View Full Version : Bulldog.... The Fallen Character
barwars 12-19-2003, 11:48 PM What ever happened to Bulldog??
Does he still work at KACL??
Ive kinda missed seasons 2-8. So.... a little clearing up would help. (Ive seen every episode of Seasons 1 and 11.... and most of 9 and 10) (but only about 10 total from other seasons)
Valma 12-20-2003, 11:32 AM Here's an idea - Go to the transcripts site and read for yourself what has happened between Season 2 and 8. You are missing a lot of information on all the characters and what has happened to them over the years. Here's the link -
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Derby/3267/
(you will have to copy and paste it in the address box, but it is a fabulous Frasier resource, so it is *well* worth the small amount of effort it takes to do this :-)) )
As for Bulldog: in a nutshell - he was fired because of low ratings in Season 6, worked as a pizza delivery boy and Roz's babysitter in Season 7 and showed up again a KACL working "joe" jobs (archivist and clean up boy working many in the station's basement, running errands for Kenny etc.) in Season 9 where he has remained (he was seen at Roz's goodbye dinner).
This absence is really due to the fact that Dan Butler is *very* involved in live theatre now (writing, directing and acting) and has little time for other projects. So don't expect too much Bulldog during this last season.
Brian Damage 12-20-2003, 12:15 PM Buldog was a great character, it's kind of a shame that he's not around much anymore. The same can be said for Frasier's agent Bebe.
Valma 12-20-2003, 01:45 PM Well, personally I think exit of the Bulldog character from "Frasier" was timely. I think they had gone as far as they could with that character, without changing him into something he wasn't meant to be. I fully applaud the writers and showrunners allowing the main characters to grow and subtly change over the years, but not the minor characters (like Bulldog, Noel, Simon or Bebe etc.) especially if it affects the major characters personalities.
I didn't like that they hinted at a "sensitive" Bulldog who was actually in love with Roz and wanted her to reciprocate. That just was too much of a drastic change in Bulldog, Roz and the show. Luckily they haven't attempted to do the same with Bebe, Simon, Noel or Kenny. All the static characters like Bulldog should be used sparingly to be most effective - they are absurd foils for the main characters to bounce off of. They shouldn't be three dimensional characters (like the main characters) - they are supposed to be very much two dimensional entities.
If you want to change their status and make them into main characters then it would be acceptable - but you also run the risk of upsetting the balance of the entire show. Sometimes it is successful, but more often than not it is a very dangerous move, which confuses the viewers and destroys the fan base.
So, when Bulldog left (and only has been seen sporadically since) it made me sigh a bit with relief - and the occasional appearance of Dan Butler has been a nice little treat (but like any treat, it shouldn't be overdone). :-))
Tourmaline 12-20-2003, 04:02 PM Bulldog has always been one of my favourite characters...we need to see him once more before the show ends for good :cool:
barwars 12-20-2003, 04:04 PM But there's something that you've seem to have forgotten Valma (that I didnt even know about when I first starting watching the show).... Bulldog WAS a regular character in a couple of the middle seasons. 4-8 I think.
So thats why I think that he should return. (and the rest of the KACL gang)
Valma 12-20-2003, 05:32 PM I haven't forgotten anything :-)) - my point was that Bulldog was a *minor* character IMO (even if he was on the show on a regular basis and given a more special status than the other minor characters, he was still definitely a secondary character).
:-)) I never considered him one of the major characters on the show (and thus by that definition indespensible) and I didn't really like it when they started to try and create a "deeper" side to him (it was inconsistent with his minor character status and didn't work IMO). His loss isn't really significant as far as I am concerned.
If he came in for one (or even two) episodes I have no objections at all (like I said - in small doses Bulldog is just fine - even a real treat), but if he didn't, it wouldn't be any great loss either. I suppose if Dan Butler's schedule would allow it, he would be game to do it and the rest of the cast and crew of the show would be too.
barwars 12-20-2003, 05:37 PM Even though he is a secondary character....
throughout Seasons 4-8.... Dan Butler was a regular character on the show. He wasn't a guest star.... and I wasnt aware of this.... and Im not sure many people are.
Valma 12-20-2003, 05:58 PM If you ever get to see those seasons you missed (or read about them on the transcripts site) you might have a better idea of the scope of the Bulldog character. And "regular" is a relative term - yes, he was on frequently, but he wasn't on every programme nor was his role significant in any way - sometimes it was only a joke or two and he was gone. :-))
barwars 12-20-2003, 06:13 PM The transcripts arent working.
But Bulldog WAS a regular from episode 74 to episode 144.
I got this information from tvtome.com.
Meaning that from the second episode of Season 3.... to the finale episode of Season 6.... the cast of Frasier consisted of....
Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane
David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane
Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon
Dan Butler as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe
and
John Mahoney as Martin Crane
barwars 12-20-2003, 06:14 PM Originally posted by barwars88
The transcripts arent working.
But Bulldog WAS a regular from episode 74 to episode 144.
I got this information from tvtome.com.
Meaning that from the second episode of Season 3.... to the finale episode of Season 6.... the cast of Frasier consisted of....
Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane
David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane
Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon
Dan Butler as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe
and
John Mahoney as Martin Crane
and of course.... Moose as Eddie.
Valma 12-20-2003, 07:11 PM I'm NOT arguing that he *wasn't* a regular on the show - just that he didn't have a *major* role and wasn't one of the *main* characters on Frasier (so his personality wasn't as fully developed like Niles, Frasier, Daphne, Martin or even Roz). He wasn't a three dimensional character with fully developed traits and shades of gray - he was a two dimensional character at best (and personally, he seemed *really* flat to me - that got old really fast). When they hinted at doing more than that with the character, it failed (for *me* at least) and when he left I didn't find it made that big of difference to my vision of the show. When he returned for the occasional guest appearance in the later seasons it was perfectly fine for me - he's interesting in *small* doses. :-)
I *know* he was on the show for many episodes - I have watched them all many, *many* times! :-))
Brian Damage 12-21-2003, 03:49 PM I do hope he comes back at least one more time.
Valma 12-21-2003, 04:05 PM I'm sure if Dan Butler's schedule can allow it, you will see Bulldog one more time. But there isn't some grand scheme to ignore the character - it's just more in likely, real life interfering with our
"fictional Frasier world" . :-)
Brian Damage 12-21-2003, 04:09 PM I understand
Contributor 12-25-2003, 08:10 AM Bulldog's taunting of the Raiders' defensive lineman in a radio spot was classic.
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