Author, Author is the 22nd episode of Season 1 of Frasier.
Synopsis[]
NOVEL CONCEPT -- Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) books Niles (David Hyde Pierce) as his co-host to help their collaboration on a tome about sibling rivalry, but a looming deadline and writer's block may close the book on this writing team. Christine Lahti ("Leaving Normal") provides the voice of Laura, whose sisters shaved their heads in support after a bad perm left her bald.
Plot[]
Niles is working on a psychology book, but the project has come to a halt since someone else wrote a book on the idea he sold the publisher. He meets with his publisher, Sam Tanaka, at Café Nervosa with Frasier at the table to present a new idea, which he doesn't have. When Sam floats the idea of two siblings writing a book about sibling psychology, Niles leaps on the idea and tells him that will be the project. Frasier is initially reluctant to join the project, but Niles convinces him to do it. When they start writing, they find themselves at a loss for ideas, but get the idea to use Frasier's show to get material. The next day, Frasier has a theme show and asks callers to share their stories of sibling relationships, giving them a wealth of material for the day. After the show Sam Tanaka calls and tells them he has been discussing the serialization rights with Reader's Digest and wants the first few chapters as a sample. Frasier and Niles tell him their current material is very rough and Sam gives them until Friday to rework the book.
Following the Gershwin brothers' example, Frasier suggests that he and Niles lock themselves in a hotel room to get the privacy they need. They do so and start writing, but spend days in the hotel room and become unable to even agree on the opening sentence. Come Friday, they have nothing to show for their work except a lot of resentment on Niles' part because he is annoyed by how he is more successful as a psychiatrist than Frasier, who still becomes a celebrity, and he is tired of being the second of the two to reach the milestones of life, such as getting married and having children. After the Crane brothers' fight turns into physical violence, they split up. After their resentment continues for a while, Martin tells them about a partner he had on the force who was killed after they had a similar falling out. The story, which he later tells Daphne was a lie, makes Frasier and Niles make amends.
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 Star
- Mako as Sam Tanaka
- Co-Starring
- Luck Hari as Waitress
- and Moose as Eddie
- Guest caller
- Christine Lahti as Laura
Trivia[]
- Niles sitting in with Frasier during his radio show foreshadows the events of the following episode, in which he actually hosts the show when Frasier is ill.
- The events of this episode are later referenced by Martin in Shrink Rap.
- This episode is a personal favorite of David Hyde Pierce. During the Frasier Week on Paramount's Comedy Channel (October 5-9, 1998), he did an introduction to the episode.
CONTINUITY
- In this episode, Martin tells Frasier and Niles that he never had a brother. However, in season five's Beware of Greeks, it is revealed that he does have brother when Walt Crane makes an appearance.