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I sort of grew up with Frasier. Over the past 11 years I've watched it, every single episode. In fact, I watched Cheers before that. In effect, Frasier’s character has been there since I was a kid.
Every single episode raised a laugh at some point. Sure, seasons 8 and 9 were a bit poor in comparison to others, but they were still amongst the funniest programs out there.
Back when I first watched Cheers I would have been six or something. And I never really got most of the jokes if I'm honest, not then anyway. But Sam was always cool I thought. I used to watch the repeats on TV a lot. As I got older I understood more of it. Then Frasier came along.
Frasier was not really the obvious choice for a spin off of Cheers. Frasier was more of a fringe character than Sam. Or Diane or Cliff or Norm or Woody. But he got his own show nonetheless. And by that time I would have been sixteen or so. I've always had sort of highbrow tastes, hence I got all the wee in jokes that most people missed.
Friday night, ten o' clock. It is imprinted on my brain completely. Even when the showed it on Mondays or latterly Wednesdays, every Friday night there was a reflex that said Frasier is on. I'd always go get a coffee. Or a beer. Often both. Stretch out on the couch. Make myself comfortable. Even when I'd had a bad day and was in a foul mood, Frasier always left me with a smile on my face. Biggles doesn't smile much.
I watched the characters grow as if they were real people I was learning about. We already knew Frasier. We met Niles his little brother, even more snobby and pompous than Frasier himself. Another psychiatrist. Who looked down on Frasier's radio psychiatry, but was jealous of the attention.
There was Martin, the down to earth father. Daphne the slightly away with it physiotherapist. Roz the fun loving producer. Bulldog the laddish sports presenter. Kenny, Noel, Gil, Bebe, Maris (even if we never saw her), Duke.
Then there was the callers. Especially in the early seasons, when they did more at the radio station, KACL, than at Frasiers home; you would hear a voice and they would have some sort of problem blah blah. But you would recognise the voice and you'd spend 20 minutes trying to figure out who it was until they appeared in the credits. There was a whole host of big stars over the years.
It was always brilliantly written. That's why Frasier won so many Emmys, it was that good. Some of the best moments were of Niles just doing physical comedy. I remember one episode, post Maris, pre Daphne. He was living in the Shangri La just after the divorce because he was broke. Niles is over at Frasier’s and about to go out. He presses his trousers. In doing so notices he needs to fix a thread. Goes to get scissors. Cuts himself. Passes out, sets fire to his trousers, then the sofa etc.
Nothing was spoken in that scene. Just a man in his boxers and shirt and an ironing board. Yet I laughed non stop for 5 minutes. It was moments like that which made Frasier my favourite TV show of all time. That is why I still watch repeats almost every time they are on.
*SPOILER*
Tonight it all ended. For a long time I thought that Frasier would end up with Roz. He never did. I realised that wasn't going to happen a season or two back. In a way I'm glad of that. Simply because that would have been too predictable. I liked the twist at the end. I liked the way he was all set for a new start in San Francisco, just like he had a new start in Seattle 11 years ago.
*END SPOILER*
But then he didn't. He practised what he preached, he put his money where his mouth was. And he took a chance, because it really is true when they say that the biggest regrets you'll ever have are of the chances you never took.
Tonight my last link with child hood, bar Charlie my guardian soft monkey, was lost. It was the end of an era for me. The end of my favourite TV show. The passing of a friend. The death of an old routine. That was it. The end.
The final thing I'm going to take from that last ever episode is to take a chance and not hold back. It made me think about the one I love and how I never really made the effort I should have. All because of one episode of Frasier. Wow. I have a phone call to make. Yes right now. I can do it, I'm a man now.
Goodbye old friend.
Thanks for listening.
Great post.
The favourite one I remember was the radio detective story.
:-D
By the by, did you all used to look out for the little "animation" on the title. Like the lift, or the lights, or the balloons, etc?
*SPOILER I THINK?*
When the plane lands, it says "Welcome to Chicago" I thought he was going to San Fran? WHE?
*END OF THE SPOILER?*
The funniest bit jsut had to be when Niles walked out feeding the monkey.
"Don't stare, you were no prize at that age either....."
tata
> Hey, we're equal opportunities in our hatred; we don't hate anyone
> for their skin colour, their religion, their beliefs, or anything
> like that. We just hate them cos they're not us. Hell, I hate him cos
> he's not me. Truly, we are without prejudice.
Same here. If I don't like someone it's not because of something as meaningless and pointless as what you list above. It's because, well, I think they're tools.
> Though I must admit, I bow to his superior arrogance. Which, bearing
> in mind when you see what he married, shows he has an unimpeachable
> ego...
Bwhahahahahhahahaa. :)
> Hehe, with more arrogance. And general hatred of all and sundry. ;)
Hey, we're equal opportunities in our hatred; we don't hate anyone for their skin colour, their religion, their beliefs, or anything like that. We just hate them cos they're not us. Hell, I hate him cos he's not me. Truly, we are without prejudice.
Though I must admit, I bow to his superior arrogance. Which, bearing in mind when you see what he married, shows he has an unimpeachable ego...