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Frasier Season 4 Episode 4

A Crane's Critique

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8.9

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Episode Summary

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AIRED: 10/22/96

Frasier and Niles are ecstatic when their father becomes good friends with reclusive author T.H. Houghton. When Frasier and Niles discover he has a new manuscript sitting in his brief case, trouble ensues.

Fan Episode Reviews (2)

Frasier and Niles meet their favorite author.

10

By Bountyhunterc28, Nov 25, 2010

When T.H Houghton Frasier and Niles favorite author comes to town, they try everything they can think of to meet him, but always miss him at the last minute; however to their delight Martin ends becoming friends with him.

Frasier and Niles finally get to meet him only to find out that he is writing a new book, and when he and Martin go to a baseball game, he accidentally leaves behind his brief case.

Niles and Frasier can't resist temptation, and end up reading the manuscript, only to be caught by his father and T.H.

Though Niles and Frasier try to praise his work, T.H decides that his book is garbage and throws it off the balcony.

Another great episode, I was cracking up the whole time, I love the end where Eddie is rolling on the couch and Daphne whistles when Frasier comes trough the door.moreless
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"That's a Houghton doodle!"....

7.0

By uk6strings, Nov 25, 2010

"A Crane's Critique" has a few great gags and is an overall good episode of Frasier, but it does not have enough to be one of the greats.

When their father Martin becomes friends with legendary author T.H. Houghton (who has written only one brilliant book) Frasier and Niles drive themselves crazy trying to have what they think would be an intelligent discussion with the man. Houghton ends up being quite elusive however, with Frasier and Niles continually missing him in passing and screw up opportunities to talk with him. Then they get a hold of a copy of Houghton's new manuscript - which is like fruit from the tree of The Knowledge Of Good And Evil to the Crane boys.

This just is not one of the best Frasiersodes. "A Crane's Critique" is consistently funny enough to entertain but is not of the same caliber of other Frasiersodes. Still, Frasier and Niles get a few good humorous licks in, Daphne and Eddie have a fun little gag, and Martin is particularly funny - and it is an episode of Frasier, for crying out loud, "A Crane's Critique" is not great but it is good.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Kelsey Grammer	Dr. Frasier Crane
Jane Leeves	Daphne Moon Crane
David Hyde Pierce	Dr. Niles Crane
Peri Gilpin	Roz Doyle
John Mahoney	Martin Crane

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Robert Prosky	T.H. Houghton	Guest Star
Steven Rotblatt	Bar Patron	Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- Goof: At about three-minutes, John Mahoney (Martin Crane) is too early for a cue and is visible just off camera to the left.
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QUOTES (4)
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- Martin: Boy, I've had it with you guys. If you were Hoss and Little Joe, Ben Cartwright would kick your sorry butts right off the Ponderosa!
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- Niles: I can't just walk up to a god like that.
  Roz: Well, then find a subtler way.
  Niles: In your vernacular that would be what? To slingshot your panties across the street?
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- Niles: Oh my God. It is T.H. Houghton. We're a stone's throw away from one of the giants of American literature.
  Roz: Not the way you throw.
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- (Roz sighs while ogling a male customer outside the Café Nervosa)
  Niles: Are you quite finished undressing him with your eyes?
  Roz: Oh, please. I'm already looking for my stockings and trying to remember where I parked my car.
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NOTES (1)
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- Robert Prosky appeared on Cheers as a different character. There he played Rebecca Howe's father in the episode "Daddy's Little Middle-Aged Girl".
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ALLUSIONS (2)
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- Babe Ruth and No No Nanette:
  
  In an attempt to impress regular guy author Houghton Niles repeats the tale that Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the Babe to the Yankees to finance the popular 20's musical. This is in fact a sports "urban legend" and had been factually debunked in several works.
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- Character: T.H. Houghton
  
  The reclusive T.H. Houghton is based on J.D. Salinger.
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