I have no problem with former Cheers characters appearing. But Diane is a big one because she was once the center of Frasier's universe. Here, she is the same over the top intellectual snob, but she has fallen on hard times. Frasier is terrified when she shows up at the studio, but then he is faced with facing his weakness toward her. I was glad to see the final scene which shows a sense of maturity.
7 Reviews
The Show Where Diane Comes Back
studioAT12 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is a very curious one.
Not only does it mark the return of Shelley Long as 'Diane', one of Frasier's former loves, but it's also an opportunity to her and Kelsey Grammer to bury the hatchet, after Long famously didn't want his character hanging around on 'Cheers' all those years ago.
So it's nice that the characters resolve things at the same time.
I thought this was a sparkling episode, with the writers clearly raising their game for the occasion, providing Long the perfect opportunity to show off what a gifted comedienne she really is.
There's lots of great moments here, and it makes for not only a memorable episode, but a rare example of a 'Cheers' reunion that works.
Not only does it mark the return of Shelley Long as 'Diane', one of Frasier's former loves, but it's also an opportunity to her and Kelsey Grammer to bury the hatchet, after Long famously didn't want his character hanging around on 'Cheers' all those years ago.
So it's nice that the characters resolve things at the same time.
I thought this was a sparkling episode, with the writers clearly raising their game for the occasion, providing Long the perfect opportunity to show off what a gifted comedienne she really is.
There's lots of great moments here, and it makes for not only a memorable episode, but a rare example of a 'Cheers' reunion that works.
Diane Chambers - the itch Frasier just can't scratch...
AlsExGal18 September 2018
... even 11 years after she left him at the altar after the priest came to her part of the vows and she asked "Are you speaking to me?".
Three years after Frasier has moved to Seattle, his old heartthrob Diane shows up with a new play she is opening in town. She has never gotten the extent of her long term wounds to Frasier, for she is pretty self absorbed.
Initially Frasier invites her to dinner to flaunt his success and how he has moved on in her face, but that old feeling comes lurching back. Meanwhile the scene at dinner at Frasier's apartment is hilarious. You can tell Frasier's relatives have met this woman before and they are not glad that she is back. So Frasier thinks that maybe the two of them are getting close again. Then Diane asks Frasier to take a look at a dry run of her play, and that play tells you just how Diane looks back on her old days at Cheers, with Frasier deserving an Emmy just for his facial expressions as he looks on.
The history with Cheers, the dialogue that is just perfect comic poetry, the whole episode is just perfect. David Angell was one of the writers of this episode, and he had a history with Cheers before Frasier, so he knows these characters. So sad that he was lost on September 11.
If you never watched Cheers or Frasier it is likely this show will not be that funny to you. But if you followed both shows this episode is essential viewing.
Three years after Frasier has moved to Seattle, his old heartthrob Diane shows up with a new play she is opening in town. She has never gotten the extent of her long term wounds to Frasier, for she is pretty self absorbed.
Initially Frasier invites her to dinner to flaunt his success and how he has moved on in her face, but that old feeling comes lurching back. Meanwhile the scene at dinner at Frasier's apartment is hilarious. You can tell Frasier's relatives have met this woman before and they are not glad that she is back. So Frasier thinks that maybe the two of them are getting close again. Then Diane asks Frasier to take a look at a dry run of her play, and that play tells you just how Diane looks back on her old days at Cheers, with Frasier deserving an Emmy just for his facial expressions as he looks on.
The history with Cheers, the dialogue that is just perfect comic poetry, the whole episode is just perfect. David Angell was one of the writers of this episode, and he had a history with Cheers before Frasier, so he knows these characters. So sad that he was lost on September 11.
If you never watched Cheers or Frasier it is likely this show will not be that funny to you. But if you followed both shows this episode is essential viewing.
She's Baaack
fleck05IMDB9 March 2019
Love this show, loved Cheers, and the characters Sam Malone, Diane Chambers and Frasier rank as 3 of the greatest characters in television history. Seeing Shelley Long reprise Diane and interacting with the talented Frasier characters was such a treat! This is a must-watch for any fans of Cheers.
Shelley Long again shows what a great actress she is in this guest shot
jmsfan16 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Frasier is angry when an oblivious Diane Chambers shows up unannounced in Seattle. When Frasier says that "she's back! The scourge of my existence!" Niles replies with the hilarious, "Usually when Lilith arrives there are signs. Dogs forming in packs, blood weeping down the walls." One of my all-time favorite lines on the show! But Niles is intrigued when he finds out it's Diane and he encourages Frasier to let Diane know how she hurt him years ago by dumping him at the altar. Frasier agrees and invites an eager Niles to witness it when he plows into her.
Daphne is the only one who doesn't know who she is but she soon learns when Diane shows. Diane wastes no time to flaunt her airs and her phony intelligence. She steps on everybody's toes here, not really meaning to but she can't help it. She accidentally insults the whole family. She bores them with her tales, then reveals she's written a play. When they make remarks about the play, Shelley Long does some great physical acting with her old facial tic from her Cheers days. The tic, to put it mildly, has gotten really worse! She breaks down in tears and Martin, Daphne, and Niles gather in the kitchen, thinking they've seen a woman lose her mind! Long totally sells her character again after being out of Frasier's life for years.
Frasier feels sorry for Diane instead of railing on her and ends up agreeing to back her play. He thinks that perhaps there is something romantic stirring. That is until he goes to see a dress rehearsal. A very familiar bar is the setting with the characters almost carbon copies of the people who frequented it. Frasier squirms in anger in the audience, until he can take it no more and blows his top on stage, telling the actor representing him how the woman he's been dumped by has "reached into his chest, pulled out his heart and given it to her hellhounds for a chew toy!" Just part of the rant, but you get the picture! Kelsey Grammer shows how brilliant an actor he is, especially in this scene. Frasier finally gets it off his chest how much his being jilted by Diane hurt him. But, by the episode's end, Frasier and Diane have parted friends, saying what they have meant to each other in the broader sense. A truly funny episode, and brilliant how this followed the equally excellent "Moon Dance."
Daphne is the only one who doesn't know who she is but she soon learns when Diane shows. Diane wastes no time to flaunt her airs and her phony intelligence. She steps on everybody's toes here, not really meaning to but she can't help it. She accidentally insults the whole family. She bores them with her tales, then reveals she's written a play. When they make remarks about the play, Shelley Long does some great physical acting with her old facial tic from her Cheers days. The tic, to put it mildly, has gotten really worse! She breaks down in tears and Martin, Daphne, and Niles gather in the kitchen, thinking they've seen a woman lose her mind! Long totally sells her character again after being out of Frasier's life for years.
Frasier feels sorry for Diane instead of railing on her and ends up agreeing to back her play. He thinks that perhaps there is something romantic stirring. That is until he goes to see a dress rehearsal. A very familiar bar is the setting with the characters almost carbon copies of the people who frequented it. Frasier squirms in anger in the audience, until he can take it no more and blows his top on stage, telling the actor representing him how the woman he's been dumped by has "reached into his chest, pulled out his heart and given it to her hellhounds for a chew toy!" Just part of the rant, but you get the picture! Kelsey Grammer shows how brilliant an actor he is, especially in this scene. Frasier finally gets it off his chest how much his being jilted by Diane hurt him. But, by the episode's end, Frasier and Diane have parted friends, saying what they have meant to each other in the broader sense. A truly funny episode, and brilliant how this followed the equally excellent "Moon Dance."
I loved this show, especially this one. I have the whole set
marilynnewman23 May 2017
Frazier at first is very angry with Diane, then tries to help her when he finds out she's a wreck. Then sees the play.
The play's the thing where I'll catch the conscience of the King.
It's about a bar & a bunch of people who hang out there. Where everybody knows your name.
The play's the thing where I'll catch the conscience of the King.
It's about a bar & a bunch of people who hang out there. Where everybody knows your name.
Cheers, again
puzgolac5 February 2023
This is another episode for which you'd think that knowing Cheers by heart is compulsory if you want to watch Frasier. I intensely hate such things, when a movie or a show requires you to know details of another movie or a show in order to enjoy it. Well, if you haven't seen Cheers, like I haven't (and, again, I don't think that it should be required, since Frasier is not a sequel of Cheers), than this episode falls completely flat. It is not funny at all, and all of the unresolved feelings between Frasier and whatshername make no impression, since it is something I have no clue about. They did a very brief recap about who whatshername is, but it is of course, not nearly enough to get you engaged. Among other things, she is introduced as a "barmaid", but then we see that she is actually a successful writer.
They should have tried to make an episode of Frasier, not an episode of Cheers rehashed. A well deserved one star.
They should have tried to make an episode of Frasier, not an episode of Cheers rehashed. A well deserved one star.
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