Frasier Online Episode Guide -> Season 6 -> Episode 6.17

Dinner Party

Frasier and Niles decide to throw a dinner party, primarily to get to know the Ashby's, a couple Frasier met at the symphony. Having finally settled on a date - the 19th, and got Martin to change his poker game from that night, they try to book a caterer. Unfortunately, their first choice is unavailable on their chosen night but his arch rival is, so they settle for him. Next comes the guest list - no easy task when Frasier can't stand some of Niles's choices and vice versa. Frasier then suggests they can blackball 3 of the others choices until they settle on the 10 they require. Eventually they do, but when they phone their guests of honour, they discover that they are unavailable on the 19th, but are available on the 11th. Changing the date of their party to the 11th, Martin then informs them he has rescheduled his poker game - to the 11th. Frasier then uses reverse psychology by suggesting they can have both parties on the same night to which Martin rushes to change the date back to the 19th.

As they then begin to phone round their chosen guests, they are excited by one of them bringing Joaquim who they presume is the conductor of the Buenos Aires Philemonic as they have just been there. However, when one of their guests rings back to leave a message on their answerphone, they also leave the conversation that follows by accident where they infer that the Crane brothers relationship is perhaps a bit unhealthy as they seem to be inseperable. This in turn leads them to question their dependance on each other but eventually resolve that they don't care what others think because they enjoy each others company. The party ends in disaster though as the Ashbys suddenly pull out, Joaquim turns out to be an Argentinian foster child and they end up with a caterer with a criminal record.

- After Frasier invites the Ashbys as guest of honour:
Niles: They're such a charming couple - they remind me of Maris and I when we were happy.
Frasier: Really - I must have been sick that day (!).

- After Frasier gets Martin to change his poker game night the first time:
Martin: These guys have pretty busy lives - I can't always get hold of these guys.
Niles: Let's hope that the dog track has a PA system.

- After Frasier uses a fourth 'blackball' against the Cromwells:
Niles: This is a dried up old fig!
Frasier: So's Lucy Cromwell and I don't want her at my party!

- After Arch and Nina Duncan ask if they can invite Joaquim, who the Crane's believe to be the Buenos Aires conductor:
Niles: We've got Joaquim!
Frasier: Well don't cry for me, Arch and Nina!

- Daphne is about to try on a dress Niles dislikes:
Roz: Just try it - we can accessorize it.
Niles: With what - a lampost and a public defender ?!

- After the phone call questioning the brother's relationship:
Niles: Why don't we call Alison and ask her what she finds strange about us - we can both be on an extension.
Frasier: Better yet, why not get on a bicycle made for 2, ride over there and ask her what she finds strange about us!!

- Frasier reads back the final list of guests:
Frasier: A third rate caterer with a record, 2 lushes, a couple who think we're nutscases, an Argentinian wild child and Roz. Dinner is served (!)

The only other real-time episode besides 'My Coffee With Niles' back in Season 1, and a hugely enjoyable one it is too. To my mind it is also a rather underrated one, because it features some brilliant dialogue and sustains itself very well througout the 22 minutes. Built around the simple premise of Niles and Frasier planning a dinner party, there's a slew of very funny moments such as the "blackballing" of party guests, Frasier and Niles worrying their relationship is too close followed by Martin describing their relationship not as odd but "special"!. An episode that is by turns witty and hilarious, and one that is ripe for re-discovery now that Season 6 is out on DVD.

Rating

86 %

Avg. Viewer Review: 90.9%
Total Number of Reviews: 8