Maybe.. but I got you pegged ha HA

October 6, 2016 8:08 PM

Frasier Intros Compilation (Every theme and animation used) [YouTube] | For completeness [YT] | 18 Things You Might Not Know About 'Frasier', Kara Kovalchik, Mental Floss
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome (31 comments total)

But I don't know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.

They're calling again.


Noticeably absent, however, was Rebecca Howe, played by Kirstie Alley. Alley had contacted co-creator David Lee when Frasier was in the planning stages and informed him that as a Scientologist she did not believe in psychiatry and as a result would not be able to make an appearance on the series. Lee responded simply, “I don’t recall asking.”

That might have been the most amusing thing to learn.
posted by nubs at 8:18 PM on October 6, 2016 [14 favorites]

Niles, this is the worst idea you've ever had
posted by infinitewindow at 9:01 PM on October 6, 2016 [9 favorites]

There is so much that I don't know about Frasier! Way more than 18 things!
posted by clockzero at 9:29 PM on October 6, 2016 [7 favorites]

The only thing I really remember about Frasier is the episode where he and Niles open a restaurant and then destroy it when they both keep spiking the Cherries Jublilee and it bursts into uncontrollable flames.

Also only vaguely remember the Wings appearance, and I watched that show a ton for a while.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 9:55 PM on October 6, 2016

Here's something you don't know! I have the same Eames lounge chair and ottoman as in Frasier's apartment. They're really expensive but I got mine at a yard sale for fifty bucks.
posted by adept256 at 9:58 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]

One of the creators said the opening credits changed subtly each year so that when he happened to stumble across it later, he would know which season it was from. His plan failed because he could never remember which season each intro was from.

They've been playing four episodes each weeknight on Cozi tv, and it's been great to see them again after so many years. What a well-written and cast show.
posted by pmurray63 at 10:10 PM on October 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

Catching it in reruns lately, I've been really impressed with how well Frasier holds up. It definitely ranks among the classics.
posted by Sys Rq at 11:25 PM on October 6, 2016 [4 favorites]

I coulda sworn there was an opening with an UFO. Ah, false mrmories.

I love "Frasier" for the how blandly white it was. Perfect to watch when under the weather. What a smart/dull show.
posted by tippy at 11:47 PM on October 6, 2016

One of the creators said the opening credits changed subtly each year so that when he happened to stumble across it later, he would know which season it was from. His plan failed because he could never remember which season each intro was from.

Ah, darn -- they could've added a floor of lights to one of the buildings for each season.
posted by Celsius1414 at 12:22 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

9. THE CAST MEMBER WHO RECEIVED THE MOST FAN MAIL ISN'T THE ONE YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

When Frasier first started topping the Nielsen ratings every week, which cast member received the most fan mail? Eddie the dog.

Did anyone not expect that?
posted by books for weapons at 12:46 AM on October 7, 2016 [16 favorites]

In early seasons a lot of humour came from the idea that for all the brother's qualifications their father's earthy wisdom was usually more correct. However, they moved away from that. One of the things that watching the show again really hammered home for me was that Grammar was probably the weakest on the show. While he did do some funny work, basically any episode following Frasier's love life was tedious; there's a reason Niles and Daphne take more and more time towards the later run of the show.
posted by Cannon Fodder at 1:29 AM on October 7, 2016 [6 favorites]

Here's something you don't know! I have the same Eames lounge chair and ottoman as in Frasier's apartment. They're really expensive but I got mine at a yard sale for fifty bucks.

I too have the same chair and ottoman, circa 1960ish. It was given to me yonks ago by a former neighbor who wanted it out of her life, as it belonged to her ex. Luck me. I love that chair. Fun fact: It was stolen twice and I got it back twice.
posted by james33 at 3:47 AM on October 7, 2016 [4 favorites]

That is, the base joke of Frasier is that learning things and being interested in a certain range of things considered "high culture" (loaded term, sorry) and all that is something to be laughed at.

That's... not true. The thing that reduces Niles' and Frasier's lives to rubble isn't their knowledge, it's their pompousness. If they could just go to the opera, everything would be chill. They have to be seen at the opera, and chaos ensues.

If I was going to compare, it would be with The IT Crowd - in both shows the characters' own insecurities lead them into farce.
posted by Leon at 4:36 AM on October 7, 2016 [21 favorites]

What's going on with the sunrise animation at 1:55? The sun is moving the wrong way! The sun should move up and towards the right as it rises in the northern hemisphere. It's even more odd when you consider that they got the moonrise (1:15) and the pumpkinrise (2:09) right.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 4:36 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

James33, how does a chair get stolen twice and recovered? Details!
/slightderail
posted by blueberry at 5:58 AM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

If I was going to compare, it would be with The IT Crowd - in both shows the characters' own insecurities lead them into farce.

I was starting to think I was the only one who saw Frasier and Niles as both very cultured, but terribly insecure about their own cultural cache compared to others, and what those others thought of them.
posted by lmfsilva at 6:27 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

My wife and I still think the scene where Niles sets the couch on fire is one of the funniest bits in TV history.
posted by 4ster at 7:06 AM on October 7, 2016 [9 favorites]

I mostly remember the episode where a houseguest described, in sensuous detail how much she loved smoking and why it was so amazing, resulting in every reformed smoker in the house surreptitiously lighting up a cigarette later. That was pretty funny!

I don't remember a single one of the plots except for that one, and we watched it pretty frequently. It was pleasant, forgettable television.
posted by emjaybee at 7:07 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

The one friend of mine who was really, really into Frasier seemed to like it because it made him cultured by proxy- he could know about opera and Mongolian Throat singing without actually having to do anything about it.

I once described him as a cargo-cult Niles- he was delighted.
posted by threetwentytwo at 7:19 AM on October 7, 2016 [7 favorites]

Frasier and Niles as both very cultured, but terribly insecure about their own cultural cache compared to others, and what those others thought of them

I...thought that was the whole point?

There were some charming aspects to the show, including Niles as Least Plausible Straight Dude in Seattle, but you realize quite quickly that the jokes about Biedermeier furniture aren't actually about Biedermeier furniture. Really, you could write the entire show without actually knowing anything about Biedermeier furniture except that "cultured people (supposedly) like it." Both the show itself, and the jokes, hinge on Cultural Consumption As Status Object. There is some similarity to BBT, but I feel that in early seasons BBT humor at least sometimes engaged with the geeky material in itself rather than as a signifier for geekhood.
posted by praemunire at 8:55 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Also only vaguely remember the Wings appearance, and I watched that show a ton for a while.

The Emmy nomination he received for that episode contributed to him being unique in gaining nominations in three separate categories for three separate shows while playing the same character. (Oustanding Supporting Actor, Cheers; Oustanding Lead Actor, Frasier; Outstanding Guest Performance, Wings)

Kelsey Grammer's run Frasier Crane (and Arness's run on Gunsmoke) has since been surpassed by Richard Belzer who has appeared in American prime time for 22 straight years (23 altogether) as Det. John Munch, ranging from Homicide to Law and Order: SVU (with over half a dozen other stops on the way).
posted by dances with hamsters at 8:56 AM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

If everyone else who was given/bought for tuppence ha'penny/had teleported down in a bizarre Enterprise furnishing mishap an Eames chair could forbear mentioning it here, it would help with my seething envy issues.

Thanks.
posted by Devonian at 9:17 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

The episodes of The Simpsons in which David Hyde Pierce appears as Sideshow Bob's brother Cecil are way funnier than any episodes of Frasier, singly or in the aggregate.
posted by blucevalo at 11:19 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

There wasn’t any particular plan in place to give Frasier a brother until the assistant casting director approached the creators with a photo of David Hyde Pierce in hand and asked, “Doesn’t he look like Kelsey did 10 years ago?” Startled by the physical resemblance...

Really? Am I missing something? They don't seem particularly similar to me.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:43 PM on October 7, 2016

This young Kelsey is not entirely un-Niles-esque, I'd say.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 1:08 PM on October 7, 2016

They both have prominent jaws, rather square faces, and a certain lugubrious air.
posted by praemunire at 1:24 PM on October 7, 2016

plus hair of similar color, both thinning and with high hairlines.

Also, relevant.
posted by lmfsilva at 2:22 PM on October 7, 2016 [10 favorites]

Looking back (and at the above link), it's impressive how Kelsey Grammar was somehow able to make what was clearly a mullet (business in the front, (coke) party in the rear) not look out of place on an snobbish and erudite psychiatrist.
posted by entropicamericana at 3:02 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

Ha! Fine; I am convinced.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:05 PM on October 7, 2016

I'll always have a soft spot for it if for no other reason than that for a sitcom of its time, it's remarkably free of homophobia.

Also, the episode where Frasier directs an old style radio play is just perfect. It's written by David Lloyd (who's best known for writing Chuckles Bites the Dust), and it's just such a masterpiece of comedy writing. I mean, there are plenty of other great Frasier episodes, but that one's just a pure clockwork joy.
posted by Kattullus at 3:21 PM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

My favorite moment is "Niles, what has happened to your child?"
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:30 PM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]