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| All the regular cast members return - and look glamorous in matching dark outfits on this photo for David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's Frasier season 5 |
We have come to the 5th season of my sitcom favorite by creators David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (Wings (1990-97), all).
The season feels a lot like 'business-as-usual' in Frasier-land. The following contains SPOILERS:
The big news in the 24 episode-long batch is that Seattle therapist radio host Frasier's (Kelsey Grammer (Cheers (1984-93))) brother, another eminent although regularly practicing psychologist in the rainy city, Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce (The Powers That Be (1992-93))), finally does break up with his ever-talked-about-but-never-seen nightmare of a society wife Maris (in the epic episode 13: The Maris Counselor). Frasier's ex-wife Lilith visits (in episode 15: Room Service), and has a short affair with Niles. Later Niles' infatuation with his father's live-in English physical therapist Daphne (Jane Leeves (Mr. Belvedere (1989, TV-series))), which have gone on for several seasons now, starts to get a bit painful to watch.
Frasier's producing partner Roz Doyle also sees progress, though, as she becomes pregnant in the season, (but stays characteristically single.) This gives Peri Gilpin (Only Humans (2018)) a welcome opportunity to show some more range in the part of Roz, like when Frasier, - himself a father to son Frederick, who lives with his mother far away, - decides to give some touching parenting advice (in episode 4: The Kid.) Roz gives birth in connection to an ill-lucked singles' party that Niles throws (in episode 22: The Life of the Party), and gives birth to a beautiful girl, Alice.
The show finds its way out into the actual Seattle (the only time it happens in the series' run, except for through setting shots of Seattle landmarks) (in episode 5: 1000th Show), in which Frasier is kept from participating in his own Crane day and helps a chauffeur with his personal problems instead, (a bit far-fetched.)
The brothers' retired cop father Martin (John Mahoney (Say Anything... (1989))) also sees some development: He makes a decision to leave his girlfriend Sherry (in episode 11: Ain't Nobody's Business If I Do), and in a really good moment, Frasier, just on the verge of articulating another advice for his dear father, decides to shut up instead.
Frasier himself doesn't go through anything dramatically altering in season 5: He sponsors a crane in the zoo and switches agent a few times (in episode 12: The Zoo Story), and desperately tries to leave his building on his birthday to go out on another date (in funny episode 23: Party, Party).
As the long list of best episodes below testifies to, Frasier still is a comedic knockout. Grammer and especially Pierce here are eminent in its mix of intellectual and physical comedy. It is still a wonderful sitcom with wonderful characters.
Best episodes:
1: Frasier's Imaginary Friend - Written by Rob Greenberg (Bad Haircut (2001, TV movie)); directed by Lee
Begins right where season 4 ended on a trip to Mexico. Full of energy, it concerns Frasier's unexpected scoring of a top model/geologist.
3: Halloween - Written by Suzanne Martin (Will & Grace (2017-18)); directed by Pamela Fryman (Two and a Half Men (2004-05))
An entanglement episode in which the season's second big event is revealed: Roz is pregnant with the child of a very young man, - and she means to keep it.
6: Voyage of the Damned - Written by Jeffrey Richman (Stacked (2005-06)); directed by Fryman
Maris commits adultery on a commercial cruise that Frasier has been booked on. Hilarious episode.
7: My Fair Frasier - Written by Jay Kogen (Henry Danger (2015-16)); directed by Jeff Melman (Ugly Betty (2007, TV-series))
Frasier is the subjugated in a relationship to a businesswoman. A cleverly written and very funny episode.
9. Perspectives on Christmas - Written by Christopher Lloyd (Flushed Away (2006)); directed by Lee
Another wildly successful Christmas episode: Everyone complains about their horrid holiday experiences to a masseuse. - A lot better than it sounds!
10: Where Every Bloke Knows Your Name - Written by Rob Hanning (Hawaii Five-O (2016-19)); directed by Melman
Frasier offends England; a very funny episode about Daphne's regular pub hangout.
14: The Ski Lodge - Written by Joe Keenan (Out of Practice (2005-06)); directed by Lee
A fantastically funny comedy of customs episode, in which everyone falls for the wrong persons.
18: Bad Dog - Written by Martin; directed by Fryman
One of the season's very best: At a robbery at the Crane's hangout Café Nervosa, another of the radio station's personalities, Bulldog Briscoe acts highly selfishly, and is saluted for it due to a misunderstanding, at the following radio awards show, - but his true behavior is then revealed.
24: Sweet Dreams - Written by Kogen; directed by Sheldon Epps (George Lopez (2006-07))
Daphne is arrested at a demonstration. Through a mass of missteps, Frasier manages to get every one at his workplace radio station KACL fired and the station turned into a latino themed outlet instead. A very funny episode.
Related posts:
David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (creators): 1997 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess
Frasier - season 4 (1996) - Angell, Casey and Lee's superb therapist sitcom winner retains its level
Frasier - season 3 (1995) - A comedy triumph
Frasier - season 2 (1994) - Seattle's sitcom power team return, resulting in many more laughs and good times
Frasier - season 1 (1993) - The perfect sitcom arrived
Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV series
= Uncertain - but certainly a TV hit
[Frasier season 5 was first shown from 23 September 1997 - 19 May 1998 on NBC, and it spans 24 episodes of an average 22 minutes, totaling approximately 528 minutes. Shooting took place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with establishing shots from Seattle, Washington, and one episode with parts shot in Seattle. The series' cost grew during its run, and the cost per episode at its closure after 11 seasons was reportedly 5.2 mil. $ (124.8 mil. $ for the 24 episodes), of which 60 % went to its regular stars, of which Grammer commanded an impressive 1.6 mil. $ (amounting to 38.4 mil. $ for the season). Still, with syndication, foreign sales, home video etc., the series was likely a great asset for NBC. The season's rating's lowest (episode 22: The Life of the Party) was 15.6 mil. US viewers and its highest (episode 1: Frasier's Imaginary Friend) was 21.5 mil.. The season rose in its Nielsen ratings ranking from season 4's #16 ranking to #10, tied with Home Improvement. The season won 4/11 Emmy noms, was nominated for 2 Golden Globes and many other honors. The 6th season started showing in September 1998. Grammer at the time also starred in The Pentagon Wars (1998, TV movie), The Real Howard Spitz (1998) and Just Shoot Me (1998, TV-series). 65,699 IMDb users have given Frasier an 8.1/10 average rating.]
What do you think of Frasier season 5?
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