Frasier (season 3)
Frasier | |
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Season 3 | |
![]() DVD cover | |
Starring |
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Country of origin | United States |
No. of episodes | 24 |
Release | |
Original network | NBC |
Original release | September 19, 1995 May 21, 1996 | –
Season chronology | |
The third season of Frasier originally aired from September 19, 1995 to May 21, 1996 on NBC, consisting a total of 24 episodes. This season was mostly directed by Philip Charles MacKenzie (17 episodes). It also featured the episode, "Moon Dance", the first episode in the series to be directed by Kelsey Grammer.
Reception[]
The season ranked 12th in the season ratings with an average viewership of 13 million households, making it the 7th highest ranking show on the network.[1]
Cast[]
Main[]
- Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane
- Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon
- David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane
- Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
- John Mahoney as Martin Crane
Special guest[]
- Mercedes Ruehl as Kate Costas
- Griffin Dunne as Bob (Episode: "The Friend")
- Shelley Long as Diane Chambers (Episode: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back")
- Donald O'Connor as Harlow Stafford (Episode: "Crane vs. Crane")
- Tony Shalhoub as Manu (Episode: "The Focus Group")
Special appearance by[]
- Dan Butler as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe
Guest[]
- Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton
- Patrick Kerr as Noel Shempsky (Episodes: "Sleeping with the Enemy (Part I)", "The Last Time I Saw Maris")
- Milo O'Shea as Dr. Schachter (Episode: "Shrink Rap")
- Luke Tarsitano as Frederick (Episode: "Frasier Grinch")
- John Carroll Lynch as Franklin (Episode: "The Show Where Diane Comes Back")
- Harris Yulin as Jerome Belasco (Episode: "A Word to the Wiseguy")
- Jane Kaczmarek as Maureen (Episode: "Police Story")
- Denise Poirier as Maggie (Episode: "Police Story")
- Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe Glazer (Episode: "Where There's Smoke, There's Fired")
Episodes[]
No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
49 | 1 | "She's the Boss" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano | September 19, 1995 | 21.8[2] | |
New station manager at KACL Kate Costas (Mercedes Ruehl) has a reputation for being a fearsome perfectionist, and everyone at her last radio station was afraid of her. Frasier refuses her demands to change his show in various sensationalist ways (such as themed shows and giving priority to "juicier calls"). His show is moved to the graveyard shift as a result, spoiling his sleep patterns and making Roz bitterly resentful. Guest Caller(s): Matthew Broderick as Mark; Carrie Fisher as Phyllis; Teri Garr as Nancy; Tom Hulce as Keith | |||||||
50 | 2 | "Shrink Rap" | David Lee | Christopher Lloyd | September 26, 1995 | 20.6[3] | |
Niles and Frasier are in the office of couples therapist Dr. Schachter. Flashbacks show Frasier receiving a call on his show about a recurring dream, which he does not have time to investigate fully, while Niles is having problems with a tenant in his office, a practitioner of scream therapy. When Frasier revealed his discontent with radio psychiatry, and his wish to return to private practice, Niles proposed that the solution to his difficult psychiatrist co-tenant is to replace him with Frasier. The prospect of working together and consulting each other excited the two brothers initially, but they soon fall out. Guest Caller(s): Blair Brown as Jill | |||||||
51 | 3 | "Martin Does It His Way" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | David Lloyd | October 10, 1995 | 25.9[4] | |
Frasier's Aunt Louise, who was not popular in the family for her tendency to criticize everyone, has died. Frasier has been left in charge of organizing her memorial and delivering a eulogy, and Niles is responsible for disposing of her ashes. Neither appreciates their task. Meanwhile, Daphne reveals that Martin has a collection of songs in a shoebox which he wrote years ago for Frank Sinatra, always dreaming that one day he may open a concert with them. The problem is that only the words are written down; the tunes are all in his head. Niles and Frasier are keen to help out. Guest Caller(s): Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Eileen | |||||||
52 | 4 | "Leapin' Lizards" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano | October 31, 1995 | 18.6[5] | |
Bulldog targets a series of pranks at Frasier (which culminates in Frasier singing "Three Little Maids" from The Mikado in a falsetto voice live on air). Frasier decides to get back at Bulldog by releasing a lizard in the studio, after discovering that Bulldog has a phobia of them, only to watch in horror as Kate becomes his unintended victim. Guest Caller(s): Billy Crystal as Jack; Ed Harris as Rob | |||||||
53 | 5 | "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Anne Flett-Giordano | November 7, 1995 | 19.9[6] | |
Frasier is angling to become the maître de chez of his wine club, so is holding a special wine tasting session in his apartment to try to win club members over. Needing to repair a dent in his floor quickly, he employs Niles's handyman Joe DeCarlo to fix it. Joe tells him he will be done by midday, but when Frasier returns home a few hours later, he finds his apartment in a state of disarray with holes in his walls and workmen everywhere. Joe tells him that when he plugged in the sander, a circuit blew and this has led to faulty wiring being discovered. At 4:30 pm, the apartment is still unfinished, the water is cut off, the gas pipes are damaged, and his guests will arrive soon. Martin tells his sons to give him all the cash they have, which he then offers to the workers to finish the job quickly. Guest Caller(s): Brooke Adams as Marilyn | |||||||
54 | 6 | "Sleeping with the Enemy (Part 1)" | Jeff Melman | Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo | November 14, 1995 | 18.8[7] | |
The support staff at KACL are indignant because Kate refuses to pay their annual 5% raise. However, they are also too frightened to confront her about it. The decision does not affect the on-air talent, but Roz persuades Frasier to rally his colleagues round in support of those who are affected (and also to act as spokesman in place of Noel). They march to Kate's office, but when she comes out everyone else flees, leaving Frasier to argue their case alone. The discussion grows to a fierce argument, which suddenly transforms into an intense mutual lust, whereupon Kate kisses Frasier passionately before throwing him out. Guest Caller(s): Laura Dern as June | |||||||
55 | 7 | "The Adventures of Bad Boy and Dirty Girl (Part 2)" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Joe Keenan | November 21, 1995 | 20.5[8] | |
Frasier and Kate have a moment of passion in the studio, in which they accidentally press the "on-air" button and broadcast their descriptions of each other as "bad boy" and "dirty girl" to Seattle. Martin and Daphne are shocked to hear the on-air romance, while Niles crashes his car after hearing the broadcast. Frasier is suspended for a week after the broadcast. Kate comes round to his apartment later to apologize, but they both end up being trapped in a service lift with a bed, a music box and some musk oil. Their passion reignites but stops when the elevator restarts and the removal man gets into the service elevator. Guest Caller(s): Cyd Charisse as Polly | |||||||
56 | 8 | "The Last Time I Saw Maris" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Ian Gurvitz | November 28, 1995 | 22.9[9] | |
Maris has been missing without trace for three days. Frantic, Niles is convinced that she has been kidnapped, but Maris' recent credit card transactions are checked, indicating that she is merely indulging in a shopping expedition in New York City, and Niles is relieved. Frasier, on the other hand, is annoyed by Maris' lack of concern in going on a shopping spree without a word. He persuades Niles to stand up to his wife for a change and confront her about her selfishness, which he does. However, rather than apologising, Maris demands a divorce and throws Niles out. Frasier feels responsible, and gives Niles sanctuary at his place, but is unable to talk Maris round. Eventually Maris agrees to take Niles back on the condition that he apologize to her; he cannot decide whether to do so. Guest Caller(s): Paul Mazursky as Vinnie | |||||||
57 | 9 | "Frasier Grinch" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | David Lloyd | December 19, 1995 | 24.8[10] | |
It is Christmas Eve and Frasier is excited as his son Frederick is coming to stay with him for the first time since his parents' divorce. Niles believes he and Maris may be reconciled soon, but then he discovers that she has cancelled his credit cards and his mobile phone service. Frasier discovers that a postal mix-up means that the educational toys he ordered for his son have not arrived. He and Niles attempt to replace them. Guest Caller(s): Ray Liotta as Bob This is the first appearance of Frederick in the series. | |||||||
58 | 10 | "It's Hard to Say Goodbye If You Won't Leave" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Steven Levitan | January 9, 1996 | 23.0[11] | |
Roz gets Frasier to reveal the identity of "dirty girl", with whom he had an affair that was accidentally broadcast live on KACL. Frasier finds himself thinking about Kate constantly, and wondering if they made the right decision not to pursue any relationship. Daphne encourages him not to let fear of rejection get in his way, but just as Frasier is on the point of broaching the subject with Kate at work, she announces that she is moving to Chicago that night to start a new job. They say goodbye and that seems to be the end, but Niles decides to call around later that day with a video of Casablanca, and the ensuing conversation starts Frasier thinking again. | |||||||
59 | 11 | "The Friend" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Jack Burditt | January 16, 1996 | 19.3[12] | |
Niles has tickets for the race track at the weekend, and offers them to Frasier; he prefers not to go, as something about the jockeys reminds him of Maris. When Martin declines the invitation to join him, Frasier realizes that he has a shortage of friends in Seattle, as most of his old ones are back in Boston. After talking on radio about friendship, he meets up with Bob, a listener who called in, at Café Nervosa. Their initial friendship dwindles as their lack of common interests becomes apparent: Bob, a photographer at a local discount store, likes wearing a tam o'shanter and has an obsessive interest in barbecue. Frasier finds it difficult to break off the friendship when he sees that Bob is in a wheelchair. Guest Caller(s): Armistead Maupin as Gerard | |||||||
60 | 12 | "Come Lie with Me" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Steven Levitan | January 30, 1996 | 21.3[13] | |
After spending the night together at Frasier's place, Daphne and Joe try to conceal the fact from Frasier and Martin at breakfast. The situation does not bother Martin, but Frasier feels uncomfortable at the idea of them sleeping together under his roof, and he expresses his concern to Daphne. She explains that Joe's house is under construction, so given Frasier's feelings she decides to look for her own place. After Frasier and Martin spend a weekend together without her in the apartment, they miss her calming influence. Meanwhile, Niles is finding that his separation from Maris is cutting him off from several high-profile social events. | |||||||
61 | 13 | "Moon Dance" | Kelsey Grammer | Joe Keenan & Christopher Lloyd & Rob Greenberg & Jack Burditt & Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano & Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo | February 6, 1996 | 22.9[14] | |
Niles is scanning the society page when he sees a picture of Maris with another man. He plans to take an heiress on a date at a society event, the Snow Ball. He then realizes that he cannot dance but Daphne then offers to teach him. His date cancels, prompting Daphne to suggest that she go with him to the Ball. At the ball, Niles and Daphne dance, to show everyone there that he is not mourning his divorce. As they dance a tango, Niles declares that he adores Daphne, and she reciprocates. When the dance is over, Niles realizes that Daphne thought that he was just acting to try to impress everyone in the room. An attractive former associate of Niles' walks up to him, giving him a card and telling him that if he would ever like to take her dancing, all he need do is call. At first, Niles decides not to accept her proposal, but as he leaves with Daphne, he turns around and takes the card with him. Guest Caller(s): Jodie Foster as Marlene | |||||||
62 | 14 | "The Show Where Diane Comes Back" | James Burrows | Christopher Lloyd | February 13, 1996 | 19.8[15] | |
Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) shows up at the studio one day, and Frasier (who still resents her for leaving him at the altar) finds out she is in town for a performance of her new play. He invites her to dinner, determined to show her how much he has moved on from her, despite Niles's suggestion that he should confront her about being left at the altar in order to get closure. When Diane arrives, she boasts of her own riches and success only to eventually break down and confess she is not doing as well as she claimed. Feeling sorry for Diane, Frasier agrees to fund her play despite everyone warning him he may be falling for her again. However, when invited to dress rehearsal, he finds that it depicts their old life at Cheers, with the characters representing their old friends being literal representations of how Diane viewed them: boorish and uncivilized ruffians, and that Frasier's character is cold-hearted in his reaction to being left at the altar. | |||||||
63 | 15 | "A Word to the Wiseguy" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Joe Keenan | February 20, 1996 | 20.5[16] | |
Niles brings news of Maris' legal troubles: she has had a minor road accident, but while the police were filing the report, they came across a heap of unpaid parking tickets. Niles initially asks Martin to exert his influence, but his father refuses on principle. Roz, however, informs Niles of a man named Jerome Belasco, who "makes wishes come true". When Niles and Frasier meet Jerome, he quickly resolves the issue, and Niles is so happy that he promises to help Jerome "any time". Jerome requests that Frasier persuade his reluctant fiancée to set a wedding date; Frasier meets the fiancée, learns of her unhappiness in the relationship, and advises against the marriage. Guest Caller(s): Faith Prince as Brandy; Randy Travis as Steve | |||||||
64 | 16 | "Look Before You Leap" | James Burrows | Chuck Ranberg & Anne Flett-Giordano | February 27, 1996 | 20.8[17] | |
It is February 29, Leap Year Day, and Frasier is encouraging everyone to do something different: he commends a trip to a friend's birthday party in Montana to his father, and a new haircut to Daphne. He himself decides to sing a challenging aria ("Ella mi fu rapita; Parmi veder le lagrime") from Verdi's Rigoletto at the PBS Pledge Drive that evening, instead of the traditional Buttons and Bows. Niles is planning a reunion with Maris. Everyone's attempts to do new things meet with failure. | |||||||
65 | 17 | "High Crane Drifter" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Jack Burditt | March 12, 1996 | 20.3[18] | |
Frasier feels that he stands alone in upholding common courtesy, and loses his patience in a crowded Café Nervosa, forcibly ejecting a man who claimed a table just before him. He is hailed as a hero, and a wave of phone calls to KACL report how people have started emulating him. However, the man he targeted threatens to sue. Niles provokes the man to ensure a counter-suit. Guest Caller(s): Joan Allen as Lydia; Billy Barty as Chris; Eric Idle as Chuck; Jerry Orbach as Mitch; Jane Pauley as Rochelle; Katarina Witt as Brenda | |||||||
66 | 18 | "Chess Pains" | Gordon Hunt | Rob Greenberg | March 26, 1996 | 21.5[19] | |
Frasier has acquired a 19th-century Parisian chess set, designed by a student of l'École des Beaux-Arts. Niles is in awe, but Frasier cannot persuade him to play, so he asks his father. Martin professes not to know much about the game but wins conclusively. Frasier demands rematches, but cannot win until Martin deliberately loses a match. Meanwhile, Daphne suggests to Niles that if he needs companionship, he should get a dog. The animal he brings back from the pet shop is extremely thin, highly strung, and refuses to heed a single command, resembling descriptions of his unseen wife Maris. | |||||||
67 | 19 | "Crane vs. Crane" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | David Lloyd | April 9, 1996 | 20.1[20] | |
Niles announces that he has been retained to testify in a high-profile legal action to be broadcast on Court TV; local millionaire Harlow Safford (Donald O'Connor) is, at age 78, apparently showing signs of senility, so his son is trying to get him committed. Niles has agreed to speak as an expert witness to Safford's mental instability. Frasier is persuaded by Safford that his eccentricities are merely his effort to embrace life and make the most of his health while he still can, and give something back to the world that has been kind to him. Frasier decides to testify in favor of Safford, but in court, his senility is confirmed. Guest Caller(s): Mrs. Fields as Beth | |||||||
68 | 20 | "Police Story" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Sy Rosen | April 23, 1996 | 21.1[21] | |
Whilst rushing to deliver Roz to a date, Frasier is stopped for speeding by an attractive police officer, Maureen, (Jane Kaczmarek), who agrees not to issue a ticket. Frasier persuades his father to help him get in touch with the officer; they meet at McGinty's where she asks Martin if they can meet again. Martin does not wish to hurt Frasier's feelings, but eventually agrees to go on a date with Maureen. Frasier goes to the bar to look for her, and interrupts the date. | |||||||
69 | 21 | "Where There's Smoke, There's Fired" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Joe Keenan | April 30, 1996 | 18.2[22] | |
KACL has a new owner: an eighty-five-year-old Texas millionaire Wilford S. Boone, who likes to be called Big Willy. Frasier learns that he owns 30 stations across the US, and could put Frasier's show into national syndication, so he begins a charm offensive. The millionaire is about to marry his younger mistress, but dislikes that she smokes. He says that if Frasier can cure her of her habit, the marriage can go ahead. The fiancée turns out to be Frasier's agent, Bebe Glazer. He manages to persuade her that she should give up unless she wants to lose out on Big Willy's inheritance. Three weeks later is the wedding, but Big Willy has a fatal heart attack at the altar. Frasier later consoles her at his house by saying she may yet find another Big Willy. | |||||||
70 | 22 | "Frasier Loves Roz" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Suzanne Martin | May 7, 1996 | 17.8[23] | |
Roz is going to a wedding as a bridesmaid, and has to wear an unattractive lime-green dress to make sure the bride is radiant by comparison. The occasion starts her thinking about settling down, instead of moving from one brief relationship to another, and Frasier suggests she look for a man with more substance than superficial flash. Soon afterwards, he and Niles see her in Café Nervosa with someone, whom Niles recognizes as his least favorite patient: a compulsive womanizer called Ben Collins. He shares this detail with Frasier, but in the strictest confidence as one therapist to another, and as a result Frasier cannot tell Roz why she is dating the wrong man without contravening his professional ethics. He still tries to convince her, without giving a reason, and after a conversation with Daphne, Roz begins to wonder if he is doing this out of more than just friendship. Guest Caller(s): David Duchovny as Tom | |||||||
71 | 23 | "The Focus Group" | Philip Charles MacKenzie | Rob Greenberg | May 14, 1996 | 17.3[24] | |
Frasier's show on KACL is presented to a focus group of twelve people, and unbeknownst to them, Frasier and Roz watch from behind a two-way mirror as they give their feedback. The reactions are almost all positive, except for one man, Manu Habib (Tony Shalhoub), who keeps quiet. When asked directly, he says he does not like the host, giving no reason. Roz is delighted with the overall response, but Frasier starts to obsess over why this one man does not like him. Meanwhile, Niles is being overcharged for an art restoration job, after he slightly damaged a Jackson Pollock at a gallery opening. He has an argument with Daphne, which he finds very exciting, and he later tries baiting her to recreate the experience. | |||||||
72 | 24 | "You Can Go Home Again" | David Lee | Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo | May 21, 1996 | 16.8[25] | |
Frasier and Roz celebrate the third anniversary of Frasier's show, and their time spent together making it, with presents: Roz gives Frasier a taped copy of the first ever episode of the show. Later that day, Frasier returns home to find Daphne on the phone to her mother, calling him a dictatorial tyrant who will not let her go home to Britain. She is trying to avoid having to make a visit. Frasier puts on the tape of his first ever show, and as his awkward voice starts, he remembers his first show and his early days back in Seattle. Guest Caller(s): Sherry Lansing as Angela |
References[]
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- 1995 American television seasons
- 1996 American television seasons
- Frasier seasons