This is where it gets tricky, for years I have had lived with the Belief that Americans didn't know how to be Funny or may be it was that my developed British Humour was just too Weird. Particularly when I heard that Roseanne Barr (of Roseanne Fame, see below) had bought the US Rights to Absolutely Fabulous and commented that they would be Removing & Seriously Toning Down the References to Drugs & Alcohol Abuse.

Now let's get this straight - The Drugs & Alcohol Content of Ad-Fab is an Essential Part of the Storyline, the whole idea is based around the Main Character's Paranoid & Insecure Personality - thus the Use (Abuse) of said substances.

It will be interesting to see how they handle the Sexual References as well. The Americans have some strange ideas about what IS acceptable for TV & what ISN'T. I think a lot of it Depends on who is backing it & what Section of Society it is Aimed at.

I heard that Hill Street Blues (mildly Funny in places) was kept going because an Advertiser wanted it to, so a perfectly good Series could have been missed if a few People hadn't decided that it was appropriate for their Consumer Target Group.

I'm not trying to use this Page as an Excuse to have a go at the Americans (much) it's just that they tend to Play It Safe & thus do not generally go into those more Risqué Areas that I prefer.

Named after the Star, as seems to be a trend these days, particularly in the US, this was my first US Comedy that I really got in to - (if you'll excuse the pun) Big Time.

The endless insults, bickering & its portrayal of School of Hard Knocks approach to Life glued to the TV. Sometimes it was almost the Shock Element alone that held me. I would wonder, on occasion, whether the Connors could really exist in Real Life? Not likely I tell myself & yet there are things that feel somehow familiar - my own Family certainly has a lot of Verbal Fencing going on.

Although Roseanne was the Main Deliverer of those Cutting Put - Downs & Retorts, it was the Dynamics  & Interactions between the other Members of the Cast that really took this Series beyond the Ordinary into the Excellent. So here they are.

Husband Dan (John Goodman), generally put - upon at almost every turn, he certainly had his moments as the Macho Male faced with coming to terms with a Family Full of Dominant Females & a Non - Macho Son

Becky (Lecy Goranson; 88-1993, 1995-1996 & Sarah Chalke; 1993-1995, 1996-1997) The misfit, if such a term could be applied to this Family. Blonde, Fashion Conscious & Preoccupied with being Popular, a bit like the cousin in The Munsters.

Darlene (Sara Gilbert) A perfect counterfoil to Becky - moody? Possibly. Introvert? At times. Cynical? Definitely! My Favourite Character who reminds me a lot of Daria (see above). Had the potential to be more like Roseanne than any of the others.

DJ, David Jacob (Michael Fishman) Visually reminds of the Children from The Adams Family & The Munsters, albeit a little less sinister. Certainly not a Macho as Dad & without the Quickness of Mind of his Female Relatives. Still, had his moments.

Jackie, (Laurie Metcalf), the Weaker Sibling of Roseanne, who was Dependant & Rebellious towards her Sister at the same time. Definitely still in a Child State if Transactional Analysis is anything to believe.

.It was a shame that it had to end, even more of a shame that the last Series was a bit on the lame side. A fond memory slighted tainted although all endings seem to be slightly tainted I suppose.

Having watched a documentary about the Series, & discovering that Niles Crane, Frasier's Brother, played by David Hyde Pierce (who also appeared in one of my Fave Outer Limits Episodes) was a late addition to the Plan, I couldn't Imagine it without him! Niles, according to the Series' Makers was introduced to Represent the 'Old' Frasier from Cheers & to give 'New' Frasier more room to Develop - a very clever & excellent move!

What I like most is the continual battle the pair of Psychologist have between the Ideals of their Professions, their Pseudo - Civilized Culture & the (im) Practical World, oh... I nearly forgot ... & People! People just don't seem to act the way that Text Books say they should.

Some of Affinity to this Show is that it mirrors my own Events in my own Life to some extent. There seem to be People around where it doesn't seem to matter how many times, or in what way, something is explained, or how obvious it is that they haven't acknowledge where they're coming from, or are aware... that's enough of that of that! Sometimes I feel that Frasier's almost deranged rantings reflect my own inner self... here we go again... which surfaces at times of stress - usually to no avail & generally with its own price tag & self punishment (in a non - physical way, of course) for losing control.

It also shows the contradiction between Aspiration, Wealth & the Finer Things in Life & how this doesn't sit well with the Ideas of (Self) Worth, Understanding & (Self ?) Acceptance. Delusion is a wonderful tool. This may sound a bit deep, it's meant to be, Frasier is a Show that Functions on many Levels &, potentially, provides something for virtually everyone.

To Balance, if not knock down the walls of, the Pretensions the Psychologist the Brothers is their Father Martin, played by John Mahoney. A far more practical, earthy Character who just doesn't understand why his sons make life so complicated, although he has, on occasion, had to concede a few points in their favour, also serves as a Reminder of their Roots.

Daphne Moon, Jane Leeves, originally provided a bit of a supernatural input (as well as one of the strangest sounding Accents in TV History - the Film award for this Category goes to Dick Van Dyke, mysticism & superstition, they seem to have played that down & focused on Niles undeclared love of her, well undeclared until the end of the last Series anyway.

Finally, of the Regulars is Roz, Peri Gilpin, who is Frasier's Radio Show Producer who provides an almost Hedonistic Counter - Balance to his Cultured, if Oppressed (Repressed), Views on how One should Conduct Themselves.

If this show has a down side it is probably that, no matter what your particular 'bag' is, it is bound to end in Disaster. I have yet to find another Programme which takes so much Good Will & completely Misplaces it where it can do the most harm.

Those that I know who don't like Frasier, seem to miss the Self - Parody of Head - Stuff over Emotions, Pretence, Elitism & those Slapstick Situations that throw this Series into Chaos. I still remember Niles trying to Entertain Guest with a Parakeet, wrapped in a towel sitting on his head, who would dig its claws in every time the Door bell was rung.

If you can get past the Hype, Extortionate Fees the Cast get Paid & the Abundance of tight T-shirts there are some Excellent Lines & Plots. My Favourite Scene was one where Joey (Matt LeBlanc) was in a Play - trying to have an affair with his Co - Star & the Dramatic Farewell was done in the Utmost Seriousness only to for Him to turn around & climb into a Alien Space Ship, something that would happen to Matt later when he Starred in the Reworking of Lost in Space. It was just so Unexpected that I couldn't help myself, I laughed so much I was nearly reduced to tears, "Hey, how you doing."

The Characters (& Cast) are:

Chandler (Matthew Perry) My Favourite Character. He certainly has the Best Lines - a combination of Clever Snipes, Sarcasm & Exaggeration - the Perfect Combination. I'm still not convinced that in the Real World he would end up Living with Monica though ;-)

Joey (Matt LeBlanc) A Traditional, if not a bit on the Unintelligent side, Man - are they Self - Exclusive?. I like the way He Responds almost on a Primitive, Instinctive Way & has trouble with anything that Involves Complex Social Issues. It's a Shame that there's not enough of that around.

Monica ( Courteney Cox (Arquette)) We could certainly use someone with Her Obsession with keeping things Tidy in Our Place - Only for a while though. Competitive to a Fault & hasn't really found an Appropriate Outlet for all that Energy.

Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) Dippy Free Spirited New Age Woman who has a Deeply Disturbing Sinister Side that always throws the Others off track. I often have that Effect on People who often 'see' in a particular way & then are caught napping in the way People who Stereotype often are.

Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) Spoilt & Pampered & then made to fend for Herself. Most of the Recent Plots have been around Her Relationship with Monica's Brother Ross (below).  Probably Bitchy more than Sarcastic - nothing Wrong with that now IS THERE ;-)

Ross (David Schwimmer) Sadly He has very little going for Him & is very often at Receiving End of something that's going Wrong. His Life has been Full of Events that He has had no Chance or Understanding of how to Resolve. Works in a Dinosaur Museum - enough said.