Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 2 -> Episode 2.03

The Matchmaker

Daphne sets off the smoke alarm by smoking in her room, the reason for this - as Frasier discovers - is her rather despondent love life. Having sat up half the night discussing this with Daphne, Frasier misses his meeting with the new station manager Tom Duran, who visits Frasier in the studio after his show. He tells him he's just come back from working in London, is a big fan of theatre and the English people, and has just split up from someone. This starts Frasier thinking about Daphne, and when he mentions he loves their eccentricities, his mind is made up - he invites Tom to dinner at his place. Unbeknownst to Frasier, Tom is gay and naturally assumes Frasier has asked him out on a date. So the scene is set for a dinner where Tom thinks Frasier is gay, Frasier doesn't know Tom is gay, and Niles is angry that Frasier has set Daphne up with someone....

- In discussing Daphne's recent love life:
Frasier: You've been seeing a man?
Daphne: Only when I close my eyes and concentrate.

- Roz is describing one of her ex-boyfriends, Gunther:
Frasier: A German narcissist - there's an appealing combination.

- After being made fun of by Niles just one time too many:
Roz: I can't stay - the fleet is in!

- At the dinner:
Tom: That's a hell of a view.
Frasier: Even better from the bedroom.

Martin: I usually go to a place called Dukes - great food, lot of young cops.

- Tom and Niles talk in the kitchen:
Tom: I sensed you had a problem with me dating your brother.
Niles: Well actually........ I'm sorry, what was the question.

- Frasier comes in to join Tom and Niles:
Frasier: I didn't invite Tom over to spend all night in the kitchen - there are others who would like to have a crack at him.

Niles [to Frasier]: There's something I have to tell you. Dad wanted to, but I won the coin toss.

- After Frasier learns the object of Tom's affections is himself:
Frasier: That's impossible - Tom's not gay.
Niles: Well, he seems to be under that impression.

- Tom is being put straight after he thinks all the Crane's are gay:
Tom: So this Maris guy he kept mentioning is a woman?
Frasier: Well, the jury's still out on that one.

This episode is my all-time favourite, and an undoubted classic episode of 'Frasier'. What works so brilliantly is the script by Joe Keenan, because the lines that Frasier comes out with where he believes he's getting Tom closer to Daphne, is in fact making Frasier all the more attractive to Tom. This works all the way through the dinner party scene and never once descends into innuendo. Although a bunch of gay cliches is used (opera, theatre, fashion, cops), the episode would not work without them because it is precisely these things that are so present in Frasier's life and so normal that to think anything else of them is absurd. For example, only in 'Frasier' could Daphne tell that Tom's break up involved a dispute over opera recordings, and Frasier not give a moments thought to it. A simply wonderful episode from beginning to end.

Rating

95 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 98.1%
Total Number of Reviews: 33