Goodnight, Seattle
Encyclopedia
"Goodnight, Seattle" is the title of the series finale
of the long-running American
sitcom
Frasier
. It aired on May 13, 2004, in the 11th year of the series. In syndication, it is a two-part episode.
(Kelsey Grammer
) is on an airplane heading to an undetermined location, when he is surprised by the anxiety the passenger sitting next to him suffers during the flight. The two introduce each other, ironically both psychiatrists, and after brief deliberation, Frasier decides to disclose what is on his mind, in hopes that it will help pass the time on the flight.
Frasier's girlfriend, Charlotte, is leaving for Chicago, leaving Frasier devoid of any current love life. To commemorate her leaving for Chicago, Frasier and Charlotte sleep together on her final night in Seattle, resulting in a problem as Frasier misses his regularly scheduled radio show, which results in station manager Kenny Daly taking over in a pinch who quickly starts to enjoy himself. Once Frasier arrives, he bumps into his agent Bebe, where he learns about a job opening on a San Francisco television network after a death occurs there, but Frasier quickly declines, citing his comfort with his present situation at KACL. In the meantime, his brother Niles
(David Hyde Pierce
) and his wife Daphne
(Jane Leeves
) are anticipating a child in the short-term, while his father Martin
(John Mahoney
) is set to be married to Ronee (Wendie Malick
). In the process of Martin and Ronee's marriage, there is a mishap that occurs with the scheduling of the wedding, however, as Martin has accidentally scheduled the wedding on May 15, instead of July 15, a mistake he only realizes when he remembers that May 15 is Eddie's birthday. Frasier and Niles alleviate the problem, however, by promising the two that they will arrange for proper accommodations to make the marriage feasible, despite only eight days' notice.
As the two are frantically putting the wedding together, both Frasier and Niles encounter numerous difficulties. Three of Daphne's brothers, Simon, Stephen, and Michael, are in Seattle in anticipation of Daphne's child-birth. Frasier has arranged for a ceremonial cannon-firing when Martin and Ronee are officially declared married. However, the person Frasier puts in position has a heat stroke, making him unusable. Stephen volunteers to do the job instead and is told the cue from Frasier. However, Frasier and Niles also have to deal with finding a new flower girl, as the three brothers have accidentally intoxicated her, leaving them in search of a new flower girl as well. Roz
(Peri Gilpin
) allows her daughter Alice to do the job in the flower girl's stead, but upon receiving the same cue as Stephen was told, Stephen fires off the cannon, creating a havoc in the neighborhood. All the while, Daphne and Niles realize the wedding rings are missing, suddenly remembering the ring is in Eddie's dog bowl, from which he is now consuming, and eating the ring by accident. This leaves the group in need to take Eddie to a local veterinarian to have the ring extracted. Whilst at a local vet office, Daphne goes into labor, with her and Niles' child on the way. In a stroke of luck, the vet has plenty of experience in child birth. In addition, a nurse is at the office as well, and provides crucial assistance in the process. Frasier, Martin, and Ronee all hurry to the clinic, and after Daphne has given birth to the couple's first child, whom they have named David (chosen to honor the show’s creator, David Angell
, who died in the September 11 attacks), Frasier hatches the idea to have the wedding officially done in the clinic, as Daphne and Niles would miss the wedding if done in the originally planned location.
Later on, as the scene shifts to Frasier's residence as a mover (the same from the first episode) returns to take out Martin's chair. Frasier calls Lilith
to ask after Frederick. Afterwards, he finds himself with the peace and quiet he was once desperate for. However, with Martin having moved out and Niles and Daphne busy with their new son, Frasier soons finds that he isn't enjoying himself but is actually incredibly lonely. As a result, Frasier has a change of heart about the job in San Francisco and decides to take it. The next day, while at Cafe Nervosa, Frasier and his colleagues learn that Kenny, who has decided to return to being an on-air talent, will be leaving his station managing job, an opening that is filled by Roz, Frasier's long-time producer. Later that night, Frasier invites his brother, father, Daphne, Ronee, and Roz to his apartment for a dinner where he will share his news about moving to San Francisco. However, before the dinner, Frasier begins handing gifts of significance to the attendees, having to leave briefly to retrieve his gift for Roz, when an ominous message, evidently from a doctor, reveals potentially bad news regarding Frasier's future outlook. Coupled with Frasier's demeanor and verbiage once he returns, this results in the attendees breaking down in tears one-by-one, fearing the worst. At last, Frasier reveals that the reason that he invited them over was to inform them of his impending move to San Francisco, where his new show will begin the following week. Later, during the celebration, Frasier reveals his reasoning for taking the job, citing that with Daphne and Niles' child, Martin and Ronee's marriage, and Roz's promotion, each of them have now begun a new phase of their lives, and that he now desires to do the same. Frasier then cites Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Ulysses
", as noted below. As the hall is packed with his family and friends watching, Frasier reads the same poem at the end of his final show at KACL, where he thanks the staff and listeners for the past eleven years before closing, as ever, with the words "Goodnight, Seattle".
Ironically, once Frasier has finished the telling of the story, the plane has touched down, but it is announced as having landed in Chicago, where Charlotte has moved. Frasier tells the woman, "Wish me luck," and the series ends, in a perpetual cliffhanger.
and the 7th most watched from NBC
.
In 2011, the finale was ranked #17 on the TV Guide Network special, TV's Most Unforgettable Finales.
Series finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
of the long-running American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Frasier
Frasier
Frasier is an American sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for eleven seasons, from September 16, 1993, to May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee in association with Grammnet and Paramount Network Television.A spin-off of Cheers, Frasier stars...
. It aired on May 13, 2004, in the 11th year of the series. In syndication, it is a two-part episode.
Plot
At the start of the episode, FrasierFrasier Crane
Frasier W. Crane, M.D., Ph.D., A.P.A. is a fictional character on the American television sitcoms Frasier and Cheers. He was played by Kelsey Grammer for 20 years, tying the record for the longest-running character on prime-time American television, which was set by James Arness, who played Marshal...
(Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
) is on an airplane heading to an undetermined location, when he is surprised by the anxiety the passenger sitting next to him suffers during the flight. The two introduce each other, ironically both psychiatrists, and after brief deliberation, Frasier decides to disclose what is on his mind, in hopes that it will help pass the time on the flight.
Frasier's girlfriend, Charlotte, is leaving for Chicago, leaving Frasier devoid of any current love life. To commemorate her leaving for Chicago, Frasier and Charlotte sleep together on her final night in Seattle, resulting in a problem as Frasier misses his regularly scheduled radio show, which results in station manager Kenny Daly taking over in a pinch who quickly starts to enjoy himself. Once Frasier arrives, he bumps into his agent Bebe, where he learns about a job opening on a San Francisco television network after a death occurs there, but Frasier quickly declines, citing his comfort with his present situation at KACL. In the meantime, his brother Niles
Niles Crane
Niles Crane, M.D., Ph.D., A.P.A. is a fictional character on the American sitcom Frasier, a spin-off of the popular show Cheers. He was portrayed by David Hyde Pierce. Niles is the younger brother of Dr. Frasier Crane, the son of Det. Martin Crane and Dr. Hester Crane, husband of Daphne Moon,...
(David Hyde Pierce
David Hyde Pierce
David Hyde Pierce is an American actor and comedian best known for playing psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane on the NBC sitcom Frasier, for which he received many accolades including four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.-Early life:Pierce, the youngest of four siblings,...
) and his wife Daphne
Daphne Moon
Daphne Crane is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Frasier, played by Jane Leeves....
(Jane Leeves
Jane Leeves
Jane Leeves is an English film, stage, and television actress, comedienne and dancer.Leeves made her screen debut with a small role in the 1983 popular British comedy television show The Benny Hill Show. Leeves moved to the United States, where she performed in small roles until she secured a...
) are anticipating a child in the short-term, while his father Martin
Martin Crane
Det. Martin "Marty" Crane is a fictional character on the American television show Frasier. He was played by actor John Mahoney. Martin is the father of Frasier and Niles Crane.- Biography :...
(John Mahoney
John Mahoney
John Mahoney is a British born American actor, known for playing Martin "Marty" Crane, the retired police officer, father of Kelsey Grammer's Dr...
) is set to be married to Ronee (Wendie Malick
Wendie Malick
Wendie Malick is an American actress and former fashion model, known for her roles as Judith Tupper Stone on the HBO series Dream On , Nina Van Horn on the NBC sitcom Just Shoot Me! , Ronee Lawrence on the NBC sitcom Frasier and Victoria Chase on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland .-Early...
). In the process of Martin and Ronee's marriage, there is a mishap that occurs with the scheduling of the wedding, however, as Martin has accidentally scheduled the wedding on May 15, instead of July 15, a mistake he only realizes when he remembers that May 15 is Eddie's birthday. Frasier and Niles alleviate the problem, however, by promising the two that they will arrange for proper accommodations to make the marriage feasible, despite only eight days' notice.
As the two are frantically putting the wedding together, both Frasier and Niles encounter numerous difficulties. Three of Daphne's brothers, Simon, Stephen, and Michael, are in Seattle in anticipation of Daphne's child-birth. Frasier has arranged for a ceremonial cannon-firing when Martin and Ronee are officially declared married. However, the person Frasier puts in position has a heat stroke, making him unusable. Stephen volunteers to do the job instead and is told the cue from Frasier. However, Frasier and Niles also have to deal with finding a new flower girl, as the three brothers have accidentally intoxicated her, leaving them in search of a new flower girl as well. Roz
Roz Doyle
Rosalinda "Roz" Doyle is a fictional character on the American television sitcom Frasier. She is played by Peri Gilpin. Roz is the producer of Frasier Crane's Dr. Frasier Crane Show on KACL 780AM...
(Peri Gilpin
Peri Gilpin
Peri Gilpin is an American actress known for her role as Roz Doyle in the U.S. television series Frasier from 1993 until 2004. Along with the principal cast, Gilpin won a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2000...
) allows her daughter Alice to do the job in the flower girl's stead, but upon receiving the same cue as Stephen was told, Stephen fires off the cannon, creating a havoc in the neighborhood. All the while, Daphne and Niles realize the wedding rings are missing, suddenly remembering the ring is in Eddie's dog bowl, from which he is now consuming, and eating the ring by accident. This leaves the group in need to take Eddie to a local veterinarian to have the ring extracted. Whilst at a local vet office, Daphne goes into labor, with her and Niles' child on the way. In a stroke of luck, the vet has plenty of experience in child birth. In addition, a nurse is at the office as well, and provides crucial assistance in the process. Frasier, Martin, and Ronee all hurry to the clinic, and after Daphne has given birth to the couple's first child, whom they have named David (chosen to honor the show’s creator, David Angell
David Angell
David Lawrence Angell was an American producer of sitcoms. Angell won multiple Emmy Awards as the creator and executive producer, along with Peter Casey and David Lee, of the comedy series Frasier...
, who died in the September 11 attacks), Frasier hatches the idea to have the wedding officially done in the clinic, as Daphne and Niles would miss the wedding if done in the originally planned location.
Later on, as the scene shifts to Frasier's residence as a mover (the same from the first episode) returns to take out Martin's chair. Frasier calls Lilith
Lilith Sternin
Lilith Sternin, M.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., A.P.A. is a character played by Bebe Neuwirth on the American sitcom Cheers, which spans the course of her marriage to Frasier Crane, and its spinoff series Frasier, during which she made regular appearances as Frasier's ex-wife and the mother of their son...
to ask after Frederick. Afterwards, he finds himself with the peace and quiet he was once desperate for. However, with Martin having moved out and Niles and Daphne busy with their new son, Frasier soons finds that he isn't enjoying himself but is actually incredibly lonely. As a result, Frasier has a change of heart about the job in San Francisco and decides to take it. The next day, while at Cafe Nervosa, Frasier and his colleagues learn that Kenny, who has decided to return to being an on-air talent, will be leaving his station managing job, an opening that is filled by Roz, Frasier's long-time producer. Later that night, Frasier invites his brother, father, Daphne, Ronee, and Roz to his apartment for a dinner where he will share his news about moving to San Francisco. However, before the dinner, Frasier begins handing gifts of significance to the attendees, having to leave briefly to retrieve his gift for Roz, when an ominous message, evidently from a doctor, reveals potentially bad news regarding Frasier's future outlook. Coupled with Frasier's demeanor and verbiage once he returns, this results in the attendees breaking down in tears one-by-one, fearing the worst. At last, Frasier reveals that the reason that he invited them over was to inform them of his impending move to San Francisco, where his new show will begin the following week. Later, during the celebration, Frasier reveals his reasoning for taking the job, citing that with Daphne and Niles' child, Martin and Ronee's marriage, and Roz's promotion, each of them have now begun a new phase of their lives, and that he now desires to do the same. Frasier then cites Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem "Ulysses
Ulysses (poem)
"Ulysses" is a poem in blank verse by the Victorian poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson , written in 1833 and published in 1842 in Tennyson's well-received second volume of poetry. An oft-quoted poem, it is popularly used to illustrate the dramatic monologue form...
", as noted below. As the hall is packed with his family and friends watching, Frasier reads the same poem at the end of his final show at KACL, where he thanks the staff and listeners for the past eleven years before closing, as ever, with the words "Goodnight, Seattle".
Ironically, once Frasier has finished the telling of the story, the plane has touched down, but it is announced as having landed in Chicago, where Charlotte has moved. Frasier tells the woman, "Wish me luck," and the series ends, in a perpetual cliffhanger.
Frasier’s farewell speech
The poem Frasier quotes in this episode is a shortened version of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s "Ulysses"."It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And though we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—
[Scene shifts to Frasier’s KACL booth.]
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will;
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
I’ve been thinking about that poem a lot lately. And I think what it says is that, while it’s tempting to play it safe, the more we’re willing to risk, the more alive we are. In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took. And I hope that explains, at least a little, this journey on which I am about to embark. I have loved every minute with my KACL family, and all of you. For eleven years you've heard me say, "I’m listening." Well, you were listening, too. And for that I am eternally grateful. Goodnight, Seattle.
Reception
The episode was viewed by 33.7 million being the 11th most watched series finaleSeries finale
A series finale refers to the last installment of a series with a narrative presented through mediums such as television, film and literature. In many Commonwealth countries, the term final episode is commonly used in regards to a television series...
and the 7th most watched from NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
.
In 2011, the finale was ranked #17 on the TV Guide Network special, TV's Most Unforgettable Finales.
External links
- Goodnight, Seattle Part 1 and 2 at tv.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...