Our take
The show's finest Christmas farce: a lie told to please a girlfriend's mother, a flat stuffed with festive decorations that must vanish, and a doorbell that keeps ringing. Every gag builds on the last until the whole pretence collapses in glorious fashion. Carole Shelley and Amy Brenneman are great guests, and the sight of Niles in costume for Daphne's revue is one of the series' great reveals. Kelsey Grammer directs with perfect timing.
What happens
Christmas is approaching, and while out shopping with Roz, and looking for a menorah for his son, Frasier tries to buy Roz a sweater on the quiet. Just before she notices, another shopper, Helen Moskowitz, steps in and saves the surprise by pretending the sweater is hers. She recognises him from the radio, and when he offers to return the favour she suggests he take her daughter, Faye, on a date. Frasier agrees and is pleasantly surprised by Faye. When the two women call at his apartment on the way to the airport for a flight to Florida, Frasier learns that Faye's mother believes he is Jewish. To keep the peace he hides the Christmas decorations, the tree ends up in the bathroom, and he talks Niles and Martin into playing along. The pretence soon unravels: Eddie appears in a Santa costume, a delivery man arrives with a Christmas tree, and Niles walks through the room dressed as Jesus for the holiday revue Daphne is staging downstairs.
Can the kids watch it?
No BBFC record found for this episode; mild, family-friendly farce, though some jokes about religion and dating will pass younger children by.
Cast and crew
Starring
- Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane
- John Mahoney as Martin Crane
- Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon
- David Hyde Pierce as Dr. Niles Crane
- Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
Guest stars
- Carole Shelley as Helen Moskowitz
- Amy Brenneman as Faye Moskowitz
- Lombardo Boyar as Delivery Man
- Jihad Harik as Sales Clerk
Writer
- Jay Kogen
Director
- Kelsey Grammer