Customer Reviews

Frasier: The Complete Sixth Season

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Season 6 has some hilarious, unforgettable situations Frasier, family and his friends have to work through. In "The Seal Who Came To Dinner" Frasier & Niles seek approval from snob hill, only to have a dead seal ruin their chances for the Golden Apron. Niles moves to Shangri-La,...the apartment with folding bed and reach-in closet. Donny Douglas, Daphne's husband-to-be-NOT is introduced. Niles tries to break them up, but fails for the next 4 seasons. And then there's Faye,...or is it Cassandra? Frasier couldn't get it right.


1. Good Grief
2. Frasier's Curse
3. Dial M For Martin
4. Hot Ticket
5. First, Do No Harm
6. Secret Admirer
7. How To Bury A Millionaire
8. The Seal Who Came To Dinner
9. Roz, A Loan
10. Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz
11. Good Samaritan
12. Our Parents, Ourselves
13. The Show Where Woody Shows Up
14. Three Valentines
15. To Tell The Truth
16. Decoys
17. Dinner Party
18. Taps At The Montana
19. IQ
20. Dr. Nora
21. When A Man Loves Two Women
22. Visions Of Daphne
23. Shutout In Seattle (1)
24. Shutout In Seattle (2)

NOTES:

Producers: please program the first DVD so the commercials can be skipped. And, provide extras.

Amazon: is there an e-mail list announcing new season releases?

While this season continues a downward trend which started as early as the third season, there are still some flashes of brilliance here.

Frasier does ultimately get his job back at the radio station, and salsa music is banished. But the best episode lies a little ahead, on disk three...

My personal favorite episode is "Three Valentines," which combines some of the best Frasier elements. It starts out with Niles, solo at Frasier's place, preparing for a date with the president of the wine club. The writing is so clever and, as much, Niles' acting of the complex physical requirements, timing, and facial expression through an entirely silent sequence is just amazing - as good as anything you'd get in the whole series.

This is almost matched by Frasier's comedy of perception and expectation with the great-looking Communications Director of the station (played by Virginia Madsen in her prime). Again, the writing is strong and the acting matches it - although you can see just a hint of the upcoming trouble we're soon to have with Kelsey Grammer.

But the best one is the segment between Daphne and Martin. His cynical crustiness plays off Daphne's despondency over spending Valentine's Day without a date, and weakens when he realizes that she does not find him an "attractive older man."

Overall, the season is a really good one - enjoyable, relaxed and not quite yet as formulaic as seasons ahead.

Season 6 was really the end of an era, before the Daphne-Niles romance became more than a one-sided infatuation and, although it provided emotional gratification to the show's fans, it sapped some of the show's energy. Bulldog was also soon to become a bit-player on the show, too--I'm not sure why. In addition, Frasier was shut out of the Emmys for the first time ever (it was defeated by Ally McBeal). At least we can be thankful that David E. Kelley wasn't involved with Frasier, or things would have detioratated much faster. Frasier, at least, ended strong last year.

The sixth season had more than a few laughs. Initially, Frasier was unemployed after KACL converted to a Latino-music station. One particularly funny episode was "Frasier's Curse", which had the unemployed Frasier trying to strike an upbeat note while awaiting a high school reunion. Frasier eventually does get his job back (sadly, Bulldog doesn't). Another highlight is a visit from Cheers' dense bartender Woody, which serves as a reminder of where Frasier actually began. "IQ" has Niles and Frasier settling the score on which one is smarter, but the best episode of this season is "Dinner Party." In this real-time episode, Frasier and Niles decide to throw a dinner party, but the planning goes awry when one of the guests makes a disparaging remark about one of the brothers. It's very clever, although it doesn't exactly take advantage of the entire ensemble.

Ultimately, this is a happier season than the last one, but it has the usual quandries and issues for Frasier and his family and friends (and we wouldn't have it any other way). This is still the show on the top of its game, before the 7-8-9 seasons' gradual erosion and the last two seasons' remarkable recovery. A worthy buy.

The sixth season of "Frasier" marked the first time the show didn't win an Emmy for best comedy and it was probably deserved. However, it does have a number of gems and is well-worth getting for the "Frasier" fanatics out there.

Oddly enough, the problem episodes bracket an otherwise very good season with some priceless moments. "Good Grief" is a good example of what is not right as it finds Frasier out of work (which he would be until "Roz, A Loan" nine episodes later) and the entire cast pushing the comedy, instead of relaxing and letting the writing do its work. Kelsey Grammer in particular is somewhat frantic in the first few episodes and each punchline gets an unnecessary yell or emphises that works against the humor.

The really good episodes begin with "First, Do No Harm" featuring Teri Hatcher who completes a trifeca of comic highlights here, after her unforgetable turns in "Night Court" & "Seinfeld". The fun continues on the Disc 2 starting with "The Seal Who Came To Dinner" and "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz", a killer combo of classic Frasier laughs highlighted by the appropriate yell of "JESUS!".

Disc 3 contains the single finest moment of the season in "Three Valentines", a perfect, nearly wordless scene with Niles preparing for his date at Frasier's place, only to have one disaster follow another with Eddie looking on. Woody Harrelson turns in one of his best "Woody" performances in "The Show Where Woody Comes Back". The final toast at the end of the episode is both touching and appropriate.
At first, "Decoys" plays like last season's best farce "The Ski Lodge" and while it's not quite as good, it's still very funny. Niles' relationship with Maris finally ends with "To Tell The Truth" and has one of the best reaction shots as Niles realizes just where Maris' fortune came from.

Disc 4 takes a downturn as the focus shifts to Daphne and her relationship with Donny (Saul Rubenek). While I admire Saul and his talents, he seems like an odd fit for Daphne and there wasn't much chemestry there to make me believe she was in love with him. An exception is the "Dr. Nora" episode which is rather funny although Christene Baranski does overplay her "Dr. Laura" impression somewhat.

Once again, we are plagued with needless previews on Disc 1 (which you can get through quickly using the chapter advance button) and no extras at all. I suppose that Seasons 7 - 10 will be presented in the same manner, which is a real shame when compared to the "Seinfeld" DVDs.

Overall, Season Six turned out somewhat better than I had remembered, featuring some classic moments and big laughs. However, the seeds of "Frasier's" downturn are apparent as the writing begins to suffer under the weight of the Niles/Daphne relationship which would become more problematic over the next few seasons.

Tidbits:
- Look for a young Erika Christensen ("Traffic", "Swimfan") in "Frasier's Curse", she's in an early scene in the Cafe' Nervosa.

- A continuity blooper happens in "The Seal Who Came To Dinner", the lid of Niles' coffee keeps appearing and dissapearing during a scene at the Cafe' Nervosa.

- Unfortunately, there is no Lilith or Bebe this season.

- Although I didn't believe it at first, it apparently is true that Roz has no idea Niles loves Daphne until the episode "Decoys", halfway through the sixth season.

- "Dinner Party" features only the cast (no special guests or extras), a first for "Frasier".

I'm a big Frasier fan. However, I do feel the series fell off its high standards (as one of the greatest TV shows ever) by Season Six becoming, to me, a very contrived show. During Seasons one through five nothing, on television, was (to me) any funnier than the sitcom of Frasier. But, I'm afraid, by its Season Six (to me) things seemed to deteriorate with situations becoming forced in order to just get a laugh. The characters were still wonderful; however, the situations and circumstances they were put in seemed, to me, to be obviously "set-up" for the laugh. During seasons 1-5, I never got the aforesaid feeling; those seasons were just consistently hysterical. In Season Six there are certainly some laughs to be had; nevertheless, the laughter, for me, was not as consistent as in the previous seasons.

In light of the above, this will be the last season of this great series that I will purchase on DVD. I truly feel that the series should have ended at Season Five.

I used to not like Frasier matter of fact I used to change the channel everytime when I was in early teens. Luckily through one of my friends who had the first season and had nothing to do I decided to give it a chance and it was great. I Became fan of Frasier and hooked. The sixth season is great with great triumph for Niles who finally get divorced. The show is great if enjoy saucy,sassy,and witty comedy this show has it.

I have been waiting for Season 6 to be released for years! It has 2 of the funniest episodes: "Two Valentines" where Niles does a slapstick bit setting Frasier's apartment on fire while ironing; and "The Seal Who Came To Dinner" where Niles breaks into his soon-to-be-ex-wife's beach house to throw a dinner party and a dead seal has washed up onto the beach. Both episodes will have you laughing out loud!! Season 6 also includes Niles having to move into The Montana which is hilarious! I plan to own the entire collection when it will (hopefully) be offered in the future, but I am definitely purchasing Season 6 now as it is one of the best!

Few shows share the great wit and comedy that Frasier offered during its run on NBC. A brilliant cast came together with some very gifted writers, and they made magic.
Season 6 has its gems (and its clunkers) as any show does. But as I say, even a Frasier clunker is better than most other television programs.

For me the low point of season six was the dubious addition of the unlikeable Donnie Douglas character and his preposterous romance with Daphne. It is completely unrealistic that a pretty, charming woman like this would be attracted to a gnarled little troll (a very flabby one at that) who looks like he's had a stroke. Why they even cast this person is beyond my comprehension. I couldn't wait for this story arc to end.

Season 6 does offer some delicious episodes.
"How to Bury a Millionaire" is one of my favorite Frasier episodes ever. The simple idea of Niles having to live with Frasier temporarily is gold. The scene where they try to sleep in the same room is fantastic. Then, in the same episode, we see Niles' horrified reaction to the Shangri La apartment complex where he will have to live.
Great stuff.
"Dial M for Martin" is terrific, as is "The Seal Who Came to Dinner" and "Three Valentines" (which features Niles' best physical comedy scene ever).

I love watching this program, and it is very rewatchable on dvd. Sure, the special features are awfully paltry, but I forgive this simply because it's Frasier. Being able to have the dvd's and watch this classy, hilarious show any time is a true pleasure.

Frasier is one of the best all time comedies - extremely witty humour, engaging storylines and a fantastic cast. Series 6 is no exception - another hilarious collection of episodes - ''Dial M for Martin'' and ''Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz" are guaranteed to make you laugh.

The highlight of this series is watching the various ups and downs that Niles faces...usually painful, sometimes heartbreaking but on the whole hilarious. David Hyde Pierce steals the show in this series. He is even more endearing than ever, especially in the episode ''Visions Of Daphne''.

The only downside of this series is that Bebe doesn't have an appearance.

Can't wait for Series 7...

Season six offers so many laughs and highlights Niles (David Hyde Pierce) so well, playing up his best qualities, that it must qualify as the funniest season of Frasier. The writers never give up on character development, as Niles grapples with missed opportunities and Frasier deals with a variety of relationship issues, especially those outside the romantic realm. This season, of course, also has what is known as one of the "funniest four minutes" on television, with the scene where Niles irons a pair of pants, resulting in slapstick comedy that makes me laugh so hard I cry, every time I see it.