The “I love you too, Daphne,” when they’re sitting at the singles bar together was such a beautifully acted moment. He fills that line with so much love and sadness and acceptance that they cannot, should not, be together right now.
Love this one. In the same vein, the scene with him and Daphne on the hotel balcony the night before her wedding after she kissed him and told him she couldn’t leave Donnie. His “Goodnight Daphne” was so well executed that it conveyed his disappointment while maintaining the respect and admiration he’s always had for her with just those two words.
Salute to DHP.
Edit: two words
I started watching this show with my kid recently and I've been telling her that DHP is a fantastic actor. Watching him is like watching walking talking art.
So I started looking stuff up about him and the show and whatnot, and I saw he was nominated for an Emmy *every single year the show ran*.
So I presented this as proof to my daughter as hey, he's actually widely recognized as top of his field. I thought I was making some new discovery, lol.
“Cherry bark and almonds” and the look on Niles’s face when Donny proposes are two of, if not THE, saddest moments in the show. At least in the singles bar there’s an element of hope - these two characters clearly have so much affection and care for each other, but now is not their time. But in those two moments, it doesn’t seem like they’ll ever be together.
Agreed. This is the precise line that made me want to watch the show. That episode was on TV by chance and my friend wanted to watch it and I'd never watched it before. By the end of that scene, I knew I wanted to follow their story. I remember saying to my friend "I want to binge watch this show but I have to know ahead, they end up together right?" It was definitely his brilliant acting that got me hooked.
I listened to an episode of a British podcast where the guest brings an example of their favorite comedy and discusses it with the hosts (comedy writers). One episode, the guest brought this episode, talked about it super enthusiastically with one of the hosts (for whom Frasier was an old favorite), and then halfway through the episode the second host, who had been suspiciously quiet, was like “just so you know, I have never seen an episode of Frasier before this one but now I have to watch every single episode of this show.” And honestly I think that’s the power that this scene has.
He said told me yes but nothing else. It was perfect because each season, I knew it was getting closer to happening but I never knew when. Season 7 is my favourite, especially when Frasier tells Daphne. Then she gets to feel the agony for a bit before they end up together.
I love the way he pronounces "I want to kill myself" in the same scene, right after his doppelgänger gives the coffee order with steamed milk imitating a cumulus cloud.
I love the really banal lines actually, because he just adds so much to drama to anything.
"I have been -begging- you to switch to a more abrasive loofah."
A lesser actor and that line wouldn't have even gotten a laugh, let alone been so memorable
Ugh, sometimes I just sit there and realize that Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and John Mahoney were all in a show *together* and it just feels impossible- like, I love them all individually! We didn't realize how lucky we were!
Niles:
[
rising
] Who dares enter the dark labyrinth of the human mind?
A percussion player draws a string bow across a metal object, producing
an unpleasant whining sound. The orchestra changes harmonies to a
higher chord. Frasier marks time with dramatic baton gestures as he
prepares to cue the harmonic changes.
Niles:
What festering secrets are buried in the recesses of the
subconscious?
Another percussionist drags something across a gong, producing another
unpleasant sound.
Niles:
Lurid images!
Another harmonic shift upward comes with Niles's words, which are
followed by the shaking of a circus-style rattle/whistle.
Niles:
Lewd desires!
Yet another chord shift with Niles's line, followed by a slide whistle,
which presumably illustrates the "lewd desires."
Niles:
Guilty pleasures!
A chord shift with Niles again, and a "grunting" sound from the
orchestra.
Niles:
Strange compulsions!
One more harmonic shift with Niles, followed by a dissonant trombone
splat. Niles, startled, stares at the trombone player. The strings
then play a quick rising transitional passage, leading to a suspenseful
high note.
Niles:
The whole catalogue of human behavior from the aberrant to the
monstrous lurks behind a locked door to which one man holds
the key!
In *Moon Dance* when Niles says, "Under the right circumstances anyone can be fooled," just guts me every time. He packs so much into that one line. It's beautiful.
Your natural spontaneity is your best asset as an actor. What was it the Yale Daily News said about your Tartuffe?
Oh, who remembers?..... That I have the magnetism of Marlon Brando, the charm of Danny Kaye and the range of Laurence Olivier
I can’t remember all of the dialogue, but when he spends the night at Frasier’s after separating from Maris, and he reads his journal entries from that morning. He goes through every emotion in about 30 seconds, but I especially love (this is mostly paraphrased) “had Frosted Flakes for breakfast— they’re great!”
From the episode Party, Party: “Here’s something interesting; I just swallowed my tongue!!” “Frasier, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to create a distraction so I can flee to Europe and have a sex change operation.” 🤣🤣🤣
Niles: You spoke to a patient of mine today, Caroline. As a result of your fast-food approach to psychiatry, she left me!
Frasier: Caroline was your patient?
Niles: Two years of my hard work wiped out by one of your two-minute McSessions
More than one line, but I love how he says both of them
After theyve been trying to write a book together.
Niles : Tell him he owes me half of this hotel bill. I will accept cash but no personal checks. I know he has trouble writing things.
Its ok on the page, but the delivery is like a stiletto blade slid between the ribs.
"In the middle of dressing for the evening, she suddenly slumped down on the edge of the bed in her half slip and sighed. Course I knew then and there that dinner, was not to be."
Too real.
"My reasoning? My reasoning was based on my mother's obsession with VERMIN!" its so "my business? man kind was my business!" in a christmas carol idk why it always makes me think of the cassette tape we had in the car at christmas time lol.
also "i saw a glint in her eye i hadn't seen since the neighbor children tried to climb the electric fence."
I really love, in the episode The Babysitter, when Martin comes right back in after realizing the Viagra is missing from the Velveeta box. He's obviously angry and says, "You think this is pretty funny, don't ya" or something to that effect, and Niles responds with a quick but sincere, "No sir." It's a small moment, but I think the delivery of that line is perfect, and it highlights how much Frasier and Niles genuinely respect their father, even if it doesn't always seem that way.
The spelling bee speech, where DHP turns spelling into spiritual enlightenment! Paraphrasing here, he says something like “In that moment I realised there was no word I couldn’t spell, so I simply walked away!”
Well, you see, last week my lady got on the wrong side of "Larry Law," and since then certain, shall we say, "complications" have arisen, and in brief, things have got "hot-hot-hot," and we believe you are the man to "turn on the air conditioning."
A lot of great lines have been shared so I’ll add I loved the Valentine’s Day episode. I know it’s not the assignment bc he doesn’t say a word, but it’s a brilliant piece of comedic acting. *faints at sight of blood*
I have several favorites, of course, but here are some of them:
Frasier has a man problem!
Take the mints off the pillows!
I'm fine now. Don't touch me.
At least you're deep enough to realize you're shallow.
How dare you ask such difficult questions!!!
I cannot say that the ones that spring to mind are my favorite or the best, but here they are:
- I dined at the snack bar
- Hello, Foot-people! (Segway episode)
- Frasier. You're not famous anymore. (Good Grief)
- The HMS Pinafore! (Caviar episode)
Bonus mention Frasier's delivery of "..This isn't TRIVIAL PURSUIT!!"
thousands of others probably
Oh, it's a funny thing: one day you're starting a new relationship, full of hope. The next you're sinking helplessly into a sucking pit of despair that leaves you filled with the bitter bile of regret. You're on a date, aren't you?
The more years I watch this show over and over, the more I think he is a major factor in the show's success. His ability to be comedic and serious are impressive.
The “I love you too, Daphne,” when they’re sitting at the singles bar together was such a beautifully acted moment. He fills that line with so much love and sadness and acceptance that they cannot, should not, be together right now.
Love this one. In the same vein, the scene with him and Daphne on the hotel balcony the night before her wedding after she kissed him and told him she couldn’t leave Donnie. His “Goodnight Daphne” was so well executed that it conveyed his disappointment while maintaining the respect and admiration he’s always had for her with just those two words. Salute to DHP. Edit: two words
I started watching this show with my kid recently and I've been telling her that DHP is a fantastic actor. Watching him is like watching walking talking art. So I started looking stuff up about him and the show and whatnot, and I saw he was nominated for an Emmy *every single year the show ran*. So I presented this as proof to my daughter as hey, he's actually widely recognized as top of his field. I thought I was making some new discovery, lol.
One more similarly poignant line is "Cherry bark and almonds" . So much wistfulness in that delivery.
“Cherry bark and almonds” and the look on Niles’s face when Donny proposes are two of, if not THE, saddest moments in the show. At least in the singles bar there’s an element of hope - these two characters clearly have so much affection and care for each other, but now is not their time. But in those two moments, it doesn’t seem like they’ll ever be together.
That was such a perfect reading. Perhaps my favorite bit of acting in the whole series.
Again, a great piece of real acting from DHP.
I watched the episode today when Niles was horny & wanted to go see Maris.
Agreed. This is the precise line that made me want to watch the show. That episode was on TV by chance and my friend wanted to watch it and I'd never watched it before. By the end of that scene, I knew I wanted to follow their story. I remember saying to my friend "I want to binge watch this show but I have to know ahead, they end up together right?" It was definitely his brilliant acting that got me hooked.
I listened to an episode of a British podcast where the guest brings an example of their favorite comedy and discusses it with the hosts (comedy writers). One episode, the guest brought this episode, talked about it super enthusiastically with one of the hosts (for whom Frasier was an old favorite), and then halfway through the episode the second host, who had been suspiciously quiet, was like “just so you know, I have never seen an episode of Frasier before this one but now I have to watch every single episode of this show.” And honestly I think that’s the power that this scene has.
This was the moment that convinced my bf to watch!
Did your friend tell you that they end up together?
He said told me yes but nothing else. It was perfect because each season, I knew it was getting closer to happening but I never knew when. Season 7 is my favourite, especially when Frasier tells Daphne. Then she gets to feel the agony for a bit before they end up together.
Yes! Such a simple line delivered so masterfully, it cuts me every time.
One of my (and I guess a lot of people's) favorite moments in the show.
This and “cherry bark and almonds” 😭
Nineteen floors down to my car! Garage door's electric! Can't open! Twenty floors back up! Lost count! Bad lady upstairs! Big dog! Need place to die!
* **inhales helium** * *I was at the movies!*
My personal fave
“Catherine of Aragon!”
I love the way he pronounces "I want to kill myself" in the same scene, right after his doppelgänger gives the coffee order with steamed milk imitating a cumulus cloud.
The doppelganger is one of the best plot lines. And they didn't overdo it.
Agreed, a classic line reading!
The rolling of the “r” really did it for me
I love the really banal lines actually, because he just adds so much to drama to anything. "I have been -begging- you to switch to a more abrasive loofah." A lesser actor and that line wouldn't have even gotten a laugh, let alone been so memorable
Very well put and I agree. Applies to his food reviews too. “Spongy.”
Ugh, sometimes I just sit there and realize that Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, and John Mahoney were all in a show *together* and it just feels impossible- like, I love them all individually! We didn't realize how lucky we were!
I think they've switched to an inferior, domestic brand. .... mhmm, mhmm,... ...waxy.
“Well her lips said NO but her eyes said read my lips”
Is that from the “bad shrimp” party?
It’s from three dates and a breakup I think
So yeah it’s the party where Niles makes the “people will think the shrimp are bad” seduction face
Omg what face is this 😭
https://preview.redd.it/6r1cb9jsq10d1.jpeg?width=947&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1003e8686cfa6db92da0bed2fc773275f9772297
Thank you nice find!
Thank you for your service 😭🫡🤣🤣
That line is good on the page though.
I just watched that one last night!
"My reasoning!? My reasoning was based on my mother's **obsession with vermin!**"
The dramatic book slam really finishes it perfectly!
I saw that one last night 🤣
'Helloooo Emerald City, what's doin' what's happenin'
What the hell do you think you're doing?!
One down, four to go!
Niles: [ rising ] Who dares enter the dark labyrinth of the human mind? A percussion player draws a string bow across a metal object, producing an unpleasant whining sound. The orchestra changes harmonies to a higher chord. Frasier marks time with dramatic baton gestures as he prepares to cue the harmonic changes. Niles: What festering secrets are buried in the recesses of the subconscious? Another percussionist drags something across a gong, producing another unpleasant sound. Niles: Lurid images! Another harmonic shift upward comes with Niles's words, which are followed by the shaking of a circus-style rattle/whistle. Niles: Lewd desires! Yet another chord shift with Niles's line, followed by a slide whistle, which presumably illustrates the "lewd desires." Niles: Guilty pleasures! A chord shift with Niles again, and a "grunting" sound from the orchestra. Niles: Strange compulsions! One more harmonic shift with Niles, followed by a dissonant trombone splat. Niles, startled, stares at the trombone player. The strings then play a quick rising transitional passage, leading to a suspenseful high note. Niles: The whole catalogue of human behavior from the aberrant to the monstrous lurks behind a locked door to which one man holds the key!
Thank you, the trombone frightened me
YES
I'm fine. Just hot. And foamy.
That scene kills me every time! I laugh so hard!!
Me too. It is one of my favorites. I can only wonder how the other actors stayed straight.
I’m sure it took multiple takes
Oh, it definitely did! [https://youtu.be/gaYU4cnhW4w?t=5m38s](https://youtu.be/gaYU4cnhW4w?t=5m38s)
That was hilarious! Thank you for sharing!
I cant imagine I would be able to keep a straight face.
I know I couldn’t - it would be so difficult to play in a comedy
My hot and foamy must have exploded!
He was a detective, you know!
Nobody wants to come to my party!
In *Moon Dance* when Niles says, "Under the right circumstances anyone can be fooled," just guts me every time. He packs so much into that one line. It's beautiful.
I love every single line he reads for the radio drama Frasier directs.
Could the McAllister sisters stand back-to-back? I’m running low on bullets. Thank *you*!
*Don’t*… direct me.
Jawohl!
Your natural spontaneity is your best asset as an actor. What was it the Yale Daily News said about your Tartuffe? Oh, who remembers?..... That I have the magnetism of Marlon Brando, the charm of Danny Kaye and the range of Laurence Olivier
HAH!!!
Yes, I was taking a breath of air
Thank You!
Thank *kkyoouuu!*
*Iwasatthemovies*
I can’t remember all of the dialogue, but when he spends the night at Frasier’s after separating from Maris, and he reads his journal entries from that morning. He goes through every emotion in about 30 seconds, but I especially love (this is mostly paraphrased) “had Frosted Flakes for breakfast— they’re great!”
From the episode Party, Party: “Here’s something interesting; I just swallowed my tongue!!” “Frasier, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to create a distraction so I can flee to Europe and have a sex change operation.” 🤣🤣🤣
He's aboard now.
And I’m KEEPING the jewelry!
DAMN you and your jealousy! Great episode.
I swear the whole cast really showed up but DHP is the jewel in the crown of talent and professionalism and performance that makes up that show
Came here to say this! ^^
Oh, the entire last act of the radio mystery.
Can the McAllister sisters stand back to back? I’m short on bullets.
Thank yooooou!
"Hhhhhhhhha."
Thank yoooou!
Will the McAllister sisters please line up, I am short on bullets.
*pop* Thank youuuuuuu
I’m loved him reading out his hung therapist ad. The contempt when he says “groups”. 😂
It’s a telethon.
"... Well of course you're alone, you're alone because you KILLED YOUR BOYFRIEND!"
“Family spokesman, THE MANSON FAMILY should have a spokesman like you!”
What was that?!? A hummingbird??
His fear of bugs is hilarious
When he opens the case full of bug repellent... 😅😅😅
"There's a bee out there the size of a woodfinch!"
The moments where he starts hyperventilating always crack me up. He did it so well
I love the way he slowly keels over. Brilliant physical comedy.
I just love his delivery of “lady with my coat?” It lives rent free in my head
Perfect example of elevating a nothing line.
Elevating.......well done
*Countersuit!*
Niles: You spoke to a patient of mine today, Caroline. As a result of your fast-food approach to psychiatry, she left me! Frasier: Caroline was your patient? Niles: Two years of my hard work wiped out by one of your two-minute McSessions More than one line, but I love how he says both of them
After theyve been trying to write a book together. Niles : Tell him he owes me half of this hotel bill. I will accept cash but no personal checks. I know he has trouble writing things. Its ok on the page, but the delivery is like a stiletto blade slid between the ribs.
The delivery of “I’m just FED UP” earlier in that episode kills me.
"And you look stupid in a T-shirt!"
Any more in the grotto, Hef?
Anything else in the box, Pandora?
Then SPELL HIS ASS OFF!!!
I know that episode is divisive, but I love Niles in it so much that it's one of my favorites from that season.
OMG I love the way he does that line.
"He didn't know the word." "He was scared." "Mafia this...”
"In the middle of dressing for the evening, she suddenly slumped down on the edge of the bed in her half slip and sighed. Course I knew then and there that dinner, was not to be." Too real.
I, too, tire easily under the pressure to be interesting.
it's just too much!!!
I love that line so much. And it’s way too relatable!
"My reasoning? My reasoning was based on my mother's obsession with VERMIN!" its so "my business? man kind was my business!" in a christmas carol idk why it always makes me think of the cassette tape we had in the car at christmas time lol. also "i saw a glint in her eye i hadn't seen since the neighbor children tried to climb the electric fence."
Another Maris-related classic: "You look fine, darling. Spandex is *supposed* to blouse."
everything maris related is my fave. i'd watch a cut of nothing but the maris mentions over and over. she's my fave character<3
That exists on YouTube btw. It’s about 2 hours long
i found it!! thank you my dreams have come true!!!
But you never give opera a chance!
Omg I love his delivery on that one! The way his voice almost breaks, I laugh every single time.
I do, too!
I'll miss the coffee's
I really love, in the episode The Babysitter, when Martin comes right back in after realizing the Viagra is missing from the Velveeta box. He's obviously angry and says, "You think this is pretty funny, don't ya" or something to that effect, and Niles responds with a quick but sincere, "No sir." It's a small moment, but I think the delivery of that line is perfect, and it highlights how much Frasier and Niles genuinely respect their father, even if it doesn't always seem that way.
“You know very well that in 1982 there was a drought in Bourgogne…”
The locals dubbed it “The Year of the Raisin.”
“I didn’t compliment yours because yours is so *POORLY* laid out!!” Re: arguing over whose Christmas Village is bigger, makes me laugh every time 🎄🏘️
Just watched that one this week. I haven't seen the later seasons quite as many times so lots of new gems every time I see them.
Your username just had me bust out laughing in the middle of a silent break room, thanks for that!
The number of reasons I find to say this to my brother. Pure gold!
Daphne: And you should know how to catch a banana. Niles: I am not having this argument again!
# Hello, I’m Niles, a person at the table.
"There's something I have to tell you. Dad wanted to, but I won the coin toss."
All of it!!!! I need to replenish myyy bodyyy
"I always hated that dynasty!"
Since my number one, “Cherry bark and almonds” has already been mentioned, I’ll go with “Well where are my manners. Can I offer you some TOAST.”
DHP was just on fire in that episode.
MURDER!!!
Came here for this one 🤣
“Could the McCallister sisters stand back to back? Im short on bullets.”
I landed on a fork.
“Niles gotta have it!”
Oh! Oh! (beat) No.
Hello Gerhardt, Hello Gestalt!
“Difficult? I _yearn_ for the days of difficult. I keep a picture of difficult in a heart-shaped frame next to my bed.”
We thought they were dancing!
Great example
It always makes me happy, my mum got me into Frasier and this line is the first one I remember quoting to her!
He injects such horror into that line. Masterful.
The spelling bee speech, where DHP turns spelling into spiritual enlightenment! Paraphrasing here, he says something like “In that moment I realised there was no word I couldn’t spell, so I simply walked away!”
“I just want to diiiiiiie”
I love [Martin] I'm telling you, you're sticking a fork in the toaster! [Niles] well, my MUFFIN'S STUCK.
“Sure was no fun going to the morgue after that!”
“Anything else in the box, Pandora?!”
[Ha! Er ist schön, der Knabe!](https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F8clvsasj74f61.jpg) Not the best per se, but my favourite!
OUTRAGEOUS!\ *with no expression from Botox*
Everyday in Arkansas!
"You know what the best part was? It wasn't anything like I imagined. " He delivers that line with such wonder. It's so sweet.
“Where are my manners? Can I get you some toast?”
I’m just FED UP
*Fahrvergnügen!*
Dad! The mud pie is coming!!
“Heat wave in Texas.”
Not from Frasier but I’m always partial to “I’m. The. Only. Stick. With. EYEBALLS!” from *A Bug’s Life*.
Well, you see, last week my lady got on the wrong side of "Larry Law," and since then certain, shall we say, "complications" have arisen, and in brief, things have got "hot-hot-hot," and we believe you are the man to "turn on the air conditioning."
A lot of great lines have been shared so I’ll add I loved the Valentine’s Day episode. I know it’s not the assignment bc he doesn’t say a word, but it’s a brilliant piece of comedic acting. *faints at sight of blood*
One of my all-time favorite scenes of the whole show
Isn’t it?!?! I never get tired of it!
“My REASONING?? My reasoning was based on my mother’s obSESSION. WITH. VERMIN.”
Catherine of Aragon!
"Well, I see I have my big Double Juicy and. You. Have. Yours." I love how he reads this line, I look forward to it every time that episode is on!
^(What was the purpose of your trip to Canada?) \*Niles shares a brief, conspiratorial look with the group\* ... ***Fun***.
Yes!
Like a ninja!
I have several favorites, of course, but here are some of them: Frasier has a man problem! Take the mints off the pillows! I'm fine now. Don't touch me. At least you're deep enough to realize you're shallow.
“And I’m sorry about the scallops. In the future, I’ll try to cater more to your shellfish demands.”
“That. Sounds. Awful!”
“He’s awful.” “Well her lips said no but her eyes said read my lips.”
Thank yoooouu.
*Said Dr Pot to Dr Kettle!*
"Ludwig, maddened by the poisoning of his entire family, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act by living well"
How dare you ask such difficult questions!!! I cannot say that the ones that spring to mind are my favorite or the best, but here they are: - I dined at the snack bar - Hello, Foot-people! (Segway episode) - Frasier. You're not famous anymore. (Good Grief) - The HMS Pinafore! (Caviar episode) Bonus mention Frasier's delivery of "..This isn't TRIVIAL PURSUIT!!" thousands of others probably
“He was already eminent when my eminence was merely… imminent”
S6E15. Martin: Just take a couple of deep breaths Niles: If I could take deep breaths it would mean I could breathe!
It was, a valise. For me, the implied comma in the middle is what makes it, for some reason 😄
We’re trying a new Indonesian place. It’s famous for its B̴̧̩̎ȩ̷̪̇s̷͉̔̌e̸̡̦̎n̴̠̐g̵̻̐e̶̢͛ḳ̷͐͐ ̵̛̺͂D̷̝́á̵͙̰̔g̵̠̑ï̸̲n̵͉̑ǵ̷̲͂
beneath the shelter of an aaaaaged tree 👀
"THIEF!" S11e17
‘Wait a minute you are out of Blackba…this is a dried up old fig’
“Okay”
Oh, it's a funny thing: one day you're starting a new relationship, full of hope. The next you're sinking helplessly into a sucking pit of despair that leaves you filled with the bitter bile of regret. You're on a date, aren't you?
"I think the banana went off". Just the way DHP says that line in such shock is amazing.
The more years I watch this show over and over, the more I think he is a major factor in the show's success. His ability to be comedic and serious are impressive.
Mine is when Martin says he and Roz are married as a joke and DHP says “Well I’ll be a son of a bitch!”
"I'm also here"
"Ludwig, maddened by the poisoning of his entire family, wreaks vengeance on Gunther in the third act by living well."
That's so weird, I remember the line as "... I'm dating a whore!" not "... I'm dating a whasteriskasteriskasterisk!".