I was in Portland, OR, a couple weeks ago visiting my deer friend Joanne (or “Lipstick Lovechild” as she’s known to our East Coast fan-fiction writers). One night we decided to stay in and she showed me Frasier for the first time and I was instantly hooked. Of course, I knew the premise, the Cheers connection, even the characters’ names. I guess it figured so prominently in the ’90s zeitgeist that I never needed to watch it.
I’m glad I didn’t see it then as I wouldn’t have understood any of the jokes. Now that I myself am a snobbish, West Coast liberal who can’t stop himself from feeling superior to other people despite having no ground to stand on, unable to hold my tongue on any opinion especially those which shouldn’t be expressed, and pining after a woman I have no business with only because what I have is broken and fantasy is easier, I find the show hilarious!
I didn’t watch Frasier at all yesterday and yet I woke up with this tune today. I think I may hate this song, but I’m not totally sure. It’s very strange: the oblique lyrics about Frasier’s gig as a radio shrink, the cheesy Mel Tormé vibe, the random ad-libs. But it’s not as strange as this version which my brother recently shared with me.
“What is a boy to do?”