Frasier Season 2 Episode 8 Recap, Photos: Bulldog’s Return

Recap: Frasier Season 2 Episode 8 features the return of sportscaster Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe and food critic Gil Chesterton. Dr. Crane returns to his former home base at KACL 780 in Seattle… A radio station that finds itself on the cusp of being obsolete.

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Warning: This Frasier recap contains spoilers for “Thank You, Dr. Crane”.

Frasier convinces Freddy to tag along on a trip back to his old stomping grounds in Seattle. He lures his sports loving son onto a flight with the promise of seeing a Seattle Mariners game in-person. A promise Frasier has no intention of fulfilling.

Instead, Frasier wants to subtly explain away his absence in Freddy’s life growing up by showing his son the glory days of Dr. Frasier Crane.

L-R: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, Dan Butler as Bulldog Peri Gilpin as Roz and Edward Hibbert as Gil and in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

The veneer of KACL 780 appears intact as Frasier arrives to a hero’s welcome at the station… Until the “Welcome Back Frasier” sign has the Frasier section peeling off to reveal a “Welcome Back Frances” sign underneath.

The walk down nostalgia lane for Frasier hastens to a stop as he discovers KACL has made endless cuts to keep their heads above water.

Dan Butler as Bulldog and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

The radio station is intact as more of a cobwebbed museum with a dwindling audience, lack of callers, and aging equipment. In a surprise, Frasier is told one member of the KACL staff has left the closet, who quickly looks to Gil Chesteron.

L-R: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, Dan Butler as Bulldog, Peri Gilpin as Roz, and Edward Hibbert as Gil in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

But it is in fact Bulldog Briscoe, who announces that “he’s into dudes now” and recognizes Freddy from a fireman calendar.

L-R: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy, Dan Butler as Bulldog and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

When Frasier goes back to Café Nervosa, he finds a revamped coffee house geared more towards college students than the intellectual home he once debated with Niles in. Roz Doyle sets up a meeting with one of Frasier’s former radio show callers from 20 years ago and there’s no glory hiding anywhere.

A former lawyer had taken Frasier’s advice to pursue his dream, leaving his law practice and becoming a failed magician. Losing his wife & son in the process.

L-R: Peri Gilpin as Roz, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier and Rory O’Malley as Lou in Frasier reboot, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Frasier decides to help Lou the magician after discovering a ‘lost’ pet rabbit back at Café Nervosa. Lou reveals he’s afraid of clocks because of his landlord putting him in headlocks while wearing a ticking watch. So Frasier advises him to stand up to his bully, only for Lou to be kicked out of his home.

L-R: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier and Peri Gilpin as Roz in Frasier revival, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

When Frasier tells Lou maybe it’s time to move on after 20 years from pursuing magic to something else… Lou seemingly snaps. It appears Lou is about to jump out of a KACL 780 window. But actually he’s looking for his rabbit who went outside. However, Lou then considers if he’s wasted the entirety of his life.

L-R: Rory O’Malley as Lou, Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Lou decides to take charge and to stop listening to Dr. Crane, telling his rabbit to return (which he does) and go back to law practice.

Back at Martin’s old bar, Freddy expresses just how much he regrets not going to his grandfather’s funeral. Frasier comforts his son, by telling him the important thing is that you’re here now celebrating him.

L-R: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Side Story: Alan’s assistant:

L-R: Camden Garcia as Brian and Anders Keith as David in Frasier season 2 episode 8 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

David has enough of being Alan’s teacher’s assistant after he insults his crumpets. Instead of apologizing to David, Alan brings a new teacher’s assistant named Brian. While David becomes Olivia’s assistant, erasing her thesis whiteboard in the process while cleaning.

Frasier cast members Toks Olagundoye as Olivia Finch and Anders Keith as David in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Brian himself tires of Alan talking about how David did things better and quits. Olivia convinces Alan to apologize to David in his own way. Alan says David’s crumpets are not the worst he’s ever had and that’s enough for David to return.

Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan and Anders Keith as David in Frasier season 2 episode 8 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

More Frasier Season 2 Recaps, Reviews, and Interviews

Kelsey Grammer as Frasier and Dan Butler as Bulldog in Frasier cast photo, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

Be sure to read:

– Frasier Season 2 Episode 5 Recap, Review: Bebe is Amazing

– Frasier (2024) Season 2 Episode 4 Recap, Review, Cast Photos

– Saul Rubinek Interview: Frasier Reboot, Donny and Daphne

– Frasier (2023) Episode 10 Recap, Cast, Photos: A Roz Christmas

– Frasier (2024) Season 2 Non-Spoiler Review: Episodes 1 and 2

– Frasier (2023) Episode 6 Recap, Photos, Cast: Blind Date

Visit The Natural Aristocrat®’s Frasier section for more recaps, reviews, and exclusive interviews.

L-R: Dan Butler as Bulldog, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier, Peri Gilpin as Roz and Edward Hibbert as Gil in Frasier, episode 8, season 2 streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+

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