Thanks, now I'm addicted.

This is the season that started it all. I was never a Frasier fan; but, then again, I had never sat down and really watched an episode from start to finish. When the show made its debut in 1994, I was ten years old, and I never really got into it. Besides, I'm more of a Futurama, Simpsons, Seinfeld, Family Guy sort of gal. (Exactly, I'm exceptionally mature.) Frasier seemed dry, snobby, and boring. Recently, though, while listening to Seinfeld reruns while cleaning the house, I happened to catch the beginning of Frasier reruns. I found myself staying on the channel for longer and longer before switching, and, before I knew it, I was watching the entire episode and laughing myself silly. Then I happened to find season 6 for just shy of thirty bucks, (Canadian- so about $5 American-tee hee) and decided to buy it. I watched the whole season within one week of purchase (8 hours, 45 minutes of episodes) and THAT was rationing. I was absolutely hungering for more and bought seasons 1-7 online pretty much immediately.
What is it about Frasier? It's a very smart sitcom, it isn't predictable, nor does it insult your intelligence with rythmically-timed canned laughter. And there is still a fair dose of Kramer-esque slapstick, which appeals to my juvenile side. The casting is perfect. And did I mention that I have developed a massive crush on Niles? Swoon. David Hyde Pierce. One thing that this show does that, for example, Seinfeld was never able to do, was carry over stories form episode to episode, so that the show actually has flow to it. The jokes and general storylines aren't predictable most of the time, and- rare for a sitcom- the acting is superb. No wonder this show won so many awards!

This particular season aired in 1998/1999. The audio/video quality is good. Guest stars in this season include Teri Hatcher and Woody Harrelson. Niles is still pining for Daphne while going through a painful divorce that leaves him penniless, resorting to driving-horror- a hatchback! Martin is a player in this season, dating up a storm of older ladies. Roz has a brief relationship with Bulldog that leaves her self esteem shattered and Frasier horrified. (“You slept with BULLDOG?”) Frasier continues his quest for true love, but he is indecisive (and unemployed- as are the rest of the employees of KACL.) And Daphne has a new love interest, leaving Niles truly despondent. Poor Niles. Siiigh.

My favorite episode from this collection is “Merry Christmas, Mrs Moskowitz”. Frasier's new girlfriend, Faye, brings her mother over to meet Frasier. Being Christmastime, Frasier has a wreath set up. Faye panics, saying that she didn't know Frasier wasn't Jewish and her mother will freak out if she finds out. Frasier runs and hides all of the Christmas decorations, which is tricky because Eddie is dressed up like Santa and Niles is dressed as Jesus, complete with robes and beard, for a play that Daphne is hosting. Not to mention that Frasier has prepared a ham for dinner. My husband I were in tears, shrieking.

Three Valentines shows what Valentines Day was like for Niles, Martin and Daphne, and then Frasier. The first ten minutes of the episode is pure Niles slapstick as Niles tries to perfect the crease in his suit and ends up practically destroying Frasier's apartment as Eddie looks on.

There were episodes where I wasn't laughing my head off, but they were rare. Cheers is before my time, so I don't find the episodes where Cheers cast members come back funny at all. The Show Where Woody Shows Up was boring to me. Probably if you are a Cheers fan, you'll find these types of shows funny. Maybe I should stop judging Cheers and just sit down and watch a few episodes! Have I learned nothing?!

I made up a brief discography in case you were looking for a specific favorite episode. Here it is:

Disc 1
GOOD GRIEF- Frasier begins his job search and throws a picnic for the disgruntled KACL ex-employees.
FRASIER'S CURSE- Frasier agonizes over whether or not to attend his “cursed” school reunion
DIAL “M” FOR MARTIN- Niles agrees to let his father move in with him because Daphne is coming too.
HOT TICKET-Frasier and Niles go to great lengths to obtain tickets to the theater event of the season.
FIRST, DO NO HARM- Frasier's new girlfriend (Teri Hatcher) has some mental issues that Niles suspects are the main reason for her interest in Frasier
SECRET ADMIRER-Frasier receives a package from a secret admirer just as he has started dating another women.

Disc 2
HOW TO BURY A MILLIONAIRE-A broke Niles moves in with Frasier, driving him crazy
THE SEAL WHO CAME TO DINNER-Broke Niles is desperate to throw a posh dinner party to impress his friends, but a dead seal washing up on shore puts a hamper on things...
ROZ, A LOAN- Frasier loans some money to Roz for her baby Alice, then spots Roz at the spa...
MERRY CHRISTMAS, MRS. MOSKOWITZ- My favourite episode. Stinking hilarious.Frasier must convince a girlfriend's mom that he is Jewish
THE GOOD SAMARITAN- Frasier lands in jail when his “good deed” is misunderstood...
OUR PARENTS, OURSELVES-Frasier arranges a blind date between Martin and Roz's mother Joanna (Eva Marie Saint)

Disc 3
THE SHOW WHERE WOODY SHOWS UP- Pretty self-explanatory; Woody (Woody Harrelson) from Cheers shows up in Seattle to visit with Frasier but Woody ends up driving Frasier nuts.
THREE VALENTINES-Three hilarious vignettes. Niles has one misfortune after another while preparing for a date; Martin takes Daphne out for dinner; a coworker showers Frasier with affection...or is her interest purely business related?
TO TELL THE TRUTH- Frasier's ethics may spell disaster for Niles in court.
DECOYS- Niles is desperate to win Daphne's attention but his plans are threatened by Martin and Frasier's duck hunting.
DINNER PARTY- Frasier and Niles try to throw the perfect dinner party but things keep on going wrong.

Disc 4
1.Q. -Niles and Frasier seek out the scores from the IQ tests they took as kids, igniting a spark of competitiveness.
DR. NORA- A new, stricter radio show follows Frasier's. Guest stars Christine Baranski, Piper Laurie.
WHEN A MAN LOVES TWO WOMEN- Frasier must decide (again) between Faye and Cassandra.
VISIONS OF DAPHNE-Daphne has a psychic vision saying her soon-to-be fiance is not the one; Niles encourages this theory
SHUTOUT IN SEATTLE- Romantic entanglements plague the Cranes and friends.

Here's what the Season 6's jacket has to say about it.

Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer is Frasier- the hilarious psychiatrist first seen on TV's Cheers and subsequently the star of this smash-hit comedy series. What?! Frasier Crane, unemployed? Yep, that's the stunning predicament in Season Six when KACL switches its format to “salsa” and Frasier finds himself out of a job! Meanwhile, Niles (David Hyde Pierce) finds himself without a secret love to obsess about when Daphne (Jane Leeves) is swept off her feet by a new suitor, Donny Douglas. And speaking of suitors-Roz (Peri Gilpin) finds herself romantically entangled with the station's abrasive deejay Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe (Dan Butler), and Roz's mother Joanna lands a date with Frasier's irascible father, Martin (John Mahoney)! It's Season Six- and definitely a season to remember- in this wild and witty, 23-episode collection!

MY FINAL VERDICT

I absolutely love this show and I hope all the other seasons are this hilarious. I've just started season 1 and it seems like this is the case. For brilliant casting, marvelous acting, making me laugh for hours on end, and absolutely addicting me to this show, I give this set a full five stars.