History YMMV / Frasier

** Particularly early on, the way Roz is treated at KACL can make for queasy viewing to modern audiences. On multiple occasions, Bulldog slaps her butt and forcibly kisses her against her will. It's played off as just being part of Bulldog's character, but it would rightly ''never'' fly nowadays. Not to mention the numerous jokes at Roz's expense about her sex life.

** The episode where Frasier reveals he slept with his piano teacher at eighteen plays with this. Martin brings up the fact that the woman was taking advantage of his kid ([[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking not to mention not doing her job as a piano teacher]]) and Frasier protests that it was a loving relationship and his initiation into manhood, not an older woman "lusting after young flesh"... and then it's revealed that his piano teacher ''still is'' into men much younger than her, lending credibility to the idea she ''was'' just taking advantage of him, although the episode still plays it for laughs. The episode also plays for laughs the revelation that Bulldog's father made him sleep with a hooker at the age of 16 for his birthday (he just wanted a bike). Nowadays these "first times" would not be viewed so harmlessly.

** In one episode, Martin is ecstatic when Frasier’s girlfriend of the week shows him [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime how to make bacon pancakes.]]

** Likewise, the scenes with Martin and Eddie can be harsh to watch after Kelsey Grammer revealed in an interview that Moose, the first dog to portray Eddie, hated John Mahoney and would often bite him.

** Faye from season six is a favorite among Frasier's various love interests for some decent humor, chemistry with Frasier and NiceToTheWaiter moments with Daphne.

** One of the [[RunningGag running gags]] in the earlier seasons was Niles constantly wiping down his seat in the coffee shop and being very aware of touching surfaces for fear of germs. His behaviour would look much more normal during the [[UsefulNotes/CoronavirusDisease2019Pandemic COVID-19 pandemic]].

** Despite several episodes that poke fun at the gay community, ''Frasier'' was one of the first sitcoms to portray LGBT people as regular folks living normal lives with identities not connected to their sexuality.

** Maris is an AcceptableTarget for her bad personality and the way she treats Niles, but all the cracks about her approach to food (a fear of buffets, terror of gaining weight, crying when people joke about her eating a lot) still become a little bit less funny when it's revealed that [[FormerlyFat she was obese when she was young]] and dedicated a part of her life to never being that fat ever again. It doesn't excuse her extreme narcissism, sociopathy and mistreatment of the help, tho.

** In season 10, when Roz interviews for a new job with another radio station, her interviewer turns out to be one of her (numerous) previous sexual partners. In the interview he makes a great many double-entendres that rely on finding a sexually-charged workplace funny in order to properly land as jokes, something most people wouldn't do in today's society. [[spoiler: It turns out that in actuality, the interviewer's ''father'' was the one-night fling in question.]]

--->''[Niles gives Frasier a disapproving look]''

** In "Head Game" when Frasier asks Niles to fill in for him on his show, Niles makes a remark that "I couldn't presume to fill those big floppy red shoes of yours." This episode aired on the 12th of November 1996. On the 23rd of February 1997, ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS8E16BrotherFromAnotherSeries Brother from Another Series]]" aired in which Kelsey Grammer played Sideshow Bob and Creator/DavidHydePierce portrayed Bob's brother Cecil (as a clear and hilarious reference to their roles on ''Frasier''). A key focus of their relationship in the episode was Cecil's jealousy over Bob's success as a clown's assistant (which had actually been Cecil's dream) which included wearing big floppy red shoes (though, as a technical point, the shoes weren't actually that floppy on Bob due to his having been established as having unusually large feet). For bonus points, in the season 11 episode "Boo!", Frasier dresses up as a clown, and while talking to Niles while dressed up, attention is briefly drawn to the big shoes.
*** However, Frasier ''had'' played a clown in ''Cheers''.

* HollywoodPudgy: A RunningGag throughout the series revolves around various people making cracks about Frasier's "fat ass", while Kelsey Grammer is of average weight.

** Ben, Frasier's one-off agent in ''The Zoo Story''. The audience are expected to see him as [[KindheartedSimpleton a moron who's too busy trying to be a nice guy to be a competent agent]], especially after the PR disaster at the zoo, where the Crane ([[VisualPun the bird, not the doctor]]) that was to be named after Frasier got loose and attacked Marty. The problem is it was '''Marty''' who let the bird out of it's cage, when he was teasing it. Really, Ben didn't do anything wrong with the PR event at the zoo and is [[NeverMyFault just being blamed for Marty's own stupidity]].

** In "Room Full of Heroes", Niles begins to say, in-character as Martin, that he and Frasier were disappointments to him. Martin sharply cuts him off and says he's portraying him as a "drunken judgmental jackass." While Niles was certainly over the line and had indeed had a few beers, considering how Martin treats the two of them and routinely expresses exasperation about their behavior, it's hard not to see why Niles would think this way (as an example, in “You Can't Tell a Crook by His Cover” when Frasier asked him if he believed in second chances Martin’s response was “I did, but then we had Niles.”). This [[FridgeBrilliance could be why Martin reacts so poorly]], at least partly; Niles's performance was clearly beginning to hit a bit close to home in other ways (such as his drinking habits) as well... However, it was a '''joke''', and not meant to be taken seriously, and no more harsh than anything anyone says about someone else on the show.

%% * TastesLikeDiabetes: The climax of the episode with Frasier's ex-wife Nanny G. Yes...the ''stage show''.

** Particularly early on, the way Roz is treated at KACL can make for queasy viewing to modern audiences. On multiple occasions, Bulldog slaps her butt and forcibly kisses her against her will. It's played off as just being part of Bulldog's character, but it would rightly ''never'' fly nowadays. Another example is the episode "Look Before You Leap" where Niles is so horny and desperate for sex (due to him having gone months without sex and Maris teasing him) that he chases after Roz and at least one other woman before Frasier intervenes. No way could that be PlayedForLaughs in modern times.

** Frasier. He's often played for laughs as an UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist, but take a look at his life. He (and his brother, for the record), was horribly bullied throughout his childhood, had a father who disapproved of pretty much everything he was ever interested in, a mother who, from what we could see in ''Series/{{Cheers}}'', was a natural liar and at least somewhat emotionally manipulative. By the end of the series, not only does he have three very painful broken marriages/almost marriages under his belt, but a string of hostile rejections from multiple women in Seattle, and all of the various humiliations or setbacks that plague him at various points in the series. He brings some of them down on himself but it's no wonder he lies and panics so much in new relationships, considering all of the esteem shattering situations he's been through. All of this, by the way, while constantly listening to other people's problems and supporting his friends and family emotionally and (apparently) financially without so much as a thank you in return. It's a wonder he never went postal. Another example that comes to mind is the DownerEnding of the episode "Frasier's Edge." After a very lengthy and very upsetting discussion with Dr. Tewksbury, Frasier thanks his audience for honoring his life, and then he sadly adds "I just wish I knew what to do with the rest of it." Who'd have thought that mailing a greeting card [[ComplimentBackfire could cause]] [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom so much trouble?]]

** In "Odd Man Out," Frasier impulsively joins the lady he met at the airport for her vacation to Mexico, and he very easily gets on the airplane with no boarding pass, no passport, only his wallet, and quite literally just the clothes on his back. It's a pretty funny OutOfCharacterMoment for Frasier, but there's no way that would be allowed to happen in today's post-9/11 world.

* WTHCastingAgency: Creator/SaulRubinek -- older, schlubby, not particularly attractive -- was an odd choice for Donny Douglas. The character was written to be nice and sweet, but Daphne had shown in the past the ability to draw younger and more desirable men, so it wasn't obvious why he in particular would have been able to win her over. Many fans wondered why they didn't choose a younger, handsomer actor, to make Donny's primary detractions his coarseness and lack of sophistication, to contrast more with Niles and to demonstrate what he might have that Niles might not. However, Donny is extremely charismatic, even winning over stuffy Niles, and his looks are fine -- it could be said the "audience" is ageist.

* WTHCastingAgency: Creator/SaulRubinek -- older, schlubby, not particularly attractive -- was an odd choice for Donny Douglas. The character was written to be nice and sweet, but Daphne had shown in the past the ability to draw younger and more desirable men, so it wasn't obvious why he in particular would have been able to win her over. Many fans wondered why they didn't choose a younger, handsomer actor, to make Donny's primary detractions his coarseness and lack of sophistication, to contrast more with Niles and to demonstrate what he might have that Niles might not.

** In "Room Full of Heroes", Niles begins to say, in-character as Martin, that he and Frasier were disappointments to him. Martin sharply cuts him off and says he's portraying him as a "drunken judgmental jackass." While Niles was certainly over the line and had indeed had a few beers, considering how Martin treats the two of them and routinely expresses exasperation about their behavior, it's hard not to see why Niles would think this way (as an example, in “You Can't Tell a Crook by His Cover” when Frasier asked him if he believed in second chances Martin’s response was “I did, but then we had Niles.”). This [[FridgeBrilliance could be why Martin reacts so poorly]], at least partly; Niles's performance was clearly beginning to hit a bit close to home in other ways (such as his drinking habits) as well...

** Niles in "Room Full of Heroes." While he was drunk and pretty passive-aggressive in his diatribe, it should be noted that nobody even thought to feel sorry for Niles feeling the way he did. After all, it isn't like Martin had never done anything to validate those feelings Niles had expressed.

** Maris is an AcceptableTarget for her bad personality and the way she treats Niles, but all the cracks about her approach to food (a fear of buffets, terror of gaining weight, crying when people joke about her eating a lot) still become a little bit less funny when it's revealed that [[FormerlyFat she was obese when she was young]] and dedicated a part of her life to never being that fat ever again.

** Niles in "Room Full of Heroes." While he was drunk and pretty passive-aggressive in his diatribe, it should be noted that nobody even thought to feel sorry for Niles feeling the way he did. After all, it isn't like Martin had never done anything to validate those feelings Niles had expressed. However, Martin never ''ever'' a) said he didn't love his sons, or b) ever express disappointment for their careers, especially since ''he married a psychologist''. As Martin noted:
--->'''Martin:''' You know, I used to think you two took after your mother, liking the ballet and all that, but your mother liked a good ball game, too. She even had a hot dog once in a while. She may have had fancy tastes, but she had too much class to ever make me or anybody else feel second-rate. If she saw the way you two have behaved tonight, she'd be ashamed.
** Frasier in "Can't Buy Me Love." He may have been a bit heavy-handed in his TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Christina, but he really had no reason to disbelieve Renata at that point (especially given that she dropped the kid in his lap on what was supposed to be their date night). Christina immediately got pissed at Frasier for believing her daughter's lies instead of, you know, getting pissed at her daughter for making all that shit up in the first place. However, she was right in Frasier [[PowerOfTrust didn't trust her enough to ask her]] if anything that was said was true.

** Ben, Frasier's one-off agent in ''The Zoo Story''. The audience are expected to see him as [[KindheartedSimpleton a moron who's too busy trying to be a nice guy to be a competent agent]], especially after the PR disaster at the zoo, where the Crane ([[VisualPun the bird, not the doctor]]) that was to be named after Frasier got loose and attacked Marty. The problem is it was '''Marty''' who let the bird out of it's cage, when he was teasing it. Really, Ben didn't do anything wrong with the PR event at the zoo and is [[NeverMyFault just being blamed for Marty's own stupidity]]. However, the entire point was that the stunt itself was corny and wasn't going to help Frasier in any way even if it went off the way it should.

** Frasier's chess-losing streak against Martin. Given the only other times we see Frasier playing chess in the show he's losing to Woody (whom he calls an "idiot savant") after beating everyone else in the bar, it's entirely possible Frasier just sucks at chess. However, he's been seen to dominate others at chess, so Woody and Martin are probably ''really that good''.

** For many, Donny became this starting with Season 8. Throughout Season 7, he is shown as a character that was very nearly impossible to dislike because of how sweet and genuine he was. [[LoveMakesYouEvil After Niles and Daphne end up together, he makes a very sudden turn for the Jerkass Lawyer, threatening to sue not just Daphne, but Frasier as well]]. [[TookALevelInJerkass Many fans view this shift as abrupt and see Donny's motivations as childish, even for someone who got left at the altar]]. Some compare him to Frasier, who never got over the betrayal but didn't lash out at anyone but Diane over it, and only in small, verbal ways. Donny did get over Daphne, however, kinda sorta, when he met someone.[[note]]That someone apparently wasn't "The One" because the next time he's seen, he's getting married to another woman - and when Daphne seems to leave Niles at the altar (she didn't, she was tired of getting married to Niles a ''third'' time), he cackles that Niles now knows how ''he'' felt, alienating his fiance![[/note]]

** Frasier in "Can't Buy Me Love." He may have been a bit heavy-handed in his TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to Christina, but he really had no reason to disbelieve Renata at that point (especially given that she dropped the kid in his lap on what was supposed to be their date night). Christina immediately got pissed at Frasier for believing her daughter's lies instead of, you know, getting pissed at her daughter for making all that shit up in the first place.

** Ben, Frasier's one-off agent in ''The Zoo Story''. The audience are expected to see him as [[KindheartedSimpleton a moron who's too busy trying to be a nice guy to be a competent agent]], especially after the PR disaster at the zoo, where the Crane ([[VisualPun the bird, not the doctor]]) that was to be named after Frasier got loose and attacked Marty. The problem is it was '''Marty''' who let the bird out of it's cage, when he was teasing it. Really, Ben didn't do anything wrong with the PR event at the zoo and is [[NeverMyFault just being blamed for Marty's own stupidity]].

** Niles in "Room Full of Heroes." While he was drunk and pretty passive-aggressive in his diatribe, it should be noted that nobody even thought to feel sorry for Niles feeling the way he did. After all, it isn't like Martin had never done anything to validate those feelings Niles had expressed.

** The quality of Season 10 is a source of debate among fans. A lot of the episodes that season were more silly and light-hearted, which was a departure from the more emotional and hard-hitting nature of the previous few seasons. Some enjoyed the change of pace and appreciated the episodes that didn't require much investment, while others see this period as cheap filler that could've been done without.

** Frasier's chess-losing streak against Martin. Given the only other times we see Frasier playing chess in the show and in ''Cheers'' he's no good at it (in ''Cheers'', he loses repeatedly to ''Woody''), it's entirely possible Frasier just sucks at chess. However, he's been seen to dominate others at chess, so Woody and Martin are probably ''really that good''.

** Frasier's chess-losing streak against Martin. Given the only other times we see Frasier playing chess in the show and in ''Cheers'' he's no good at it (in ''Cheers'', he loses repeatedly to ''Woody''), it's entirely possible Frasier just sucks at chess.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Many early one-off cast actors went on to bigger roles. Creator/LisaEdelstein plays a love interest of the week in Season 5. Erika Christensen appears as a teen in the cafe in Season 6. Other examples include [[Series/{{Scrubs}} John C. McGinley]] who appeared as a plumber that turned out to be a former bully, and [[{{Series/Firefly}} Alan Tudyk]] as one of Frasier's bosses. A very young Creator/ZooeyDeschanel plays Roz' cousin in Season 10.

** Lana's son Kirby was introduced as a young, everyman character and totally upset the show's character dynamic--even when he wasn't just being a stereotypical LazyBum "slob" teen. More of an example ThePoochie in an attempt to get a new demographic. Interestingly, after the Lana arc has been concluded, Kirby only makes two appearances in Season 9 and is never seen or mentioned again.