Bad Dog (Frasier)

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“Bad Dog”

Frasier episode

Episode no.

Season 05
Episode 18

Written by

Suzanne Martin

Directed by

Pamela Fryman

Guest stars

Robin May Florence (Waitress), Thomas J. Reilly (Father O'Rourke), Peg Stewart (Mrs. McCloud), Christopher M. Brown (Bulldog's Engineer), Robert Ruth (Coach Nugent), Michelle Crispin (Bulldog's Date), Ashley West Leonard (Customer # 1), Jill Matson (Customer # 2), Doug Hance (Joey Katona), Peggy Miley (Bernice Briscoe)

Production no.

40571-109

Original airdate

April 7, 1998 (U.S.A)

Episode chronology
← Previous	Next →
"The Perfect Guy"	"Frasier Gotta Have It"

List of Frasier episodes (Season 5)

"Bad Dog" is the eighteenth episode in the fifth series of the American television sitcom Frasier.

1 Main cast and characters
2 Plot outline
3 Trivia
4 Memorable quotes
5 See also

[edit] Main cast and characters

Kelsey Grammer – Dr. Frasier Crane
David Hyde Pierce – Dr. Niles Crane
John Mahoney – Martin Crane
Jane Leeves – Daphne Moon
Peri Gilpin – Roz Doyle
Dan Butler - Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe

[edit] Plot outline

Whilst waiting in a long line at Cafe Nervosa a conversation between Bulldog, Frasier and Roz about the up-coming SeaBee radio awards - and the extremely embarrassing maternity dress that the pregnant Roz must wear - is interrupted when Frasier spots a man who appears to have a gun. In the resulting chaos that follows, it appears that Bulldog is a hero when he pulls Roz out of the way, causing the gunman to flee. Bulldog is hailed as a hero by the other patrons of the cafe, and when Frasier returns home that night, he learns that Bulldog's heroics have made it onto the news. This outrages him, as he was seemingly the only witness to what actually occurred; rather than bravely pushing Roz out of the way, Bulldog in fact cowardly attempted to use her as a human shield, only happening to knock his coffee onto the gunman, thus defusing the robbery attempt entirely by accident. Frasier is disgusted that Bulldog would knowingly accept praise for something that he didn't do, and the next day at work, Frasier's anger only increases at the fawning way in which Roz and everyone treats Bulldog, and especially the way Bulldog arrogantly milks his 'heroism'. Angrily confronting Bulldog with the truth, Frasier decides not to reveal it to everyone, but will instead wait for Bulldog's conscience to get the better of him. As Bulldog learns (on-air) that he will receive a special 'Man of the Year' award for his actions, Frasier confidentially expects Bulldog to confess on-air as a result. Naturally, Bulldog merely accepts the award as being owed to him.

Whilst Daphne and Niles practice for a minor technical award that Niles has been nominated for (with Niles eagerly encouraging the 'tradition' of the presenter hugging and kissing the winner), Frasier is still troubled by Bulldog's actions. He insists that is not so much Bulldog's hypocrisy he is angered by, but the idea of a sane man genuinely displaying no conscience for his actions that unsettles him. Attempting to reassure Frasier, the others assert that Bulldog's lack of conscience may just be a front, and that he may privately be riddled with guilt. Frasier seems to accept this - although, of course, he has to leave and check anyway. He soon discovers that Bulldog, meanwhile, is completely guilt-free (and is even enjoying himself with a pair of sisters when Frasier calls), and even dismisses using a pregnant woman as a human shield as a 'little thing'. Astounded, Frasier leaves, but not without declaring that if he has anything to do with it, there will be no way that Bulldog can accept the Man of the Year award. When the evening of the awards arrive, Frasier is determined to make them memorable. Neither Frasier nor Niles win the awards for which they were nominated, but Frasier, utterly obsessed with the Man of the Year awards, is unconcerned. When presenting the honour to Bulldog, and repeatedly stressing the honour of the occasion, Frasier reveals that he has arranged for Bulldog's childhood parish priest, his second grade teacher, his peewee football coach, the president of his fanclub and even his mother to be present in an attempt to shame Bulldog into revealing the truth. Expectantly, Frasier leaves Bulldog to his speech, only for Bulldog to shamelessly accept the award.

Frasier is apoplectic at this; Bulldog is a coward and a liar, and refuses to display any shame for his actions. And to make matters worse, he's being rewarded for it. It is the last straw, but not only for Frasier; finally driven to the end of his patience with Frasier's obsession with the subject, as Bulldog triumphantly passes by their table Martin yells out that there's someone with a gun in the audience aimed at Bulldog. In the brief panic that follows, Bulldog immediately attempts to use his own mother as a human shield - in full view of everyone in the room. The truth about Bulldog's cowardice and hypocrisy is finally exposed to the outraged audience, and there is uproar. And as Bulldog is stripped of his award and attacked by both Roz and his own mother for his actions, Frasier, finally content that justice has been served, settles back to watch.