Frasier Online
home About The Show Episode Guide Merchandise Forum Reviews Gallery Contact

Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 9 -> Episode 9.13

Juvenilia
Episode Details

Written by: Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil

Directed by: Katy Garretson

Original US airdate: 22nd January 2002

Original UK airdate: 29th March 2002


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
Kirby .... Brian Klugman
Peg .... Lindsay Crouse
   
   
Guest Cast
Andy McNiff .... Brian T. Finney
Trent .... Taylor Handley
Emily .... Casey Strand
Ryan .... Patrick Cavanaugh
Lucy .... Regina McMahon
Guest Callers

Episode Synopsis

Kenny hands Frasier some research the station has had commissioned into each show, which finds that Frasier's average listener is an elderly gentlemen that finds comfort in his radio. Frasier brushes off the research, but Kenny wants him to improve his demographic with the younger listeners by appearing on KACL's show for teenagers - 'Teen Scene'. Frasier is somewhat reluctant having had a bad experience once before, but when he meets one of the presenters (and a big fan of his show) Emily, he changes his mind.

Just before he is due to go on, Frasier and Emily are talking when Kirby (interning at the station) come by. It transipres they went to the same school together, but each despises the other. Unpeterburbed by this, the show begins but if Frasier thinks he is in for an easy ride, he is sadly mistaken. Instead, the three presenters use it as a platform to dredge up all the bad things that have happened in Frasier's life (such as his attempted suicide) and force Frasier to explain his actions on air. Luckily, Kirby is listening to all this and provides Frasier in a break with a plethora of information about the presenters background, including who has been cheating on whom.....Also, Niles turns to Roz for advice when he wants to show his love for Daphne in a more exciting way.

Episode Title Cards
  • Niles Gets His Daily Dose Of Spinach

Episode Highlights

- Kirby is trying to get out of coming to work early:
Kenny: How dumb do you think I am? You will show up for work tomorrow - after your meals on wheels delivery.

- Niles wants to know how he can show his love for Daphne in a more exciting way:
Roz: Once in a while, do something crazy. Like really out there.
Niles: Are you talking about scarves?

- Frasier notices the Teen Scene moderator is smoking:
Frasier: Will you be smoking all night?
Andy [resigned]: Yeah!

- The show's presenters drudge up past incidents from Frasier's life:
Ryan: How many of your listeners realise they are taking advice from a man who was almost a stain on the sidewalk!

- The 'Teen Scene' moderator signs off:
Andy: This is Andy McNiff, reminding you we are still taking applications for the moderators job!

Frasier Online Episode Review

An amiable if rather uninspired episode that has 3 stories, none of which contained many great scenes or lines. My favourite scene is Niles and Eddie trying to steal a street sign, while the best line goes to Niles wondering if wearing scarves is doing something crazy. The rest of the episode seemed rather dull by comparison resulting in a rather run-of-the-mill episode.

Rating

64 %

Latest Viewer Episode Review

Avg. Viewer Review: 76.0%
Total Number of Reviews: 5


Hoot and holler, May 20, 2013

Reviewer: Sammy J from Melbourne, Australia


"Juvenilia" is an average episode of the series with the most bizarre laugh track in the show's eleven-year history.

Brian Klugman's last appearance as Kirby Gardner is a good one, further developing the character and suggested he could've been good fun appearing on occasion at KACL. His slightly awkward relationship with Roz, and Frasier's reluctant mentoring, are both amusing little character interactions. As a whole, the Teen Scene plotline has some laughs: Frasier sending autographs to the hospice, the bemused moderator Andy McNiff, and Frasier's ultimate revenge. Still, I'm not sure I understand why the Teen Scene kids act the way they do, regardless of how amusing it always is to have a character questioned from a slightly meta point of view. It's definitely satisfying to see Kirby provide Frasier with the answers he seeks, but it's not much.

There are two other plots but neither comes to much. Niles seeks Roz's help in his endless cavalcade of gifts for Daphne, but there are very few original laughs and nothing really comes of it. Of course, as a C-Plot that's to be expected. But moreso, it gels with my idea that season 9 is planned more as one long piece. All these little plots that don't really climax are designed to just add layers to the character from "Don Juan in Hell" through to the finale. It's admirable, definitely. It just doesn't add up to much on this occasion. Martin, meanwhile, pursues a security guard at work in a well-constructed little piece where he goes from being super-casual to forlorn. Still, it doesn't really go anywhere either.

My main issue with this episode, though, is that the studio audience are incredibly obnoxious! Their laughter is over-the-top from moment one, and sometimes it intrudes on places that seem like they should be at least a little serious (like Martin staring forlornly at the phone). Their hoots and hollers during Martin's chat with Peg just seem inappropriate, frankly. Of course, this isn't the show's fault. The makeup of any studio audience may vary - in fact, often tour groups make up a fair portion of an audience. That is, by its nature, a group of people who don't regularly watch the show. They're less likely to get character-based humour, instead going for whatever they think stands out as a joke. I'm not sure if that's what happened here, but it sure is an unusual response throughout the episode. All in all, then, another average episode in a string of them. Season 9 started out quite strongly, but it's begun to recede a little into, well, not disappointments, but uneventful offerings.


Rating: 72%

 

Read more viewer reviews of this episode.

Write your own review of this episode and share your thoughts with other's.