Frasier - Season 4 [DVD]

Frasier's fourth season was mostly about relationships. Niles (David Hyde Pierce), now separated from Maris, is back on the market like his bachelor brother, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer). That's great when the pair goes to a cabin with a pair of fetching women (Megan Mullaly, later of Will and Grace, and Lisa Darr), but Niles is never able to completely dispel his attachment to his suffocating wife... or to Daphne (Jane Leeves). His obsession with the latter gets an immediate burst in the season's first episode, in which he has to masquerade as Daphne's husband, then later comes to a head when she appears at his apartment door asking to stay the night. The boys have the usual disputes with their father (John Mahoney), including their disdain for the former cop's new girlfriend, Sherry (Marsha Mason), the boisterous, banjo-twangin', "gotcha"-playing bartender who would remain a regular cast member through the end of the series. Ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) makes her annual appearance, this time when she and Frasier try to get Frederick into an exclusive prep school. And the title character? As much as Frasier teases his producer Roz (Peri Gilpin) about her dating habits, he himself is lonely, leading him to a memorable airport encounter with guest star Linda Hamilton and a season finale that proves a kind of a harbinger to the series' final episode. This season made Frasier a perfect four-for-four at the Emmys, winning its fourth consecutive award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Unlike previous seasons, this DVD set has no bonus features. --David Horiuchi

All 24 episodes from the fourth series of the upscale sitcom about the middle-aged Seattle psychiatrist played by Kelsey Grammer, beset by problems largely of his own making. In 'The Two Mrs Cranes', Daphne (Jane Leeves) gets Niles (David Hyde Pierce) to pose as her husband when an old boyfriend comes to visit. 'Love Bites Dog' has Bulldog (Dan Butler) get in the way when Roz (Peri Gilpin) finds Frasier a date. 'The Impossible Dream' finds Frasier dreaming of being in bed with Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert). 'A Crane's Critique' sees the Crane boys overjoyed when Martin (John Mahoney) makes friends with a famous writer. In 'Head Game', Niles helps out the star player on the local basketball team, but is surprised to find the credit going to his hair rather than his therapeutic skills. 'Mixed Doubles' has Niles ready to declare his feelings to Daphne - until Frasier persuades him out of it. 'A Lilith Thanksgiving' finds Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and Frasier trying to enrol their son Frederick (Trevor Einhorn) in a prestigious school. 'Our Father Whose Art Ain't Heaven' sees Martin and Frasier disagreeing over matters of art when the former buys the latter a painting. 'Dad Loves Sherry, the Boys Just Whine' has Frasier and Niles try to deal with Sherry (Marsha Mason), their dad's brash new girlfriend. 'Liar! Liar!' finds the Crane boys overcome with guilt resulting from a childhood transgression. 'Three Days of the Condo' sees Frasier fighting for his right to install a door knocker. 'Death and the Dog' has Martin hire a canine psychiatrist to help his depressed dog Eddie. In 'Four for the Seesaw', Frasier and Niles arrange a double-date. 'To Kill a Talking Bird' finds Niles troubled by his pet bird on the night of his flat-warming party. 'Roz's Krantz and Gouldenstein are Dead' has Roz help out at a retirement home. 'The Unnatural' see Niles try his hand at the game of baseball. 'Roz's Turn' finds Roz auditioning for a radio show of her own. 'Ham Radio' has Frasier attempt to stage a radio drama. In the two-part 'Three Dates and a Breakup', Martin ends his relationship with Sherry - but Frasier realises that it was all a mistake and tries to rectify the situation. 'Daphne Hates Sherry' sees Niles overjoyed when Daphne comes to visit his apartment. 'Are You Being Served?' has Maris serve Niles with divorce papers. 'Ask Me No Questions' finds Frasier pondering the question of Niles and Maris. Finally, in 'Odd Man Out', Frasier becomes so frustrated with his life as a single man that he rushes to meet an unknown woman who left a message on his answerphone by mistake.