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Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 3 -> Episode 3.09

Frasier Grinch
Episode Details

Written by: David Lloyd

Directed by: Philip Charles Mackenzie

Original US airdate: 19th December 1995

Original UK airdate: 30th August 1996


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
Bulldog .... Dan Butler
Gil Chesterton .... Edward Hibbert
Frederick Crane .... Luke Tarsitano
   
   
Guest Cast
Jack .... Tegan West
Waitress .... Luck Hari
Marge .... Becky Ann Baker
Ned .... Klee Bragger
Guest Callers
Bob .... Ray Liotta

Episode Synopsis

It's Christmas Eve and Frasier is excited as his son Frederick is coming to stay with him for the first time since his parent's divorce. Niles also has some good news when he meets his brother for coffee in the cafe - he believes he and Maris maybe reconciled soon, but when he tries to pay for everyone's drinks by credit card he is informed that they have been cancelled by Maris (not to mention mention his phone service too!) as they are all in her name. Back at KACL, Frasier is giving his Christmas broadcast which includes an inspiring Christmas story but Gil and Bulldog try and distract him but wrapping him in tinsel and bringing in the Christmas part stripper Candy Cane!Finally, Frasier arrives home - only to find Martin has decked out his apartment from top to toe just as it was when he was a child, so it's kitschy decorations abound, much to Frasier's annoyance. However, he doesn't have long before Frederick arrives so he starts to wrap his presents only to discover that there has been a mix up and instead of the educational toys he ordered, he has instead received a Franklin Crane's presents which included a Barbie doll and kitchen set!

This forces Frasier and Niles to head down to a big toy shop in the mall where they try to find the educational toys Frasier ordered. Their father suggests they buy the Outlaw Laser Robo Geek, that year's most popular toy but Frasier is insistent on buying educational toys. He spies a potential saviour when he spies a man with toys from a shop called 'Young Minds' but they closed half an hour ago, but the man then offers to sell Frasier the toys - in return for $1000! Frasier gives him £300 in cash and a personal cheque from Niles for the rest (knowing full well that Maris has cancelled his account!). Finally, Frederick is ready for bed and tells his father he asked Santa for the Outlaw Laser Robo Geek for Christmas, which means that Frasier learns the hard way he shouldn't try to mould people by giving them things he thinks they should like at Christmas. However, his father maybe able to save the day......

Episode Title Cards
  • If I Only Had A Brain
  • A Mall And The Night Visitors

Episode Highlights

- Roz still hasn't finished her Christmas shopping:
Roz: I never know what to get the men in my life
Frasier: Since when (?!)

- Niles is told his credit cards have been cancelled by order of co-signitory:
Frasier: Maris has cancelled your credit cards?
Roz: Woah! Merry Christmas!

- At the KACL Christmas party, Bulldog enters Frasier's studio wearing mistletoe over his head:
Bulldog: Hey Roz, you know what's over my head?
Roz: Almost any clever remark (!)

- Frasier's reaction to seeing Martin's "redecoration" of his apartment

- Niles sees that his father has dressed Eddie in a Santa hat and beard:
Niles: Dad, you have to get out more - you've started doing old lady things!

- Frasier has been sent the wrong presents from the educational toy company:
Frasier: These are for a Franklin Crane from Kennebunkport. Do you know what this means?
Niles: Yes - the Cranes of Maine have got your 'Living Brain'!

- Frasier spies a 'Living Brain' box in the mall toy shop:
Boy: 'Living Brain'? What kind of dork wants that?
Frasier: Hopefully the dork who will one day be working on your prostate!

- Frederick says goodnight to Niles:
Frederick: I hope Aunt Maris comes out of her coma
[Frederick leaves the rooom as Frasier and Martin look at Niles in disbelief]
Niles: He asked where she was - I though the truth would just upset him!

 

Frasier Online Episode Review

A sweet and very enjoyable episode that reveals some of the Crane Christmas traditions and contains some great highlights: Frasier and Niles being forced to visit the mall toy shop, Martin's "redecoration" of Frasier's apartment and Frasier trying to read a Christmas story while Bulldog and Gil do everything in their power to distract him. It gets a touch sentimental at then end, but I don't think it spoils this well scripted and funny episode.

Rating

81 %

Latest Viewer Episode Review

Avg. Viewer Review: 86.0%
Total Number of Reviews: 3


Sweet, Dec 04, 2011

Reviewer: Sammy J from Melbourne, Australia


"Frasier Grinch" has a great sense of atmosphere. It genuinely feels
like Christmas, and like a family gathering. The only moment that
stands out to me in retrospect is Frederick's "I hope Aunt Maris
comes out of her coma" (ha!) and I wouldn't call this a classic. But
there isn't a false note in this episode, which is almost a series of
musings on Christmas. Young Freddy is adorable (although I'm glad
they got Trevor Einhorn for future installments), and it's nice to see
that the series can take an episode with very few contrivances or
major character misunderstandings, and still create 22 minutes
worth of good fun.


Rating: 85%

 

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