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You cant keep Kelsey Grammer down.
His snooty sweetie, Frasier Crane, was one of the more unlikelyCheerscharacters to helm a spinoff.
In its heyday,Frasierwas known for being the highest-tone sitcom out there.
It starred Grammer as the titular psychiatrist/radio host.
From there, very little happened.
Frasierwas a show beloved for its sweetness, as well as its low-stakes plot.
The well-appointed interiors, the constant navel-gazing, the coffee snobbery it all screamed end of history America.
It was a comfort show, where everyone basically cared for one another and nobody truly suffered.
Thats how it became a belovedshow to fall asleep to.
Like collectors of fine wine, weve gathered the bestFrasierepisodes and arranged them by vintage (season).
This episode solidifies the Cranes as a family of cucks.
In this episode, Frasier and Niles learn that their beloved mother had an affair back in the day.
Lilith is in town because she found a letter from Frasier begging for them to reconcile.
Problem is, she thinks its recent, but its actually from almost a year ago.
Lilith and Frasier have one night of passion together before coming to the rational decision to stay separated.
SomehowFrasiereven managed to have a low-stakes divorce.
(A low bar to clear, you say?
The Matchmaker was the first queer episode ofFrasier,centering on a classic Frasierian misunderstanding.
Fras wants to set up Daphne with new station manager Tom (Eric Lutes).
Problem is, Frasier is the only person at KACL who doesnt know Toms gay.
When Frasier asks Tom over for dinner, he thinks its a date, not a set-up.
What sets this episode apart from practically the rest of the 90s is the complete lack of gay panic.
Frasier isnt defensive about being perceived as gay.
He doesnt cast Tom as a predator for hitting on him.
Its just anotherfauxpas in Frasiers life, probably below picking the wrong wine to pair with fish.
Sure, theresTreasure Planet, but that character is only voiced by Pierce, not embodied.
An Affair to Forget has an incredible set piece at the end.
But the fencing instructor only speaks German.
It probably is, in some TV writing or cultural studies 201-key in class.
Moon Dance is a classic circumstances conspire to give the crusher romantic one-on-one time with their crushee TV ep.
Here Niles and Daphne pretend to love each other, and share their first kiss.
She wont know how he really feels for another [checks notes] FOUR SEASONS?!
For those even more in the know, this is the episode with Niles gotta have it.
Frasier has one nice morning and suddenly its everyone elses problem.
Only Niles, who didnt take Frasiers advice, wins the day by fucking his estranged wife.
Niles gotta have it!
She pops up every season or so to be arch and camp at everyone then disappear.
This time, the new station manager has charged Frasier with getting Bebe to quit smoking.
That way, Bebe can marry the aging tycoon and Frasier can get his radio show nationally syndicated.
Would you believe there are complications with this plan?
They want to become better people, better parents, better men.
But Niles is too good a therapist to let the baller go unanalyzed.
Head Game is proof thatFrasiercould work without Frasier.
But canFrasier (2023)work without Niles?
Ham Radio (Season 4, Episode 18)
Frasier is hoisted by his own petard?
KACL lets Frasier do a live radioplay, a redo of the 50s chiller classicNightmare Inn.
But just like his theater days in school, Frasier proves too exacting of a director.
More dictator than collaborator, he alienates the actual professional actor doing about half the characters in the story.
Enter Niles, who knewNightmare Innwas going to be a nightmare before the first rehearsal.
Roz is awaiting confirmation that she is pregnant something that Niles half-overhears.
Purposes are crossed, entendres are doubled, and eyelash glue figures heavily.
It even features Camille Grammer, for theRHOBH-heads in the audience.
Halloween is one of the best episodes ofFrasierever.
Theyre joined by ski instructor Guy in a triangle of love triangles.
Add into the mix constant room-swapping and bed-sharing.
Its a masterclass in sitcom direction, plot structure, and bedroom farce.
The Ski Lodge takes everythingFrasierdoes well and distills it into rocket fuel.
They should adapt this episode for the stage.
But the physical comedy prowess of David Hyde Pierce, plus the direction by Grammer, prove unparalleled.
The three men wind up together, singing Goldfinger in a bar.
Once again, the Crane men lose at love.
But they have each other.
Momma Mia (Season 7, Episode 1)
Frasiershares something in common withModern Familybesides a showrunner.
Both shows play fast and loose with incest jokes.
But this Oedipal fantasia may take the cake.
Everyone is yucked out except Fras, who doesnt even notice until home movies give indisputable proof.
Leave it to the Freudian to pull this stunt.
The first seven seasons ofFrasierput a lot of weight on the Niles/Daphne romance.
It was the 90s, and will-they-wont-they was the style of the times.
(Thats why the two-parter where Daphne leaves poor Donnie at the altar isnt on this list.)
Of course, she finds out about Niles long-suffering crush via comedic misunderstanding!
Do you even know what show youre watching, bro?
But after a truck-stop dinner, Niles accidentally gets into the wrong RV and complications ensue.
TheAustin Powersreferences are particularly jarring to post-millennium ears.
Taking Liberties (Season 8, Episode 5)
Frasierowes much of its farcical vibe to P.G.
Wodehouse, and this episode pays homage to one of that authors most enduring characters.
Victor Garber guest stars as Ferguson, Frasiers new Jeeves-like butler.
The man is so fancy, we never learn his first name.
Ferguson tries to caution Daphne against getting her hopes up about Niles.
The Proposal (Season 9, Episode 15)
The Crane Boys are martyrs to their perfectionism.
This episode sees Niles finally break that familial curse.
But his dad wouldnt know anything about that, now would he?
