Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 10 -> Episode 10.11

Door Jam

Frasier and Cam Winston have swapped mailboxes but Frasier keeps getting Cam's mail by accident. He opens one of his letters and finds an invitation to a place called 'La Porte D'Argent', which neither he or Niles has heard of. There is however a phone number but it requires them to enter their six-digit access code. Thoroughly intrigued by this exclusive new place, they go down there but the receptionist won't even tell Frasier what 'La Porte D'Argent' actually is even though he has a valid invitation as Frasier's name isn't on the list. Thankfully, when Niles walks in Frasier calls him Cam Winston - whose name is on the list - so they discover that 'La Porte D'Argent' is an exclusive day spa and are just ecstatic about the service they receive. However, as they are about to pay, they see Senator Ogden going into an area with a gold door. The reservationist tells them that's the gold level, and they can't go in because they aren't on the gold level list.

Understandably, Frasier and Niles are angry that they can't get in and search their Rolodexes in the hope that someone can get them into the gold level. Thankfully, Roz is on hand to help them as Senator Ogden owes her a big favour. The gold level exceeds even Frasier and Niles' expectations but as they sit in the relaxation grotto, Frasier spies a platinum door. Niles is eager to go but can barely walk as he is wrapped up like a mummy but after an attendant tells them they can't go through that door, Frasier picks up his brother and the two of them fling open the platinum door and head to what they believe will be paradise - however it doesn't quite live up to their expectations......

- Martin speculates on what 'La Porte D'Argent' is:
Martin: Probably just another frou-frou restaurant or frou-frou clothing store.
Frasier: This is not frou-frou Dad - as evidenced by the manly scent of balsam!

- 'La Porte D'Argent's answerphone asks Frasier to punch in his six-digit access code:
Martin: Why don't you just punch in whatever keys spell out 'SNOBBY'

- The spa's receptionist can't find Frasier's name on the list to let him in:
Frasier: Perhaps you've heard my popular radio show?
Receptionist: I'm not really a radio person (!)

- Niles impersonates Cam Winston's voice to get into the spa:
Frasier: It's the worst impersonation of Cam Winston I've ever heard
Niles: You've heard another one?
Frasier: Of course not!
Niles: Then it's the best!

- The reservationist hands Frasier and Niles a bag of spa goodies to take away:
Niles: I've never even heard of eyelash conditioner!
Frasier: Hence the brittle eyelashes

- Niles wrapped up like a mummy trying to walk

This is an episode with a bit of a torturous production history: it was originally meant to be the third episode of this season, but was to feature Ana Gasteyer as a physical therapist in a subplot that would have seen her observing the techniques Daphne uses on Martin. The producers felt that this subplot didn't work very well so they pulled the episode for retooling, and used Ana in 'Bristle While You Work' instead. Not only that but David Hyde Pierce also fell off a gurney during filming and had to be rushed to hospital. All of this trouble can be seen in the episode, sadly, as the replacement subplot (Daphne ruins Martin's enjoyment of Rockford by saying Martin is like Rockford's father instead of Rockford) is one of the dullest I've ever seen. Thankfully, the main plot of the exclusive day spa that Frasier and Niles discover contains a wealth of enjoyably bitchy one-upmanship, but I found that just like in 'The Club', the more the episode went on the less funny it became (not to mention the fact that just like in that episode Roz helps them by calling in a favour). I also found it predictable that as soon as Roz said that after they've been through the gold door there'll be a diamond door, then a platinum door - that oh, look they discover a platinum door. That said the brief Hal Sparks cameo was fun (he played one of my favourite characters, Michael, in the US version of Queer As Folk) and the ending was pretty good too, but I found that this was an episode I wanted to like more but was a little disappointed by the end result

Rating

73 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 80.3%
Total Number of Reviews: 10