Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 7 -> Episode 7.19

Morning Becomes Entertainment

Frasier joins Martin and Daphne at Cafe Nervosa in a jubilant mood after a great show, but Roz is the bearer of bad news: the station is taking of his show for a week and replacing it with 'Car Chat with Bob and Bethany'. He is understandably appalled but sees this a a ruse during his contract renegotiations. Meeting his agent, Bebe Glazer, later, Frasier learns that the negotiations aren't going well so Bebe suggests taking up an offer she had for Frasier and Roz to co-host AM Seattle, a morning chat and entertainment show (the Seattle version of 'This Morning', in other words) for a week in order to lever for a better contract. Frasier initially wants no part of a show which he sees as beneath him until he realises he can make the show classier and introduce culture to the show. On the day of the first show, Roz turns up ill and delusional minutes before they are due to go on air, causing the producer to want a re-run to be shown instead. Bebe manages to convince the producer to let her be the co-host (thanks to a dose of blackmail about the affair he's having with the wardrobe girl), and AM Seattle goes on the air with Frasier and Bebe presenting. Frasier launches into a piece he has prepared on 'Morning', almost causing the producer to go spare so he signals to Bebe to banter with him - so she gets Frasier to do his Sean Connery and James Mason impressions, much to the producer and audiences' delight!

The rest of the week goes well, with both Frasier and Bebe being recognised more on the streets, but Frasier's attempts at raising the standard of the show with culture always seem to be replaced with more crowd-pleasing items such as Frasier doing the cookery section together with Bobo the Cooking Chimp! Roz comes to see Frasier the day before his final broadcast with a rumour she heard that the producers are looking to keep Frasier and Bebe on full time, and she wants to know where she fits in. Frasier tells her not to worry, but when Bebe tells him the next day the very same news, he instantly accuses her of not caring about his radio contact. Bebe is a little taken aback - and hands Frasier his new contract, but tries to convince him to take up the TV job. Frasier's loyalties are sorely tested as he does love the sound of an appreciative audience, but Niles is on hand to try and win him back to psychiatry....Meanwhile, Martin's eyesight is failing and ends up going into the ladies room, forcing him to but some glasses. Unfortunately, they are ladies glasses and Martin just can't see it.

- Frasier is appalled his show is being replaced by 'Car Chat With Bob And Bethany' for a week:
Frasier: How can anybody drone on for 3 hours on a subject no-one understands!
Roz: Yeah - we were there first!

- Martin went into the ladies room by mistake, prompting Daphne to suggest he gets an eye test:
Martin: [Picks up a small jug] There's nothing wrong with my eyes. I just want to sit here quietly and have a ... a drink of cream! Anybody have a problem with that?!

- Martin is proud of his new glasses:
Martin: This Loren guy really knows what he's doing.
Frasier: Ralph Lauren?
Daphne: Sophia!

- Frasier's contract negotiations aren't going well:
Bebe: I just need to find a way to put a scare into 'em.
Niles: Have you tried turning into a bat (!)

- Niles believes Frasier has fallen under Bebe's spell in accepting the TV job:
Frasier: Bebe is not some sorceress who can transform people at will.
[Martin enters in his glasses holding Daphne's handbag]
Martin: I can't find a damn thing in this purse!
Niles: If I said I'm sorry, will she turn dad back into a man (!)

- Martin says people are talking about Frasier more down at McGinty's:
Frasier: What do they say Dad?
Martin: Nothing to my face, but when I walk in they just nudge and whisper.

This episode is a return to form after a couple of disappointing ones, and features another enjoyable performance from Harriet Sansom Harris as Frasier's wily agent Bebe Glazer. The plot too was pretty good as Frasier, someone who loves nothing more than the sound of an appreciative audience, seems ready to give up radio psychiatry for the hady delights of a TV presenting job. I also enjoyed Frasier's attempts to take the show upmarket - which were rebuffed at every opportunity thanks to items like Frasier sharing a kitchen with Bobo the Cooking Chimp. The funniest lines and scenes, however, belonged to Martin and his choice of glasses - ladies glasses. The fact that no-one tells him makes for some brilliant comic moments particularly when Niles sees him wearing the glasses and carrying Daphne's purse. On the whole, then, this is a lively episode that earns itself a place in the above average category thanks to Martin and his glasses.

Rating

80 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 95.5%
Total Number of Reviews: 4