Frasier - The Complete Final Season

Rating:
Summary: Frage is always great...but this could have been better.
Review: First of all, I would like to say that I came late to the Frasier game. I started watching it after syndication. What always impressed me about Frasier is that the show seemed to have hit the ground running. Most TV shows need to warm up in the first season before they get really good, but Frasier was excellent from the very first episode. I was rarely able to catch the show during its normal time slot and when it wasn't being shown on the other channels as much, I stopped watching.

However, I was able to get a hold of Seasons 1 - 3 on DVD and fell in love with the show again. And I have now seen the shows of this final season (which I never saw when they first aired). The shows of this season were great and I found myself cracking up like I did when watching the older episodes. Episodes that stood out for me were "Murder Most Maris", "High Holidays", "Boo!", "The Doctor is Out", "Maris Returns", "No Sex Please, We're Skittish", and "Caught in the Act". However, I found something was lacking here that I had seen in the earlier episodes. I can't put my finger on it, but it seemed that the show had fallen into a rut. You could tell that there are only so many ideas that TV writers could come up with. It was a wise move to end the series now before it got stale and unwatchable. I'm sure many probably think that the show by season 11 was already unwatchable, but I disagree.

In my opinion, Season 11 is definitely not Frasier's best, but it's pretty darn good and it provides excellent closure for all of the characters. It's definitely a season that every Frasier fan should see and own. However, I am more anxious for Seasons 4 - 7 to be released. I'm rather mystified by Paramount's decision to release the final season now and keep us waiting for older shows that many consider to be better than more recent episodes.

And for those you who don't already know, Paramount will be releasing the other season at an accelerated pace with Season 4 being released in early 2005. So, be patient, it will be here before you know. However, I think season 11 is entertaining enough to pass the time until that happens. But, I can't help but feel that Seasons 1 - 3 are a bit better.

Rating:
Summary: I love Frasier, but Season 11 is a dog
Review: Frasier lost its way in the last few seasons, sadly, and I find only a few episodes of this set even watchable. The Julia character grates on my nerves big time, despite the best efforts of Felicity Huffman. (I'm glad she found a series that better uses her talents, or is successful at least!) And I never could accept Martin and the acerbic lounge singer, Ronee, as a couple. Ugh!

The only thing the writers did right was to jettison Julia and bring in Laura Linney, who was believable and wonderful. Even so, the writers managed to come up with a few dreadful episodes featuring her character, such as the one where she and Frasier go on a road trip and end up spending the night with a creepy family. Another painfully bad episode is the one where all the characters have horrible dreams. I'll be fast-forwarding through those two!

Another reviewer here commented that even the worst episode of Frasier beats any episode of any other series, and after trying out Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, I would say that's true! But I will wait for Season 4 to finally be released. Classic Frasier: a thing of beauty!

Rating:
Summary: Jumped the shark
Review: Great show but jumped the shark and fell in during this last season. First 1-5 were better in my opinion...

Rating:
Summary: Final Season = One Of The Best
Review: I admit it - I am addicted to this show. It's witty, smart, sophisticated and elegant - all things that cannot be said about most of the shows that are in first-run right now. The writing is top-notch: even a lesser episode of "Frasier" still trumps the best episodes of most other series. Amazingly, the show is still fresh and funny in its eleventh season, a point long after some other sitcoms, such as "Mad About You" and "Friends", had run out of gas. The episode featuring Patrick Stewart is an absolute classic, as is the episode featuring the superb Felicity Huffman as Julia. This show has hands down the best comedy ensemble I have ever seen, and uses guest stars to more advantage than any series I can think of (just check out the stellar turn by Emmy winner Laura Linney here to get an idea of what I am talking about). Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce both won Emmys for their work in this final season, and it's easy to see why - after eleven years they know their characters so well that they can masterfully switch between pratfalls and poignancy without ever missing a beat. This DVD is well worth buying and a must have for any lover of comedy that aspires to a more intellgent level than the bathroom humor that seems so in favor these days.

Rating:
Summary: Good yet lacks two things...
Review: I am a big fan of the show, and while the final season may not be the best of the 11, it is still good. The DVD could have been better in two ways. First off, it could have included the retrospective clip show NBC aired before the finale aired called "Analyzing The Laughter." Also, this season was shot in widescreen 16:9 ratio aspect if I recall. Yet this set is in full frame 1.33:1 ratio aspect. NBC-HD stations broadcast it in widescreen from what I recall.

Rating:
Summary: Skull and Crossbones
Review: It's Law & Order all over again. Even those of us who are huge fans are extremely disappointed that there is no sequential release of each series. Blatant commercialism triumphs over customer service again. Having purchased the first three series, I will now show my disapproval in the only way consumers can; with my wallet. I will spend not another dime on Frasier DVD's. It's ironic that here in Asia we are now subjected to ads encouraging us to boycott pirate DVD's and how it's morally wrong to purchase them (US TV sells for about $18 per series on DVD). Paramount should be aware that loyalty is a two way street; companies who abuse consumers in this way will ultimately lose.

Rating:
Summary: Where Are 4 - 10???
Review: Ok - I admit it - I'm an absolute Frasier addict and have even gone so far as to introduce family members and friends to the DVDs of the first three seasons, thereby ensuring their addiction as well.

BUT WHERE THE HECK ARE SEASONS 4 - 10??

"Ham Radio" (from the fourth season) is, without question, the 30 funniest minutes of TV I have ever seen. Ever! And there's an episode in the sixth season - I believe the title is "Merry Christmas Mrs. Feingold" which comes in a very close second.

More seasons. Please. Quickly.

Rating:
Summary: Paramount is run by f***ing morons!
Review: Releasing the final season of Frasier before the previous seasons shows just how stupid these losers are.
Don't buy this season until the others are released so Paramount will wake up!!
This move is the proof that idiots are running rampant on the planet.
There are people who haven't seen all the episodes between season 4 & the last season. Who the hell wants to see the end before all the intervening episodes.
Why don't they just start releasing the last 10 minutes of all their products. All that useless substance in the middle isn't worth the time.
Please e-mail the loser idiots at Paramount & tell them they suck.

Rating:
Summary: Too far and too early
Review: Whoa! What is this? The final season of FRASIER on DVD when season 4 hasn't yet been released? I knew this item would eventually be released but after the yet-to-come seasons 4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10. FRASIER's parent show CHEERS has run for 11 years as well but only the first three seasons of the parent show are currently available. CHEERS' fourth season is on its way to stores where DVD's are sold. It was only eight months ago that NBC aired the series finale of FRASIER. At that time,NBC pulled the plug on the ten-year run of FRIENDS as well. For the rest of his life,Grammer will be called Frasier occasionally,if not frequently,no matter where he is. Many major television stars are called by the names of their legendary TV characters. Many of Grammer's fans will sorely miss his legendary character.

Rating:
Summary: Response to Widescreen
Review: You obviously have no idea what you are talking about since you get more of the picture in 16:9 Widescreen than you do with 4:3 Pan and Scan. In Pan and Scan the editors have to chop off parts of the picture to show you the focus of the shot and often very nice images, characters, or even very important events going on in the periphery have to be cut away. Now for a TV show I don't think it would give you anymore benefit than 4:3 but it definitely won't take away any of the picture, now for movies Widescreen is the only way too go.