05.650 To block Frazier's view, Cam drapes a massive 00:17:05.650 --> 00:17:08.089 American flag over his balcony. It's genius. 00:17:08.529 --> 00:17:10.210 Now, you have to remember the context we started 00:17:10.210 --> 00:17:13.569 with today. This is late 2001, early 2002. You 00:17:13.569 --> 00:17:15.069 really have to remember the atmosphere in the 00:17:15.069 --> 00:17:17.109 country. You can't just tell someone to take 00:17:17.109 --> 00:17:19.089 down the American flag. Frazier is literally 00:17:19.089 --> 00:17:21.529 trapped by patriotism. It is brilliant writing. 00:17:21.670 --> 00:17:24.170 Frazier is fuming, standing in his dark apartment. 00:17:24.619 --> 00:17:27.420 But he can't risk looking unpatriotic. So how 00:17:27.420 --> 00:17:29.500 do they eventually solve it? The episode, The 00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:33.039 Love You Fake. Cam's mother, who is a vet, is 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:35.740 visiting. Martin and Cam's mother actually get 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:38.400 along quite well. They realize the only way to 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:41.000 force their stubborn sons to reconcile is to 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.539 pretend to be a couple. The parent's trap. Exactly. 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:46.200 Yeah. The absolute fear of their parents dating 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:48.720 and potentially becoming stepbrothers forces 00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:51.940 Fraser and Cam to call a truce. It's mutually 00:17:51.940 --> 00:17:54.500 assured destruction via step -siblings. They 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:56.900 sign a treaty just to stop the madness. I love 00:17:56.900 --> 00:17:59.599 it so much. Now, season nine also had some major 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:01.660 milestones for the show itself. It was a very 00:18:01.660 --> 00:18:03.660 long -running show by this point. It was. They 00:18:03.660 --> 00:18:05.660 hit their 200th episode. Yeah. And they brought 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:08.240 in literally the biggest guest imaginable for 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:10.920 a show set in Seattle, Bill Gates. Playing himself. 00:18:11.220 --> 00:18:13.000 Playing himself. Yeah. Razor is celebrating 2 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:15.970 ,000 radio broadcasts. Bill Gates is a guest 00:18:15.970 --> 00:18:18.309 on the show. But the joke is that Frazier wants 00:18:18.309 --> 00:18:20.609 to talk about deep, meaningful things about philanthropy, 00:18:20.869 --> 00:18:23.990 about the world. And Bill Gates just ends up 00:18:23.990 --> 00:18:25.970 taking tech support calls on the air. Have you 00:18:25.970 --> 00:18:28.269 tried restarting it? Exactly. It's a fantastic 00:18:28.269 --> 00:18:31.170 meta joke about Gates's celebrity. And in that 00:18:31.170 --> 00:18:34.089 very same episode, Frazier finds out a tape of 00:18:34.089 --> 00:18:37.059 one of his early shows is missing. He goes on 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:39.500 this manic hunt for it, which leads him to a 00:18:39.500 --> 00:18:42.299 crazy fan's house, played by Adam Arkin. Oh, 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:44.420 right. It's a really sharp commentary on the 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:47.079 obsessive nature of fandom and Frazier's own 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:49.839 narcissism. We also see the show expanding its 00:18:49.839 --> 00:18:51.940 world a bit. The radio show gets picked up in 00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:54.759 Spokane. This was a harsh reality check for Frazier. 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:57.539 In Seattle, he's a star. He's a known quantity. 00:18:57.720 --> 00:19:01.440 In Spokane, the locals absolutely hate him. They 00:19:01.440 --> 00:19:03.980 desperately miss their local icon, a guy named 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:06.519 Sully. Frazier goes to a press conference there, 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:09.740 and the reporters are just overwhelmingly condescending. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:12.500 It's the big fish in a small pond realizing he's 00:19:12.500 --> 00:19:15.140 just a regular fish in another pond. And the 00:19:15.140 --> 00:19:18.220 callers actively boycott him. It forces Frazier 00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.579 to really work for his audience again. He has 00:19:20.579 --> 00:19:22.119 to win them over from scratch, which is something 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.740 we really haven't seen him have to do since season 00:19:23.740 --> 00:19:25.819 one. And speaking of audiences, there is the 00:19:25.819 --> 00:19:28.559 episode Juvenalia. Frazier tries to reach the 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:31.279 teen scene demographic. Right. He goes on a show 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:34.160 hosted by teenagers. He totally thinks he can 00:19:34.160 --> 00:19:36.559 outsmart them with his intellect and vocabulary. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.819 But they just grill him about his personal life. 00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:42.440 They humiliate him on air. They treat him like 00:19:42.440 --> 00:19:45.420 an absolute dinosaur. Until Kirby saves the day. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:48.759 Yes. Kirby provides the dirt on the teen panelists. 00:19:49.140 --> 00:19:52.339 Fraser uses it to turn the tables. It's petty. 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:55.539 But it is deeply satisfying. Shows that sometimes 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:58.160 you really need a Kirby in your life to fight 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:00.460 dirty. We have touched on a few guest stars so 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:02.940 far, but the list in the source material is just 00:20:02.940 --> 00:20:06.099 incredible. We mentioned Bill Gates and Wolfgang 00:20:06.099 --> 00:20:09.339 Puck. But who else really stood out to you? Michael 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:12.440 Keaton. Easily. He plays Blaine Stern and Lilith's 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:15.400 half -brother. A con man. A total con man who 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:17.839 claims to be a paralyzed preacher now. He comes 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:20.420 to Frasier begging for forgiveness. Frasier knows 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:22.740 he's faking it. He clearly remembers Blaine selling 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:25.720 him futures and kelp. Kelp futures? That's hilarious. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.079 Exactly. But no one else believes Frasier. Martin, 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:33.200 Daphne, Niles. They all think Blaine is a saint 00:20:33.200 --> 00:20:35.140 now. So Frasier looks like a complete monster 00:20:35.140 --> 00:20:37.059 trying to prove this poor guy isn't paralyzed. 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:39.519 He literally tips him out of the wheelchair. 00:20:39.930 --> 00:20:43.069 It is a masterclass in cringe comedy. Frazier 00:20:43.069 --> 00:20:46.750 is screaming, walk, walk, while Blaine just flops 00:20:46.750 --> 00:20:50.750 helplessly on the floor. And in the end, Frazier 00:20:50.750 --> 00:20:53.130 thinks he was wrong, he formally apologizes, 00:20:53.230 --> 00:20:55.150 and then he looks out the window and sees Blaine 00:20:55.150 --> 00:20:57.609 walk away when no one else is looking. Frazier 00:20:57.609 --> 00:21:00.539 was right all along, but he lost anyway. It's 00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:02.720 the ultimate Frasier Crane experience. We also 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.480 have the return of the Cheers cast. Episode 21, 00:21:05.700 --> 00:21:08.660 cheerful goodbyes. The Cranes go to Boston. This 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:10.759 is a pure nostalgia trip for the audience. We 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:12.880 see Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger, 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:15.960 Norm Peterson, George Wendt, Carla Tratelli, 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:18.259 Rhea Perlman. The plot for that one is hilarious. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:20.259 Cliff thinks Frasier is there specifically for 00:21:20.259 --> 00:21:22.160 his retirement party. But it turns out no one 00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:24.339 in Boston will miss Cliff at all. He decides 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:27.539 to stay. Yeah. And Carla is horrified. The source 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:29.480 material actually says she tries to shoot him 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:32.619 with a spear gun. A spear gun. Classic Carla. 00:21:33.099 --> 00:21:35.279 It's really nice to see that the Cheers dynamic 00:21:35.279 --> 00:21:38.059 hadn't changed a bit after all those years. It 00:21:38.059 --> 00:21:39.420 really highlighted the difference between the 00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.859 two shows, too. Frasier's all about highbrow 00:21:41.859 --> 00:21:45.380 neuroses, and Cheers was that gritty, barroom 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:48.799 brawl energy. Seeing Niles Crane trying to interact 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.359 with the Cheers gang is a very specific kind 00:21:51.359 --> 00:21:54.500 of joy. So we have gone through the tragedy, 00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:57.619 the romance, the existential dread, the fake 00:21:57.619 --> 00:22:01.500 dating and the spear guns. Season nine is a massive 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:03.440 roller coaster. It really is. It starts in the 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:06.700 very real shadow of 9 -11 and ends in a chaotic 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:09.220 Las Vegas wedding chapel. It's a huge emotional 00:22:09.220 --> 00:22:11.230 swing. And it leaves us with some big questions. 00:22:11.289 --> 00:22:12.910 I really want to ask you, listening at home, 00:22:13.069 --> 00:22:14.769 what do you think about Frasier and Roz? Was 00:22:14.769 --> 00:22:16.930 that hookup a necessary step in their friendship 00:22:16.930 --> 00:22:20.190 to clear the air? Or was it a mistake that should 00:22:20.190 --> 00:22:22.430 have been avoided? And here's a provocative thought 00:22:22.430 --> 00:22:24.109 to leave you with, looking at the source material. 00:22:24.450 --> 00:22:26.789 Look at the overarching trajectory of the season. 00:22:27.269 --> 00:22:29.430 Niles and Daphne have finally removed the will 00:22:29.430 --> 00:22:31.490 -they -won't -they tension entirely. They are 00:22:31.490 --> 00:22:33.950 married. They're a solid unit now. Right. But 00:22:33.950 --> 00:22:37.069 Frasier, he failed with Claire. He failed with 00:22:37.069 --> 00:22:39.390 Lana. He slept with Roz, and it went nowhere. 00:22:39.799 --> 00:22:43.299 he is seemingly more alone than ever. Yet, professionally, 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:47.000 he celebrated his 2000th episode. He got syndicated 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:50.579 in Spokane. Exactly. Is the show quietly suggesting 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:53.279 that professional success is the only reliable 00:22:53.279 --> 00:22:55.920 partner for Frasier Crane? That while everyone 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:58.940 else pairs off and finds domestic bliss, Frasier 00:22:58.940 --> 00:23:01.359 is ultimately married to the microphone? It's 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.500 a lonely thought, but the structure of Season 00:23:03.500 --> 00:23:06.259 9 really seems to point in that direction. That 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:08.619 is a fascinating and deep thought to end on. 00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:10.799 Thank you for joining us for this deep dive into 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:12.720 Frasier season nine. We will catch you on the 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:14.700 next one. Thanks for listening. Take care, everyone.