The Show Must Go Off is the 12th episode of Season 8 of Frasier.
Synopsis[]
"THE PLAY'S THE THING" WITH FRASIER AND NILES AS SIR DEREK JACOBI AND PATRICK MACNEE GUEST-STAR -- When Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) re-discover a favorite Shakespearean actor (guest star Sir Derek Jacobi, "I, Claudius") from their childhood who's slumming as a schlocky sci-fi TV star, they convince him to appear in a one-man showcase which they produce -- but to their horror, they learn that the thespian is all ham and no talent. Once they believe the sold-out show will destroy their fragile reputations, the brothers conspire to do anything to derail the performance on opening night, even if it means spiriting off the star's elderly father (guest star Patrick Macnee, "The Avengers"), considered to be his son's good-luck charm.
Plot[]
While visiting a sci-fi convention to buy comics for his son, Frasier runs into Jackson Hedley (played by Derek Jacobi), an actor he and Niles saw perform a one-man show series of Shakespeare monologues when they were in high school, sparking their love of Shakespeare. Hedley has since co-starred on a sci-fi show called Space Patrol as Tobor, the ship's android, and keeps getting typecast in similar roles. Later, discussing the matter with Niles, Frasier suggests that they rent a theater and have Hedley perform the Shakespearean monologues again, bringing his theater career back to life.
After renting a small theater, getting Jackson on board and starting the sale of tickets, they bring Jackson to the stage to help him get into spirit. Unfortunately, as he starts reciting Hamlet's monologue from Act 5, Frasier and Niles realize that his acting is hopelessly hammy. Thinking the years on Space Patrol has made him rusty, Frasier procures a video recording of his one-man show from their high school years, intending to show it to him and bring back his acting skills. Unfortunately, as the Cranes watch his recital of King Lear, they discover that he was as awful then as he is now and they were just too young to know it. Since the show will become humiliating for them and Jackson alike, Frasier and Niles plan to shut down the show, blame the director and refund everyone's tickets. When Jackson arrives at Frasier's apartment, however, he tells them that he has fired the director. Unable to tell Jackson how bad he is, they say they are worried that his rehearsal time has been too short. Sadly, Jackson thinks they are simply getting cold feet and wants to continue.
On opening night, Frasier and Niles are more worried than ever that their full audience will be disappointed. Realizing they may have exceeded their legal maximum capacity, they call the fire marshal to have the show cancelled. Unfortunately, he is occupied elsewhere and will take a while to get there. Backstage, they meet Jackson's father, Cecil Hedley (played by Patrick Macnee), who claims that he is Jackson's lucky charm and that Jackson always refuses to go on stage if he isn't present. Sadly, when they tell Jackson, he is overjoyed, having always found his father judgemental. Then, the fire marshal finally arrives and confirms that the theater is overcrowded and tells them to shut down. However, he turns out to be an avid Space Patrol fan and allows the show to continue, if he can stay and watch. Finally, Frasier tries to get the show stopped by setting off the sprinklers, but they won't go off. Luckily, just as Jackson is about to get on stage, he slips and breaks his leg. Thinking Jackson will quit, Frasier goes on stage and starts to announce that the show is cancelled on account of his injury. Behind him, Jackson, his leg broken, drags himself onto the stage to perform. Left without options, Frasier opens the show and lets Jackson begin, hamming it up horrendously and chewing the scenery without mercy.
CREDITS SCENE
Frasier, Niles, and one of the stage hands watch Jackson perform. Unable to stand it, Frasier asks Niles and the stage hand for ear plugs. When neither of them has any spares, he walks away, covering his ears.
Starring[]
- Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane
- David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane
- Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle
- and John Mahoney as Martin Crane
Special Guest Star
- Derek Jacobi as Jackson Hedley
Guest starring
- Patrick Macnee as Cecil Hedley
- Patrick Kerr as Noel Shempsky
Co-Starring
- Ray Porter as Dwayne
- Ben Livingston as Stage Manager
- Jonathan Adams as Fire Marshall
- Milan Dragicevich as Klingon
- Alan Heitz as Fan
Trivia[]
- The episode taps into numerous elements of "Star Trek" lore, particularly the idea that Leonard Nimoy was better than his role as Spock allowed, and also that Brent Spiner is more than simply Data.
- Jackson Hedley's role in this episode is analogous to Sir Patrick Stewart who is a famed Shakespearean actor, but is instead better known for playing Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
- Jackson Hedley (portrayed by Derek Jacobi) plays a hammy, terrible Shakespearean actor. Sir Derek Jacobi is actually a knighted, multi-award winning theater actor, and won an almost ironic Emmy for his portrayal of Hedley.