- The Show Where Diane Comes Back
Infobox Television episode | Title = The Show Where Diane Comes Back
Series =Frasier
Season = 3
Episode = 14
Caption = Diane re-enacting "Cheers " as a play
Airdate =13 February 1996
Production = 40571-061
Writer = Christopher Lloyd
Director =James Burrows
Guests =Shelley Long (Diane Chambers )John Carroll Lynch (Franklin)Cali Timmins (Mary Anne)Perry Stephens (Stan)
Prev =Moon Dance
Next =A Word to the Wiseguy
Episode list =List of Frasier episodes (Season 3)"The Show Where Diane Comes Back" is the fourteenth episode of season 3 of American sitcom "
Frasier ". It is notable as being one of a few episodes in whichShelley Long reprises her role as Frasier's love interest and ex-fiancée,Diane Chambers , from "Cheers ". It also plays on Diane's attraction to Sam Malone, as she is revealed to be having an affair with the actor playing "Stan", the character modeled on Sam. This episode won the 1996 Emmy for Outstanding Editing in a Multi-Camera Series. Shelley Long also received a 1996 Emmy nomination as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in this episode. It was Diane's second appearance in "Frasier " — previously she appeared in "Adventures in Paradise (2)" at the end.Cast and characters
Main cast and characters
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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
Diane Chambers, the woman who left Frasier at the altar years before, is in town for the opening of a play she has written, "Rhapsody and Requiem". When she turns up unexpectedly at KACL, Frasier panics, rushes across town and bursts in on Niles during a session with a patient. Niles determines that his brother needs closure with Diane to move on in his life; Frasier prefers the approach of flaunting his success to "show" he has moved on, and to this end invites Diane to dinner at his apartment with his family. Diane, however, seems to have achieved even greater success in
Hollywood as a writer, much to Frasier's increasing ire, although it soon transpires that this success is merely a sham. Breaking down, Diane confesses the truth: her scriptwriting career has collapsed, her social and romantic life in California has stalled, and the financing for her play has fallen through. She has come to Frasier for support and comfort once again, and naturally he is unable to confront her in this vulnerable emotional state, so agrees to help out.The play turns out to be an eye-opening experience, being set at a bar obviously modelled on "Cheers", and being extremely self-indulgent: it centres on a character called “Mary Anne”, an idealized character overtly based on Diane herself, with whom all of the male characters are infatuated. These male characters include “Franklin” (clearly based on Frasier) and “Stan” (based on
Sam Malone ). Frasier watches the dress rehearsal, and is understandably incensed by what he sees, but a part of him realises that here is an opportunity for the closure he needs.Diane's facial tic appears for the fourth time, the previous three times in "
Cheers ".Episode Title Cards
*"Interplay"
*"Foreplay"
*"AfterplayMemorable Quotations
"Frasier breaks the news of Diane's return to Niles"Frasier: She's back! The scourge of my existence!Niles: Strange, I usually get some sign when Lilith is in town: dogs forming into packs, blood weeping down the wall…
"Diane is telling a tiresome story over dinner. Martin finds an effective way to take the wind out of her sails"Diane: I suddenly discovered myself entangled in an enormous bed of... of, um...Niles: Sea
kelp ?Diane: Exactly right, sea kelp!Martin: Oh, that's funny; I thought he said “seek help”ee also
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List of Frasier episodes External links
* [http://www.tv.com/frasier/the-show-where-diane-comes-back/episode/17014/summary.html tv.com Frasier episode guide.]
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