Sam Johnson Movies
- 2004
It's the KACL staff versus another Seattle radio station in a weight-loss contest -- with a trip to Las Vegas as the grand prize. The resultant food deprivation leads to varying degrees of hostility and dizziness for everyone but Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), who refuses to participate in the contest--until he discovers that the rival station's manager (Bill Kirchenbauer) is the bully who made his life miserable in high school. Meanwhile, the nightly tossing and turning of the pregnant Daphne (Jane Leeves) is taking a surprising physical toll on poor Niles (David Hyde Pierce). This episode marked the last Frasier appearance of Dan Butler in the role of radio sports-show host Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Still hoping to win the heart of Charlotte (Laura Linney), Frasier goes out of his way to prove that he is the polar opposite of her cloddish but undenyingly charming ex-boyfriend, Frank (Aaron Eckhart). Somehow things don't turn out as planned with Frasier succeeding only in winning Frank's lifelong friendship. Meanwhile, Roz (Peri Gilpin) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) gang up on Martin (John Mahoney) when he prepares to give Ronee (Wendie Malick) an "inappropriate" engagement present. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
Saturday Night Live's Julia Duffy returns in the role of Ann, a beautful but gauche insurance agent with whom Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) had had a disastrous date a few episodes back. Somewhat surprisingly, Frasier is now cozying up to Ann, hoping to get back in her good graces. What the audience knows (but Ann doesn't) is that Frasier is merely trying to wangle a price break with his life insurance. The scheme backfires when Ann suffers an injury in Frasier's apartment, forcing our hero to wait on her hand and foot for fear of a costly lawsuit. Elsewhere, Niles (David Hyde Pierce) courts a lengthy prison term -- or at the very least, public humiliation -- by agreeing to help an incarcerated Maris. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the conclusion of a two-part story, Niles' ex-wife Maris has been arrested for the murder of her lover Esteban -- with a weapon (an antique crossbow) lent to her by the hapless Niles (David Hyde Pierce). The ensuing media frenzy turns Maris into a celebrity, much to the dismay of Niles' pregnant -- and very moody -- wife, Daphne (Jane Leeves). And in his capacity as self-appointed "family spokesperson," Frasier manages to make a bad situation terrible during a press conference. Throughout the chaos, Niles remains unusually cool, calm, and collected...until, in an explosion of panic, he literally bares all at the Café Nervosa. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) is willing to donate a huge amount of money to KACL's bike-a-thon fundraiser for AIDs research, but he balks at participating in the event. Julia (Felicity Huffman) goads Frasier into riding one of the bikes, while Daphne (Jane Leeves) does the same with Niles (David Hyde Pierce). Only one problem: Neither brother knows one end of a bike from another. Elsewhere, Daphne's mom (Millicent Martin) manages to bollix up the relationship between Martin (John Mahoney) and Cora Winston (Emily Yancy). ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Millicent Martin, Felicity Huffman, (more)
- 2003
TV talker "Dr. Phil" McGraw makes his acting debut in this episode. Though mad at Dr. Phil because of an outstanding poker debt, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) agrees to take Roz (Peri Gilpin) to the good doctor's lecture. Upon arrival, Frasier is shocked to discover that Dr. Phil's agent is the redoubtable Bebe Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris). Frasier is also peeved that Bebe had never been able to make him a huge star in all the time she was representing him. So imagine his surprise when Bebe offers to do for Frasier what she's done for Dr. Phil -- in exchange for certain, er, favors. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Phil McGraw, Harriet Sansom Harris, (more)
- 2002
The feud between Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and his neighbor Cam Winston (Brian Stokes Mitchell) has escalated to the point that the Hatfields and McCoys look like amateurs. Hoping to end the quarrelling once and for all, Frasier's father, Martin (John Mahoney), and Cam's mother, Cora (Emily Yancy), pretend they've fallen in love with each other. A brilliant plan -- but the thing of it is, they may not be pretending! ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Brian Stokes Mitchell, Emily Yancy, (more)
- 2002
Hoping to master Hebrew so that he can give a speech at his son's bar mitzvah, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) turns to nerdy Noel (Patrick Kerr) for help. Noel agrees to coach Frasier, but in return Frasier must obtain a valuable autograph at a sci-fi convention. Alas, things go very wrong, whereupon Noel cooks up a rather embarrassing revenge. Meanwhile, Frasier's ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) displays a side of her personality that no one has ever seen before -- and few ever want to see again. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bebe Neuwirth, Patrick Kerr, (more)
- 2002
KACL manager Kenny (Tom McGowan) figures that Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) could improve his following amongst younger listeners if he agrees to appear on the station's public-service program "Teen Scene." Confidentially, Frasier gears up for questioning from the show's panel of high-school journalists. Unfortunately, the show's host has nothing but contempt for Frasier, and as a result, our hero ends up a laughing stock to listeners of all ages. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
An embarrassing night out which culminates in a car breakdown and a pair of fuming dates inspires Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) to enroll in an auto-repair class. Unfortunately, the Crane boys fall way behind the other students -- most of them female -- leading them to follow a suggestion offered by Roz (Peri Gilpin) that only makes matters worse. Roz also finds herself on the outs with Martin (John Mahoney), with her new puppy as the bone of contention. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
Roz (Peri Gilpin) is in the process of producing a documentary about the NASA space program and wants Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) to narrate the project. Alas, before long Frasier has all but taken over production of the documentary himself, leading to a big-time feud between hero and heroine. By the time the crisis reaches its peak, even former astronaut and U.S. senator John Glenn (as himself) has gotten involved -- and in this case, the mission is not "Go"! Jane Leeves was on maternity leave during filming of this episode, and does not appear. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2001
In the first half of Frasier's ninth-season opener, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) finds himself on familiar territory as he is torn between two loves: Claire (Patricia Clarkson), with whom he'd vacationed in Belize in the series' season-eight finale, and Lana (Jean Smart), a troublesome but undeniably fascinating lady from his past. As he mulls over the dilemma, Frasier reflects upon all the loves of his life -- including (in dream sequences), his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and his Cheers inamorata Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). Originally telecast as a one hour-special (and moved from September 18, 2001, to September 25 due to network coverage of the 9/11 tragedy), this episode has since been reedited as two half-hours for syndication. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The Crane household is set on its ear when social-climbing Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) hires a "veddy" proper British butler named Ferguson (Victor Garber). Not only is he the perfect gentleman's gentleman, but Ferguson is also knowledge on all matters ranging from social decorum to gourmet food -- and he isn't afraid to express his opinions, albeit ever-so-respectfully. Ferguson, however, draws the line at any familiarity between employer and employee -- which does not rest well with the very "familiar" Daphne (Jane Leeves). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2000
The Crane boys -- Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), Niles (David Hyde Pierce), and Martin (John Mahoney) -- prepare to set out from Frasier's apartment to attend a New Year's Party. Several hours pass, but the Cranes have still not arrived at the party, having been stymied by all manner of silly delays (including a grease fire). Somehow or other this situation is complicated by an impromptu trip to Idaho and an inadvertently stolen vehicle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Things take a turn for the surreal when a bunch of renegade holidays in human form turn up in Lawndale in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Two guys identifying themselves as Cupid and the St. Patrick's Day leprechaun accost Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and inform her that some of the other holidays -- Christmas, Halloween, and Guy Fawkes Day -- have abandoned their posts on Holiday Island to form a band in Lawndale. Daria's a little skeptical until Cupid displays his magical powers by flying and then putting her parents under a love spell. As sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) busies herself trying to prevent Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) from conceiving another child, Daria turns to best friend, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes), for help. As it turns out, the errant holidays are jamming with Trent (voice of Alvaro J. Gonzalez) and Mystik Spiral. Eventually, Daria and the gang accompany the holidays on a trip back to Holiday Island -- which turns out to be pretty similar to Lawndale High School. American viewers may not be familiar with Guy Fawkes Day, an English holiday whose incarnation in this episode bears a striking similarity to Sid Vicious of the Sex Pistols. The script's heavy use of British expletives (such as "bollocks") earned the film lots of extra edits when it aired in the United Kingdom. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- 1999
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) gets to put her new driver's license to the test in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Shortly after throwing Daria a party to celebrate her new driving privileges, Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) heads out on the road with her brother's band, Mystik Spiral, for a gig several towns away. Daria, meanwhile, gets stuck supervising sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) while their parents are away at a marriage-encounter weekend. Soon Daria and Quinn, too, take to the road after receiving a frantic jailhouse phone call from Jane --the entire Mystik Spiral entourage has been incarcerated for not being able to pay a traffic fine. Reluctantly taking to the highway, Daria annoys Quinn with her timidity behind the wheel. But Quinn causes even more grief when she falls for a handsome cowboy hitchhiker and limply lets him make off with Jane's bail money. Daria and Quinn must scrounge for additional funding, unaware that Jane and the band are already serving their "sentence" by providing free entertainment for the local sheriff's kid. Once the Morgendorffer girls are reunited with the rockers, all that's left is for Daria to exact some revenge from hitchhiker Travis. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
- 1999
John Ennis and Bryan Callen guest star as "Carlos and the Chicken," the zany new morning team hired by radio station KACL. Stuffy Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) hopes to keep his distance from the duo, who is known for its wild and often sadistic practical jokes. Unfortunately, station manager Kenny Daly (Tom McGowan) has encouraged Carlos and the Chicken to perpetrate their jokery on the rest of the KACL staff -- and guess who their favorite target turns out to be. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1998
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) refuses to admit the possibility of romance with a fellow traveler until it's too late in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Ted DeWitt-Clinton, the titular new kid and the object of Daria's denial, first encounters the sullen teen on the yearbook staff, which Daria has joined after being promised the purchase of website design software by her parents. The apparent victim of pop culture-phobic home-schooling, Ted charms Daria with his utter guilelessness and his arcane trivia about outmoded ways of living. Nonetheless wary of the boy, Daria gets involved with him in a controversy that pits them against the athletes and club members of Lawndale High. Ted innocently passes along some of Daria's grumblings to yearbook advisor Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson), who slashes the extracurricular page count and thereby brands Ted a target of the popular crowd. Quinn tries everything she can to get Daria to intercede and restore the clubs and teams to their former level of coverage, but to no avail. (Eventually, it's irate science-club advisor Ms. Barch [voice of Ashley Albert] who browbeats Mr. DeMartino into relenting.) During the midst of all this conflict, Daria attempts to do some innocent hanging out with Ted, but his cluelessness about the ways of the world bothers her. Even worse, his parents view Daria as the fast-living enemy, solidifying her resolve to squelch the relationship before it progresses. In the end, though, the issue is moot, since Ted somehow wanders into friendship with the "in" crowd, thereby rendering himself socially invisible to Daria, and vice-versa. The only method Daria finds of venting her frustration is to attack Quinn, who has somehow managed to steal her website software -- one more galling defeat in a week full of disappointment. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
- 1997
Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff) and Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) get an unsettling taste of university life in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Obsessed about their futures, uptight mom Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) forces her daughters to take college-prep courses. She also arranges to accompany them on a tour of her own alma mater, Middleton. Out-of-it dad Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) soon wanders over to fraternity row, where he tries pathetically to recapture his college coolness. Meanwhile, Quinn, too, immerses herself in the Greek system, and the frat boys seem much more eager to interact with her than with Jake. Jolted out of her own misty collegiate reverie by the reality of campus mating rituals, Helen goes on a rampage to save Quinn from the keg partyers. Meanwhile, Daria experiences the depressing reality of much of college life as she watches the boob tube, checks out the campus employment opportunities, and ends up writing term papers for cash -- all while supposedly under the supervision of tour guide Heather. Eventually, the entire Morgendorffer clan receives the boot when the administration gets wind of Daria and Quinn's non-parentally supervised activities. College solicitations soon begin to arrive for Quinn, who's ecstatic, but their dubious nature is obvious to everyone else. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
- 1997
The Morgendorffer girls get put on lockdown with typically humorous results in this episode of the animated MTV series Daria. Popular sister Quinn (voice of Wendy Hoopes) has long since perfected the art of sneaking in late without getting caught, but her misfit sibling, Daria (voice of Tracy Grandstaff), isn't quite so skilled. When Daria actually has occasion for a night of AWOL hijinks, she accidentally gets caught, and Quinn with her. Helen (voice of Wendy Hoopes) and Jake (voice of Julian Rebolledo) go typically overboard in their reaction, creating a simulated family court in the living room and delivering unworkable pronouncements and restrictions from on high. Grounded for a month, the girls suffer immeasurably, Quinn because her social life has been ruined and Daria because the only thing she can do to amuse herself is whip her parents at board games and generally try to undermine their sanity. On the night of the school's big faculty roller-hockey game, Daria resolves to sneak out so she and Jane (voice of Wendy Hoopes) can go root for Mr. DeMartino (voice of Marc Thompson) to work himself up into a public heart attack. But Daria's elaborate escape plans prove unnecessary when her folks get held up away from home. She strolls right out the door and enjoys her insane teacher's athletic endeavors and inevitable ambulance ride, then returns home to find her irate parents waiting. Taking her cues from Helen's legalistic claptrap, however, she successfully negotiates a get-out-of-jail-free card and new house rules for all concerned. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tracy Grandstaff, Wendy Hoopes, (more)
