Frasier and Niles compete for an opening spot at a prestigious gentleman's club.
Tropes:
- Aesop Amnesia: When Niles makes a bombastic "Reason You Suck" Speech about how he does not need to be validated by the people at the club to their faces, he is soon informed that he's been accepted, prompting him to change his tune, only to be thrown out for his disrespect.
- Complaining About Rescues They Don't Like: Frasier is admitted to the Empire Club's only vacant spot, but Niles isn't. Knowing that Niles wanted it more, Frasier decides to step down in his favor. When Niles hears about this, he is furious, insisting that he'd rather be admitted on his own merits than get a hand-me-down from his big brother. It turns out that Niles was the one admitted, and the Club mixed their names up; unfortunately Niles doesn't learn this until after he's stormed into the Club and insulted the executive chairman.
- Crossing The Burned Bridge: Niles delivers a blistering "The Reason You Suck" Speech to the Club's chairman, only to be told that he was admitted and the Club mixed his name up with Frasier's. Niles throws himself into a chair and starts mumbling apologies. It doesn't work.
- First-Name Basis: Bringing Daphne as his date to the cocktail party, Frasier coaches her to call him by his first name. She enjoys it to the fullest.
- Graceful Loser: At the end, when it's by that point clear that neither Crane brother will be joining the Empire Club, Frasier is able to accept the inevitable, counselling his brother that they don't need the club and that they should "leave with the dignity with which we came". Unfortunately, this is too much to ask from Niles, who ends up being dragged out kicking, screaming and desperately begging to be let in.
- Hard on Soft Science: When the club owner tells Frasier the reason that they didn't choose Niles was due to thinking he's a radio psychologist, they say that they have standards against that profession.
- Hoist With His Own Petard: At the beginning of the episode, Niles drops by the radio station just to rub his invitation to the Empire Club's cocktail party in Frasier's face. Frasier wangles an invitation as well, and by the end, Niles has been admitted to the Club, but, mistakenly believing the membership was offered to Frasier, delivers an insulting tirade to the Club chairman and is bounced from the premises without delay.
- Hypocritical Humor: When Roz tells Frasier that he and Niles both owe each other an apology, Frasier says yes, but he was the first to apologize last time:Frasier: Oh, wait... that means it's his turn! Oh goody, I can be mature about this!
- I Am Very British: Frasier has doubts about taking Daphne as his date to a posh cocktail party, but Martin reassures him:Martin: Trust me, the English accent'll sell it.
- Insult Backfire: When Roz passive-aggressively calls the people of the Empire Club a bunch of greedy, arrogant bluebloods after Niles announces his intentions to be part of the club, Niles simply says not to jinx it.
- Large Ham: Invoked by Frasier.Frasier: I might as well say this while I can: "If you need me, I'll be at my club."
Daphne: Oh, yes. The club - the club that I helped you get into. Of course now that you're in, I'm just cast aside... unappreciated, unloved, and forgotten...
Frasier: Yes, well I see the prosciutto isn't the only imported ham in the house. - Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: Roz calls in a favor from one of Seattle's most influential men to get Frasier invited to the Empire Club's cocktail party.Roz: (into phone) Mr. Strickland, please. Just tell him it's Roz.
Frasier: Walter Strickland, Jr.?!
Roz: Senior.
Frasier: (gasps) - Shout-Out: When Daphne goes as Frasier's date to the club, she does so dressed up like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
- Sibling Rivalry: On full display throughout the episode, and hilariously lampshaded by Martin:Boy, you and Niles. It's been the same since you were kids. If one of you has something, the other one always has to have it too. I had to buy two Balinese lutes, two découpage kits, two pairs of lederhosen. When you finally moved out of the house that was one embarrassing garage sale.
- Smoky Gentlemen's Club: The Empire Club is lacking in smoke (presumably due to network restrictions) but otherwise fits the bill with its leather wingback chairs, grand fireplace and highly exclusive membership.Frasier: Thanks to that backstabber, I'll never be able to say the phrase I've been practicing all my life: "If you need me, I'll be at my club."
- Social Climber: Niles apologizes for his backstabbing behavior towards Frasier, and says his only defense would be:Niles: My only excuse is that all my life, I have dreamed of belonging to an exclusive club like the Empire. Even as a child, when I formed clubs with my teddy bears, there were always two or three who didn't make the cut.
- Tempting Fate:Butler: Excuse me, sir, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave.
Niles: [squares up to him] You and who else?
[Someone taps Niles on the shoulder. He turns and sees a much taller and broader butler standing behind him.]
Niles: Ah... - Tranquil Fury: More like tranquil apoplexy, when Niles sees Daphne on Frasier's arm and she plays up her role as Frasier's date.Niles: (trying to sound casual and failing miserably) "Sweetheart"? "Darling"?
Frasier: Listen, my date canceled, Daphne's filling in, all right. You can't honestly think that I would end up going out with Daphne?
Niles: Well, you are a man and she is a goddess... whose bedroom is, after all, only forty-one steps from your own. - You Do Not Want To Know: Roz, when Frasier asks her how she got on first-name terms with one of Seattle's oldest and most influential men, whom she asks to arrange for Frasier to be invited to the Empire Club's cocktail party:Roz: The less you know, the happier you'll be.
