A Crane's Critique (Frasier)
A Crane's Critique is the fourth episode from the fourth season of American sitcom Frasier.
Cast and characters
Plot outline
From an outdoor table at the Café Nervosa, Frasier and Niles spy someone they recognize across the street. The man is T.H. Houghton, an author they idolized 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.
Cultural and historical references
- While Niles is observing his coffee intently at the Café Nervosa, he remarks to Frasier: "Is it me or is the foam a tad dense today?" Frasier agrees saying: "Like a dreary fog on a Scottish moor." Frasier was referring to the scenic highland portions of Scotland.
- After another failed attempt at talking to their hero T.H. Houghton, Niles says to Frasier: "Now, now, let’s not give up hope. Maybe Dad will bring him back to the apartment after dinner.", Frasier says: "Oh, well I doubt it. He’ll probably run into J.D. Salinger and Salman Rushdie – go out for Margaritas." Both Salinger and Rushdie are well known reclusive novelists.
- Just seconds after Frasier learns that he will be spending a few moments with Houghton in his apartment Niles knocks on the door and tries to enter. Frasier doesn't want Niles to ruin the experience so he tries to shoo him away telling him that their wine store has called and that "they’re down to their last two cases of the ’82 Chambolle-Musigny. At first Niles appears to be jubilant about the news but then eyes Frasier suspiciously saying "You know very well that in 1982 there was a drought in Bourgogne. The locals dubbed it 'The Year of the Raisin.' And that wine was never sold by the case, only by the bottle!"
- To impress Houghton about his knowledge of Baseball History, Niles says: "the owner of the Boston Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees to finance a Broadway musical, No No Nanette." What Niles said was true, that incident resulted in the famed "Curse of the Bambino," which, according to a popular superstition, kept the Red Sox from winning the World Series from 1918 until 2004. At the time that this episode first aired, The Red Sox were still under their "curse."
- While reading Houghton's manuscript Niles and Frasier decide to drink Armagnac, which is a French eau de vie.
- After learning that Niles and Frasier read Houghton's manuscript, Martin says "Boy, I’ve had it with you guys. If you were "Hoss" and Little Joe, Ben Cartwright would kick your sorry butts right off the Ponderosa!" Martin was making references to the classic 1960s TV show Bonanza.
- At the end of the episode Niles and Frasier attempt to throw compliments at Houghton, in which Frasier says his manuscript does things that William Faulkner "Could not attempt." Niles then enthusiastically compares Houghton's manuscript to that of Dante's Divine Comedy; unfortunately, Houghton takes their astute observations negatively and admits that he copied Dante Alighieri's ideas.
See also