Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 11 -> Episode 11.04

The Babysitter

Frasier and Niles are out shopping for a sofa for Frasier's imminent return to private practice, not helped by Niles' constant babbling about everything and anything - something that Frasier and Daphne have both picked up on but Niles seems incapable of being able to stop doing it. Frasier then spies their old babysitter Ronee Lawrence in the store, and having had a massive crush on her when he was younger, goes over to get re-acquaninted with her. She tells Frasier she now sings at a bar called the Rendezvous Room, and is more than happy to drop by Frasier's apartment that evening to catch up. She also reminds Niles about the stories she used to tell him about the bugs that can live crawl through your ears into your brain, and which prompted young Niles to start cleaning everything he once sat down on!

That evening, Frasier is going to great lengths to impress Ronee when she comes over as he hopes to begin a relationship with her, but to Frasier's annoyance, Martin also seems to be interested in her as he starts to laugh hard at her jokes and be very attentive to what she says. Frasier drags his father off to the kitchen and expresses his annoyance, but to his surprise, Martin thought Frasier had brought Ronee over for him! At that point, Ronee gets a call - her replacement at the bar has called in sick, and she has to go. Martin also says he is going out to McGinty's but Frasier soon suspects his father has headed down to see Ronee and, after spending 45 minutes getting ready, heads down to see Ronee too. She is pleased to see him, but Frasier is less pleased to see his father there as well, so offers to sing a duet with Ronee to try and impress her but is less than happy when the song she sings for a special person turns out to be Martin! Can Frasier's analytical skills help solve his own depression, Martin's relucatance to continue seeing Ronee and Niles' babbling......?

- Frasier isn't surprised Niles' doesn't notice his incessant babbling:
Frasier: You were 15 before you realised there was a correlation between getting beaten up every day and going to school wearing a panama hat!

- Martin meets Ronee for the first time since she babysat Frasier and Niles:
Martin: You haven't changed a bit.
Ronee: Yes I have - I can legally drink now!

- Frasier drags Martin off to the kitchen just as Martin is starting to work his charm on Ronee:
Ronee: Don't be long you two - Momma likes an audience.
Martin: Good, cos Daddy likes to watch!

- Frasier can't believe Martin is hitting on Ronee:
Martin: I thought you brought her here for me.
Frasier: Since when do I bring you women !!

- Frasier finds Martin down at Ronee's bar when he said he was going to McGintys:
Frasier: How long have you been here?
Martin: 45 minutes - you shouldn't have spent so much time on you hair, Louise (!)

- Martin starts talking to Frasier and Niles in baseball metaphors:
Frasier: Dad, it's us.

- Frasier analyses himself and works out why he's depressed:
Frasier: My analytical skills are on fire!
Niles: Yes, and your own horn-tootin' skills haven't abandoned you either (!)

This episode sees the introduction of Ronee Lawrence, set to become a very welcome semi-regular character, and is played by Wendie Malick. Viewers of Paramount Comedy may recognise her from the excellent sitcom 'Just Shoot Me' created by Steven Levitan (writer of several 'Frasier' episodes), where she played the rather bitchy Nina Van Horn superbly and brings her comedic skills to Ronee's part effortlessly as well. There are plenty of very funny moments on this episode: learning where Niles' cleaning compulsion stems from, Frasier's piano playing when Ronee reveals it's Martin she's interested in, Niles' babbling and Martin calling his Viagra 'cheese', but this episode is a few notches below the first 3 of the series thanks to the script sometimes coming across as more amusing than funny. Still, Wendie Malick makes a promising start in this episode and I look forward to seeing her in future ones.

Rating

80 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 81.5%
Total Number of Reviews: 4