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| Metal fatigue is definitely noticeable in the faces of the stars of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's Frasier on this inauspicious picture for the show's 8th season |
The following review of the 8th season of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's (Cheers (1983-93), all) classic hit sitcom about Seattle radio psychologist Frasier Crane, his psychiatrist brother Niles, their retired cop father Martin, Frase's producing partner Roz and Martin's physical therapist and Niles' crush-of-years, British Daphne, contains SPOILERS.
The season starts off right were season 7 left; with Niles Crane eloped with Daphne Moon from her own wedding ceremony, to which they decide to return to declare their love for each other. Daphne's betrothed Danny reacts with a lawsuit; Niles' wife Mel is in shock. And it takes a while before romance is possible, and big brother Frasier eventually gets thanked for pushing for their union.
Niles is pressured into carrying on a sham marriage with Mel, until he steps up, - in order to save his future with Daphne, - and explains his situation to Mel's friends (in 5: Taking Liberties). Danny's anger also abates, as he becomes engaged to another woman.
Martin and Frasier have new romances, none of which stick. The season leaves Frasier in doubt about dreams of a past lover (Jean Smart (The Accountant (2016))), while he has a new, 'too-good-to-be-true' girlfriend (Patricia Clarkson (High Art (1998)) seems too intelligent for the a bit too cookie-cutter character); so much so that he has to debate it with his ex-wife Lilith.
This ending feels repetitive and unfunny.
This follows a season with a handful of fine, some even hilarious episodes, but more that are just passably pleasant and a good time, and some that raise concerns for the Frasier fan:
While the regular cast, and especially Kelsey Grammer (Down Periscope (1996)) as Frasier, are still dynamite, the show shows signs of wear and tear for the first time in its extraordinary run here: A story of dating a greedy lawyer is handled without the characteristic elegance (6: Legal Tender, Love and Care); Frasier appears almost cartoonish in 13: Sliding Frasier; neither the traditionally terrific Christmas or mix-up episodes are up to the level from former seasons; one episode's plot-line about the radio station's gay food critic Gil and his also gay producer (18: Forgotten But Not Gone) is unfunny and unrefined; and the following episode (18: Daphne Returns) is Frasier's first clip-show episode!
This all makes season 8 the least successful in the series up to this point and the first which isn't overall fantastic.
Best episodes:
7: The New Friend - Written by Bob Daily (Superior Donuts (2017-18)); directed by Scott Ellis (Sebastian Says (2016, TV movie))
Roz gets a new, exciting lover, a real adventurer, whom Frasier befriends. But when he turns out a cheat, both Roz and Frasier continue seeing him without informing the other. And Daphne appears to be pregnant ... (This is later just overweight attributed to her stress at Niles' high expectations of her, - in fact star Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland (2010-15)) was pregnant.) Hilarious episode.
10. Cranes Unplugged - Written by Lori Kirkland Baker (Wings (1996-97)); directed by Sheldon Epps (George Lopez (2006-07))
Frase's son Frederick visits, which breaks up Frasier's plans, because Frederick has become a lazy teenager. To this end Frasier forces them through a camping trip! Meanwhile Niles and Daphne try to find a man for Roz. Fun!
11: Motor Skills - Written by Eric Zicklin (Hot in Cleveland (2011-12)), story by Sam Johnson, Chris Marcil (Crowded (2016, TV-series), both); directed by Pamela Fryman (One Day at a Time (2017-20))
Frase and Niles are confronted with their ignorance concerning cars at an engine failure prior to an opera engagement, and they decide to improve themselves with an evening class, - but it just isn't their cup of tea ... And Martin is thrilled about Roz's Dalmatian pup. Hilarious.
15. Hooping Cranes - Written by Jon Sherman (All-American Girl (1994, TV-series)); directed by Grammer
Frase mistakenly promises Martin a trip to a basketball game, and he brings Niles along, whose seat number gets selected, and he shoots the ball for the basket in halftime, and - against everyone's expectations - scores! His subsequent bragging becomes too much for Frasier, who also has to handle Roz's new French flirt. Very funny.
Related posts:
David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (creators): Frasier - season 7 (1999) - Romance finally takes flight in still hilarious sitcom favorite
Frasier - season 6 (1998) - Niles finally begins his divorce in solidly hilarious season
Frasier - season 5 (1997) - Grammer, Pierce and Co. still bring home laughs aplenty
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
Watch a clip from the season here of Niles and Daphne being in love
Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV series
= Uncertain - but certainly a TV hit
[Frasier season 8 was first shown from 24 October 2000 - 22 May 2001 on NBC, and it spans 24 episodes, two of them being double-episodes, of an average 22 minutes, totaling approximately 528 minutes. Shooting took place in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with establishing shots from Seattle, Washington. 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 entire 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 (15: Hooping Cranes) was 12.9 mil. US viewers and its highest (1/2: And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon) was 28.6 mil.. The season fell in its Nielsen ratings ranking from season 7's #6 ranking to a #17 rating, a fairly hard decline. The season was nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys, winning two, and 3 Creative Emmys, winning one; it was also nominated for 2 Golden Globes, among other honors. The 9th season started showing in September 2001. Grammer at the time also starred in The Sports Pages (2001, TV movie), 15 Minutes (2001) and Just Visiting (2001). 69,256 IMDb users have given Frasier an 8.0/10 average rating.]
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