Why Frasier wasn't influential like Seinfeld and Friends?

I find it interesting that Frasier and Niles had cellphones, to further emphasize how pretentious and self-important their characters were compared to everybody around them.

Fast-forward to the present, and we're all Frasier and Niles now.

 

Exactly. Frasier was too highbrow for a lot of people, which makes the popularity of Friends understandable.

 

They go out into the living room. As Martin settles into his armchair,
Frasier pours himself a sherry.

Martin: Oh, uh, Fras, you had a phone call a little while ago. Some
guy by the name of Lou, or maybe-
Frasier: Luke.
Martin: Yeah, Luke, that's it, yeah. Said he'd call back later. Real
friendly guy, who is he?
Frasier: Roz's new boyfriend. They're getting quite serious, and
actually he and I have hit it off as well.
Martin: Oh, that's great.
Frasier: Actually, it is. You know, with Niles spending more time with
Daphne, I-I don't have anybody to pal around with. And he's
a really interesting guy. He sails around the world, locating
shipwrecks and salvaging treasure.
Martin: Oh!
Frasier: God, you know, he tells some incredible stories! Yeah, it's
refreshing, really - usually I'm the cool friend.

 

Also:


Scene Three - Niles's Office
Flashback. Niles is comforting an elderly patient, who is holding
herself with both arms in fear.

Niles: [v.o.] I'd been having some trouble with the psychiatrist in
the office next door. His unconventional therapy had started
to intrude upon my sessions.

Niles: [going to patient] Mrs. Kelly, the key here is that you trust
me. So long as you're in this office you have no reason to
feel anything but safe.

A man's scream is heard from next door which scares Mrs. Kelly.

Niles: Just, please, think of this as your refuge, your sanctuary.

A woman's scream bellows in, scaring Mrs. Kelly further.

Niles: I'm not saying that being a sole survivor of a plane crash
wasn't a traumatizing experience for you. But, I can get
you to a point where the memories no longer haunt you.
Now both the man and the woman scream together, reducing Mrs. Kelly
to a nervous wreck. Niles can do nothing but put his arm around her.
Niles: [v.o.] His primal scream madness was ruining my practice.
I had to do something. The opportunity presented itself
that Friday.


Frankly, Frasier's comedy was on a whole other level than Seinfeld.

 

Seinfeld's black humor, while related to early Woody Allen's, takes things further into late 20th Century paranoia. Who else could think up a situation where someone dies from licking envelopes -- and have a main character benefit from that? This kind of plot twist seems improbable in Fraser's world.

 

True. IMO, Seinfeld only got good once they expanded out of Seinfeld's apartment. The folksy sociopaths weren't enough to keep me hooked. But once Elaine & George's work lives were looked at? Woah boy.

 

Rocket Fuel Malt Liquor! DAMN!!!!!!

 

I liked Lauren Graham as the efficiency engineer in News Radio but couldn't watch her at all in The Gilmour Girls.

 

In a very weird way I relate to Basil Fawlty. He starts out meaning well but once things go sour he turns into a total prat. Unlike Basil I eventually realize I am being a prat and self correct pretty quickly. I also fall on stuff a lot.

 

All this reminiscing flashed me back to the time French Stewart guest-starred on Just Shoot Me (S3:E7). He played a puppeteer for a children's TV show on PBS, and kept adding new puppets that were derisive of the interactions he was having with the employees at Blush Magazine.

 

I loved Seinfield and Fraizer to a lesser extent (I think I was a bit too young to relate to it when it initially aired) but never cared for friends. I viewed it as a show the "preppies" watched.

 

Carla (after Lilith receives a page, thus ending her visit early with Frasier): What, no goodbye kiss?

Lilith (in her classic, monotone voice) : I kiss, only as a prelude to passion.

Sam: Well, we've been warned!

 

Interesting, never could stand Niles, which is admittedly great acting. Ted and Dougal (these are small but the ones out there are far away) I loved and Murray (stuff you Jemaine, and stuff you Brett...and stuff you again Jemaine) was brilliant.

 

You can ALMOST see her crack a smile at Woodys first joke just as it cuts away.

 

My favourite Cheers joke - along with the time Norm say's he's going to limit himself to just 1 this evening... maybe 1:30.

 

Whenever I say someone will rue the day, I'm really quoting REAL GENIUS.

Rue the day. Who says that?

 

The scene where Lilith and Frasier invite Sam and Diane to their condo (as their first dinner guests) is some absolutely classic television.

As is the scene where Nanna Gee (Emma Thompson) serenades the Crane family, who are celebrating little Frederick's 2nd birthday.

 

Never understood the love for Seinfeld, none of the characters were really likeable, especially George. Terrible show.

Never understood the love for Friends either as all the characters were rather shallow and stupid. Terrible show.

Never understood the lack of love for Frasier, it was a smart, well written show with interesting characters and the chemistry between the brothers was brilliant. Easily the best comedy of the 90's.

 

There are dozens of Norm jokes. The one that sticks out to me is later in the series, Rebecca's father (a gruff, weathered navy captain) stands at the bar after and announces he'd like to have a beer.

Norm: Excuse me sir, but did I mention to you that I used to be in the Coast Guard?

Captain Howe: Coast Guard, huh? Well you must be proud, Miss.

Norm: ...Buy a girl a beer?

 

Yep, Seinfeld didn't really consistently hilarious until sometime in Season 3. Some younger folks who have never seen it and asked me about it, always get the same recommendation from me: Start with Season 5. Seinfeld is not necessarily a show that has to be watched from beginning to end. Easy to pick it up halfway through and get it right away. And I think Season 5 is the best season, so you get the major funny right away.

The first episode you mentioned (Dinner at Eight) is on my short list of best Cheers episodes.

As for Nanny G..."Don't you wanna shake my hand?" LOL

 

Cheers (first 5 seasons) is the gold standard for me - Diane Chambers is an impossible act to follow!

 

It really was.

Sam: Can you move please, you're in my light.

Diane: I am your light.

 

Why don't we hang him in effigy?
Coach: Why don't we do it right here in Boston?