Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 8 -> Episode 8.08

Frasier's Edge

The nominations for the SeaBee's have been announced - including one for Gil Chesterton as Restaurant Critic Of The Year - but 'The Dr Frasier Crane Show' doesn't get any. However, Frasier is astonished to learn that he has been chosen to receive this years Lifetime Achievement Award, and among the congratulations he receives is a basket of flowers from his Harvard psychology professor/mentor, Professor Tewkesbury. Frasier has been meaning to see him for some time after reading in the alumni magazine he is working in Seattle at Washington University. He is somewhat puzzled by the card that comes with the flowers: 'You should be very proud' is one of the lines, and leaves Frasier wondering why he didn't write "I'm very proud of you". Frasier goes down to see Professor Tewkesbury just before the awards ceremony, who reveals that Frasier has been overanalyzing the card because his assistant wrote it. Frasier leaves happy, but the Professor finds him outside his office suffering from what appears to be a mid-life crisis - for which the Professor suggests an unusual course of action: Frasier has to analyze and treat himself.....

- Frasier finishes practicing his acceptance speech in front of Eddie:
Frasier: And that's where you would applaud.
[Eddie yawns]

- Daphne enters the room:
Frasier: Is it my imagination ot has she gained weight since breakfast?
Martin: Which seating - 8, 9 or 10?!

- Professor Tewkesbury is explaining to his wife why he is late:
Professor: One of my ex-students is having a crisis - I'll be there in half an hour.
Frasier: What does it all mean?
Professor: Make it an hour.

- Gil is annoyed the other 2 nominated critics share the Best Restaurant Critic award.
Roz: Come on Gil, isn't it enough to be nominated?
Gil: You tell me, Miss three time loser!

As a series, 'Frasier' uses psychiatry as a backdrop which thankfully keeps psychobabble to a minimum but it is brought to the fore in this episode as Frasier overanalyzes a note by his mentor and then has to help and treat himself. Disappointingly, the result is a rather boring episode which makes me long for the days when 'Frasier' had better writers. There's also a fairly amusing subplot of Martin trying to compensate for Frasier winning the award by continually praising Niles, but not even this compensates for the dire ending to the episode which makes you wonder why you bothered watching the episode. After 1/3 of the series, I hope the series can improve on its rather mediocre run of recent episodes.

Rating

68 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 72.9%
Total Number of Reviews: 8