Still more intelligent than most of the sitcoms we see on TV.
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By the eighth season, "Frasier" (as in Dr. Frasier Crane) was starting to be an awfully familiar face for TV audiences. They listened to the loveably pompous psychologist's barstool wisdom over eight seasons of "Cheers," then heard him dispense advice on the spin-off show where he played a Seattle-based radio host for another seven. But while the three-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Comedy (1996, 1997, 1998) yielded its crown to "Ally McBeal," "Will & Grace," and "Sex and the City," this season still produced two more statues—both of them for the new category of Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress. Sir Derek Jacobi won for his portrayal of an godawful Shakespearian actor, while Jean Smart won for another funny episode involving Frasier's old prom queen. As always, Kelsey Grammer is in fine form as Frasier.
This is the season that began with Daphne (Jane Leeves) leaving her would-be husband Donny (Saul Rubinek) at the altar and running off with Frasier's brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) in the Crane Winnebego. It was also the season in which Leeves, who played the live-in housekeeper and therapist to the boys' father, Martin (John Mahoney), became pregnant in real life, but had to endure a cruel plotline about her character eating herself fat instead. This season, the writers seemed to rely a bit too much on situation in the early going, but once they got past the continuing saga of the two jilted lovers (Donny and Niles' wife, Mel, played by Jane Adams), the writing took center stage again. Witty lines and laugh-out-loud funny moments were the show's trademark, with much of the humor coming at the expense of the effete Crane brothers. Once this season gets on track, it's no different.
As far as content goes, Roz (Peri Gilpin) gets more storylines this season, and we also see more of station manager Kenny (Tom McGowan) and prissy restaurant critic Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert). Twenty-four episodes are included on four discs in this set:
1-2) "And the Dish Ran Away with the Spoon"—Daphne leaves Donny at the altar and runs off with Niles, after which lawyer Donny decides to sue everyone in sight.
3) "The Bad Son"—Frasier coaxes his dad into touring a retirement home so he can date the woman who's running it.
4) "The Great Crane Robbery"—Frasier's new boss (Alan Tudyk) has no style of his own, so he decides to copy Frasier, right down to a duplicate of his condo.
5) "Taking Liberties"—Frasier snaps up an English butler (Victor Garber) who helps him impress opera snobs in town, until Niles and Daphne's love comes out in the open and spoils things.
6) "Legal Tender Love and Care"—Frasier blows another relationship when he thinks the gorgeous attorney he's dating (Teri Polo) is running up the bill on him.
7) "The New Friend"—Gary Cole stars as Roz's ex-boyfriend whom Frasier sees on the side, though he knows it would annoy his producer.
8) "Mary Christmas"—This funny holiday episode has Dr. Mary (Kim Coles) spoiling Frasier's dream chance to broadcast the Seattle Christmas Parade.
9) "Frasier's Edge"—Another funny one where Frasier almost misses the chance to accept a lifetime achievement award because he's in therapy with his college mentor (Rene Auberjonois).
10) "Cranes Unplugged"—When Frasier's son, Frederick, visits and seems more interested in cell phones and video games than his dad, the Cranes head for the not-so-great outdoors.
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[release]19093[/release]