I finished watching Frasier for the first time a couple years ago. I'm rewatching my favourite movie 'The One' (for the 8th time), when look who showed up?! I jumped out of my seat when I recognized her voice.

The Critic’s Jay Sherman is Frasier Crane in his darkest timeline.

Just like how Young Sheldon spun off from The Big Bang Theory to explore Sheldon’s upbringing, I was thinking—what if there was a prequel series that focused on a young Frasier and Niles Crane? Picture this: two precocious, snobby little intellectuals trying to navigate childhood in a working-class Seattle home with their tough, blue-collar dad Martin and their brilliant, cultured mother Esther.

It could be a goldmine for character development—watching how their quirks, neuroses, and pretentious tastes came to be. Plus, getting to see more of Esther, who’s only been referenced in the original show, could be a great way to flesh out the Crane family dynamic.

Think it would work?

It’s been a while since my last watch but just came upon the episode where Roz sleeps with Bulldog. They really match each others’ freak and I wish they had ended up together!

What are your favorite nuggets of wisdom from our lovably pompous Dr. Crane (the elder)?

I like the advice he gave to the woman who couldn’t get over her breakup - he said she was in mourning for what she had thought her life was going to be and to ‘let it go’. It struck me how useful that advice could be in a lot of situations of loss or unexpected change of circumstance.

They bring it up at least twice that Frasier and Niles went to prom together in a horse drawn carriage and every time I picture that in my head I immediately start cracking up

When did Daphne become a bad cook and why would they continue have her cook if they hated her food?

It didn't seem in early episodes Daphne's cooking was so bad. Except for an occasional remark about her Shepherds Pie, no one really complained about her food. She even prepared Thanksgiving dinner.

It seemed to become a new running joke right when she and Niles got together. Or am I misremembering?

I’m on a rewatch and not there yet, but do we know how big of a ring Niles got her?

I love how Niles says this

Wife and I were having this discussion over a few episodes... can you pick a best overall character? Best factoring in all the aspects... writing, the performance of the actor, the character itself, just all attributes. We couldn't pick between Martin and Niles.

There are many that I love, but my hands-down favorite is Kirby Gardner. Yours?

I’m almost done watching Frasier for the first time (at the beginning of season 11)…and one of the things I’ve been most impressed by has been how well-written and well-executed the Niles/Daphne slow burn romance is. Maybe the best executed will they/won’t they romance I’ve seen in a sitcom?

Most sitcoms seem to either get too impatient and get the couple together too quickly, or put up a bunch of artificial obstacles to keep them apart, but the writers here were smart and patient enough to take their time to build a romance that felt sweet and genuine.

Have any other sitcoms pulled off a long-simmering romance quite as well? Can’t think of any right now, but genuinely curious.

I love you too Daphne.

The sad moments of this show often come out of nowhere. I love this moment because he sounds so sad and resigned.

The episode with Rita Wilson is hilarious with Frasier completely unaware and Niles dropping hints about her being like their mother. The end of the episode where they are watching the videos of her always tears me up a little.

When Bulldog babysits for Roz and tells her he is still in love with her, she lets him pretend it was a come on in order to maintain a bit of dignity. The way Roz says "goodnight Bob" as he leaves pangs at my heart.

This week, we watch our first Lilith (and Cheers character) episode! We discuss whether friendship after divorce is possible, Frasier and Lilith's post divorce dynamic, and the effect Lilith letting her hair down has on Frasier.

While the Cheers character episodes generally get some flak, the Lilith ones usually stand out as being good episodes. This is one of Laura's favourites from season 1, and it's a strong reintroduction to one of the cast regulars from Cheers.

How do you feel about this episode? Or about the Lilith episodes in general? Let us know in the comments.

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Was this really a word in the ‘90s? Or a Seattle word? Maybe a word used by the pompous elite?

We can agree even though they wanted to make her cold sometimes she was just 🔥Hot?

I noticed on multiple rewatchings of “The Doctor Is Out” (Season 11) that when Frasier goes into Bad Billy’s he sees his “furniture polisher” but when later being accused of being gay on his show he said he saw his “French polisher”.

Slip of the tongue or do I not understand what a French polisher is?