pilotguy
09-20-2003, 03:10 PM
Last night I watched this episode for the first time...and LOVED it!
Frankly, I wasn't expecting too much before I watched it. I thought that it would be an episode spotlighting Frasier and Lilith, with the "Wings" regulars shoved in the background, but I was very WRONG!
This "Cheers" cross-over worked MUCH better than the earlier "Wings" episode with Norm and Cliff. I always felt that the Norm-Cliff "Wings" appearance was kind of forced...as if the "Wings" producers were trying to impress and gain new viewers by saying, "See? Aren't we COOL? We know the "Cheers" cast and have them on our show!".
However, I didn't get that message with the "Dr. Crane" episode. In fact, even if Frasier and Lilith HADN'T been "Cheers" regulars, their "Wings" appearance still would have worked...they could have simply been two visiting psychiatrists, and the story and characters still would have made sense.
Instead of centering the episode around the Cranes, the Cranes became PART of the "Wings" setting and interacted with the regulars.
I especially liked how Frasier and Helen interacted, with Lilith sitting there on the sidelines, saying cutting one-liners with a deadpan expression.
Yes, I think that this episode made good use of it's visiting guest stars, and the whole thing worked quite well!
Frankly, I wasn't expecting too much before I watched it. I thought that it would be an episode spotlighting Frasier and Lilith, with the "Wings" regulars shoved in the background, but I was very WRONG!
This "Cheers" cross-over worked MUCH better than the earlier "Wings" episode with Norm and Cliff. I always felt that the Norm-Cliff "Wings" appearance was kind of forced...as if the "Wings" producers were trying to impress and gain new viewers by saying, "See? Aren't we COOL? We know the "Cheers" cast and have them on our show!".
However, I didn't get that message with the "Dr. Crane" episode. In fact, even if Frasier and Lilith HADN'T been "Cheers" regulars, their "Wings" appearance still would have worked...they could have simply been two visiting psychiatrists, and the story and characters still would have made sense.
Instead of centering the episode around the Cranes, the Cranes became PART of the "Wings" setting and interacted with the regulars.
I especially liked how Frasier and Helen interacted, with Lilith sitting there on the sidelines, saying cutting one-liners with a deadpan expression.
Yes, I think that this episode made good use of it's visiting guest stars, and the whole thing worked quite well!