"I'm sorry caller. I can't help you." That line almost made me cry. Simply heart wrenching. Didn't appreciate this scene when I was younger, but watching today after so many years made me realize the depth of it. Frasier, in that moment, suddenly realized that hes unable to deal with people's emotions, and has been running away from consequences by putting the onus on the other person. That is the reason he has been unable to establish any meaninful relationship in his life. Brilliantly acted by Kelsey Grammar. Frasier was truly gem of a sitcom. They don't make shows like this anymore.
Living_Legend no one is beyond help. Life is fluid. Just when we think nothing could happen to make us excited, it does happen. We were wrong. Love comes along. Someone needs us. We see that others are worse off and we help. There is always the next stage of life. The surprise.
It's the line before that makes my eyes water. The distressed outcry of "because it's all I have!!" from a man we've seen for years exude almost too much confidence, almost breaking him on the evening he's supposed to be cherishing and appreciating his life's work... This is easily one of, if not my absolute, favorite scene from this show.
Absolutely true. Frasier is, of course, primarily a comedy. And a brilliantly written one. But occasionally, it dived deep into poignant philosophical and psychological truths. And when it did, boy did it ever strike deep.
"Because that's all I have." Doesn't matter how many times I hear this line, it hits hard. One the best scenes acted by two of TV"s greatest, Kelsey and Rene.
When Tewksbury first tells Frasier that he's stalling, you can hear a random audience member briefly chuckle as if this is part of a joke. Within seconds, it is no longer a joke.
My mom got me hooked on this show as a kid, but I was initially drawn to the physical humor (most of which, unsurprisingly, involved Niles). So this scene just kind of bored and confused me at first. But years later, coming back to it, this might be one of my favorite scene sleep of the show. Especially that last line. “I’m sorry, caller. I can’t help you.” It took me years to realize the poetic symbolism of this. I always thought it was Frasier talking to himself, meaning he couldn’t help his own problems. It made me confused and a little sad. But now I realize that was Frasier the impressive psychiatrist, virtually his entire identity, speaking to Frasier the human, his basic emotions (the subject he’s supposed to best handle). He’s realized that he needs to bring more into his life than accomplishing breakthrough after breakthrough, patient after patient. He needs to build close, intimate, fulfilling relationships in order to truly be happy, not just excel in an impressive yet finite career. I truly did not appreciate this show enough as a kid.
Well said, and it makes me wonder how amazing it would be to know his Professor who had learned this lesson long before his conversation with Frasier and tried to indirectly teach it to Frasier.
I think Frasier indeed realized he needed close, intimate, and fulfilling relationships in this episode, but he seem to have forgotten all about it in later episodes. Or at least he's still in the bargaining stage, trying to cling to his perfectionism. This is from season 8. Frasier spent the last four episodes of the season involved with Lana 'Legs' Lynley instead of Claire French. Sure, might have been an intimate relationship with lana, but close and fulfilling it wasn't :) He also tried his luck in two parallel universes with Monica and speed dating pirate gurrrl Judy (both went nowhere), he tries to finagle money out of foundation trustee Penelope Janvier by using his dad as a beard, and he's unable to come to terms with Dr Tewksbury sleeping with Roz. He does resign from the whine club though this season, I guess that's something, nothing but shallow relationships there :) This scene from Frasier's edge is probably one of the best in the whole series, but I'm glad this is a sit com and not a drama, and that all this heavy stuff is mostly forgotten, at least until the two-parter Don Juan in Hell in season 9 where he again confronts his demons... cough... I mean ex-wives.
There was a show in the UK. Only fools and horses, basically the UK's all time favourite comedy, to most of us anyway, that show could do that, go from the funniest comedy to tragedy in seconds, then back again. It was a comedy but in the middle of all that you got a miscarriage, death of a family member, the actor actually did die. it's on RU-vid, check it out
Hands down, my favorite scene in the entire show. So insightful. The IMMEDIATE shift in Frasier's demeanor when he switched chairs is so distinctive. You can clearly see the "Elite" version of him vs. the more vulnerable and hurt version of himself. He clearly feels safe dispensing advice to unknown patients than diving into his own pool of unresolve. As Dr. Tewksbury said, "Deal with the feelings..."
Such a powerful scene. Pretty much any phrase is noteworthy. For me it was "because it's all I have". It's because it took me so long to empathize with him. Deal with the feelings. He couldn't. He avoided himself. He hated himself.
Dr tewkesbury is a very clever that line when he says why do you bury him in psychiatric exercises and Frazer says that's all I have he gets to the root of the problem very quickly.
That which is as good as the script in this scene, is the space between the words. It's like a well crafted piece of music, the space is pretty much as important as the notes themselves. I'm not much of a Frasier fan but this scene really is extremely good, and very well acted. Facial expressions, hand and eye movement, posture, mood, etc, etc. It's all there.
I like how he knew all along what Frasier needed to realise but knew it was better for him to discover it himself. I've seen therapists, they have some sneaky but clever tactics.
And this a thread that will follow Fraiser for the rest of the series. That search for meaning, that search to find that something that makes the emptiness disappear. It was never resolved and that's a good thing, in my mind. That sort of feeling doesn't disappear, it just dulls over time once you find something...if you ever find it, at all.
THE best scene in the ENTIRE 12 year run of the show...simply superb, brilliantly acted and definitely leaves one wondering of how to deal with the ego. I sincerely miss that show....
Frasier discussing with the imaginary versions of his three ex-wives in the log cabin is also up there among the great ones, but yeah, this scene is slightly better, definitely cuts deeper, probably because there is no resolution unlike the log cabin scene.
This scene encapsulates everything that was brilliant about Frasier and why it’s the best sitcom and arguably the best show ever seen on TV. Brilliant writing backed up by 2 truly superb actors at the very top of their game. Stunningly good.
This really hits you a certain way. "Because that's all I have! I'm sorry caller. I can't help you." Frasier being able to help nearly everyone that calls in, yet he may never be able to help himself. Truly depressing to the core, if this realization was to ever strike someone in a similar position. If there were ever a literal example of someone's 'personal hell', it'd be this and no one deserves to suffer it.
@@EveryoneElseIsWeirdImNormal To be needlessly pedantic-and if a clip from _Frasier_ isn't the best place to be needlessly pedantic, then I don't know where would be- they said "depressing" not "depression." One in an emotional state, the other is a condition.
This is one of my favorite shows ever. The quirks of the characters, the interactions between them, the air of sophistication that it had compared to other shows of the same time period ... it all made for a great show. I understand why some people say they "don't get it," but even as a kid, I appreciated the overall tone of it. I remember watching this scene back then and feeling a deep sympathy for Frasier. It was kind of a reminder that he was still a human character in spite of all the zany antics he got himself involved in.
Loved Mr. Auberjonois as Odo in DS9. His voice is fantastic and he played one of the more interesting characters in the whole thing. Can’t believe he’s gone.
Watched this yesterday and just shows how good this show was. Felt like it was rooting with many levels. He was frustrated becouse he doesn't know what what the caller wants becouse hes empty, and it went silent when Frasier said "becouse it's all I have." I appreciate this more now then when I was younger.
Frasier was pure brilliance . Extremely intelligent and well crafted comedy , blended perfectly with a journey to the depth of humanity . Such an amazing show .
Truly one of the best scenes in the whole show which actually brought me to tears. Any character self-realising this kind of void in their life and cutting through the noise on this way is just phenomenal. Great juxtaposition of emotion and humour and a great demonstration that even those who probably have more of a monopoly of understanding of the human condition and emotions than most are not themselves infallible. If anything an excess of self-awareness can often desensitize to emotion due to this kind of overacademic explanation. I'll stop now. I've had wine.
In the first fifteen seconds, if you listen very intently, you can hear a phone ringing in the audience. Otherwise, these are the scenes, the moments, that set Frasier apart. This is why Frasier, unlike many sitcoms, is worth watching. This is why it is the best.
Frasier and Star Trek shows shot on the same studio lot, they were like within walking distance of each other... you saw quite a few Trek actors appear on Frasier
Having an ability that helps others is extremely rewarding especially if it can earn you a living. But when you allow them activities to create the same problems for you that you try to solve for others, there is often a shortage of people to turn to for your help, everyone has relied on you. This is why I try to make sure to I provide the same level of commitment to people in my personal as I do my professional, often we help the world but hurt our homes. When I feel empty, it's the personal relationships that give me a feeling of meaning and they always are there, not just for themselves. Frasier let his most important indicator of purpose be taken to a far away place to hardly ever see.
so glad you posted this video. I love this scene, Frasier is my favourite comedy show and this scene is amazing, theres no comedy that comes close to this. Thanks
Just when I thought Oprah had buried alive the word 'epiphany' , replacing it with the infantile phrase 'aha moment', you have breathed new life into my hope for humanity! You may not be surprised to learn that I have had appointments more dramatic than this scene. Also, fear and self defensive yelling can become loud. :-)
Such a shame Rene passed away. He would have made a more effective foil in the Frasier reboot. Nicholas Lyndhurst does his best with the weak material he is given. These scenes demonstrate much stronger and believable chemistry
Dec 8 2019. He played the Shape shifting Character Odo from deep Space 9. I remembered him. RIP. Was unaware of his passing until today, Jan 13th 2021.
I love this clip. It hits home to Frasier Crane, its purging, such good actors. I also love Niles, Martin all of them. I can’t wait till Kelsey Grammar’s “Frasier’s Return”
Sure is! I had flash backs to the time my then new psychologist and I discovered I had different personalities. . I have done the work and am integrated now. It was a long time ago. Nonetheless, the power of the technique came to me so strongly it was difficult to watch this!
This is awesome. Also, if anyone remembers Legacy of Kain, or Soul Reaver, the doc opposite Frasier plays Janos Audron and delivers one hell of a performance. Anyone loving story and character driven narratives should check out those games.
I really powerful scene, I felt the same emotion from this scene that I did when the Tony Soprano described his feelings about his son AJ's bleak genetic existence. Both the late James Gandolfini and Kelsey Grammer are extremely powerful thought provoking performers.
