Sharing Kirby is the 9th episode of Season 9 of Frasier.
Synopsis[]
FRASIER AND NILES VIE FOR THE VINE WHEN THEY WHINE ABOUT WINE -- Wine connoisseurs Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) vie for control of the incompetent teenager Kirby (guest star Brian Klugman) -- Frasier's former pupil -- when they discover that the lad's girlfriend is related to a reclusive old wine collector who possesses famous vintages that are seldom viewed in his private cellar. Meanwhile, Martin (John Mahoney) chafes under his new "Heart Smart" restrictions that are designed to lower his blood pressure as well as his enjoyment of life.
Plot[]
Frasier is holding interviews for a summer internship at KACL. His current favourite is Lucius, who is both academically bright and plays the shamisen (a Japanese type guitar plucked with a spatula!), but then Kirby (who we last saw in 'Don Juan In Hell') turns up with the intention of applying for the internship - something Roz is not too keen on. The station manager, Kenny, seems to like him but Frasier tells Kirby that he hasn't got the job, leaving Kirby to thank Frasier for doing his best to get him the job. This leaves Frasier somewhat troubled, as he really didn't do all he could, so when Daphne suggests that Niles hire someone to help organise his library, Frasier puts Kirby's name forward without a hint of irony - it transpires that Niles has bought a case of rare wine and has reneged on the brother's oral agreement to share any rare wine purchases. This leaves Niles shell shocked when he discovers Kirby reading books while eating and drinking in his library! Niles decides to fire Kirby, but then Kirby's girlfriend calls and Niles realises that she is the granddaughter of a wine collector whose wine cellar is legendary, and asks whether Kirby can arrange a visit around it for him. Kirby says he could if he was in employment (!), so Niles rehires him and Kirby goes off to make the call to Grampy Mulville. Frasier chooses that moment to drop round and is astonished to find Niles arranging a trip to the wine cellar behind his back - unfortunately Kirby returns to inform Niles that he can only take one person down to the cellar. This sparks a spat between Frasier and Niles, but Kirby overhears their insults aimed at him and storms out.
The following days see Frasier and Niles trying to apologise to Kirby, and thereby hope to persuade him to choose one of them over the other for the trip down to the wine cellar but things come to a head when the two of them take Kirby out to dinner and Kirby casually thanks Niles for the DVD player he sent over. This then starts a bidding war between Niles and Frasier with both offering increasing amounts of money before Niles offers a trip to Las Vegas, which prompts Frasier to offer the internship to Kirby. He accepts right away, but Frasier realises almost immediately what he has done and begins to regret it..... Also, Martin's doctor has found his blood pressure too high and put him on a low-fat, low salt diet and instructed him to wear a blood pressure monitor which goes off at random intervals - usually when Martin is angry about something!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
- Guest starring
- Brian Klugman as Kirby Gardner
- Co-Starring
- Devon Michaels as Lucius
- and Tom McGowan as Kenny Daly