Frasier (TV Series) The Show Must Go Off (2001) User Reviews

The Show Must Go Off

[studioAT · 7/10 · 26 October 2022]

A good episode of 'Frasier' from its eighth series? Finally!

When all the pieces come together though this show can still pull off everything we came to love about it in the preceding seven series, but for whatever reason has not been able to do it in the eighth nearly enough.

This is a good episode indeed though, with Frasier and Niles working well together, and a nice scene stealing turn from Derek Jacobi.

Is it perfect? No, but in an eighth series of very much so-so and underwhelming episodes this one stands out a mile for being genuinely good, and reminding us that 'Frasier' might just yet come good.

one of the classic episodes

[grizzledgeezer · 10/10 · 7 August 2014]

Most "Frasier" episodes are at least "good" (and even the "bad" episodes are funny), but this is one of the classics.

Looking for X-Men comics for his son at a fan convention, Frasier spots Jackson Hedley, whose acting inspired him and Niles as young men. Disappointed that such a fine actor has been reduced to playing an android on "Space Patrol", Frasier and Niles decide to produce a one-man show, in the hopes of reviving Hedley's stage career.

It's only after committing themselves to the show that they hear him act. Hedley's performance sets the platinum standard for overacting -- pretentious sighs, wheezy gasping, exaggerated emphases, inappropriate gestures, etc, etc, etc. Next to Hedley, William Shatner comes across as Max von Sydow. (It isn't clear whether Hedley is supposed to be a grotesque exaggeration of Shatner -- but it's hard to believe that an odious comparison /wasn't/ intended.) Frasier finds a video tape of an old Hedley performance, which confirms that he was always that bad. Niles and Frasier recognize that, 30 years ago, they just weren't good judges of acting.

The theater is packed on opening night, * and hoping to avoid embarrassment, they try every trick in the book to cancel the production. Frasier even sets off the sprinkler system -- which (the building being so old) clogs after a few seconds. Fortunately, Hedley slips in the puddle and injures himself. Unfortunately...

"Frasier" is likely the most-lavishly produced sitcom ever. The producers didn't hesitate to get A-list actors (eg, Eva Marie Saint as Roz's mother!). This episode not only has Derek Jacobi as Jackson Hedley, but Patrick Macnee as his father! One of /the/ classic sitcom episodes (for this series or any other), worth seeing just to enjoy Hedley's appalling skill at scenery chewing.

* The obvious question of why everyone else doesn't recognize Hedley as a miserable actor isn't addressed.

Jacobi Doing Bad Shakespeare and Patrick MacNee Too!

[richard.fuller1 · 10/10 · 2 July 2010]

Frasier learns a much beloved Shakespearean actor, Jackson Headley (Jacobi) has been reduced to playing an android on a scifi program.

Frasier and Niles decide to set Headley up in a theatre to do Hamlet.

Ah, there's the rub. Headley is AWFUL! The Crane brothers believe he has become affected by the scifi work, so they find an old audio of his.

Nope, Headley cannot act.

Now they must find a way to stop the show.

With an appearance by Patrick MacNee as Headley's father, unquestionably the most fascinating aspect of this episode was Jacobi delivering bad Shakespeare.

It surely must seem sacrilegious for Jacobi to do this, but in truth, who else could safely deliver bad Shakespeare and do it right? Yes, Mystery Science Theatre 3000 did run a German version of Hamlet (or was it MacBeth? Been so long since I've seen it) with Maximillian Schell that was pretty hysterical, so bad Shakespeare was and is out there.

Perhaps it was just fun seeing Jacobi do it bad for a change. Proof that he does know what bad acting is, or his way of saying he knows how good he is at it.

Kudos.

Wonderfully Frantic

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 24 October 2019]

Frasier is with Roz at a SciFi event and while there recognizes a man signing autographs. It is a guy named Headley who impressed both Niles and Frasier when they were very young with his portrayal of Hamlet. The two decide that this guy needs to jumpstart his career in the legitimate theatre. But, unfortunately, they didn't realize that he is a terrible actor and they were kids when they saw him. Derek Jacobi and Patrick McNee are both in this thing and it is absolutely hilarious. The plot mostly involves efforts to squelch the performance. It is classic comedy, with Frasier and Niles experiencing the pain of their every move.

Ohh, sooo good!

[mihmichael · 10/10 · 14 August 2022]

Finally we get a chance not to look at humongous Daphne! Niles 50kg VS Daphne 100kg is awful to watch so this was a good episode without the fat lady. Sure, I do like actress Jane Leeves but the writers just killed her character with stupid story lines and her "fat" period.