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Fan Dividers - "The Focus Group"

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:02 am
by Mr Blue Sky
Following on from The Friend this is another much-maligned season 3 gem IMO. People's main gripe seems to be that Frasier is extremely annoying in this ep obsessing over one tiny detail. I would say that's an essential part of what makes Frasier the character he is - constantly torturing himself with his own insecurities.

The ep's very funny too, from Niles' forced arguments with Daphne to Martin's "Uh-huhs" as Frasier destroys the hapless Manu's news stand, this is an ep that keeps me entertained for the full 22 minutes. Even Roz and Bulldog get funny lines for the few brief moments they occupy our screens. Great ep, maybe not quite up there with the S1-S5 classics, but great fun nonetheless.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:07 am
by Dorset Girl
'Salright. Much more 'love' than 'hate' but not my favourite. :)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 2:09 am
by Mr Blue Sky
Four votes and only one reply - show yourselves, mystery voters! :lol:

4-0 so far though. I've got a feeling this isn't going to divide anyone! Trouble is, some people no longer post here who used to really hate it, so it's stuck in my mind as an ep which divides opinion... :?

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:10 am
by CatNamedRudy
I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:10 am
by Mr Blue Sky
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:11 am
by CatNamedRudy
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:


Mr. Monk and the Focus Group!

That would be a great Monk episode!

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:20 am
by Mr Blue Sky
CatNamedRudy wrote:
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:


Mr. Monk and the Focus Group!

That would be a great Monk episode!


We'll have to settle for a great Frasier episode instead!

It's funny, if I'd have included an unenthusiastic "It's ok" option in each of these polls it would win every time!

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:06 am
by CatNamedRudy
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:


Mr. Monk and the Focus Group!

That would be a great Monk episode!


We'll have to settle for a great Frasier episode instead!

It's funny, if I'd have included an unenthusiastic "It's ok" option in each of these polls it would win every time!


True. Although I think so far, this one and The Friend are the only two I don't have real strong feelings for either way and I like The Focus Group much better than The Friend (which I just rewatched today and I still don't much like it)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:01 am
by Stratman
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:


I prefer to think of him as Antonio, one of the funniest supporting characters the sitcom world has ever known.

I was one of the voters in hiding, btw. I chose ''love it.''

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 8:11 am
by Wezzo
Love it. Well, I only 'like it' really, but I can't exactly vote hate.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:50 am
by Bad Ambassador
I went for 'love it'. Not one of my all-time faves, by any means, but I do enjoy it.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:58 am
by Moon-Crane
Seems i'm being unoriginal, but i vote love it too. It's a very funny episode. Frasier's obsessing is one of the joys of the show.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:12 pm
by Mr Blue Sky
Bah, where's all the people who used to hate this ep? Makes me look like a plonker for saying it's a 'fan divider'... :oops:

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 3:47 pm
by Mary
Stratman wrote:
Beer Necessity wrote:
CatNamedRudy wrote:I don't love it but it's closer to love than hate if only for Tony Shalhoub!


Mr Monk! :lol:


I prefer to think of him as Antonio, one of the funniest supporting characters the sitcom world has ever known.


Also Tony played the 'Scottie' equivalent from film Galaxy Quest.

I'm wavering on hate it, as the ending really annoys me when this poor man loses his livelihood.
But a lot of it I like, it's so typical of the Frasier character to be obsessive about something. So I voted for love it.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 5:45 pm
by Mayday Malone
Good Bulldog moments.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:27 pm
by Bad Ambassador
Beer Necessity wrote:Bah, where's all the people who used to hate this ep? Makes me look like a plonker for saying it's a 'fan divider'... :oops:


Was it Ali who used to hate it?

The bloke from this episode is Monk? Wow - I didn't twig that until I read it here! How brilliant.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 6:41 pm
by Agides
I don't absolutely love it, maybe because the outcome makes me cringe and squirm. But I adore Tony Shalhoub and I like it more than hate it, so you can guess my vote!

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 7:37 pm
by Mayday Malone
I'm none too keen on it. Other than the end credits making me chortle, I get tired of Frasier in it. In fact when choosing a season 3 disc in my boxset I tend to avoid this fourth disc which "Focus Group" is one off.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:15 pm
by CatNamedRudy
Mayday Malone wrote:I'm none too keen on it. Other than the end credits making me chortle, I get tired of Frasier in it. In fact when choosing a season 3 disc in my boxset I tend to avoid this fourth disc which "Focus Group" is one off.


But the 4th disc has Where There's Smoke, There's Fired which is one of the funniest episodes of S3 (it just missed my top 5 but only because there are 3 great Kate Costas episodes in S3)

PostPosted: Fri Jul 20, 2007 9:18 pm
by Mayday Malone
CatNamedRudy wrote:
Mayday Malone wrote:I'm none too keen on it. Other than the end credits making me chortle, I get tired of Frasier in it. In fact when choosing a season 3 disc in my boxset I tend to avoid this fourth disc which "Focus Group" is one off.


But the 4th disc has Where There's Smoke, There's Fired which is one of the funniest episodes of S3 (it just missed my top 5 but only because there are 3 great Kate Costas episodes in S3)


ok, I make one exception

PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:29 am
by welshben23
Wow! 12-1. BN you plonker. :lol: I voted for love it, I dont love it but I like it a lot.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:16 pm
by Dorset Girl
welshben23 wrote:Wow! 12-1. BN you plonker. :lol:


Why is it BN's fault? He said he liked it too. There used to be people on FO that didn't, but they're obviously not around any more or not voting.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:06 pm
by CatNamedRudy
I watched this again yesterday. I forgot about the subplot involving Niles trying to get Daphne mad!

Those Crane boys sure get turned on when they get into shouting matches with women!

Still not the best of episodes but entertaining enough.

Manu: "I just don't like him."

PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 3:12 pm
by Dorset Girl
CatNamedRudy wrote:I watched this again yesterday. I forgot about the subplot involving Niles trying to get Daphne mad!

Those Crane boys sure get turned on when they get into shouting matches with women!

Still not the best of episodes but entertaining enough.

Manu: "I just don't like him."


Hehe, I'd forgotten that bit too! :lol: Definitely glad I voted 'love it' then.

PostPosted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:20 pm
by Wezzo
Dorset Girl wrote:
welshben23 wrote:Wow! 12-1. BN you plonker. :lol:


Why is it BN's fault? He said he liked it too. There used to be people on FO that didn't, but they're obviously not around any more or not voting.


I think he meant he was a plonker for considering it a 'fan divider'.