"Planes, Trains and Visiting Cranes" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

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!

losthighway · 09-20-2003, 06:31 PM

Totally agree Pilotguy! Kelsey definitely deserved the Emmy, he was great.

I also really enjoyed his interaction with Helen. I LOVED this bit:

Frasier: I want you to take out a piece of paper and write down what you want out of life?

Helen: I want my money back.

Frasier: Then I want you to write what it will be like when you achieve that.

Helen: I’ll have my money back.

Frasier: Just write it down…what is stopping you from achieving those goals?

Helen: You are. You’ve got all my money.

Lilith: You know, it is permissible to have an unexpressed thought.

pilotguy · 09-20-2003, 07:50 PM

You know, the more I think of it, Kelsey Grammer as frustrated, nervous Frasier and Crystal Bernard as mouthy, feisty Helen made a HILARIOUS team! Who would have thought?

spunkygirl · 09-20-2003, 11:16 PM

OMG that was a freaking hilarious episode. Kelsey and Crystal did have some great chemistry going, and I love Helen in full spitfire mode

Loved Lillith's one liners. Her and Brian cracking one liners together would be a riot

AgtSkye · 09-21-2003, 05:31 AM

Great epi. And I really need but five words to bring a smile to my face...

"Hey!..that's my train whistle!"

Anne

Nobody nose · 09-30-2003, 12:36 PM

Deffo one of the best episodes,

Love that moment when Lowell asks about hat and train whistle he wants to buy and Lilith comments that in order to blow the whistle you have to have a degree(or something like that)

superb!

pilotguy · 09-30-2003, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nobody nose
Deffo one of the best episodes,

Love that moment when Lowell asks about hat and train whistle he wants to buy and Lilith comments that in order to blow the whistle you have to have a degree(or something like that)

superb!

Just the IDEA of Lilith and Lowell interacting in a scene is hilarious to me!

AngeFaitore · 09-30-2003, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nobody nose
Deffo one of the best episodes,

Love that moment when Lowell asks about hat and train whistle he wants to buy and Lilith comments that in order to blow the whistle you have to have a degree(or something like that)

superb!

I LOVED that!
I just wish that there would have been more interaction between Lowell
and Frasier (If you don't already know, I really, really like Kelsey Grammer
and Thomas Haden Church).

09-20-2003, 03:10 PM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	"Planes, Trains and Visiting Cranes" 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!

09-21-2003, 05:31 AM	#5
AgtSkye Jedi knightess Frequent Poster Join Date: May 04, 2003 Location: a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away Posts: 185	Great epi. And I really need but five words to bring a smile to my face... "Hey!..that's my train whistle!" Anne
	__________________ En það besta sem Guð hefur skapað er nýr dagur But the best thing God has created is a new day ~ Sigur Rós

09-20-2003, 06:31 PM	#2
losthighway Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 14, 2003 Posts: 370	Totally agree Pilotguy! Kelsey definitely deserved the Emmy, he was great. I also really enjoyed his interaction with Helen. I LOVED this bit: Frasier: I want you to take out a piece of paper and write down what you want out of life? Helen: I want my money back. Frasier: Then I want you to write what it will be like when you achieve that. Helen: I’ll have my money back. Frasier: Just write it down…what is stopping you from achieving those goals? Helen: You are. You’ve got all my money. Lilith: You know, it is permissible to have an unexpressed thought.

09-20-2003, 07:50 PM	#3
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	You know, the more I think of it, Kelsey Grammer as frustrated, nervous Frasier and Crystal Bernard as mouthy, feisty Helen made a HILARIOUS team! Who would have thought?

09-20-2003, 11:16 PM	#4
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	OMG that was a freaking hilarious episode. Kelsey and Crystal did have some great chemistry going, and I love Helen in full spitfire mode Loved Lillith's one liners. Her and Brian cracking one liners together would be a riot

09-30-2003, 12:36 PM	#6
Nobody nose Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 30, 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 44	Deffo one of the best episodes, Love that moment when Lowell asks about hat and train whistle he wants to buy and Lilith comments that in order to blow the whistle you have to have a degree(or something like that) superb!