"Maris and I are back on the expressway to love. Well, if not the expressway, at least the on–ramp."
Niles (David Hyde Pierce)
Love — or at least lust — was truly in the air in the episode of Frasier that first aired on this night 20 years ago.
Long before Frasier's first season was over, everyone knew that Niles (David Hyde Pierce) was infatuated with Daphne (Jane Leeves). Well, everyone knew but Daphne.
At the same time, though, Niles just as clearly wanted to save his troubled marriage to the never–seen but frequently mentioned Maris. During one of their coffees in the first season, Niles and Frasier discussed this very thing, and Frasier mused that what Niles wanted was to remain with Maris but have an affair with Daphne. Niles brightened noticeably at the thought.
The series was roughly at its midpoint in 1998, and it was probably obvious to everyone but Niles that his marriage could not be saved.
He kept trying, though, and in the episode that aired on this night in 1998, "The Maris Counselor," Niles and Maris were seeking marriage counseling under the guidance of a new therapist, Dr. Schenkman (Bob Dishy). Niles was excited and anticipated a rekindling of their love.
Since Niles had recently identified his primary problem as being too predictable, he decided to show Maris how spontaneous he could be by surprising her for an afternoon of passion.
But that wasn't quite how it worked out.
Martin Crane (John Mahoney) was experiencing a shift in his love life as well. A lady in the building in whom Martin had shown an interest gave him a call and invited him to dinner.
For once, the romantic developments did not involve Frasier (Kelsey Grammer). He was primarily a bystander in this episode.
Well, it was Niles who was surprised when he discovered that Schenkman was having an affair with Maris — and Schenkman was at the house at the time. They bumped into each other in the bedroom. Apparently the therapist had had the same inspiration for a little afternoon delight, in the words of the old song. Schenkman was wearing a pair of Niles' pajamas when he encountered the cuckolded spouse.
"Damn you, I trusted you because you were supposed to be helping us," Niles told Schenkman. "And I liked you, too, you bastard. You betrayed my confidence and my friendship, and you seduced my wife."
"Wow," Schenkman replied. "There's a lot of new issues here, aren't there? Think maybe we should kick it up to three sessions a week?
Niles and Frasier were to lead a couples workshop later that day. Niles was late getting there, what with his confrontation with Schenkman, then was morose with the group as Maris' infidelity weighed heavily on his mind. Under the guise of role playing, Frasier tried to persuade the group that Niles was empathizing. He didn't succeed.
Meanwhile, Martin had his dinner date, which didn't turn out exactly the way he planned. Turned out that his date wasn't the attractive tenant after all. It was her 86–year–old mother.
The date didn't go so well. Martin was, apparently, a perfect gentleman, but his date couldn't remember his name and kept dozing off.
Back at Frasier's apartment Frasier tried to console Niles, and the three compared their love lives.
Frasier said he deserved the crown for failed relationships — "Divorced twice, left at the altar once."
Martin differed. His relationship with Sherry fizzled and then his dinner date had been a flop. "I think maybe I deserve the booby prize."
Niles said he could top them both. "Fifteen years with Maris," he said, "I end up in bed with her lover." Niles insisted it had been an accident, that he had thought he was in bed with Maris.
"What tipped you off?" Frasier asked.
"The heat from her side of the bed!" Niles replied.
Therapists have their place, but sometimes a person is his/her own best therapist.
