Why So Series is a weekly feature on DVD boxsets, to guide your summer viewing…
Frasier has recently been heavily syndicated on digital tv, becoming almost as pervasive as the Simpsons and Friends. I’ve caught the occasional episode with Jen, who has never watched it before and had no idea that it was a spin-off of Cheers, which just goes to show how strong it is as a standalone series. For anyone that’s never caught a few episodes (have you been living under a rock?) a literal description of the show is deceptively dull. It revolves around the life of an effeminate radio Psychiatrist who gets divorced; moves back to his hometown, and then has his father Martin (a retired cop) and his dog Eddie move in with him, he also hires an eccentric English live-in physical therapist/caretaker Daphne for the father and is visited regularly by his equally effeminate brother Niles, who is also a Psychiatrist.
This set up allows for what can only be described as adult situation comedy. Not adult as in ex-rated (unless you count occasional sexual innuendo – oh my!), adult as in mature and sophisticated. I’ve always been of the opinion that it takes a certain type of person to truly enjoy all of the humour in Frasier. The comedy in Frasier is distinguished by wit and clever repartee, whilst occasionally lightly sprinkled with traditional comedy values – the set up itself is that of a traditional situation comedy, where most of the comedy comes from. The educated man, forced to live with his father, a man who represents the values and lifestyle of a totally different generation.
There is nothing on tv today that comes close to the intelligent banter between the characters in Frasier - if anything, since Frasier went off the air American sitcoms (with the exception of maybe 30 Rock) seem to be getting dumber. Unlike those dumb modern sitcoms, Frasier will outlast them because it retains a distinctive freshness. This is because the writers chose not to include contemporary commentary, meaning the show is politically and socially neutral. Yet, even back in 1993 the writers seemed clued in to the new breed of metrosexual male – those debonair qualities that epitomise Frasier and Niles.
However, as with any long running tv show it does suffer from having been on the air too long and by season 9 it begins to dip in quality. Yet it does redeem itself with the last 6 episodes of the final season, which wraps most of it up nicely. 
One of the great things about watching all 11 seasons, is spotting the celebrity guest voices calling into Frasier’s radio show or the special episodes staring the likes of Patrick Stewart (in what has to be the funniest Frasier episode of all time - you can actually watch this entire episode in 3 parts on Youtube!), Zooey Deschanel, Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher, Laura Linney etc.
I’ve seen the complete boxset a few times in HMV for about €100 during their sales, it’s also usually included in the play.com boxset sales (but is currently about €200 there, so it might be worth waiting around for it to drop in price). Whatever the price you end up paying, it’s well worth it for over 100 hours and 260 episodes of quality comedy that is far superior to any of the rubbish being dished out lately.
I”d caught episodes over the years but never followed it simply becuase it wasn’t convenient.
But since it’s syndication on Comedy Central and every other SKy Chanel I watch two episodes most days and Im up to about series 4 now. It’s wonderful. So clver and sarcastic.
I do remember some of the later series from a few years ago and tehy weren’t as tight and sharp as the episodes Im following now.
Oh and Niles. One of the BEST TV characters ever.
Niles is comedy gold, especially his infatuation with Daphne and anything involving Marris.
One epsiode in particular, Season 3 epsiode. I got the whole series just so I could watch it again.
I have now found it on You Tube. It’s Niles’ expressions about 2 minutes in.
I like John Mahoney’s look after “Sex is what we want!” Thanks for the review and the clip, it was a great series.
Probably the most intelligent of US comedies. I love it - some really wonderful laugh out loud moments in almost every episode.
Oh my, Fraiser is probably my favourite series of all time. Possibly the only show I’ll willingly watch re-runs of again and again.
Now who was it that pointed out the Darragh was Niles lately?
Frasier is so good it’s as if the writers are descended from Wodehouse. Timing to set your watch by.
It was I Steph- Darragh reminds me so much of Niles. I love Fraiser and especially Eddie. What a cutie! Gonna get the boxset for Christmas off Sinead as a surprise
I love Frasier, one of those shows that I can watch over and over, it’s wonderful!
@Allan I love that “descended from Wodehouse” how awfully true.
We should all have a Frasier party… as soon as I get the boxset for Jen… Oh no. That was supposed to be a secret!
Not to stray from Frasier but do you get HBO’s ‘In Treatment’ over in Ireland ?
The second season was good, and I think John Mahoney’s character was the best of this year’s season, especially the last couple of his ‘Walter’ episodes.
Gabriel Byrne has been excellent as the psychologist. Not sure if this season lived up to last year’s.