A Crane's Critique

Infobox Television episode | Title = A Crane's Critique
Series = Frasier
Season = 4
Episode = 04
Airdate = 22 October 1996
Writer = Dan Cohen & F. J. Pratt
Director = Jeffrey Melman
Guests = Robert Prosky (T.H. Houghton)
Prev = The Impossible Dream
Next = Head Game
Episode List = List of Frasier episodes

"A Crane’s Critique" is the fourth episode of season 4 of American sitcom "Frasier", and the seventy sixth overall.

Cast and characters

Main cast and characters

*Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
*David Hyde Pierce – Dr. Niles Crane
*John Mahoney – Martin Crane
*Jane Leeves – Daphne Moon
*Peri Gilpin – Roz Doyle

Plot outline

From an outdoor table at the Gay Cafe, Frasier and Niles espy someone they recognise across the street. The man is T.H. Houghton, an author they idolised from childhood, whose one and only work was a landmark novel called "Time Flies Tomorrow". They try to seize the opportunity to speak to him, depositing their father at a nearby sports bar, where he begins to watch the Mariners game. They return later to find him conversing with T. H. Houghton himself. It transpires that he is visiting Seattle and knows few people, but has much in common with Martin. He also hates talking about his work. These two truths prove a source of great frustration for Frasier and Niles, with increasing frequency as Martin and Houghton spend more time together.

Then one day, Martin has plans to go to a Mariners game with Houghton, but when he calls round to Frasier's apartment first, he accidentally leaves his satchel behind. It contains a manuscript of his new book, "The Chameleon's Song". When they discover this, Frasier and Niles cannot resist the temptation to read it, but are unable to cover their tracks before Martin and Houghton return. Martin is furious and embarrassed, but Houghton's reaction is ultimately not what any of them expect.

Episode title cards

*"In another part of the forest…"
*"Question: How did Babe Ruth change musical theater history?"

Memorable Quotations

"Niles notices Roz checking out a man"
Niles: Are you quite finished undressing him with your eyes?
Roz: Oh, please. I'm already looking for my stockings and trying to remember where I parked my car.

"Niles sees an author that he and Frasier idolised"
Roz: Well, why don't you go up and introduce yourself?
Niles: I can't just walk up to a god like that.
Roz: Well, then, find a subtler way.
Niles: In your vernacular that would be what? To slingshot your panties across the street?

Literary Allusions

The T.H. Houghton character was inspired by J. D. Salinger, author of "The Catcher in the Rye", a very reclusive author, famous for just one novel (although Salinger has published other works, like Franny and Zooey). Salinger is actually referenced in the episode by Frasier.

References

*IMDb "A Crane's Critique" - [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582326/]