That TV Comedy Podcast
Join us as we discuss our earliest comedic influences, our favourite shows, and how our passion for comedy has shaped our lives.
That TV Comedy Podcast
Frasier (Original)
Frasier: The Spin-Off That Shined - Unpacking My Coffee with Niles
Can a spin-off really outshine its predecessor? Discover how "Frasier" managed to not only live up to but surpass "Cheers" in terms of critical acclaim and awards. Amanda and Jacquie dive into the show's creation, exploring key production details and sharing their personal love for Frasier and Niles. We also tackle how "Frasier" deftly handles problematic elements and diversity compared to other '90s sitcoms, making it a standout in television history.
Imagine a sitcom episode that feels like a short stage play. "My Coffee with Niles" does just that, with its single setting and three-act format, making it a perfect introduction for new viewers. The humorous banter between Frasier and Niles takes a deeper turn as they discuss happiness and personal fulfilment. We touch on sibling dynamics and emotional well-being, highlighted by Niles' heartfelt admission of never experiencing pure happiness, creating a poignant yet entertaining discussion.
Presented by Amanda Davies and Jacquie J Sarah
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Hello and welcome to that TV Comedy Podcast. I'm Jackie J Serra and my co-host is Amanda Davis. For each episode, we'll be taking a look at a television comedy series, breaking it down with a focus on a specific episode, giving it a bit of a deep dive, geeking out about it and generally discussing it. We will be taking it in terms of picking a series, so it may not be something we have seen. This week it's my choice and it's Frasier. Have you seen Frasier Mand? And this week it's my choice and it's Frasier. Have you seen Frasier Mand? I think our listeners will be very surprised, but I have in fact seen Frasier the whole series and probably multiple times. Are you sure? It's actually one of my favourites? If you were on Desert Island Discs instead of discs, that was comedy programmes would Frasier get chosen For one? Just one? No, you can pick ten. Or is it eight in the?
Speaker 2:program.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would take it then. So who's in your top ten then, frasier?
Speaker 2:Definitely in my top ten.
Speaker 1:Okay, ask me the same question Is it your number one? It is my number one, yes, is it your number one? And I still loved it. And that is a sign of good writing and just generally a good series that you still feel the same affection for it when you're young and obviously in middle age then, and then you see it from different points of view. You see the kind of sadness behind some of the characters about their advancing age. Now are some of the episodes problematic?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Are they, though? There are some things said in the episodes, don't you think? Yeah, I think. For a 90s sitcom, though, it holds up quite well. I think it holds up better than Friends. I'm not saying that Friends isn't clever, but in terms of Problematic storylines or comments, yes, it does hold up better than Friends and you could argue about diversity.
Speaker 1:The same problem with Friends is the lack of diversity, until you would argue that age is also included in diversity. Amanda, tell us about Frasier. Frasier is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons and 263 episodes between September the 16th 1993 and May 13, 2004. The programme was created and produced by David Angel, peter Casey and David Lee as Grub Street Productions, in association with Gramnet 2004 and Paramount Network Television. The series was created as a spin-off of the comedy Cheers. It continues the story of psychiatrist Fraser Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer. Imdb succinctly describes the series with Dr Fraser Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist.
Speaker 1:Frasier received critical acclaim, with the cast winning 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, a record at that time for a scripted series. It also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series for five consecutive years. At the time of recording, however, imdb gives the series an overall rating of a surprisingly low 8.2. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. We need that. Up, up, up, up. Yeah, I was really surprised when I saw that. Oh, my goodness, 8.2. You don't get all those awards for nothing? No, exactly. Or maybe the type of person who doesn't rate on IMDb, and I'm very guilty of that. As I've been researching for this podcast, I've actually been rating shows. Oh, that's good. I've looked up the shows and I haven't just been giving them a rating of 10. I've been quite honest, I think, and fair.
Speaker 1:So, if I felt they deserved a 9 or an 8, I've given that score. Okay, I read up a bit about Frasier, obviously because, as I've said a couple of times before on this podcast, james Burroughs has got an amazing book out about his career and of course, that includes Frasier. As you said, it came about as a spin-off of Cheers, which is also quite brilliant.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's a great show as well, yeah.
Speaker 1:So David Angel, peter Casey and David Lee went to the brothers, glenn and Les, Charles and James Burroughs as they wanted to do a show based on Frasier, and that was during the final season of Cheers. It kept the same soundstage and time slot in the US and Kelsey Grammer wanted James Burroughs to direct to keep the momentum of the character. It debuted in September 1993. Frasier became the new Sam Malone, great at solving patients' problems, terrible at solving his own. James Burroughs said for somebody else's needs he's the luckiest man in town because of the love he receives from his family and friends, which I thought was absolutely a lovely way of looking at Frasier. I put out a little podcast called Excuse the Jazz. Yes, you did, and I did borrow from Frasier.
Speaker 1:You certainly did. Yes, not the great writing or the great wit or anything like that. Don't say no so quickly, don't say no so quickly, don't say no like that, but no it wasn't I honestly thought you actually meant plagiarism.
Speaker 2:I did not plagiarise anything, and now that's why I was saying no.
Speaker 1:I actually named the character Niles after Niles on Frasier. It was a nickname for him.
Speaker 2:So is.
Speaker 1:Niles, your favourite character in Frasier? Yes, and sometimes I get really frustrated with Niles. Yeah, they're all complicated characters, but he's certainly the most complicated, I think, on Frasier. Niles was Frasier in Cheers. Yeah, so Frasier was really frustrating in Cheers sometimes. That's where it was useful keeping the same people producing writers, whatever. Yeah, just as you said, cassie Grammar wanted to pull them over to keep that momentum and that's what made it so seamless. The transition yeah, because Frasier was only supposed to be a character in Cheers for a few episodes and was so popular that the contract was extended and they knew that the character had so much more potential. Hence the spin-off. Yeah, exactly right, and I think, whether it's true or not, shelley Long, who played Diana in Cheers, didn't like Frasier and didn't want the character to stay, and she argued for him to go. Now, like I said, I wasn't there. This could be made up by people, but the stories are true. Behind the scenes, people were trying to get rid of Frasier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the character was so popular with the audience that, yeah, he stayed Afterwards.
Speaker 1:Kelsey Gwama actually said that he invited Shelley Long to be on Frasier to put to bed all that. I think she denies it. I think she denied it happened Right, and she said something along the lines of if it did happen, I'm sorry I wouldn't have done that to another actor who knows what the true story is. As I say, frasier is the luckiest man in town. I'm lucky we're going to discuss him now. I don't think whatever we do now will do justice to this programme. Sorry, oh, really. Yeah, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1:The episode we'll be discussing this week is Season 1, episode 24, and it's called my Coffee with Niles Frasier. Niles spent the entire episode in conversation at Café Nivosa. It currently has a rating of 8.7 on IMDb. No-transcript. We are big fans of theatre and this is the closest thing I've ever seen to theatre on a TV sitcom. Now I could have picked other episodes. There are other episodes that are much more famous. Remember when they bought the restaurant and had to close it within one night because they just basically tore it to pieces? Or the time Nas and Frasier decided to write a book basically tore it to pieces. Or the time Naz and Frasier decided to write a book. Or the time at Moondance when Naz becomes convinced. Daphne likes him because she decides to go on a dance with him to show up Maris.
Speaker 2:The radio play.
Speaker 1:The radio play. Radio Ham, I think, is one of the highest rating episodes, isn't it? There are higher rating episodes than this, but I chose this episode because it runs like a short stage play and could be seen as a complete story in itself. So if you've never watched Frasier before and you've never watched it again, you've got a complete story within it. So there's one set and one major scene, but there are also the side plots and the conflicts within that. There's a dramatic question posed at the start and it's answered by the end, and within it there are two fade to blacks. Like theaters would like to stand splitting the episode into three acts.
Speaker 1:And no title cards are used in the episode. No, which was the mainstay of the series. Yeah, it's just the title at the start of my coffee with niles, and that's it. And that's it, the episode title and plot. But I'm not really sure about the plot. But I read it with the plot is a reference to the film my dinner was andre, a 1981 film which consists of almost entirely of two men conversing in a restaurant, but two men who've got wildly different views to each other. But it only comes out through the course of the film. How do you know about this film? The name rings a bell but I couldn't tell you much about it. I've watched the film now because it not only comes up in Frasier but there's also an episode of Community about it as well in Frasier. There's also an episode of Community about it as well. So it's obviously quite a big film within comedy in the States. It's for the time bear in mind it was pre-internet Some of the things that was being said in there could be off this time, People just not really getting what the other person's saying. It's worth a watch. So this episode was written by David Angel and Peter Casey and directed by James Burrows.
Speaker 1:It starts with the beginning of titles every week. Title card my Coffee with Niles. It starts. Niles is on the phone to his wife Maris. She got lost in the kitchen again. There's no tables, but Niles has got a good ploy to get a table. He's giving dirty looks to a table that's already paid their bill. The problem is they're sat at the table yammering away, Yammering, and it's established that it's been a year since Frasier moved from Boston and there was a really funny line there I think. Niles says it seems like yesterday Dad moved in with you and Frasier said Isn't it funny how two people can have a distinct opposite impression of the same event. So they both decide the dirty looks thing might work. That's it. And they both do it. And does it work? It does and it doesn't, because the people do move, but then other people move straight into the scene Because they were too busy celebrating their fantastic looks.
Speaker 1:And then we have our first lights down. So we've established it's been a year and they want to sit down and have a coffee. Yes, and then lights up theatre style. Naz comes back from the toilet. He's not a happy chicken, it's maddening, maddening. The moisturiser was too oily and then he had to re-wash his hand. And then what happened? It's me and you. This is Every time we got on a train. The water didn't work in the toilet. I cannot get the water to work in the toilet?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it does I just used it.
Speaker 1:I couldn't get it to work in the toilet. Yeah, it does, I just used it. I couldn't get it to work. I had to use toilet paper to get the soap off my hands. Yes, I do. I think I've been on a train and got the water to work once. Do you know what? This might be another reason why I like this, because there's a lot of sibling references in there which are a little too close to home sometimes frasier gets his coffee.
Speaker 2:Yes, he does forward to his coffee looking forward.
Speaker 1:Is this some bar boy coffee? And then she propounds it to him and then he says is it decaf? Otherwise he'd be tossing and turning in his brother's conversation. That's very sibling, yeah, very, but he didn't ask for decaf, he didn't even ask for it. No, they decide to take a table outside. He's feeling alfresco, alfresco, and I think that's the first time we established there is a outside to the coffee house. Yes, and then Niles cleans the seat.
Speaker 2:Niles wipes the seat.
Speaker 1:I would be so disappointed if he didn't wipe the seat. Now this is the dramatic question. Niles asks Frasier if he's happy. Frasier thinks it's a complex question, a deceivingly complex question. You're right, deceivingly complex. But Niles says it's straightforward. Yeah, and so what does Frasier do that anybody does if asked a difficult question, just transference, isn't it? Just throw it back.
Speaker 2:Throw it back to the person.
Speaker 1:So Frasier asks Niles if he's happy. No, no. So it is easy to answer. But Frasier wants to explore that. He's a psychiatrist Because it pains him to hear it Pains him. Yeah, because it's his brother. But Niles explains it quite eloquently.
Speaker 1:I feel about a PBS documentary he watched about really poor people, the Great Depression, yeah, yeah. And one boy is given a pair of shoes by the Salvation Army and his face is filled with pure happiness, something that Niles has never had in his life. That's really sad, pure and utter happiness. Never experienced that kind of happiness, not even when he bought his $400 designer shoes. Yeah, didn't feel the joy. And there's a poignancy to that. Because I believe him, yeah, but Niles has no reason to be unhappy.
Speaker 1:Niles feels these losing ideals are what drew him to psychiatry in the first place. But although, who's he speaking to? Man? Psychiatry's answer to the drive-thru window now says I know you're what you've been wanting to ask me for years. Did I marry maris for the money? And he said no, it was just a delightful bonus. He really does love her. It's a different kind of love. That was funny. You mean it's not human? Yeah, it doesn't burn with passion, it's comfortable. So Niles asks Frasier again Is he happy? But does he get an answer? No, because who arrives it's Roz. Niles is funny.
Speaker 2:Niles asks what are?
Speaker 1:you doing here, and that was funny. I always wanted to learn to fly a jet and today they're offering a special on jet flying lessons, so I thought I'd come by and take advantage of it. Fraser gets it, yeah, yeah. So she's got a date someone from the office and she's gonna snag a table. But niles gets the impression that ros doesn't like him. And fraser has to put him straight. Yeah, it's not a question of liking or not. No, she despises him. And niles says really, why such strong emotions? I barely acknowledge her existence. And fraser said I think you may be onto something there, sherlock. And then this was a bit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there was a weird conversation then, wasn't it? Because it didn't seem like niles at all to me. You know, I think he would ask fraser whether he would like to date ross. Let's face it, he does end up sleeping with her and they don't get together. No, oh, look coffee's here, coffee's back. Zimbabwe did have coffee. Is that non-fat milk? Oh, I hate to be bothered, but I'm watching my fat intake. Honestly, I would do. I've just given it to him at that point. He must be spending so much money, yeah, in that coffee place for the staff to put up with this exactly. Unfortunately, it starts to rain. They rush to one table, but people get it, and then they rush to another table and niles literally elbow someone out the way to get it, because I think I just wanted it more frazier thinks back to the morning when he asked his father for a bran muffin and his father asked what the magic word was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's not funny at rest home, is it? But they find it hysterical. It is quite funny actually. Yeah, it is, Roz's date arrives and Lars said he's really quite happy. Wow, Wow, yes. He wins the wow, he's handsome. And that's where he gets pulled up for saying wow, yeah. Fraser's like when did he start using that?
Speaker 2:word.
Speaker 1:He's ever used the word wow to describe another man before.
Speaker 2:No, this is another way of it. This is odd, isn't it this?
Speaker 1:Yeah, Now Fraser calls him a gay man. Life with Maris is a big charade and he should have come out the closet years ago. I think it is just to cue that Martin's coming in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but did you see what happened?
Speaker 1:Now people have been querying this in late years. But David Hyde-Pierce gives a look to camera at this stage. Oh, I didn't notice that Only for a split second. But people have asked whether it's on purpose or not, because he's gay. Because, yeah, two of the main actors on Frasier are gay John Mahoney and David Hyde-Pierce. I didn't realise that John Mahoney was as well. Yeah, he was such a good actor. Oh, I know. So sad he did still die relatively young, yeah. But I just think, maybe because this is a studio sitcom multicam, the cameras are actually a bit away from the actors, so to catch it in that moment he's a good actor, so maybe he could catch it in that moment and just give a wink to camera yeah yeah, wink to camera.
Speaker 1:I'm not sure if that's the case, so I am going to go back and look at that to see if well, let's do it on here let's do it.
Speaker 1:You're gonna have to put the sound down, though, because otherwise we'll be dim for copyright. Just to explain what's happening amanda's put the tv on. She's on paramount plus now so she can find that episode of Frasier. It's got subtitles, hasn't it? Yeah, you can put the subtitles on, and we've realised it's number seven on Paramount Plus Day in the top ten Shows, how popular it is.
Speaker 1:Did you see it? Second, it was a sort of second. Yeah, it could. Yeah, put it back on and just tell me what you think. Come back to the mic. What's your verdict? I think he does Just a split second. Acknowledges yeah, I think he acknowledges it. There we go, then Moving on, daphne and Martin arrive. Yes, now Arguing. Arguing, because what should have Martin remembered His umbrella. But what on earth is a bumbershoot? It's a British saying man. You should know You're British. What have you ever heard that phrase? Ever. No, because the only Brit that's ever said it is Jane Leaves. On Frasier, on Frasier. I looked it up and the earliest use of the term was in Pennsylvania in the 1870s. Eddie's not allowed in it. Eddie the dog Don't like this. Martin pretends to be blind. Oof, no, no, wrong, so many levels.
Speaker 1:I know he's feeling the house's face. Oh, it's cringy. No, don't like that. The barista comes over, martin states he wants coffee black and pulls a face Nothing fancy in it. And then they have a row about sweat, toast Frasier and Martin, toast sweat, yeah. And Niall's like what's toast sweat? It's not a phrase. I'd do it, dom no, but I think it's quite weird. I think it's straight away exactly what toast sweat would be.
Speaker 1:Yes. The barista brings over Frasier and Martin's coffee. Oh no, guess what's on Frasier's coffee? Is there cinnamon in the foam? So the barista doesn't even put it down and she just disappears with it. Frasier and Martin continue to argue About Eddie's chew toys in the sweater cupboard or the sweater cubby. Frasier called Eddie a fleabag. No, how rude. So Niles knows this is going to be a problem.
Speaker 1:So he tries to intervene, asking Martin about those mariners, those mariners, and poor Niles is told to shut up. Yeah, so Martin threatens to find somewhere else to stay. The last thing he wants is to be a burden on anyone. But Frasier says a sentence with him Rude. Martin says he's heared it before, but he won't have to hear it again. Yep Off they go. And that's the end of another act Fade to black.
Speaker 1:Frasier's come back from the bathroom, but he's been in there forever. You know why don't you that hand cream? Damn hand cream. Daphne's still there and she's telling them that Martin's also been snappy with her. When she told him to do exercises, he told Daphne to stick her feet behind her head and spin like a top. But that just sends Niall's imagination wild. Yeah, Daphne just says oh, I'm going to go. Niall's offers Daphne his bumper shoot and Daphne remarks that someone appreciates her mother tongue and Niall says he always had an ear for her tongue, but Fraser does tell him off about that. That's the thing. It's never left, is it? This bit made me laugh. Are you going to say that Niall's asked if he can have another coffee? If he wants another coffee to Fraser, yes, it's not until I've had my first one. Thanks, it's his own fault.
Speaker 2:It is totally.
Speaker 1:Fraser asks why is it so difficult between him and his dad? But Niall says you've got to see it from Martin's point of view. He was a policeman in a position of power and that's been taken away from him. Frasier wishes he could just kick his cane and make him land on eddie, that's so, that's mean. But then he starts thinking about a lovely time when he was on the couch falling asleep and dad was stroking his hair. Now he's surprised at this and asked if he'd said anything. And he said yeah, don't you think it's time to get hair cut? I know it was only covering, though what do you think? And then I left that and I was. You probably could get it true. Very funny. The coffee comes over and.
Speaker 1:Niles' coffee, and then Fraser, quite childlike, what about mine? And she says they've got a team of specialists looking into it, working on it. Yeah, that was funny. So they change the subject.
Speaker 2:Light and frothy Light and frothy.
Speaker 1:Are you in love with Daphne? That's a brother thing to do by the way.
Speaker 1:So Niall spits out his coffee. It's preposterous, he refuses to dignify it with an answer. Then he it's preposterous, he refuses to dignify it with an answer. Then he admits he doesn't know. He can't get her out of his mind. Why did he have to hire venus himself? Couldn't he find some beefy eastern european scrub woman who reeked of ammonia? But fraser's got a good comeback. I asked but it was an olympic year and the agency were fresh out. Fr says what you want is an affair with Daphne. And Niall's asked can I do that? Do you know what? It's easy for Frasier because he's free and happy.
Speaker 2:Oh, he hasn't answered that.
Speaker 1:He hasn't answered that question. That was the dramatic question he's about to, though when, when Roz comes back Complaining that man she had a date with wants to convert her, it doesn't matter though does it? No, it doesn't matter, Because she embraces men of all faiths, All faiths. Oh and then another cringy line if only it stopped there. Why does it matter if it stops there? I never got that. I never got how they were so judgmental about Roz Exactly, but they could do what they liked. So double standards for the series yeah totally.
Speaker 1:And for Niles, for example, yes, he was with Maris and then as soon as he dumped Maris, he was a man about time. So, yeah, that was never fair the Ross thing and I think they are, or they have addressed it a little bit in the new Frasier, but we're not talking about the new Frasier.
Speaker 1:Not because I don't like New Frasier. I really like New Frasier. It's just not the conversation today. Yeah, it's not about that, but I like the fact that she said oh, he was only. The problem is I don't care about the religion, but he was only pretending he was going to ask me out. Isn't there a commandment against it? And Niles says no, they didn't go into dating until the new testament. But fair play, she gets invited to join them and then she become weird again. I know they want to get rid of her, but come on, yeah, she realizes a cute new handyman in the house. So she's going to put on a negligee and rip out a farce.
Speaker 1:But Frasier hasn't exactly been burning up the social scene himself, but it does give a little clue to what happens, doesn't it? In what way? Now says you'll find someone. And fraser says what if I don't? What if I end up old and alone? I might have to buy a funny little dog and move in with frederick. He does not buy a dog, doesn't? Spoiler alert. He doesn't get the funny little dog. He does end up living with Frederick and I guess I don't have to worry about that for a while. And now says Frederick Should start worrying about Val. So he asks him again Are you happy? And then what happens? Martin arrives back. Oh poor Martin. He apologises he has been acting like a jerk and to forget about it. And Frederick asks what's been bothering you? Martin admits last Sunday was his birthday and they didn't remember.
Speaker 2:No excuse.
Speaker 1:But it doesn't matter, because he missed out their birthdays when they were growing up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Not the same, not the same, but it's okay, they're going to go for a meal His choice. Where are they going to go? Hoppy's, old Heidelberg, their best bratwurst in town For three years in a row. Now this is funny, right? Because If Martin said, oh, do you want to go to that place? I'd be like, yeah, I'd be up for that. Amanda, ugh, amanda's kind of like Frasier Niles Rolled into one. I am, I'm a combination of the two. I'd go there, but I wouldn't be eating breakfast, would I? No, I'd go along, but there probably wouldn't be anything there for me to eat. No, but I would quite enjoy it, I think, whereas you wouldn't, you wouldn't even enjoy it, I don't think I would.
Speaker 1:Bit of a sing song. Daphne comes back, she's found Martin Martin. She was looking up and down Third Street and he was in fourth. Eddie had smelt everything on Third but she found him because she had a psychic flash.
Speaker 1:And he walked in and apologised to her For treating her badly the past week. Niles offers to give him a ride home, as Frasier needs to stop at the station first. Niles tells Frasier that he's enjoyed their coffee and Martin asks what they talk about. And what do they talk about, mand? They talk about sports chicks monster track rallies. Yeah, obviously yeah, martin knows this is rubbish.
Speaker 1:Okay don't tell me, don't tell me. So the barista brings a coffee and asks if he's happy and Frasier, replies in the greatest scheme of things I'd say I am end titles and he sings no, he doesn't, he does sing. Then he pulls a face and he slithers and finds something in it, probably cinnamon yeah and calls her back.
Speaker 2:But I'm just saying it was the end titles there.
Speaker 1:Yeah so it was lights down and little prologue. Yeah, as the titles were playing. Yeah.
Speaker 2:But they always did that, didn't? They Always did that. Something happened at the end.
Speaker 1:Ah, no, not in the end. Titles of the season finales. Now, this is a different one. This season finale. He's not happy about the copy still. In other words, in the great scheme of things he's happy, but little things irritate him. Which I think most people would agree with. No, most people are not happy man In the end. Titles Frasier says See you next year. We love you. We love you, which is a nice little thing to the audience. Yeah, to announce that there's going to be another season.
Speaker 1:So, in all the season finales. Do you remember what they used to do? No, Do you remember the guest callers?
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, they used to do the thank yous, didn't?
Speaker 1:they and they'd have the list of who'd called in. The celebs at the time used to love doing that because they could literally phone it in. And that is the end of the episode. And now it's time for Amanda's favourite part of the show, everyone's favourite part. Amanda's favourite part of the show the quiz. Do you want to start? I'm being really nice this week.
Speaker 2:I hope you appreciate it. Oh, please start with an easy one.
Speaker 1:What is the name of the coffee shop? Caffe Nervosa. Caffe Nervosa, yay. Is that really an easy one? Yeah, is it, though? Yeah, okay, not as easy as this one. Where does Fraser's Coffee Beans come from Zimbabwe?
Speaker 2:Yep.
Speaker 1:Now, where had Maris gone by mistake? That Niles had to give her direction to get back from the kitchen, that's right. And my second question is about Maris as well. What is Maris reading in her sand garden? Oh, the Danielle Steele novel, while spooking a nail appointment on her cell phone.
Speaker 2:It's supposed to be meditating.
Speaker 1:What does Niles order? Oh, I can't remember A Kenyan cappuccino. What is Frasier's first complaint about the coffee? Oh, is it decaf? Yep, you're right, it's decaf. Okay, what's Roz's date called? So that's my hard one. That is really hard, because I have no clue. His name is Andy Winslow. Okay, so this is quite a hard one, though. So for me, because I'm usually quite kind on these quizzes. Oh, what does Niall say? His love doesn't burn with the passion for, isn't it? He equates it to another legend Tristan and Isolde, the Celtic legend. This is a nice easy one. Why do they move inside Training? Oh, god's Crying.
Speaker 2:God's Crying, yeah.
Speaker 1:But I think he was being sarcastic. Very much so yes, and my last question is where does Martin want to go for his birthday? Poppy's old title book, yeah, but I got two extra questions.
Speaker 2:Why have you got more questions?
Speaker 1:Because I like writing questions. Oh my gosh, how much was Martin's black coffee? I've no clue. $1.50. And he was moaning about the price. Oh, martin, martin, $1.50?. And then the final question was very easy why was Martin upset all week? Because they forgot his birthday. There you go. You know what that means, don't you? I've won again because you keep asking more questions. It's beautiful.
Speaker 2:I don't know how they don't get included.
Speaker 1:No, yeah, they do and that's how I win every week I win yes, I am, thank you, I am the winner now it's time for everyone else's favourite part of the week. Amanda, don't think I haven't forgotten. I haven't done a jingle for a long time. Now it's time for everyone else's favourite part of the week.
Speaker 2:Amanda, don't think I haven't forgotten. I haven't done a jingle for a long time.
Speaker 1:I know, but you've got to do a jingle now. I've given you a break. Do it now. Oh, here in Geek Corner we're going to talk about Frasier. That was awful. If anyone listened to this nonsense we could get sued for it. Okay, no, no, don't worry about it. Geek geek, geek, geek Corner. What's your fact, mand? Frasier was originally an only child. He was yes, that's true. On Cheers.
Speaker 1:The character Frasier Crane is an only child, and they later decide that Frasier lied about having a brother, niles, in order to appear cooler in front of his Bostonian friends. Yeah, rude, but at least they did try to address it, whereas in Friends there are errors and they just pretend that nobody's going to notice. Co-creator and executive producer David Angel was teased how he could write the funniest material and still be the dullest person in the room. And angel was the producer was on the plane that crashed into the north tower on 9 11. Niles and daphne's baby spoiler alert was named david after him and he's in the new Frasier reboot as well. Yes, lisa Kudrow was released from the role of Roz in the pilot. Burroughs stated that's James Burroughs that Kudrow had a wispy, ethereal style that didn't translate to the role. Now we talked about that in the Friends episode how she thought when James Burroughs came into direct Friends she wouldn't last on friends, but obviously no, they wanted an alpha dog.
Speaker 1:They needed somebody a bit stronger and they did. Yeah, to match fraser and lisa cutro's style was too different. Yeah, kelsey, grammar reportedly drove guest stars crazy with a technique he called requisite disrespect. Instead of running through scenes several times, grammar would rehearse only once. After the single rehearsal he would learn lines just before filming began. Executive producer David Lee stated that he believes it makes the scenes more real. Perry Gilpin, who played Roz, was reported to say that it would make guest stars freak out. Grammar is unapologetic about it and stated it makes this character more interesting, more organic and a bit more fun.
Speaker 1:Despite being set in Seattle, only one episode was filmed there Season 5, episode 5, the 100th Show. In the episode there is a celebration Frasier Day where the Thousand Show has its radio series has been broadcast. The show celebrated the real Frasier Day in Seattle on September 11th 1997. At the end of the episode Kelsey Grammer sings Toss Salads and Scrambled Eggs live in the Frasier Day rally. The canine who originated the role of Eddie was a dog called Moose. Later on in the series, moose's son, enzo, took over as Eddie. Moose was there at the curtain call, though at the final Frasier episode.
Speaker 1:He was blind, they had to carry him.
Speaker 2:They had to carry him. But he recognised the audience that was going to be my fact.
Speaker 1:I thought I might start blubbing Because you know what I was saying.
Speaker 1:And Perry Gilpin took the brother she had the brother Because he didn't look enough like Moose to take part, had different markings, she took the dog. John Mahoney was 10 years older than Kelsey Grammer. He never auditioned for the role of Martin Crane. He appeared in an episode of Cheers as a man hired to play piano in the bar. Another actor was cast for the Cheers role, began filming and never came back. So I believe he just filmed for the morning, went out lunchtime and he didn't come back at all. James Burroughs had seen Mahoney on Broadway in the House of Blue Leaves and knew he could play the piano. He was hired and rehearsed. When it came to the piano playing, the actor said he's never played it. He's could have just pretended that he could play the piano, cool.
Speaker 1:So he was allowed to continue with the role and it was the role that led directly to mahoney being cast in frasier. So the reason why toss salads and scrambled eggs they weren't allowed to mention psychiatry in the show's things. So that's what he talks about tossed salads and scrambled eggs, right, and he doesn't know what to do about them, but they're coming again, and that is the end of geek corner.
Speaker 1:thank you so much for joining us. Remember we got a lot of this stuff from the internet, and did you know the internet can lie? You can find us on instagram tv comedy pod. Our website, tv Comedy Pod. Our website, thattvcomedypodcastcom, and you can email us on thattvcomedypodcast at outlookcom. Bye-bye.
Speaker 2:Bye. It is a deliciously bright podcast produced by Jackie J Sarah. For extended episodes and exclusive content, become a subscriber at patreoncom forward slash that TV comedy podcast.
