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Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 6 -> Episode 6.18

Taps At The Montana
Episode Details

Written by: David Lloyd

Directed by: David Lee

Original US airdate: 25th March 1999

Original UK airdate: 7th May 1999


Cast Information
Main Cast
Frasier Crane .... Kelsey Grammer
Niles Crane .... David Hyde Pierce
Martin Crane .... John Mahoney
Daphne Moon .... Jane Leeves
Roz Doyle .... Peri Gilpin
Recurring Cast
   
   
Guest Cast
Carol Larkin .... Rosemary Murphy
Alfred Larkin .... Jack Sydow
Dr MacLowery .... Randy Doney
Mrs Latimer .... Mimi Hines
Mr Probst .... Bill Morey
Miss Finn .... Nina Mann
Mrs Hawkins .... Fiona Hale
Mr Hawkin .... Jack Donner
Guest Callers

Episode Synopsis

Niles can now afford to get back his prestigious apartment in the Montana - unfortunately the tenant Frasier found to sublet to, Dr MacLowery, has a secret passion for tap-dancing and this has constantly annoyed the other tenants while Niles has been away on a tour of Africa (well, he couldn't tell them he was at the Shangri-La!) - so much so in fact, that the tenants board are having a meeting to decide whether or not to terminate his lease.

Frasier then suggests having a party for all the board members at which Niles can impress them with food and intelligent conversation, and hopefully show them what an asset he is to the building. Things begin well enough but when Niles's bird Baby suddenly dies, Daphne assumes it was the hors d'oeuvres that killed him - which Frasier has just served to the guests. However it turns out it was Daphne's loose earring. So while Daphne hurredly makes some more appetisers, Frasier gets everyone involved in a game of 'Murderer' which takes a decidely morbid twist when the murderer, Mr Probst, chooses that moment to die. Frasier then has to think on his feet so as not to let the other guests know something has happenned. Will he succeed and will Niles get his apartment back.......?

Episode Title Cards
  • Taps At The Montana
  • Polly Want A Stomach Pump?

Episode Highlights

- After Niles has a particularly trying meal out with Frasier:
Martin: Some days it's just not worth getting out of bed.
Niles: At the Shangri-La, it's the highlight of my day - so I can slam it right back into the wall!

- Frasier and Niles meet Dr MacLowery at the Montana:
Dr McCloud: I figured if I didn't dance, I'd go crazy.
[He launches into an over the top dance routine]
Niles: I'm not sure he caught it in time (!)

- At Niles's party:
Daphne: Lucky my earring didn't fall into the punch - someone could have choked.
Frasier: Yes - nothing says "Party" quite like a tracheotomy!

- After Roz reports one of the board members pinched her:
Niles: It's not working - people aren't mixing, people are pinching....
Frasier: Calm down!

- After Frasier starts clearing the appetisers into the bin:
Niles: Frasier, are there any hors d'oeuvres left?
Frasier: This intrepid little crab puff has survived - all I need now is a very sharp knife and 16 toothpicks (!)

Frasier Online Episode Review

An episode that shares many similarities to Season 4's 'To Kill A Talking Bird' as it sees Niles return to his apartment at the Montana, only to find himself trying (again) to impress the tenants board this time to try and stop them rescinding his lease! Somewhat predictably, things don't go to plan but despite the fact that party sequence felt like it dragged in places, David Lloyd still manages to create an entertaining episode - I liked the way Martin tries to fend off the amorous affections of Mrs Latimer and Roz's reaction to discovering she's been lying next to a dead Mr Probst. Good all round fun, then, even if never tops the farcical brilliance of 'To Kill A Talking Bird'

Rating

79 %

Latest Viewer Episode Review

Avg. Viewer Review: 83.0%
Total Number of Reviews: 1


'Taps At The Montana' review, Jul 24, 2005

Reviewer: Jocelyn from London, UK


This episode offers the welcome sight of Niles returning to his home at the Montana as he decides to hold a party to impress the members of the tenants board, who became greatly annoyed by the noisy behaviour of the tenant who lived there in Niles' absence. It's nice to see the Larkins again for the first time since 'To Kill A Talking Bird' and while this episode is certainly reminiscent of that Season 4 classic, the main influence here seems to be 'Fawlty Towers', and in particular that series' classic episode 'The Kipper And The Corpse' as Frasier and Niles find themselves having to deal with the body of Mr Probst, who dies during a game of 'Murderer'. Elsewhere, Niles' pet bird Baby suffers a similar fate after swallowing Daphne's earring and as with Niles and Yvonne in 'Beware Of Greeks', David Lloyd includes some more unwanted amorous attention, this time between Martin and so-called 'shrinking violet' Mrs Latimer. In all, this is another example of it's author's knack for inspired farce and, with the exception of the jarring sequence with the tap dancing tenant, makes for a delightfully black humoured episode.


Rating: 83%

 

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