Frasier Online Episode Guide: Episode 7.03

Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 7 -> Episode 7.03

Radio Wars

Episode Details

Written by: Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil

Directed by: Sheldon Epps

Original US airdate: 7th October 1999

Original UK airdate: 21st January 2000

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

Kenny Daly

....

Tom McGowan

Guest Cast

Carlos	....	John Ennis
The Chicken	....	Bryan Callen
Waitress	....	Dawn McMillan

Guest Callers

Episode Synopsis

Frasier is awakened at 6.15AM by a call from Dr Bob Kauffman from the National Psychotherapy Institute, New Jersey, saying that he has won radio psychiatrist of the year and a statue of him is to be place in their 'Hall Of Thinkers'. He is then passed over to Gustav Brumhult, the German in charge of making the statue. He asks him to describe his posterior, but as Frasier describes that information as a bit sensitive, Gustav takes this to mean Frasier has a rather large behind. Unbeknownst to Frasier, Dr Kauffman and Gustav are actually Carlos and the Chicken, KACL's new morning crew, and he is the victim of one of their radio pranks. Both Martin and Daphne have heard everything and can't control their enjoyment of it. While meeting Roz at Cafe Nervosa, it transpires it was re-broadcast at 8am and 9.15am, and almost everyone has heard the prank.

When Kenny, the station manager, and Carlos and the Chicken come into the Cafe, Frasier takes the opportunity to introduce himself and say his piece, but the two pranksters seem fans of his show and they hope he didn't take it too personally. Frasier seems satisfied but soon after that, Niles takes a phone call from 'the building supervisor' saying they have a problem with the pipes with the apartment below his and wants to know what Frasier is putting down his bathtub. Niles goes off to give the phone to Frasier, currently in the bath. Daphne and Martin smell a rat, and turn on the radio and - lo and behold - Frasier is once more a guest on the Carlos and Chicken show. They manage to get him to sing and stomp around his bathroom, at which point the prank is revealed together with launch of the 'Frasier's humoungous ass competion' where they are offering $1000 for the best photo of Frasier's behind for their website. This is the last straw for Frasier and decides to fight back with the only way he knows how - a bittingly witty speech. Martin warns him against doing it, but Frasier is having none of it, especially as they have broadcast a tape seemingly of Frasier and Roz having sex which is spiced together from parts of their show. As Frasier launches into his speech live on air, calling them 'a juvenile prankster and his straight man', Carlos and the Chicken launch into an argument over who is the funny one, resulting in BOTH storming off, leaving Frasier to fill in the rest of the morning 'zoo'.

Episode Title Cards

Take That, Alfalfa

Umbrella Policy

Episode Highlights

- The look on Frasier's face as the first prank is revealed.

- Martin has heard the prank on the radio:
Martin: Do you think you could get me a tape of the show?
Frasier: What on earth for?
Martin: How often do you get to hear your son on the radio?
Frasier: [exploding] I'm on the radio every day!!!

- Martin is on the phone to Duke as Niles comes in:
Niles: [to Frasier] I'm going down to Abigails to have my crepe pans reseasoned
Martin tries to muffles the phone
Frasier: Oh I'd love to Niles, but I've just drawn myself a herbal bath.
Martin tries to muffle the phone again.
Martin: What? No, it's just Daphne - she's watching PBS!

- The sight of Frasier singing and stamping round his bathroom

- Niles wants to know why Frasier didn't hold the elevator for him:
Frasier: I was afraid you were trying to take a photo of my butt!
Niles: How exciting to be present at the birth of a new phobia (!)

- Daphne reveals she has a catsuit as Niles looks on and Eddie jumps unseen on a chair.
Martin: [Referring to Eddie] Catsuit, eh? Better not let him hear you say that - he'll go nuts.
Niles: I will not! [Sees Eddie] ...be surprised if he did!

Frasier Online Episode Review

A fun episode which gets a lot of mileage from making a fool of Frasier, one of the series' long running themes. Frasier makes a fabulous foil for the low-grade humour of the prankster DJ's, while the 'Frasier humoungous ass contest' is an inspired creation. Kelsey Grammer puts in a great performance as he falls for all their on-air pranks, before finally fighting back with a speech (!) - a classic display of Frasier's pomposity. However, more could have been made of the situation and the resoultion came over as a bit weak - I would have liked to see Frasier get one up on these guys by giving them a taste of their own medicine. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable above-average episode which continues the high standard of Season 7 so far.

Rating

80 %

Latest Viewer Episode Review

Avg. Viewer Review: 77.5%
Total Number of Reviews: 2

RADIO WARS, Aug 06, 2006

Reviewer: Cake for Brains from Manchester, UK

‘Frasier’ has a reputation for being a particularly sophisticated and classy sitcom, but in my opinion ‘Radio Wars’ is a departure from this; due to the fact that the plot and humour seem to venture into the realms of silliness and daftness, but amazingly the format still works incredibly well. In a way its nice to see the show aim for some much broader comedy, and although there are odd moments that come across as ridiculous and clearly don’t fit into the established ethos of the show, on the whole I enjoyed ‘Radio Wars’, although its not your typical episode of ‘Frasier’. However, it is also clear to see that ‘Radio Wars’ borrows heavily from the Season 3 episode ‘Leapin’ Lizards’, which also witnessed Frasier being ridiculed, harassed and completely embarrassed live on the airwaves, except instead of Bulldog, this time Frasier falls victim to Carlos and the Chicken (there’s still an animal connection). Anyway I’ve just re-watched this episode for the purpose of composing this review, and it’s a funny episode really, because it represents completely new territory for ‘Frasier’, but also recycled an old concept. Some fans have argued that ‘Radio Wars’ took the programme on a path that it should never have gone, and in some respects I’d agree. There are moments in this episode that simply don’t work and make me cringe, such as the ‘Frasier’s Gigantic Ass’ radio jingle and the (perhaps too over-the-top) sounds of Frasier and Roz ‘making out in the booth’. It could just be me but I feel that this sort of childish, immature and smutty humour doesn’t really fit in with the characters and the feel of the show, but having said that there are still plenty of moments that made me laugh throughout.

The plot is fairly simple, and the episode begins with a sleeping Frasier being roused by the Carlos and the Chicken who host KACL’s ‘The Morning Zoo’, who prank call Frasier and make him believe that he has won a special award and that a special sculpture has been commissioned, meaning Frasier must describe himself. I liked Frasier describing himself as ‘sublimely proportioned’. Frasier’s enthusiastic descriptions prompt the recurring joke regarding Frasier’s ‘enormous ass’, which does begin to grow tired pretty quickly, although I liked Roz’s ‘why don’t you pull up a couple of seats’ and all the residents at the Elliot Bay Towers attempting to photograph his behind, forcing Frasier to confiscate a woman’s medication; ‘If she wants to avoid those blood clots, she better cough up that film!’ The following scene, which sees Frasier yet again humiliated live on the radio made me feel really sorry for Frasier, and although he brings it upon himself, the bathroom antics always have me cringing with embarrassment for Frasier, who (unbeknown to him) informs the whole of Seattle that the contents of his bath are ‘Jasmin, lavender, rosehips and Tahitian vanilla’. He proceeds to embarrass himself yet further by stomping around the bathroom signing ‘I’m the mood for love’. Much as this sequence is funny, (although you do feel a bit guilty), it is a complete rehash of Frasier singing Gilbert and Sullivan (again in the bathroom) in ‘Leapin’ Lizards’. Aside from this ludicrous sight, we also get a nice scene in which the Crane boys are forced to relive their childhood, and learning about the behaviour of little Frasier and Niles is always a treat. The tale of Frasier and Niles playing ‘The Avengers’, which constituted of the pair running around the neighbourhood in bowler hats (with chin straps) is very funny, as is Martin’s embarrassment that Duke may overhear Niles intentions to re-season his crepe pans. He quickly lies and says that its ‘Daphne, watching PBS!’. My favourite quote also arises from this scene, in which Martin confesses to his sons that they sometimes give the impression to people that they’re above them, to which the siblings reply ‘Pish-tosh’ and ‘Poppycock!’. The ending to this episode is okay, and sees an enraged Frasier go down to KACL to give Carlos and the Chicken his ‘rebuttal’ after they manipulate audio images to give the impression that Frasier and Roz are ‘making out in the booth’. The episode concludes with a big row between the ‘Morning Zoo’ presenters, and Frasier having to fill in for them. In conclusion, ‘Radio Wars’ is a hugely silly episode of ‘Frasier’, and although I’d hate the show to be like this every week, it sees a welcome change in the show’s tone, and despite the script containing notable flaws and moments that just feel out-of-place, there is still plenty to enjoy.

Rating: 76%

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Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 7 -> Episode 7.03

Radio Wars

RADIO WARS, Aug 06, 2006

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