Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 3 -> Episode 3.21

Where There's Smoke, There's Fired

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 begins a charm offensive with Big Willy. The millionaire, however, offers Frasier a chance to get into his good books early: he is about to marry his younger mistress, but she has a filthy habit: she smokes. Big Willy is going away for a long weekend, and says that if Frasier can cure her of her habit, the marriage can go ahead. Frasier agrees to try but doesn't realise how hard it is going to be until he meets Big Willy's bride-to-be: his agent Bebe Glazer!

Frasier forces Bebe to spend the weekend at his apartment to make sure she is not tempted, during which we learn that both Martin and Daphne used to smoke. They both try to convince her that she can quit her habit, but Bebe launches into a long speech on the pleasures of smoking which begins to weaken Martin and Daphne's resolve. She then catches Daphne having a quick ciggie on the balcony, and tries to blackmail her into giving her one, but Frasier catches her (and then discovers Martin having one in the powder room!) and 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 there's a last minute hitch........

- Niles needs $4000 for a footstool:
Martin: For $4000 bucks?! Niles, you mother and I didn't pay that much for our first house!
Niles: I know Dad - I lived there (!)

- Roz can't believe how Niles spends his money:
Roz: You spend money like a drunken sailor.
Niles: She said authoratively (!)

- Frasier meets the new station owner, Wilford S. Boone:
Frasier: Don't be silly, Mr Boone.
Big Willy: Actually, I prefer Big Willy.
Frasier: Don't be silly, Big Willy.

- Niles doesn't believe Bebe can quit smoking on her own:
Niles: You obviously didn't see the crazed, cunning glint in her eyes.
Frasier: She always looks like that - she's an agent!

- Daphne tells Bebe she can just give up smoking with no withdrawl symptoms:
Bebe: You know there's a word for people like that. What is it? Oh yes, bitch!

- Frasier catching Martin having a cigarette in the cloakroom.

- Frasier tells Bebe if she doesn't quit, she won't be his wife at the funeral:
Frasier: You'll be watching the widow Boone. Tiffany, perhaps, or better yet, Kelli with an i !

Another classy episode from the pen of Joe Keenan featuring another great performance from Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe as she alternates between crazed agent and this woman who calls Big Willy 'puddin', while the scene in Frasier's apartment as she tries to quit are also great too, as both Martin and Daphne are tempted to start smoking again. There's also a lovely subplot as Niles tries to economise and discovers PriceBusters warehouse, which all adds up to an entertaining episode with a great ending too.

Rating

83 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 85.8%
Total Number of Reviews: 4