Frasier

Season 4

The Two Mrs. Cranes

1. Daphne pretends to be married to Niles so she can avoid romantic entanglements with the layabout Clive. Later, she realizes that Clive has become a captain of industry, and curses her decision to spurn him. At this point, Niles says, "Send in the clowns," a reference to a song that mirrors the current situation. In that song, the singer realizes that someone who she had previously spurned was now an ideal match for her. Both in the song and in the episode, the desired match is unavailable, causing regret in the relationship seekers.
2. While pretending to be an astronaut, Martin declares that Buzz Aldrin's name has no special significance and is merely a result of a bee phobia. Though Martin is obviously lying, the nickname actually stems from Aldrin's childhood; the younger of his two older sisters frequently had trouble pronouncing "brother" and called him "buzzer", which was then shortened to "Buzz".

Love Bites Dog

1. The caller who calls Frasier a "weenie" is former basketball star Julius Erving, whose name was used by Bulldog in a prank call to Frasier the season before in "Leaping Lizards."
2. The title is a reference to the longstanding journalistic aphorism, "man bites dog", which holds that an unusual, freakish event is more likely to be reported than a more common event, such as a dog biting a man. This is also referenced in the Armour Hot Dog jingle: "When man bites dog that news they say..."
3. This episode was the first to feature Dan Butler's name in the Opening Credits.

The Impossible Dream

1. The title is based on the song "The Impossible Dream" composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha. The song is performed by Richard Kiley and was a hit for many other singers in the 1960's. The original stage production opened at the ANTA Washington Square theater in New York City on 22 November 1965, moving to Broadway after a short run, and eventually having a total of 2329 performances. "Man of La Mancha" won the 1966 Tony Awards for the Best Musical and Best Score.

A Crane's Critique

1. Robert Prosky played Rebecca Howe's father on an episode of "Cheers". He's one of the many people who visited Cheers that Frasier fails to recognize in Seattle.
2. Jane Leeves and Robert Prosky also appeared together in Miracle on 34th Street.

Head Game

1. Only featured Frasier for the first few minutes, and the rest of the episode is entirely centered around Niles. This role should have been written for Frasier, but Kelsey Grammer wasn't available as he was being treated for his addiction problems, so it was re-written for Niles instead. This is also the reason why the plot involves Niles filling in for Frasier on his radio show, because the show is integral to the plot.
2. The season four episode "Frasier: Head Game (1996)" only featured Frasier for the first few minutes, and the rest of the episode is entirely centered around Niles. This role should have been written for Frasier, but Kelsey Grammer wasn't available as he was being treated for his addiction problems, so it was re-written for Niles instead. This is also the reason why the plot involves Niles filling in for Frasier on his radio show, because the show is integral to the plot.
3. When Niles agrees to stand in for The Frasier Crane Show, Frasier tells him to report to the radio station at 2 pm. FCC regulations require broadcasters to be at their work stations at least 15 minutes early, so Frasier should have told Niles to be there at 1:45.

Mixed Doubles

1. Kevin Farrell's first credited role (as Niles' double).
2. Although it was hinted in the previous season's 'Moon Dance', the fact that Daphne is attracted to a man who talks, acts and even looks like Niles in this episode makes it even clearer that she has the potential to return Niles's feelings for her.
3. Niles' shattering of Frasier's Catherine of Aragon coffee mug could be a reference to Henry VIII's annulment of his marriage to the queen in 1533, so that he would be free to marry Anne Boleyn. The shattering could refer to their marriage being "shattered," while Anne Boleyn remains intact.

A Lilith Thanksgiving

1. First appearance of the 'new' Frederick.

Our Father Whose Art Ain't Heaven

1. "Córdoba" is said to be the artist responsible for the paintings at the restaurant. "The Córdoba" was the "big sandwich" on Wings also produced by David Angel.
2. The title is based on the first line of the Christian Lord's Prayer. "Our Father who art in heaven..."

Dad Loves Sherry, the Boys Just Whine

1. According to the first two season finales, Martin's birthday is in the spring but in this episode it is in January.

Liar! Liar!

1. The character of John Rajeski was named for one of the producers' assistants for six years.

Three Days of the Condo

1. Return of the "Ghi" banter between Frasier and Niles

Death and the Dog

1. Eddie's POV shot was filmed in black-and-white. This is a thoroughly accurate representation of a dog's visual perception, as dogs lack color vision.
2. The guest caller was Patty Duke, whose call was about dealing with depression. This guest spot may have been planned, as Parry Duke suffered from congenital bipolar disorder, which involved serious bouts of depression. She was the public face of the condition and was an outspoken advocate of care for the mentally ill.

Four for the Seesaw

1. The title is from "Two for the Seesaw", a play written by William Gibson. The original Broadway production opened at the Booth Theater in New York on January 16, 1958, ran for 750 performances and was nominated for the 1958 Tony Award for the Best Play.
2. Megan Mullally guest stars as an interior designer; in the hit series Will & Grace (1998) she plays an interior designer's assistant.

To Kill a Talking Bird

1. It won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series.
2. Carol Larkin (Rosemary Murphy ), portrayed as a lush, spills wine on her dress both in this episode and season 6's "Taps at the Montana."
3. The episodes gets its title from Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". Rosemary Murphy, who guests in this episode, played the part of Maudie Atkinson in the 1962 film, To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).

Roz's Krantz & Gouldenstein Are Dead

1. The episode is named after the play "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead" by Tom Stoppard.
2. The caller Chet calls in saying he's calling from Whidbey Island, an island at the north end of Puget Sound. The island serves as a bedroom community to the nearby cities of Everett and Seattle and is home to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

The Unnatural

1. Bobby Sherman is credited before he appears onscreen.
2. Bobby Sherman is the guest star who starred in the series Here Come the Brides (1968) which also took place in Seattle.
3. The title alludes to *The Natural*, Bernard Malamud's novel about a gifted baseball player.

Roz's Turn

Ham Radio

1. Mel White, the name of the actor hired to perform in Frasier's radio play, is a reference to legendary voice actor Mel Blanc ("blanc" being the French word for white). White is described as "the man of a thousand voices," an epithet usually associated with Blanc.
2. Of all the episodes of "Frasier", Kelsey Grammer cites this one as his favorite.
3. Frasier's radio play "Nightmare Inn" is a reference to popular 1940's radio plays, namely "The Shadow" and "I Love a Mystery".

Three Dates and a Breakup

1. Title refers to method used in the military to keep track of the number of days you have left until something finishes, especially an enlistment. If you have 100 actual days to go, you make yourself feel better by saying you have 99 and a wakeup.
2. The man Roz went to high school said he'd be heading back to Racine (Wisconsin) as if that is where they both were from. In season 11 we learn Roz was from Bloomer, about 3 hours west of Racine.

Daphne Hates Sherry

1. All of the title cards are references to Tennessee Williams and his plays ("Tennessee, Anyone," "Cat Fight on a Hot Tin Roof," "Suddenly This Summer," "The Night of the I Wanna" and "The Bath Menagerie.")
2. The first time that Daphne shows sexual attraction for Niles, foreshadowing that they will eventually become a couple.

Are You Being Served?

Ask Me No Questions

1. When Frasier sees the marquee for the Jack Benny movie, he imitates one of Benny's "trademark" gestures.
2. The title is from the common evasion to a question: "Ask me no questions and I will tell you no lies."

Odd Man Out

1. The woman on Frasier's answering machine flies in on American Airlines Flight 11. Flight 11 was the first plane to hit the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 and, in a tragic coincidence, David Angell, one of the show's producers, was on the plane that day.
2. Linda Hamilton was a co-star in "The Odd Man Out" episode of Season 4. She also was a guest caller in the "The Good Son", the pilot episode.
3. In a tragic irony, Frasier: Odd Man Out (1997) featured a character flying in on American Airlines Flight 11, which aired May 27, 1997. In real-life, American Airlines Flight 11 was the first plane that crashed during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and was the flight that took the life of Producer David Angell and his wife Lynn.
4. The title is from the movie Odd Man Out (1947) directed by Carol Reed, starring James Mason, and is based on a novel of the same name by F. L. Green.