Frasier - season 8 (2000) - Sitcom favorite takes its first minor tumble

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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.] 
 
What do you think of Frasier season 8?

Frasier - season 7 (1999) - Romance finally takes flight in still hilarious sitcom favorite

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Comedy of the Year + Best Returning TV-series of the Year + Best Romcom of the Year + Best Seattle Title of the Year

Kelsey Grammer in front of the regular stars of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's Frasier - season 7 with a characteristic broad bravura smile

Season 7 of the long-running, Seattle-set sitcom-hit opens with a fun episode (Momma Mia) in which the self-centered but affable radio therapist title character (Kelsey Grammer (Galaxies Are Colliding (1992))) falls for a woman, whom he discovers he likes, because she is so akin to his father, retired cop and living companion Martin (John Mahoney (Dan in Real Life (2007))). Hilarity continues in the second episode (Father of the Bride), as Frasier, via a hiccup-induced mistake, comes to take over planning Martin's live-in physical therapist, Englishwoman Daphne's (Jane Leeves (Hot in Cleveland (2010-15))) wedding to annoying lawyer Danny, and in the third (Radio Wars), wherein Frasier is plagued by a competing prank show that continually stage on-air leg-pulling with him as their victim.
Frasier's single-mother producing partner and friend Roz (Peri Gilpin (Benjamin (2019))) continues a sweet on/off romance with former colleague 'Bulldog' Briscoe, and there's an enjoyable mix-up episode (6: Rivals). Frase and his brother, equally self-centered but affable psychiatrist Niles (David Hyde Pierce (Nixon (1995))) imagine having royal ancestors at an antique show (7: A Tsar Is Born), but instead end up owing Martin 30 grand for a Winnebago. Frasier's teenage son Frederick visits for Thanksgiving (9: The Apparent Trap) with his ex-wife Lilith, and the boy is either cute or manipulative here in a kind of brilliant episode. Frasier goes overboard when tasked with making a jingle for his show (13: They're Playing Our Song), but Martin's way simpler idea turns out to be better.
Martin also has an affair in season 7, and Frasier and Roz nearly have one together, but it is still Niles and Daphne's latent romance that is the main event love-wise, and the writers here come up with another clever way to postpone a solution for another season: This time, finally, Daphne learns of Niles' warm feelings, but without Niles knowing this, she is left to rack her own heart for several episodes, as it gets clearer and clearer for her that she also loves him, - and has married the wrong man. This makes for two of the season's best episodes (10: Back Talk, in which she finds out, and 23/24: Something Borrowed, Something Blue), and in the latter of the two the resolution finally arrives, after 6 seasons of buildup, as the two escape Daphne's pending wedding, in Martin's Winnebago no less. Television history is made.

The season has several great and a handful of really outstanding episodes; none that are bad, and only one negative minor detractor in one, (Daphne's visiting English brother Simon is simply too crude a Neanderthal-reminiscent character to be funny in 22: Dark Side of the Moon). The dramatic evolvement is steady and highly satisfying, and the cast again bring their A game, with resulting laughs aplenty. Creator David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (Wings (1990-97) all) spun gold.

Best episodes:

4. Everyone's a Critic - Written by Joe Keenan (Desperate Housewives (2006-11)); directed by Pamela Fryman (Abby's (2019, TV-series))
Niles becomes a critic on snob magazine Monocle, and Frasier gets so jealous that he gets his own critic show instated at the radio station, - he thinks. The whole cast are in top shape in this terrific episode. 

10. Back Talk - Written by Lori Kirkland Baker (Wings (1996-97)); directed by Fryman
Frase has back problems on his birthday and follows Roz's advice by admitting them - his combined frustrations - to Martin's adorable dog Eddie. But Daphne overhears his outpourings, and over the course of the following hours she also hears that Niles has been in love with her for 6 years! One of the best Frasier episodes ever.

11. The Fight Before Christmas - Written by Jon Sherman (Royal Pains (2009-16)); directed by Fryman
The mix-ups continue, as Niles is about to lose his girlfriend Mel, and Daphne believes him to be on the verge of confessing his love for her. She cannot help feeling overlooked at Frasier's failed Christmas party. A perfect Christmas episode. 

15. Out with Dad - Written by Keenan; directed by Lee
Frasier and Martin accompany each other to the opera for Valentine's Day, and Frasier lures a hot women (Marg Helgenberger (Columbus Day (2008))) home, meanwhile Martin accidentally indicates to other patrons that he is gay, which gives rise to ... complications! Hysterically funny. 

23/24: Something Borrowed, Something Blue (double-length episode) - Written by Keenan, Christopher Lloyd (Modern Family (2009-20)); directed by Fryman
Daph attempts to talk to Niles, who has just wed another wrong woman named Mel, but soon 100 people are gathered for still doubting Daphne's wedding to Danny. Frasier informs Niles that he has to step up, and the suspense is finally lifted, as Niles and Daphne, in her wedding dress, flee the ceremony. Top-drawer, heart-swelling romance, folks.

Related posts:

David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (creators):  1999 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

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

The Crane brothers consider being ancestors of Russian royalty in this funny clip from season 7's episode 7: A Tsar Is Born

Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV series
= Uncertain - but certainly a TV hit
[Frasier season 7 was first shown from 23 September 1999 - 18 May 2000 on NBC, and it spans 24 episodes, the last one counted as two as it has double-length, 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 (episode 14: Hot Pursuit) was 14 mil. US viewers and its highest (episode 23/24: Something Borrowed, Something Blue) was enormous 33.7 mil.. The season fell in its Nielsen ratings ranking from season 6's #3 ranking, the series' best overall, to a still great #6 rating, beginning the show's ratings decline. The season was nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys, winning one, and 3 Creative Emmys, also winning one; it was also nominated for 4 Golden Globes, winning one, among other honors. The 8th season started showing in October 2000. Grammer at the time also starred in Stark Raving Mad (2000, TV-series) and gave a voice performance in Gary the Rat (2000, video). 69,139 IMDb users have given Frasier an 8.0/10 average rating.] 

What do you think of Frasier season 7?

Frasier - season 6 (1998) - Niles finally begins his divorce in solidly hilarious season

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Continuing TV-series

The beloved sitcom's regular stars are all back in a familial pile on this DVD cover for the 6th season of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's Frasier

The season picks up where season 5 ended: Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer (Guardians of the Tomb (2018))), Seattle's eminent radio psychologist, finds himself out of a job for the first time in the show's run. This doesn't last long, however. Frasier's psychologist brother Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce (A Bug's Life (1998))) goes through a rougher patch, as he finally divorces his never-by-us-seen wife Maris. To make matters worse, the tough lawyer that Frasier finds for his brother to speed the process up, Danny, begins a relationship with Daphne (Jane Leeves (Hercules (1998), TV-series)), the Crane brothers' retired cop father Martin's (John Mahoney (Primal Fear (1996))) live-in physical therapist, - whom Niles himself has been enamored with, more or less since she came to the Crane family in the first season.
Woody Harrelson of Cheers, Frasier's 'parent show', shows up (in episode 13: The Show Where Woody Shows Up), and he and Frasier learn that they don't enjoy each others' company the way they used to; a familiar experience which is used to amusing effect.
Roz (Peri Gilpin (The Outdoorsman (2017))), Frasier's producer colleague, is getting used to her new life as a single mother, and she has an affair with the radio station's randy sports host 'Bulldog' Briscoe in the season's double episode finale. 

Martin and Frasier also go through various episodes in their romantic lives, but as usual, it is mostly Grammer and Pierce who shine comedically as the ever-competing Crane brothers. 
Creators David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's (Wings (1990-97), all) sitcom super series Frasier retains its high level in season 6 with several terrific episodes and a very high laugh frequency throughout.

Best episodes:

1: Good Grief - Written by Christopher Lloyd (Modern Family (2009-19)); directed by Pamela Fryman (Man with a Plan (2016-18))
Frasier goes through a sorrow-like phase after losing his job at KACL; and Niles suffers pangs from divorcing Maris. - Hilarious. 

2. Frasier's Curse - Written by Jay Kogen (School of Rock (2016-18)); directed by Fryman
Attending the high school reunion becomes a painful event due to unemployment, but Frasier lives it up ... with acapella singing!

7. How to Bury a Millionaire - Written by Lori Kirkland Baker (Wings (1996-97)); directed by Fryman
Niles gets evicted from Maris' mansion, but his difficult person makes his stay at his brother's place short, and he moves on to Shangri-La Apartments.

10. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz - Written by Kogen; directed by Grammer
Frasier dates a charming pastry chef (Amy Brenneman (Mother and Child (2009))), but when he meets her mother before Christmas, his attempt at seeming Jewish fails.

17. Dinner Party - Written by Jeffrey Richman (Charlie Lawrence (2003, TV-series)); directed by Lee
Frasier and Niles plan a dinner party, but their plans are complicated. All five regular stars shine in this brilliantly scripted episode set exclusively in the apartment.

18. Taps at the Montana - Written by David Lloyd (Amen (1986-87)); directed by Lee
Niles plans a party to get himself back into his building, but the evening turns fatal - twice! A morbid and hilarious episode.

Related posts:

David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (creators):  1998 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

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
  

Here's a clip from episode 3 (Dial M for Martin) in which Laura Harring (Love Kills (2016)) guest stars

Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV series
= Uncertain - but certainly a TV hit
[Frasier season 6 was first shown from 24 September 1998 - 20 May 1999 on NBC, and it spans 24 episodes of an average 22 minutes, totaling approximately 528 minutes, (if the last episode is taken as two, through it is really a double-length episode.) 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 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 21: When a Man Loves Two Women) was 20 mil. US viewers and its highest (episode 1: Good Grief) was 28.3 mil.. The season rose in its Nielsen ratings ranking from season 5's #10 ranking to the best ranking the series ever attained, #3. The season won 2/7 Emmy noms. The 7th season started showing in September 1999. Grammer at the time also starred in Standing on Fishes (1999) and New Jersey Turnpikes (1999) and gave voice performances in 4 other 1999 titles, including Toy Story 2. 66,531 IMDb users have given Frasier an 8.1/10 average rating.] 

What do you think of Frasier season 6?

Frasier - season 5 (1997) - Grammer, Pierce and Co. still bring home laughs aplenty

♥♥♥♥♥

+ Best Returning TV-series of the Year + Best Sitcom of the Year 

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

Watch a video here that visits the Frasier set and centers on the animal trainer of the show's regular dog Moose who plays Eddie

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? 

Frasier - season 4 (1996) - Angell, Casey and Lee's superb therapist sitcom winner retains its level

♥♥♥♥♥♥

+ 2nd Best Title of the Year

+ Best Returning TV-series of the Year + Best Sitcom of the Year 

Seattle's top radio therapist returns in a red setting on this poster for season 4 of David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee's Frasier

Protagonist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer (Like Father (2018))), Seattle's high-minded top radio therapist, continues his unlucky romantic life in the delightful sitcom's fourth season. His separated therapist brother Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce (Wolf (1994))) is lonely, until his ever elusive wife Maris decides to take him back - to counseling, of course. Meanwhile Niles' flirt with Daphne (Jane Leeves (Murphy Brown (1989-93))), - the physical therapist, who lives with Frasier and his retired cop father Martin (John Mahoney (Article 99 (1992))) in Frase's swanky apartment, - has its ups and downs, and more than once Niles almost gets lucky.
Martin, a widower, has more success in that direction; one girlfriend gets replaced by another: Big-mouthed Sherry (Marsha Mason (The Middle (2010-17))), who lasts for the duration of the season and stirs up all kinds of problems.

The tender Niles/Daphne situation gets drawn out and taken right to the border of what is bearable; but the dance around the attraction remains funny, - although it reaches its limit here.
Dan Butler's (Hey Arnold! (1997-04)) Bulldog Briscoe character, Frasier's co-worker at the radio station, gets added space in season 4, which also has the series' first double episode, episode 19: Three Dates and a Breakup. 
Season 4 continues the legendary show's roll as a uniformly magnificent series with hilarious episodes following each other as pearls on a favorite necklace. Creators David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (Encore! Encore! (1998-99), all) were the captains of a rare, perfect ship in TV with this fan favorite.

Best episodes:

3: The Impossible Dream - Written by Rob Greenberg (Meet Dave (2008)); directed by Lee
Latent homosexuality worries Frasier after he has recurring dreams of gay colleague Gil Chesterton.

7: A Lilith Thanksgiving - Written by Anne-Flett Giordano, Chuck Ranberg (Hot in Cleveland (2010-13), both); directed by Jeff Melman (The Exes (2013-15))
Frasier's ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth (Bored to Death (2009-11))) and Frasier have it out concerning their son's fine education. With Jane Lynch (Glee (2009-15)).

14: To Kill a Talking Bird - Written by Jeffrey Richman (Rules of Engagement (2009-10)); directed by Lee
Niles gets a bird stuck on his head.

15: Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead - Written by William Lucas Walker (Will & Grace (1998), TV-series); directed by Melman 
Frasier's producing partner Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin (Thru the Moebius Strip (2005))) gets confronted with her fear of aging, and Frasier with James Earl Jones (Primary Colors (1998)). 

18: Ham Radio - Written by David Lloyd (Wings (1990-95)); directed by Lee
Frasier celebrates the radio station's 50th anniversary by taking up a dream of directing a radio murder mystery, but his lack of the necessary skills renders the result a disaster.

Related posts:

David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee (creators): 1996 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess

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 hilarious clip from the episode Ham Radio here

Cost: Unknown
Box office: None - TV series
= Uncertain - but certainly a TV hit
[Frasier season 4 was first shown from 17 September 1996 - 20 May 1997 on NBC, and it spans 23 episodes, (some count the double-length episode 19 as two), 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 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 3: The Impossible Dream) was 14.5 mil. US viewers and its highest (episode 1: The Two Mrs. Cranes) was 21.8 mil.. The season dived in its Nielsen ratings ranking from season 3's #11 ranking to #16. The season won 2/9 Emmy noms, was nominated for 3 Golden Globes and many other honors. The 5th season started showing in September 1997. Grammer at the time also starred in TV-series Fired Up (1997) and gave a voice performance in Anastasia (1997). 65,049 IMDb users have given Frasier an 8.1/10 average rating.]

What do you think of Frasier season 4?