A Day in May is the 23rd episode of Season 8 of Frasier.
Synopsis[]
"FRASIER" MINES DIFFERENT VEIN OF HUMOR IN BITTERSWEET TALES; JEAN SMART GUEST-STARS -- In a bittersweet comedy, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) comforts a crestfallen husband (guest star Patrick Breen) whose house is put up for sale by Lana (Emmy winner and guest star Jean Smart, "Designing Women") after his wife abandoned him and took his four dear kids, leaving him with their hand-made mementos -- such as a popsicle house, which Frasier accidentally sits on. Meanwhile: Niles (David Hyde Pierce) feels threatened and underfoot when Daphne (Jane Leeves) reunites with a handsome hunk (guest star Tom Verica, NBC's "Providence") who unleashes his huge voracious dog at a dogpark and Martin (John Mahoney) secretly slips away for a "same time next year" appointment with a mystery woman.
Recap[]
This episode contains three plots throughout.
Frasier
Roz asks to borrow Frasier's car. He then goes to help an upset husband whose house is put up for sale after his wife left him and took his children. After borrowing Frasier's car, Roz tells Alice that a disgusting smell was already there when they borrowed her car (even though Alice in fact vomited in her car in the first place).
Niles and Daphne
While walking Eddie in the park, Daphne encounters one of her old flames, upsetting Niles.
Martin
Martin lies to Frasier on the phone that he is at the game because he is dealing with a very personal problem: he is attending the parole hearing of the same convict, David Hicks, who shot him and forced him into retirement. He encounters the David's mother and they have an uncomfortable conversation. At David's parole hearing, he apologizes for his crime and has taken classes while in prison to better himself. The board gives Martin a chance to speak up, but he has nothing to say. After a brief decision, the board, despite praising David for his excellent behavior, they believe that his time in prison has not met the law's standards - thus denying his parole. David's mother breaks down and Martin looks at her briefly before walking away quietly.
Starring[]
- Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane
- Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon
- David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane
- Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
- and John Mahoney as Martin Crane
Special Guest Stars
- Jean Smart as Lana Gardner
- Tom Verica as Jim
Guest starring
- Patrick Breen as Phillip
- Mary-Joan Negro as Joanne
- Gloria LeRoy as Mrs. Smolenski
- William Biff McGuire as Mr. Smolenski
Co-Starring
- Mark Durbin as David Hicks
- Cyndi Martino as Board Member
- Steve Stapenhorst as Board Member
- Mark Withers as Board Member
Trivia[]
- It is in this episode that the audience is introduced to the perpetrator of the robbery that left Martin disabled, resulting in him having to live with Frasier and in need of Daphne's rehabilitative care.
- In a departure for the series, Martin's subplot where he attends his shooter's parole hearing is played entirely for drama and doesn't contain any jokes.