The Zoo Story, May 14, 2010

Reviewer: Norm, Jr. from Somewhere, CA

Dismissable, unneccessary entry sees Frasier trying to find just the right agent to negotiate his new station deal. He decides on Ben, a choir-boy do-gooder who seriously lacks the grit to represent even a karaoke performer. Of course, the ointmentle (not a word) fly is Bebe, now Roz's she-devil representation (continuing the last few seconds of "Roz's Turn," where Roz dismisses Bebe's undoing of a chance at her own show). This is met with predicatable ineptness on Ben's part, both involving real life cranes wreaking havoc on Frasier's public image. There's a clever psychiatric prop (the mini "chair") and Stanton's portrayal of Ben is accurately doughy (his line about the Mamet play was, for me, hysterical), but there's a severe lack of story here. And it's really the first time a "Bebe" episode finds her mostly absent. Niles' hormonal raging and Frasier's misgivings are recycled from "Look Before You Leap," and the shout of "Taxi!" was ridiculous, considering Niles has his own car. A real joyless detour.

Rating: 72%

'The Zoo Story' review, Jun 25, 2005

Reviewer: Jocelyn from London, UK

When Bebe decides to exploit Roz's pregnancy for a new radio show, Frasier feels it's time to look for a new and hopefully more principled agent which he finds in the form of Ben, a likeable but hopelessly inexperienced man who volunteers for 'Meals On Wheels' and the boy scouts. He comes up with increasingly pathetic publicity stunts such as the naming of a new crane at Mercer Island Zoo after his new client and even takes the trouble to make a miniature couch for the bird to sit on. Ben is a great character but the show is almost stolen by the actual appearance of 'Frasier the crane' as, thanks to Martin, the bird escapes it's cage to cause mayhem on live television. Perhaps the best thing here is Niles who, deprived of sex with Maris, becomes increasingly flirtatious with every woman he sees - reminiscent of his similarly desperate behaviour in 'Look Before You Leap' and just as funny. In the end, prompted by the sight of Ben in his boy scout uniform, Frasier once again re-signs with Bebe - even after it becomes clear that she had a hand in the crane's untimely demise. This is yet another highly amusing Bebe Glazer episode from Joe Keenan and his last writing for the character until the last ever episode.

Rating: 83%