Search - Frasier: The Complete Third Season on DVD

Frasier is still in the building

Richard LeComte | Tuscaloosa, AL | 05/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Season three of "Frasier" didn't hit as many comic highs the series achieved in season two - the brothers don't let their egos destroy restaurants, for example. Instead, in these 24 episodes, we get the kind of acerbically funny, occasionally hilarious character comedy that we came to expect from the show. Niles, who in this season leaves Maris, finds his attraction to caretaker Daphne (Jane Leeves) intensifying, especially in the episode "Moon Dance," in which two two dance at a society bash. Meanwhile, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has a prolonged fling with his boss (Mercedes Ruehl). In one memorable episode - "The Adventures of Bad Boy and Dirty Girl," the two accidentally broadcast their tryst. Frasier also has a close encounter with Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), who left him at the altar in "Cheers." (The episode, "The Show Where Diane Comes Back," features a classic "Cheers" spoof.) The shows frequently shun cheap laughs to build to a riotous conclusion. The extras are going downhill from the earlier collections."

The quick wit lives on!

Frederick A. Babb | http://www.frederickbabb.com | 05/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frasier marked the end of the shows that thrived on quick wit and the constant juggle versus the occasional belly laugh. This collection is some of the best of the series and another reminder of an era that is started out with the likes of the Cosby Show, Night Court, Cheers and now is sadly coming to an end."

3rd Time is More than Charming...

McGillicutty | The Sooner Nation | 02/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Admittedly, while I think that Season 3 is just a cut below Season 2 (perhaps the best ever, IMHO), there's still more than enough laughs, great acting and stories to make this third season of Frasier a must for your collection.



The first ten episodes chronicle the blistering relationship between Frasier and his boss, Kate Costas (a mannered, but still very good Mercedes Ruel). Their argueing and contempt for each other naturally leads to sparks which are detailed in the wonderful episode "Sleeping with the Enemy". Their relationship ends rather whimsfully in "It's Hard To Say Goodbye If You Won't Leave".



Plenty of guest appearences also helped to elevate this season, especially Griffen Dunne as a wheelchair-bound, yet very annoying person who wants to be Frasier's friend (in "The Friend"). Shelly Long reprises her "Cheers" character Diane Chambers in "The Show Where Diane Comes Back". This episode also features a re-creation of the famous "Cheers" bar (done in a stage play) and Frasier and Diane finally get some closure to their relationship. "Wings" and future "Monk" star Tony Shaloub gets in one of his typical brilliant characters in "The Focus Group".



And let's not forget the underatted actor Harry Yulen as the guy who can "fix things" in "Word to the Wiseguy". Yulen manages to be both a little creepy, yet somehow put upon by his unseen girlfriend. A great performance and a very good episode.



Frasier's agent-from-hell Bebe makes a great appearence in "Where There's Smoke, Their's Fired". Her line to Daphne ("I'll make you a star!") is delivered with all the enthusiasm and malevolence we expect from Bebe. And Frasier's relationship with Roz is put to the test in "Frasier Loves Roz". My favorite little scene from that episode happens at the end when both characters are standing on opposite sides of Roz's door. The final reaction by Frasier is both unexpected and very funny.



The highlight is the Emmy winning "Moon Dance". Directed by Kelsey Grammer and utilizing all the writing staff, this episode is perfectly done, hilarious, and ultimately touching as Niles confesses his love for Daphne, yet in a logical twist she misinterprets his words. A genuine classic and perhaps the single best episode featuring these two characters.



Extras:

"The Crane Brothers Remember Season 3" is an on-set interview (done perhaps in the last season of Frasier) of both Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce. Most of their reflections are centered on "Moon Dance". A nice, if not inspired documentary.



The rest of the extras dissapoint as they are nothing but edited scenes from the third season with a lame theme ("Bulldog Crazy" and "The Mystery of Maris") as well as the unnecessary "Celebrity Callers".



Why no bloopers is beyond me. Also missing is any "commentary", which would've been great on "Moon Dance".



Having said all that, Season 3 is still one of the best and funniest seasons of Frasier. So if you're a fan, what are you waiting for? Go out and get it!



Trivia bits:

- No Lilith this time out, a shame since Bebe Neuworth adds so much to the show.



- Kelsey Grammer got a major haircut before Season 3 began. A "short style" which he kept until the end of the series. For some reason (probably a practical one) the episode "You Can Go Home Again" which features a long flashback to Frasier's first radio broadcast in Seattle has Kelsey with short hair, which is inaccurate to his character at the time.



- The episode "Chess Pains" implies that Frasier thinks Martin is only vaguely aware of how to play chess. Yet in the first season, we see Martin playing chess ("Can't Buy Me Love") in front of Frasier.



- My understanding is, though it's not mentioned in the DVDs, that Jane Leeves ad-libbed the dance bit where she put her leg on David Hyde Pierce's shoulder (which is the single most memorable visual of the episode).



- This season features guest appearences by Griffen Dunne & Linda Hamilton, both of whom were the first two celebrity callers on the pilot episode "The Good Son"."