The Great Crane Robbery

Infobox Television episode | Title = The Great Crane Robbery
Series = Frasier
Season = 8
Episode = 04
Airdate = 14 November 2000
Production =
Writer = Gayle Abrams
Director = Katy Garretson
Guests = Alan Tudyk (Todd)
Elizabeth Alley (Margaret)
Prev = The Bad Son
Next = Taking Liberties

"The Great Crane Robbery" is the fourth 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

*Jane Adams – Dr. Melinda "Mel" Karnofsky
*Tom McGowan – Kenny Daly

Plot outline

The new owner of KACL is a young computer billionaire, who is a fan of Frasier's radio show. Frasier arranges a meeting at his apartment, so that he can offer some suggestions to improve the show. Once the owner, Todd, arrives and they start talking, Frasier learns that Todd has become rich so quickly that he now finds himself in high society with no idea how to dress, behave or hold conversation. He is clearly in awe of Frasier's own apartment and sense of style, so Frasier offers to act as his mentor. He is subsequently very surprised when his protégé does not merely take advice from him; he replicates his clothes, his car, even the design of his apartment.

Niles is struggling to keep up with Mel's demands. She announces that he must be seen to drive her away, by behaving badly and thus humiliating himself in public. Since it is against his nature not to act with the utmost decorum at all times, he finds this demand difficult, and when he finally manages to obey it, Mel's plan backfires spectacularly.

Episode title cards

*"It’s about a Czechoslovakian bagpiper"
*"Boxers or briefs? It’s driving him crazy."

Cultural references

* The episode title is a play on the name of the event commonly called "The Great Train Robbery".
* The song "Classical Gas" is played in the episode during a montage of different furniture arrangements in Frasier's apartment.

Memorable Quotations

"Frasier is just leaving Café Nervosa when Mel arrives to see Niles"
Frasier: Ah, Mel.
Mel: "(icily)" Frasier. You're looking…
Frasier: "(hastily)" And you. We must do this again. "(exit)"

"Daphne arrives to find the apartment devoid of any furniture"
Daphne: Well, I'm glad I went to three different stores to find your organic furniture polish.
Frasier: Well, Daphne, chin up. You can always use it to polish the floors.
Daphne: Oh yes. When God closes a door he opens a window(!)