Over-rated farce that spoils the Frasier canon, Oct 16, 2012

Reviewer: Neil Hardie from Edinburgh, Scotland

I'm a huge fan of Frasier, the most intelligent sitcom ever (probably
because it is writer-led). This one, though, leaves me puzzled. I couldn't
even crack a smile. It's obviously a fault in me because so many other
people here rave about it.
I'm not agin farce in Frasier: the episode in which the brothers open a
restaurant makes me laugh. This one, though, tore up all the series'
normally fine characterisation, plot and humour for the sake of manic
nonsense. I left with the impression that it was written for the cast to
enjoy.
A far better episode in Series Four is No6, Mixed Doubles. That had me
doubled up all the way through the second act and, in the most moving
piece of television in years, in tears at the final scene. Polar opposites of
emotions within six minutes. No other sitcom is that classy. Hell, not
many straight dramas can be that classy.

Rating: 40%

Honey Roast Ham, Jun 01, 2006

Reviewer: Charlotte from Anchorage

Not my favourite epiode and not even in my top ten. The plot seems a bit awkward and the laughs revolve around characters other than Frasier.

However, it is a classic, and is rated as such here, but as far as I'm concerned, there are better and funnier episodes out there.

Rating: 63%

The most overrated episode of 'Frasier' ever, Aug 25, 2009

Reviewer: Sitcom Fan from U.K

Of all the episodes of 'Frasier', this is the most overrated. So many seem to say this is the best episode of 'Frasier', many even say it’s the best comedy half hour ever. After watching it for the umpteenth time, I just cannot understand it. To me, this is not a particularly outstanding episode.

'Ham Radio' is 'Frasier' at its most broad. Thus it's not surprising that many people who don’t normally like 'Frasier' love this episode. However, what surprises me is that ardent 'Frasier' fans often rate it as one of the best, if not THE best, episode of 'Frasier'. If this is so, they must be pretty bored and disappointed by most other 'Frasier' episodes, because most episodes (particularly in the first seven seasons) are excellent stories that explore character and relationships, as well as being full of witty dialogue. ‘Ham Radio’ abandons all this in favour of silly accents, people saying words backwards, and squeaky voices. By 'Frasier' s standards, its pretty silly and simplistic humour. Fortunately, this episode is not representative of the show as a whole, which is my favourite T.V programme of all time. If all episodes of 'Frasier' were like this, I wouldn't like the show very much.

I don’t think it is a bad episode. The earlier part of it, in particular, is enjoyable, especially the rehearsal scene at Frasier's apartment and Daphne's sarcastic comments. But I’ve just been looking through the script online and there are very few of the great one liners that pepper most 'Frasier' scripts of this period. It's definitely in the bottom quarter of season 4 for me, and wouldn’t make my top 50 episodes of 'Frasier', let alone my top 10. There are SO many better episodes. The ending in particular is rather underwhelming. It feels like we are building up to some big punchline but then Frasier just says ‘Perhaps we could have a little post-play discussion?’ and the scene fades out. It’s hardly ending the episode on a high.

This is a reasonably enjoyable episode, but I find it’s incredible popularity mystifying when compared to masterpieces such as ‘The Good Son’, ‘A Midwinter Night's Dream’, ‘My Coffee With Niles’, ‘The Matchmaker’, ‘Daphne's Room’, ‘An Affair To Forget’, ‘Breaking The Ice’, ‘Martin Does It His Way’, ‘Frasier Grinch’, ‘Look Before You Leap’, ‘The Impossible Dream’, ‘Mixed Doubles’, ‘Death and the Dog’, ‘3 Dates and a Breakup’, ‘Daphne Hates Sherry’, ‘Are You Being Served’, ‘Frasier’s Imaginary Friend’, ‘The Gift Horse’ , ‘Halloween’, ‘Voyage of the Damned’, ‘Room Service’, ‘First Date’….the list goes on and on. This is an O.K, occasionally excellent episode, but along with ‘The 2 Mrs Cranes’ , the most overrated 'Frasier' episode ever.

Rating: 75%

'Ham Radio' Review, Sep 18, 2006

Reviewer: Stratman from Western Australia

The most overrated piece of episode television EVER.

Rating: 80%

Gil shines, Sep 29, 2007

Reviewer: Sarah G from Herts, UK

It took me a little while to get into this episode, but it soon came to light what a comedy masterpiece it was. Many, many good bits along the way but my personal absolute highlight was Gil's refusal to die, and how determined he was to tell the audience of his Surrey boyhood, until his character(s!) eventually succumb to death by Frasier. This part nearly, very nearly, made me cry laughing. Superb.

Rating: 90%

Fantastic, Mar 11, 2007

Reviewer: Anonymous from Anytown, AT 55555

i've only seen this episode once but it was absoloutely hilarious and i can't wait for season 4 DVD to arrive.

Rating: 93%

Another Great Episode, Dec 30, 2005

Reviewer: Amz from Wiltshire, UK

This was a great episode (one of my faves) and I laughed more or less all the time. The entire scene where Frasier, Roz, Niles, and all the others perform Nightmare Inn is enough to make your sides split, even though it was a bit predictable that everything would go wrong. My favourite part was when Niles had to do all those voices the best one being Peppo the Dwarf and the part where he "shot" everyone including himself. This is a must see episode for all Frasier fans!

Rating: 94%

'Ham Radio' review, Jun 14, 2005

Reviewer: Jocelyn from London, UK

Without doubt, this is one of the all-time classic episodes of 'Frasier' with a constant stream of laugh out loud moments and the whole cast on top form throughout. The plot centres around the 50th anniversary of KACL, an occasion Frasier decides to celebrate by directing a recreation of the station's first mystery theatre broadcast 'Nightmare Inn'. Unfortunately, as Niles points out in the opening scene, once Frasier starts directing he doesn't know when to stop and this episode demonstates his control freakery at it's most extreme (and funniest). There are two standout sequences here. The first is set at Frasier's apartment as the characters rehearse their lines with Frasier being incredibly patronising towards Daphne and the one professional actor Mel White swiftly quitting after Frasier's constant critiquing becomes to much to bear. The second and arguably greatest scene is pretty much the whole second half as the live broadcast gets underway and everything goes from bad to worse. Niles has to play six different roles all with different accents, Roz has to deliver her lines with a face full of novacaine following a trip to the dentist, Bulldog uncharacteristicly dries up on air, his dyslexic girlfriend Maxine manages to fluff her only line while Noel makes a complete hash of the sound effect department. Best of all though is Gil's refusal to die as he's denied the chance to perform his beloved 'boyhood in Surrey' speech - Edward Hibbert was never funnier than here - although even this is topped by Niles, increasingly aggravated by his brother's over-direction, killing off all the remaining characters, which leaves the whole play underrunning by nine minutes. An absolutely brilliant episode which would be a good one to try and convert a newcomer to the show with and, alongside 'The Innkeepers', David Lloyd's greatest contribution to television comedy.

Rating: 95%

Ham Radio - Brilliant!!, Jan 03, 2006

Reviewer: Tom from Cumbria, England

Ham Radio. What can I say? A true remarkable episode. I have three favourite eps and this ranks among them (the other two being Frasier Grinch and Daphne Hates Sherry). I first saw this episode on Paramount in 2005 and I was laughing my head off!!! I spilt ginger beer down myself!! The episode starts off very well, with Niles predicting that ''in the end [Frasier] will end up re-writing the script, playing the main part and over-direct!". The rehearsal at Frasier's apartment is also hilarious. Frasier undermining Daphne and have higher standards than the broadway are classic. The final climax scene in which everything goes wrong during the reading is great, with Martin & Daphne listening in! A brilliant episode; one of the best ever, if not the best.

Rating: 95%

The Funniest Ever!, Jan 12, 2006

Reviewer: Phil Townsend from Dorking, Surrey, England!

I have just watched this episode for the first time - shame on me - and it is probably the funniest half an hour's worth of television viewing I have ever seen. Roz's novocaine filled delivery in the performance, Niles on helium as the dwarf and bulldog's politically incorrect chinaman at the rehearsal being the best bits. One slight problem though - there are no fens in Surrey, but who cares!! Absolutely top drawer entertainment!

Rating: 95%

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