Frasier: The Tenth Season

"Irritating, but endearing." That's Frasier Crane in a nutshell, as diagnosed by Julia Wilcox (an Emmy-worthy Felicity Huffman), radio station KACL's abrasive and condescending new financial analyst. Definitely a delicate psychological balance to maintain, but Kelsey Grammer still manages it with the usual aplomb in Frasier's penultimate season. Grammer is at his best when his character is at his stubborn, high dudgeon worst, as in "Enemy at the Gate" when he creates a parking garage backup while protesting a $2 parking fee, or trying to find a suitable new coffee shop after Café Nervosa hires a folk singer (Elvis Costello) in "Farewell, Nervosa," or—after scamming his way into becoming a silver level member at an exclusive health spa—he's "chasing the eternal carrot" of the gold level in "Door Jam." But he wins us over anew (as he does the hardhearted Julia) with his insistence on doing the right thing and keeping the faith about the good in people. Frasier's 10th season takes a dramatic turn early on with a three-episode arc in which Niles (David Hyde Pierce) undergoes heart surgery, but, much like Niles, the show rebounds quickly with more characteristic episodes such as the Emmy-nominated farce "Daphne Does Dinner," in which another Crane party hurtles toward disaster. In addition to Huffman, other memorable star turns this season include Millicent Martin as Daphne's impossible mother, and Jeanne Tripplehorn as a coach whose berating of her students causes Frasier to conjure up hallucinations of his own former gym teacher (Bob Hoskins). Bebe Neuwirth returns as Lilith, as does the magnificent Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe Glazer, who shows up as Dr. Phil's agent (or is it just another Bebe scheme?) in "The Devil and Dr. Phil." A showdown between Roz (Peri Gilpin) and Julia doesn't make for the most compelling season finale, but since season 11 was previously released on DVD to coincide with the broadcast of the series finale, at least we don't have to wait to see how that turns out. Compiling all 24 episodes of the 10th season on an extra-less four-disc set, this is recommended. (D. Liebenson)