Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 3 -> Episode 3.03

Martin Does It His Way

Frasier's Great-Aunt Louise has died, and has put Frasier in charge of her memorial, while Niles has to find a suitable place to dispose of her ashes. Frasier also has to give a eulogy, but there's one big problem - she is one of the most unpleasant people the Crane's ever knew, with nary a nice thing to say to anyone. Niles is worried that any place he picks to scatter her ashes won't be good enough for her, leading to Martin to suggest he flush them down the toilet. Martin then mentions that her big dream was to go somewhere hot, leading Daphne to drop a big hint about Martin having a big dream not being fulfilled. Frasier and Niles drag the truth out of their father - he always dreamed of writing a song for Frank Sinatra, the lyrics to which he kept in a shoebox which Daphne hauls out of his bedroom. Martin dismisses most of them, except one he's particularly proud of - She's Such A Groovy Lady, which his sons offer to help him turn into a proper song by writing the music to it. They are all pleased with the result, and Martin mails off the song full of expectation.

Come the day of the funeral, Frasier still hasn't managed to write the first line of his eulogy while Martin still hasn't heard back from Sinatra's people. Niles, on the other hand, believes he has found the perfect spot to scatter her ashes: Wilson's Meadows where she took Niles once and saw him break his collar bone as he climbed a tree to retrieve a kite. Daphne heads off to the funeral on her own while the Crane men head off to Wilson's Meadows. While Niles struggles to open the casket, Martin reveals that he heard back from Sinatra's people - they rejected his song. Frasier finally manages to get Louise's casket open - spilling the contents over Niles in the process. When they get to the funeral, Frasier finally gives his eulogy by letting a gospel choir do the talking in a rendition of 'She's Such A Groovy Lady'.

- Roz wants to know why Frasier dislikes his Great-Aunt Louise:
Frasier: The entire time I knew her she was never said anything to me that wasn't scornful, derisive or contemptuous.
Roz: So how come she made you in charge of her memorial?
Frasier: I was her favourite (!)

- Frasier sees Eddie rolling around on his sofa:
Frasier: Dad - I thought we had an agreement: Eddie doesn't roll around on my sofa and I don't throw him under a bus!

- Martin suggests Niles dispose of Louise's ashes by flusing them down the toilet:
Daphne: Mr Crane, you can't do that
Martin: Why not - she loved the water.

- Niles has a thought about Martin's song for Frank Sinatra:
Niles: It seems that your heart is always going hidee-haydee, ringy-dingy or scooby-dooby.
Martin: I don't need another critic.
Niles: Fine - perhaps a cardiologist (!)

- There's a big turnout at the funeral:
Daphne: When they heard Frasier Crane from the radio was speaking, her whole rest home turned out. They can't wait to hear what he's going to say.
Niles: Neither can he (!)

A very amusing little episode that contains some great 'Frasier' moments - Niles and Frasier attempting to put music to Martin's lyrics, Niles trying (and failing) to open Aunt Louise's casket in the background while Martin and Frasier discuss Martin's song - a scene that ends brilliantly by Frasier managing to spill the contents all over Niles. A consistently funny episode that succeeds in being a well above average episode thanks, yet again, to great writing and acting.

Rating

83 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 95.0%
Total Number of Reviews: 8