Docu. Drama

Infobox Television episode | Title = Docu. Drama
Series = Frasier
Season = 8
Episode = 16
Airdate = 6 March 2001
Production =
Writer = Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil
Director = David Lee
Guests = Senator John Glenn
Prev = Hooping Cranes
Next = It Takes Two to Tangle

"Docu. Drama" is the sixteenth episode in season 8 of American sitcom "Frasier".

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

Recurring cast

*Tom McGowan – Kenny Daly

Plot outline

Roz has the chance to create her own documentary, and she has decided to use the theme of outer space. Frasier persuades her to let him act as narrator, assuring her that he has no problem working for her for a change. However, at the first meeting they have with the scriptwriters, Frasier makes many suggestions and Roz dismisses them all. This leads to an argument, in which she accuses him of being overbearing and he quits the programme. The atmosphere between them is tense for a while afterwards, with neither agreeing to apologise or back down. Then Roz announces that she has replaced Frasier with former astronaut John Glenn. He is furious, but determined to prove that she was shutting him out deliberately.

Meanwhile, Martin and Niles decide to build a kite together for the recently reinstated spring kite festival. They are extremely proud of their dragon, but Martin forbids Niles from testing it outdoors. Niles, however, cannot resist the temptation of a handy balcony.

Episode title cards

*"Space isn't big enough for the two of us"
*"Seattle, we have a problem"

Cultural references

*Roz's reason for choosing to do a space-themed documentary is that the year is 2001 (a reference to the science-fiction story "" by Arthur C. Clarke).
*B. K. suggests using the music from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film of that name. The piece to which he refers is the Introduction (or Sunrise) from "Also sprach Zarathustra", the tone poem by Richard Strauss.
*Ed offers an alternative suggestion: Gustav Holst's orchestral suite, "The Planets".
*The second title card is a reference to the tagline "Houston, we have a problem", from the 1995 film "Apollo 13".
*Niles names his kite Fafner, which he says is a reference to "Siegfried's fiery nemesis". He means the protagonist of the opera "Siegfried" by Richard Wagner (part of "The Ring Cycle").

Memorable Quotations

"During the argument with Roz, Frasier obliquely threatens to walk out"
Frasier: Well, I'm just saying that alienating me isn't probably in the best interests of the show.
Roz: Well, maybe "the show" would be better off without you.
Frasier: Well, then maybe I should just leave "the show".
Roz: Well, maybe that's what "the show" wants you to do.
Frasier: Well then, "the show" can BITE ME! "(exit)"

Trivia

*Daphne doesn't appear in this episode as Jane Leeves was on maternity leave.