Moon Dance

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“Moon Dance”
Frasier episode
Episode no. Season 3
Episode 13
Written by Joe Keenan,Christopher Lloyd, Rob Greenberg, Jack Burditt, Chuck Ranberg, Anne Flett Giordano, Linda Morris & Vic Rauseo
Directed by Kelsey Grammer
Guest stars Hank Stratton (Andrew Lloyd)
Nancy Stafford (Claire)
Production no. 40573-013
Original airdate 6 February 1996
Episode chronology
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"Come Lie With Me" "The Show Where Diane Comes Back"
List of Frasier episodes (Season 3)

"Moon Dance" is the thirteenth episode from the third season of Frasier. It was the first episode directed by Kelsey Grammer, who as a result spent little time in front of the camera.[1] This episode won the show the 1996 Emmy Award for "Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series".[2]

Contents

[edit] Main cast and characters

[edit] Plot outline

Niles and Daphne at the Ball.
Niles and Daphne at the Ball.

Niles is scanning the society page when he sees a picture of Maris with another man. Although Niles is annoyed at first, Martin tries to convince him that he should try and get out a bit as well. This he does by arranging to take Marjorie Nash, the Fruit-At-The-Bottom yogurt heiress to one of Niles' society events, the Snow Ball. He then realizes that he cannot dance but Daphne then offers to teach Niles everything he needs to know. Just as soon as Niles is getting into the swing of things, Marjorie calls to say that she cannot make it - something that he does not want to tell Daphne. Having already seen the way Niles looks at Daphne, Martin says that he might end up saying something you will regret and tells him to inform Daphne of the truth, which Niles does. Daphne then suggests she go with Niles to the Ball instead, an invitation that Niles accepts. At the ball, Niles and Daphne do a series of dancing that he learned to try and show everyone at the ball that he is not mourning his divorce. When a tango starts playing and Daphne starts teaching Niles how to dance a tango, he accidentally bursts out that he "adores" her. Daphne says that she adores him too, which shocks and pleases Niles as they continue to dance. When the dance is over, Niles realizes that Daphne thought that he was just acting to try and impress everyone in the room, which hurts Niles. Out of the blue, a woman walks up to Niles giving him a card telling him that if he ever needed to talk, she is the one to come to. At first, Niles decides not to accept her proposal, but as he leaves with Daphne, he turns around and takes the card with him.

[edit] Episode Title Cards

  • He Was A Band Leader Married To Charo
  • Where Else Would Coroners Get Together?

[edit] Memorable quotes

Martin comments that Maris always likes to have a male companion at social events:

Niles: She never liked going anywhere alone - except bed.


After Eddie is in the elevator and the door shuts.

Daphne: Now he's thinking 'Which one's the emergency button?'


Daphne is trying to teach Niles a dance step:

Niles: This is boring yet difficult.


Martin worries what Niles' infatuation with Daphne will lead to:

Martin: You don't think I see the way you look at Daphne. You're sticking a fork in a toaster here.
Niles: Well my muffin's stuck.


[edit] Trivia

In the season 8 episode "Daphne Returns", Niles selects the events of this episode as one of his favourite memories, as he "comes here often". Frasier uses this to prove that Niles has an idealised image of Daphne that she could never live up to, which indirectly caused Daphne to gain weight.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Frasier, Season 3 DVD extras
  2. ^ Brooks, Tim; Earle Marsh (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows. Ballantine Books. ISBN 03-4542-923-0.