Frasier (Season 3) DVD Review

Along with Friends and Seinfeld, Kelsey Grammer's Cheers spin-off, Frasier, dominated the prime time television landscape during the 1990's. Grammer plays the role of Dr. Frasier Crane who, fresh off of his divorce from Lilith, moves back to his hometown of Seattle where he lands a gig as a radio psychiatrist. Frasier's father, Marty Crane (John Mahoney), a Seattle cop recently shot in an attempted convenience store robbery is in need of physical therapy. Frasier and his brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) make an effort to mend their relationship with Marty whose plaid shirts and penchant for sports and beer strikes a dramatic contrast with their wine club, opera house culture. After a little prodding, Marty and his dog Eddie (Moose) move into Frasier's upscale apartment, and Frasier hires Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves), a housekeeper and physical therapist to look after the two cranes.

The Frasier (Season 3) DVD offers a number of hilarious episodes including the season premiere which heralds the arrival of a new station manager, Kate Costas (Mercedes Ruehl), with whom Frasier begins a passionate love affair. Given that Frasier is the voice of his peers in contract negotiations, the two compromise on employee salaries and agree to keep their romance a secret. One of the funniest episodes of the season (The Focus Group) centers around a superb focus group response for Frasier's show in which a lone participant, Manu (Tony Shalhoub of Monk fame), cites that he cannot stand Frasier. Consequently, Frasier badgers the man until he ruins his life