The Matchmaker (Frasier)

"The Matchmaker" is the third episode of the second season of American sitcom Frasier.^[1] It is noteworthy in being Joe Keenan's first episode produced on the show, after which he became a regular writer and eventually executive producer on the show. It won an award from GLAAD for its lighthearted satire of the various stereotypes surrounding gay men.^[2][3][4]

Plot outline

After a late-night false fire alarm, caused by Daphne smoking a cigarette in her room, she confesses that she's been feeling depressed and lonely. The next day, Frasier makes the mistake of telling Roz, who immediately offers to set Daphne up with one of her many ex-boyfriends. Frasier is unable to conceal his low opinion of Roz's taste in men, and she storms out of the cafe, insulted.

While trying to apologize to her, he explains that he is looking for a man who's not just handsome, but also intelligent and successful. At this point, in walks the station's new manager, Tom Duran. Tom is all of the above, plus he's recently arrived from a long stay in England, and just got out of a relationship. Frasier and Tom share a few minutes of conversation, and Frasier invites Tom to dinner at his apartment.

The problem is, Tom is gay, and naturally assumes that Frasier is hitting on him. Almost immediately after the invite, he shares his interpretation of it with Roz: that word of his sexuality has spread, and reached the gay members of the staff. Roz, who is still angry with Frasier, doesn't clue either of them in.

When Tom arrives for dinner, Daphne is ecstatic. Over the course of the evening, almost everything Frasier says gives Tom the wrong idea.

• When Tom mentions how nice the view from his apartment is, Frasier mentions that it's better from the bedroom.
• When Tom asks if it gets awkward having Martin around when he brings dates home, Frasier says his only problem is Martin trying to steal them.
• Niles invites himself over and his entire demeanour leads Tom to assume right off the bat that he is gay; (Later, "So wait a minute, this Maris guy he kept mentioning is a woman?")

As the evening goes on, Daphne is enthralled with Tom and Niles is eaten alive by jealousy. Noticing this, Tom takes Niles aside and asks if he has some problem with Tom dating Frasier. Niles is taken aback, then serenely answers "no." He then pulls Martin aside and reveals the truth, causing them both to break up in hysterics.

Tom asks for some "one-on-one" time, and Frasier tells Daphne to get ready. While she is gone, Niles pulls Frasier aside and tells him the truth ("Dad wanted to, but I won the coin toss."). Frasier is initially disbelieving, then remembers everything that's happened earlier and it clicks. Nervously he re-enters the apartment as Tom is preparing to make a move. Frasier has to confess the truth, sending a disgruntled Daphne back to her room in a sulk. He apologizes to Tom, who accepts good-naturedly and leaves with a friendly goodbye.

In the tag, Frasier and Daphne are both smoking cigarettes and drinking cognac in the living room, late at night.

Deleted scenes

• The episode ends with Tom leaving the apartment. The script ended with one final scene after that, when Daphne catches Frasier smoking in the living room. He apologizes again, but she thanks him for making the effort anyway. They agree how the friendship and respect among her and him and Martin is really the most satisfying kind of relationship - then glumly admit that "[s]till, it's no substitute for having your bones jumped by an expert[.]"
• In the Cafe Nervosa scene, after Roz storms out, Niles congratulates Frasier for "saving" Daphne from Roz's boyfriends, and Frasier, annoyed, informs Niles that he plans to find the right man for Daphne, and Niles is not the one. - "I don't know what kind of twisted fantasy you've concocted about you and Daphne. I suspect it involves a comet hitting the earth and the two of you having to rebuild the species! But trust me, Niles, it is not going to happen." Although this part of the scene was cut, the speech was later used in "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine."

Awards

• David Lee - Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
• David Lee - Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
• Joe Keenan - Writers Guild of America Award for Episodic Comedy.^[5]
• GLAAD Media Award - Best Comedy Episode (1995)

References