Frasier (season 9)

The ninth season of Frasier was a 24 episode season, that ran from September 2001 to May 2002, beginning on 25 September 2001.

List of episodes

See also: List of Frasier episodes

№	#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date
193	1	"Don Juan in Hell (Part 1)"	Kelsey Grammer	Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil	September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
Frasier and his family are still with Claire in Belize. Niles and Martin think Claire is wonderful (although Daphne resents this), but Frasier is troubled by a dream he had about Lana, and wonders if he is with the right woman. On returning to Seattle, he meets a man at a lost luggage office who is torn between two women, and who asks Frasier's advice as a psychiatrist. Frasier says he must consider whom he would spend the rest of his life with, prompting him to choose his ex-wife over his new woman. This sets Frasier thinking, and on returning to his apartment he finds Claire and breaks up with her, to the indignation of the rest of his family (and also Daphne, surprisingly). He then attends Kirby's graduation party with Roz, hoping to discuss his feelings with Lana, but is astonished when the man from the luggage office also turns up.
194	2	"Don Juan in Hell (Part 2)"	Kelsey Grammer	Lori Kirkland	September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25)
It turns out that this man, Bob, is Kirby's father, who left Lana for his dental hygienist. Now he wants her back, acting on Frasier's advice. Lana throws him out, and then retires to her bedroom. Kirby begs Frasier to talk to her, and in the end he takes the honourable course by advising Lana to talk to Bob, since she clearly still has feelings for him. Returning home later in a state of distress, Frasier finds his family totally unsympathetic, and something Martin says particularly upsets him: "It's not easy coming up with happy talk every time you can't make it work with a woman." Frasier takes a drive by himself to think about this, and his thoughts manifest themselves on screen as a discussion between him, three former partners (Diane Chambers and ex-wives Lilith Sternin & Nanette Guzman) and even his late mother, as he searches for a reason why his relationships often fail. Before the search is over, he is confronted with a crowd consisting of "every woman [he] ever dated".
195	3	"The First Temptation of Daphne"	Kelsey Grammer	Gayle Abrams	October 2, 2001 (2001-10-02)
While looking for a recipe in Niles' briefcase for him, Daphne mistakenly opens a file containing case notes for one of his patients. She discovers that this woman, Heather, is in love with Niles. He explains that transference is common among psychiatric patients, but also insists that he cannot discuss any specific case. Daphne, however, is tormented by curiosity, and Roz encourages her to find out more about this woman. This involves another visit into Niles' briefcase, entailing a breach of confidentiality that could jeopardise his entire career if it were known. Martin returns from a fruitless hunting trip, and Frasier is horrified to discover that he has unknowingly brought a cricket with him into the apartment. They cannot catch it, but they can always hear it. Anxious to avoid any solution involving dangerous chemicals, for Eddie's sake, Martin suggests using a gecko as a predator.
196	4	"The Return of Martin Crane"	David Lee	Dan O'Shannon & Bob Daily	October 9, 2001 (2001-10-09)
Martin is about to start a new job as a security guard, and the occasion dredges up memories of the fateful day years ago when he was shot. These memories appear in flashback. Frasier has ordered a special congratulatory cake, which Roz delivers. Meanwhile, Niles has bought Daphne tickets to a Billy Joel concert for that evening, and she has bought him tickets to a festival of Mongolian throat-singing, also for that evening. This means they have to decide which to attend, so Niles offers Frasier the tickets to the throat-singing concert. Martin then points out that someone has to walk Eddie at 10 p.m, so as he prepares to leave for work, the others discuss (and argue) who should do this job. When Roz arrives with the cake, she finds herself drawn into the argument.
197	5	"Love Stinks"	Katy Garretson	Saladin K. Patterson	October 16, 2001 (2001-10-16)
Frasier feels dejected one morning when he discovers a graffiti poem about him on the toilet wall at work, calling him a snob. He decides to host a party for the entire station in an attempt to get to know everyone better. He asks Roz to invite her new boyfriend, Roger, but she claims that she thinks Roger would be uncomfortable with the people at the party. When Frasier asks whether this has anything to do with Roger’s occupation (waste collector), Roz tersely denies having any problem. She later changes her mind, but closely watches Roger at the party and cuts in quickly every time his profession is mentioned in conversation. When Roger overhears Roz saying to Kenny that not everyone has a job they are proud of, he promptly leaves. After the party, Frasier has made friends with everyone, but he rues this new popularity among people with whom he has nothing in common, and wants things to be back the way they were. Meanwhile Roz feels upset after the break-up with Roger and admits to still being in love with him, although she cannot get past the issue of his job.
198	6	"Room Full of Heroes"	Wil Shriner	Eric Zicklin	October 30, 2001 (2001-10-30)
Frasier is holding a Halloween fancy-dress party, which he is attending dressed as Sigmund Freud; the theme is that the guests arrive dressed as their personal heroes. Martin is dressed as Joe DiMaggio, and Daphne as Elton John. Roz arrives dressed as Wonder Woman, claiming she thought it was a superhero theme party. Niles arrives last, dressed as his father. Martin is thrilled and touched by the gesture, but Frasier is aghast and feels that Niles is making a blatant attempt to show him up and curry favour with Martin. Frasier has devised a party game: in character as their hero, each player draws a slip of paper with a question or situation, and must act out their hero's response in character. Its appeal wanes fast, and the party degenerates into drinking. Frasier, seeing his thoroughly-planned game fall apart, angrily storms out. He then has to confront the children of the building, who call him "Old Man Crane" and believe that he eats people's brains.
199	7	"Bla-Z-Boy"	Robert H. Egan	Jon Sherman	November 6, 2001 (2001-11-06)
Over breakfast one morning, Martin happens to comment to Frasier that the day marks the eighth anniversary of the day that Martin moved in with him. The revelation makes Frasier unusually touchy, especially towards his father. His temper worsens when Martin accidentally spills oil over the carpet when trying to remedy a squeak in his recliner; Frasier irrationally views the accident as a deliberate act of hostility on Martin's part. He moves the furniture onto the balcony while the carpet is replaced, and the chair, positioned underneath a telescope in direct sunlight, catches fire. When the brothers notice, their efforts to put it out only serve to knock the chair off the balcony. Ill-disposed to take a positive view of the situation after Frasier's recent behaviour, Martin angrily accuses him of deliberately destroying the chair in retaliation. When the hostility between father and son reaches the point where the two are no longer speaking, Niles decides to use his experience as a couples therapist to mediate. Frasier has an exact, new replica of Martin's old chair built. Daphne has expressed an interest in playing the piano, so Niles offers to give her lessons. He also agrees to teach Roz, who picks up the technique much more quickly than Daphne. Niles is willing to persevere with Daphne, until he hears that she has been taught before, and her last teacher committed suicide.
200	8	"The Two Hundredth Episode"	David Lee	Rob Hanning	November 13, 2001 (2001-11-13)
Frasier is celebrating two thousand editions of his show at KACL, with a guest appearance from Bill Gates, who ends up taking several calls about Microsoft products. Returning home afterwards, Frasier opens a cupboard in his bedroom which is revealed to be full of cassette tapes, all containing recordings of his shows. Just after adding the two thousandth edition to his collection, he notices that one of the other cases is upside down, and on closer examination, finds that it contains a Hall & Oates tape. He calls in Niles, Martin and Daphne to find out who is responsible. Daphne confesses that she borrowed the tape and accidentally broke it. This prompts Frasier to broadcast an appeal to anyone who has a recording of the missing show. Niles becomes worried how the incomplete nature of his brother's collection is affecting him; staying in, sleeping late, not dressing. Frasier insists that he is quirky rather than obsessed, but when someone calls KACL and announces that they have the tape he seeks, he and Niles discover what obsession really is.
201	9	"Sharing Kirby"	Kelsey Grammer	Heide Perlman	November 20, 2001 (2001-11-20)
Frasier and Roz are interviewing candidates for an internship at KACL. Kirby Gardner appears unexpectedly, and Frasier is worried when Kenny seems to favour him for the job. He has a quiet word in Kirby's ear, pretending that he has not been offered the job, but promises to find him another position. Soon afterwards, learning that Niles has acquired a case of Château Haut-Brion that he refuses to share, Frasier suggests his brother employ Kirby to help rearrange his library, as a form of revenge. Niles does so, and is horrified at the chaos that ensues. However, he then learns that Kirby knows the grand-daughter of the reclusive William Mulvehill, the owner of an impressive wine collection. He persuades Kirby to call on his behalf, and he discovers that Mulvehill will allow one visitor to the wine cellar. Frasier soon finds out about this, and the brothers subsequently compete at doing favours for Kirby, in the hope of being selected as that visitor.
202	10	"Junior Agent"	Scott Ellis	Bob Daily	November 27, 2001 (2001-11-27)
The Seattle radio airwaves have a new star psychiatrist: Dr. Zach, a doctor from whom Frasier differs entirely. Dr. Zach's brand of radio is, as Frasier describes it, "suggestive smarmy sleaze", but it has become very popular. Kenny suggests Frasier emulate him a little to improve the ratings. Frasier prefers the idea of raising the advertising budget; Kenny disagrees. This prompts Frasier to contact his agent, but upon arriving at Bebe's office, he learns that her newest client is Dr. Zach himself. She passes Frasier on to her former assistant, Portia Sanders (Kristin Chenoweth), who has become a "full-fledged junior agent". Frasier refuses and storms out angrily, deciding to end his association with Bebe's agency. However, he finds Portia very persistent, determined to prove her abilities to him. Meanwhile, he is disappointed not to have any more offers from agents, so considers representing himself. Martin attempts to avoid a medical examination by asking Niles to write a prescription for him. Niles refuses to violate his ethics, so Martin devises a plan by which he hopes to force his hand.
203	11	"Bully for Martin"	Stuart Ross	Eric Zicklin	December 11, 2001 (2001-12-11)
Frasier discovers that Martin's supervisor at work, Rich, is treating him badly, being unnecessarily bossy and disrespectful. It upsets Frasier to see his father in this situation, even though Martin insists that it does not bother him, because he respects the chain of command. Frasier decides to speak to the owner of the security company, who also happens to be Rich's son, and in order to ensure that their conversation remains confidential, he agrees to hire a bodyguard on a trial basis from the company. Unfortunately, this seems to do more harm than good, when Rich receives a reprimand from his son and assumes that Martin went over his head to complain. Meanwhile, Roz is boring everyone by talking endlessly about how well her relationship with Roger is going. It reaches the point where, no matter how obscure the topic of conversation, she can always turn it back to Roger. Eventually Niles, although he disapproves of his brother's meddling in Martin's business, agrees to help him solve the problem by confronting Rich, just to get away from listening to Roz.
204	12	"Mother Load (Part 1)"	Sheldon Epps	Lori Kirkland	January 8, 2002 (2002-01-08)
Frasier is furious when he finds his parking space in Elliott Bay Towers encroached upon by the new SUV belonging to Cam Winston, his neighbour and nemesis. He takes the case to the condo board, and is delighted when his impassioned oration persuades them to rule that Cam must park in the sub-basement. However, Cam lives in the apartment above Frasier's, and he devises a suitable method of revenge, involving the American flag. Niles asks Daphne to move in with him, and she eagerly accepts, but when she receives a phonecall from her mother announcing an impending visit, she asks that the move be postponed. When Gertrude Moon arrives, Niles discovers why: she still believes Daphne to be a virgin. Rather than bring her husband, Gertrude turns up with Simon, Daphne's brother. For the next few days, both Crane brothers have a terrible time to endure, as Gertrude stays with Niles and Simon with Frasier.
205	13	"Mother Load (Part 2)"	Sheldon Epps	Lori Kirkland	January 15, 2002 (2002-01-15)
Daphne's father has walked out, and all her brothers except Simon support him. Her mother, Gertrude, continues to stay with Niles, but eventually Frasier grows tired of hosting Simon and throws him out. After unsuccessfully asking Roz for help, Simon decides to go and visit some friends in California, leaving Daphne to look after her mother. Daphne is already getting tired of entertaining Gertrude's delusion that she is still a virgin, and when her mother responds to the news of Simon's departure by commending his independence, Daphne finally loses patience. Cam Winston has completely obscured Frasier's view out of his apartment by hanging an American flag down over the balcony. Frasier is determined to take the case to the condo board, even though Martin warns him that any action he takes will just come across as an insult to the flag. At the subsequent and farcical meeting, Cam Winston responds to each of Frasier's complaints with professions of heartfelt patriotism, and receives enthusiastic approval from everyone else. In the end, Cam offers Frasier a deal: in return for moving the flag, he wants Frasier's parking space.
206	14	"Juvenilia"	Katy Garretson	Sam Johnson & Chis Marcil	January 22, 2002 (2002-01-22)
Kenny announces to Frasier and Roz that some recent research into KACL listeners shows that Frasier's average listener is an older gentleman who keeps the radio on for company. He suggests Frasier reach out to the youth, by appearing on Teen Scene; Frasier, who appeared once before on that show, refuses initially, but when approached for an autograph by a young woman working for a hospice, he reluctantly consents. The representative of the Teen Scene panel whom he meets first, Emily, seems very intelligent and pleasant; things change drastically when the show starts, and the panel ask Frasier numerous probing questions about his personal life. Fortunately, Kirby Gardner, who went to the same school as the panel members, is on hand to help out. Meanwhile, Niles decides to steal a street sign with Daphne's name on it, as a romantic gesture. Daphne discovers that Martin kissed a woman named Peg at a work party, and although he insists that it was nothing special, he spends a few days waiting by the telephone in case she calls.
207	15	"The Proposal"	Wil Shriner	Rob Hanning	February 4, 2002 (2002-02-04)
Niles is planning to propose to Daphne, and he wants everything to be just perfect. Frasier helps him to choose a ring; Roz advises him on what (and what not) to say; and even Martin takes part in the wine-tasting, although after several glasses he discovers why, when Niles asks him to take Daphne's mother out for the evening. He reluctantly agrees, and has to spend the evening fending off Gertrude's amorous advances. Meanwhile, while Frasier and Niles are arranging everything at Niles' apartment, and Wolfgang Puck is preparing dinner for them, Daphne arrives in a terrible state and announces that she has the flu. Suddenly, Frasier has to smuggle numerous participants out of the apartment unseen, but Niles soon realises that the event itself need not be postponed.
208	16	"Wheels of Fortune"	Scott Ellis	Ken Levine & David Isaacs	February 26, 2002 (2002-02-26)
Lilith's half-brother, Blaine Sternin (played by Michael Keaton), has come to Seattle. Frasier remembers him as an expert con-man, who sold him futures in kelp and stole a valuable salt server from him years ago. He is now resolutely determined not to fall for any more scams. Blaine turns up at his door in a wheelchair, announcing that he had a car accident which left him paralysed from the waist down. He claims to have had a deep religious conversion and seen the error of his ways, and to be working now as a preacher. He returns the salt server and asks Frasier for forgiveness. Niles, Martin and Daphne are all convinced, but not Frasier, and he refuses to rest until everyone else realises what a charlatan this man is.
209	17	"Three Blind Dates"	Kelsey Grammer	Gayle Abrams	March 5, 2002 (2002-03-05)
Niles, Daphne and Roz feel sorry for Frasier when he tells them that he will be attending an art exhibition alone one evening. They realise that he has not had a proper relationship since Claire, and conspire to see if they can find suitable women for him to date. Niles suggests a former patient of his, Lisa, who has several interests in common with Frasier. He tries to engineer circumstances in which they could meet by chance, taking Frasier along to the bookstore which she owns, but without success. Roz then brings an artistic friend of hers called Suzanna to dinner at Frasier's apartment, but she and Frasier have a disagreement over the work of Benjamin Locklear. Finally, Martin puts Frasier in touch with a young woman called Kris, whom Frasier finds very attractive, but during their pre-dinner drinks at her favourite bar she starts playing pool with some friends and her attention disappears from Frasier almost completely. It is only when she sends him next door to get some change that his fortunes begin to improve.
210	18	"War of the Words"	Sheldon Epps	Saladin K. Patterson	March 12, 2002 (2002-03-12)
Frederick is due to compete in the National Spelling Championship, and Frasier has been training him very thoroughly, even in stance and diet. Frederick does extremely well in the spelling bee, and is crowned National Champion. However, the parents of the runner-up notice an anomaly when watching the recording: it seems that Frasier was unconsciously mouthing the letters of the final word as Frederick spelled it out. The trophy is then re-awarded to the runner-up, Warren Clayton, but Frederick and Frasier are still invited to the finalists' banquet, where they are subjected to taunts and accusations of cheating. Frederick will not tolerate his father being called a cheater, and challenges Warren to a re-match.
211	19	"Deathtrap"	Kelsey Grammer	Jon Sherman	April 2, 2002 (2002-04-02)
The first scene of this episode is a flashback to Frasier and Niles as schoolchildren, stealing a skull from the school science laboratory to use in a production of Hamlet. The Cranes' old family house is up for sale, and Frasier and Niles decide to pay it another visit, wondering if it would be worth purchasing and turning into a bed and breakfast. The owner, Mr Lasskopf, has no memory of them, but Martin remembers that he never returned their security deposit. The brothers soon realise that the house is too small to be a bed and breakfast, but then they remember that there is a memory chest hidden under a loose floorboard, so they return secretly after dark to find it. First, however, they find a human skull, and leap to the conclusion that they have stumbled upon an unsolved murder, involving Mrs Lasskopf.
212	20	"The Love You Fake"	Katy Garretson	Sam Johnson & Chris Marcil	April 9, 2002 (2002-04-09)
Frasier's feud with Cam Winston has reignited after a leak in Frasier's apartment has been traced to Cam's washer dryer, leading Frasier to bribe the building's handyman to cut off Cam's water supply. Cam then comes down to complain, and seeing Eddie rather unwell and discovering Frasier's dislike of him, suggests that his mother, a vet who happens to be staying with him, could help out. Everyone gets along well with Cam's mother, except Frasier, who sees it as consorting with the enemy. Cam is none too pleased either at his mother talking to someone from Frasier's apartment. Martin and Cam's mother decide the time has come for Frasier and Cam to reconcile, so they decide to pretend they are a couple. This causes Frasier and Cam to come to some agreement via a treaty. Niles is conducting an experiment with a new contraption (the Segway), and is annoying everyone by refusing to share it. Daphne wants a washer dryer in the apartment.
213	21	"Cheerful Goodbyes"	Sheldon Epps	Heide Perlman	April 30, 2002 (2002-04-30)
Frasier, Martin, Niles and Daphne are in Boston for a conference that Frasier and Niles will attend. They encounter Cliff Clavin at the airport bar, who thinks Frasier is in town for his retirement party, and end up going along to the party with him before dinner. Martin hits it off with Norm Peterson (both are able to correctly figure out the other's preferred method of beer consumption by their handshake), and they swap beer stories. Daphne meets Cliff, and takes all of his erroneous trivial facts and stories at face value. Niles is the only person not having a good time; he has to prepare an introduction for Frasier's speech, and must continually postpone a dinner reservation at a fancy restaurant. Niles's mood changes, though, when Carla Tortelli begins telling him of all the pranks and jokes that she and the others used to play on Frasier. Eventually, Cliff confides in Frasier, saying that he does not believe any of his supposed friends actually care that he plans to leave town. When Cliff leaves for a walk around the block, Frasier shares this news, and inspires everyone to deliver speeches in Cliff's honor. Everything is going well...until Carla, after years of frustration at Cliff's chatter, snaps. She goes on a long rant, discussing how joyous she is that he is finally leaving, and claims that the last years of her life would have been more enjoyable had she been "covered in open sores and thrown into a pit of starving rats!" Upon hearing this, Cliff pauses...and announces that only a true friend would make such a wonderful, humorous speech. He decides that he cannot leave such good friends, and opts to stay in Boston! This naturally infuriates Carla, who tries to shoot Cliff with a harpoon gun he received as a present as the others restrain her.
214	22	"Frasier Has Spokane"	Wil Shriner	Eric Zicklin	May 7, 2002 (2002-05-07)
Frasier's show has been picked up by a station in Spokane, and he excitedly announces that he and Roz have been invited there by the station to do their first show from Spokane. Once off air, he also learns from Roz that she and Roger have broken up. Frasier wants to help, but Roz says she is OK about it. Once in Spokane, Frasier appears at a press conference to introduce himself and Roz to the local media. During this conference the reporters are obnoxious and condescending as they say that he will probably never be able to live up to local icon Neil Sullivan (affectionately known as Sully by the locals). When Sully arrives to make a final appearance and to wish Frasier luck the reporters give a dramatic final send-off. Things do not go too smoothly during Frasier's show either; every caller wants him to go back to Seattle, with some deciding to boycott the station until Sully comes back on the air. Frasier is determined to show the local audience his brand of therapy can help, and so convinces Roz to call in with a problem. Originally Roz improvises and says she is afraid of the dark. But Frasier delves deeper into the problem and this soon develops into him resolving Roz's feeling of loss and emptiness over the break-up with Roger. Meanwhile, Martin, Niles and Daphne work together to try to build a TV table. Earlier in the episode when Martin expresses his desire to build the TV table, Niles recalls his childhood hatred of building things with Martin as Martin was never any good. But in a turn of events Daphne is the real bossy one and not only upsets Niles but Martin also.
215	23	"The Guilt Trippers"	Wil Shriner	Lori Kirkland	May 14, 2002 (2002-05-14)
It is Daphne's birthday which culminates in everyone giving Daphne her presents: Frasier and Martin buy her a journal, while Niles surprises her with a trip to Hawaii for just the two of them. Daphne's mother's constant moaning leads to Daphne wanting to change her birthday wish. After the party, Roz does not want to go home, as she would be alone; Alice is at her grandmother's. This leads to Frasier and Roz spending the evening in conversation. However, both of them get a shock the next morning when they realize they slept together. Frasier tries to get Roz to talk about what happened, but she wants to leave as quickly as possible. After listening to Daphne feeling sad about the fact that her father will not be able to give her away at her wedding, Niles has a brainstorm. He asks Daphne to take her mother to Hawaii to try to cheer her up. There is a method to his madness: he is planning to fly to England and try to convince Daphne's father to come to Seattle and reconcile with Daphne's mother. Frasier, meanwhile, is worried that Roz's refusal to discuss what happened between them will endanger their relationship, so on hearing that Roz has gone to visit her parents in Wisconsin, he decides to fly there and see her. So Martin drops Daphne and her mother off at the airport, followed by Niles, then Frasier. He stays at home with a new robot dog for company, although only Eddie seems to be able to make it respond to commands.
216	24	"Moons Over Seattle"	Sheldon Epps	Bob Daily	May 21, 2002 (2002-05-21)
Niles has flown to Manchester, and located Daphne's father, Harry Moon. He attempts to persuade Harry to come to America with him and reconcile with his wife. Harry throws Niles out of the pub six times, and each time Niles tries again. Eventually, Harry agrees to go with him, to see Daphne. When Daphne and her mother return from their trip to Hawaii, Daphne is delighted to see her father, but Gertrude is furious and upset. Niles tells Daphne that he had to go and fetch Harry, and Daphne reacts angrily because he never consulted with her first. Still, Niles is determined to keep trying to reunite her parents, and arranges for them to have an expensive dinner together at Chez Henri. The occasion, after a promising start, ends in disaster, and Harry decides to return to England, while Gertrude plans to make her permanent home in America. However, when Harry tells Daphne about how persistent Niles was in persuading him to visit her, she forgets to be angry, being overwhelmed by how much he is prepared to do to make her wishes come true. She shows up on Niles' doorstep late that night and asks him to marry her immediately. Without a word, Niles leads her out of the apartment.