Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 4 -> Episode 4.14

To Kill A Talking Bird

Frasier is lamenting the fact that he is unable to find the right woman, and so decides to take himself off the market - for the time being. Meanwhile, Niles is moving into a prestigious apartment block, the Montana, but it doesn't allow cats or dogs so he has to give his whippet a new home. However, he won't be alone for long as he purchased a bird named Baby who can speak. Eager to make the right impression so he decides to throw a welcoming party and invites some of his neighbours. One of them, Stephanie, Frasier meets when he goes to visit Niles and hopes something more will happen come the night of the party.

However, before anyone arrives, Frasier turns on the fire and Baby is so scared that she attaches herself to Niles' head just as the first guest arrives. Frasier steps in to cover for him as Niles frantically tries to remove the bird while hiding in the kitchen, but eventually Frasier manages to persuade Niles that people won't laugh at him if he comes out - which turns out to be true. However complications ensue when the bird starts repeating phrases it has picked up concerning the guests, and they're not particularly flattering....

- Describing his blind date:
Frasier: She's 32, has a terrific body and thinks I'm God's gift to broadcasting.
Martin: Well, at least you have one thing in common (!)

- At Niles' apartment:
Frasier: You know, this building isn't as exclusive as you think - your doorman waved me through.
Niles: That's because he knows you.
Frasier: Oh, fan of my show?
Niles: No, he lives in your building.

- The sight of Niles with a towel over his head.

- The climactic final scene where Niles' bird ridicules everyone.

- As Niles has to go outside wearing the bird:
Niles: I'm sure my reputation won't suffer any more than it has.
Frasier: I wouldn't be so sure - wearing a white bird after Labor Day (!)

This episode is an enjoyable combination of snobbery, with Niles worrying about what his new neighbours will think of him after a bird attaches itself to his head, and farce - most notably the ending where Niles' guests learn what he thinks of them thanks to the bird repeating a few choice phrases he has picked up! This, the debut writing episode of Jeffrey Richman, and won David Lee an Emmy for directing it is certainly a superior episode of the show, but seems to lack that certain something that raises it to classic status for me (though I know plenty of other fans will disagree).

Rating

84 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 91.7%
Total Number of Reviews: 10