24 episodes and special features Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007
With this third season, Frasier scored an impressive hat trick, winning its third successive Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series. You don't need too much analysis to get to the bottom of this unprecedented success. The series was a primetime oasis of wit and sophistication, with welcome forays into farce that pricked Frasier's bubble of pomposity. His priceless reactions to the assaults on his dignity are worthy of Jack Benny. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) can be infuriating, as in "The Focus Group," in which he is obsessed with knowing why a lone focus group participant (guest star Tony Shalhoub) doesn't like him. But he is also endearing in his delusional view of himself as, in the words of one mocking bystander, a "man of the people." Frasier meets his match in new station owner Kate Costas (Oscar-winner Mercedes Ruehl). Their combative relationship turns to lust over the course of the first 10 episodes.
But the season's most pivotal story arc is the separation of Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Maris. "Moon Dance," which marked Grammer's directorial debut, is a series benchmark, as a crestfallen Niles tangos with his unrequited love, Daphne (Jane Leeves), at a high society ball. Not that the Crane family still doesn't have issues to work out. Frasier cannot abide being beaten at chess by Martin (John Mahoney) in "Chess Pains." Frasier and Niles ill-advisedly go into joint practice in "Shrink Rap," and find themselves on the opposite sides of a sanity hearing in "Crane vs. Crane." Lilith is sorely missed, but in this season's blast-from-the-past episode, Shelley Long returns in "The Show Where Diane Comes Back." It is a joy to see Cheers resurrected, if only in Diane's self-absorbed new play, which Frasier agrees to back. And any episode with Frasier's amoral agent Bebe (Harriet Sansom Harris) is must-see television. Frasier's humor was character-based, rather than topical, giving it a longer shelf life. For those who lament the end of one of television's gold standard series, this boxed set will be excellent therapy. --Donald Liebenson
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Frasier - The Complete Comedy:
I have the entire Frasier collection. The writing and character chemistry is the best. I enjoy watching this series over and over. The best of personal entertainment for the money!
Smart AND Funny:
This enitre series of Frasier is great. Very smart and funny. I am on my second time watching the series almost back to back!
I love Dr. Frasier Crane!:
I am entirely too biased, how can I review this when I am mad about Frasier's character, his wit, his intellectual humor, his abysmal luck in life and yet his persistence on living a fine life with opera, classical music, the finest wines and restaurants and tastes in furniture and all yummy material things in life. It is wonderful to own the series. What a fabulous show. They don't make that stuff anymore!
More Great Frasier Laughs!:
I am a huge Frasier fan and couldn't wait to watch my new season and it was hilarious. If you love Frasier then you can't go wrong with Season 3.
