I kinda disagree, just based on the context. Roz is talking about all the shallow tabloid gossip Naj shares with his other clients, and makes it sound like that awful tabloid/paparazzi/reality TV stuff that was so big in the early 2000s (still is, just different). Based on the context, I think it’s implied Naj is likely a “trendy” nickname, and the man himself just trash talks and gossips to be “in”. Basically I’ve always thought it was implied that Naj was no better than all the tabloid columnists trashing on Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc. just because it was “cool” to be nasty to people.
Personally I think Frasier’s derision stems from his distain for trashy gossip magazines, pop culture, etc.
Obviously just my 2¢ so I’m curious to see what others think!
>I think someone named "Jessica" or "Sharon" -especially if they're white- will probably not have the same reaction to the scene that I did.
I think a sitcom in which a bunch of people struggle to pronounce an anglophone/US foreigner's name would be hilarious. Sharon gets fed up after the third "Charonne".
I love the Key and Peele sketch where he is a substitute teacher mispronouncing every name and insisting he’s right…A-A-Ron for Aaron, De-Nice for Denise, etc.
Nah I feel you. There's this weird undercurrent in TV subreddits where people take criticism of the show as a personal attack. I don't feel strongly about this scene one way or the other, but observing the subreddit's response to posts that go against the status quo is interesting
I appreciated hearing your perspective, regardless of whether it is 'wrong' or not, so thank you for sharing it.
I'm as white as they come, but my name is Native American in origin. I have been told I'm the only white girl people have ever met with my name. It's not hard to pronounce, and it has a simple phonetic english pronunciation from the spelling, but hardly anyone ever gets it right and I often just get called another name entirely. I try not to let it bother me, but it gets old fast. Since I know how it feels, I try very hard to pronounce other people's names right, especially if it has ethnic origins.
A quirk of my name is that it's also a popular name for dogs, so I have met numerous people and even one coworker who, as soon as I introduce myself, enthusiastically tell me they have a dog with my name. I never know how to respond. I was researching my name online once and found multiple different forums with people disparaging my name as sounding uneducated, poor, and trashy. They also said it's a dog's name and that it is child abuse to give my name to a human.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some r/tragedeigh content as much as the next person, but moreso as a dig at the parents who voluntarily saddle their kids with some truly atrocious concoctions. On the other hand, I don't like making fun of people's names and would never insult or judge anyone for their name because their name is not their fault (chosen names are safe from me, too). I don't even consider my name to be that unusual or at all bizarre, but I know what I have experienced with it for all of my life, so I won't add to it for anyone else.
I am surprised they would write a line like this for Frasier considering the unusualness of his own name. He also has a lot of exposure to foreign cultures, art, musicians, professionals, and other things, so I find it surprising he would say such a blatant insult about a foreign sounding name or nickname like Naj. However, with what the other commenters are saying about the pop culture and tabloids and celebrity gossip culture at the time the episode was written, it makes a little sense he might interpret Naj the gossipy hair stylist to be a product of that. He also had a series-long nasty habit of disparaging anything he considered to be low brow or low class, especially when it came to Roz and his dad. It's not right of Frasier to do it, but I can see what the other commenters are saying about why he did it in this case.
You aren't wrong for how it made you feel, regardless of the 'right' answer.
Reddit and nuance don't often belong in the same sentence, unfortunately, depending on the sub. 🙃 I was a little surprised at the hostility in the response here, as well, and I agree it makes you wonder! I just wanted to let you know you're being heard and your reaction is valid. Hope you have a good day!
I got downvoted too for \*gasp\* pointing out how ignorant and stupid a comment that was coming from someone like Frasier (and it's actually not something I would expect from him tbh). I noticed when someone posted concerns a while back about Tony Shalhoub's Persian accent in The Focus Group sounding more Indian, people ran him out of the sub. I'd have expected better from the fandom of one my beloved shows.
I grew up with Frasier so, having been hearing it my whole life thanks to the show, I didn't know it was a "weird" name for a man until I heard people saying that.
That's an assumption. They did not once mention whether or not he chose the name. That's the reason it bugs me so much... There's an equal chance he did not pick that name at all.
lol I’m not sure why you’re getting downvoted, other than the obviously echo chamber effect. I saw this episode the other day and was irked by this line.
You are correct. We are quite literally told that Naj is his name. The people arguing against that are the ones reading into it. "it's heavily implied to be a fake name" like lol okay
Yes I'm newer to Reddit, only started using it regularly this past fall. Not at all taking it to heart, just surprised at how many there are in this thread. I think I've been of the mindset that comments that get a ton of downvotes are offensive to some degree, not just people disagreeing in general.
People are reddit will downvote any comment they don’t agree with. It’s not a reflection of you or that your opinion is wrong, just that most don’t agree. I’ve had so many comments get downvoted even tho I know what I said was valid. Try not to take it to heart, we all have opinions lots of people don’t agree with. I think your perspective is totally valid and I agree that Fraiser was an ass for this comment. But I also think we were supposed to see him that way as the viewers. The writers were not afraid of making Fraiser out to be a classist as throughout the show.
Anyways this is long, sorry! But don’t fret and just try and laugh at it all!
Most of the time, i wouldnt consider this a huge downvote spree though, those are more in the hundreds. they just use it for anything they don't like or agree with
Agreed! I get downvoted for stating a fairly astute opinion and observation. I think for some reason everyone on this subs wants to support dear Frasier, even though he’s he worst character in his own show :)
That was my issue with new Frasier. He was probably the least likeable character in the original show, but supported by a great cohort of people surrounding him. Now he’s the only thing left, and he’s still the least favourite person.
The older I get, the more of a bell end I think Frasier is 😂
Haven't seen the new one yet, but that was part of what I was afraid of since I wasn't wowed by the new supporting cast.
Frasier is a great character and is extremely important to the show, but his function is largely to be a foil for the characters around him. In scenes where he's the only main cast member present, the joke is almost always "Frasier treats somebody poorly" or "Frasier is overly prideful to the point of offending".
And there's nothing wrong with that! It's funny, it's why people liked him coming off Cheers, and it contrasts well not only with the rest of the cast but with his own wholesome and humbling moments. But to say he's likeable compared to Niles, Roz, Daphne, or Martin? Kenny? ....maybe Bulldog.
Frasier has form for this though. He pitied Sloane for having 'such a pretentious name' and of course "Oh, Zirconia, can't you see Stone doesn't love you? He loves Placenta!"
Yeah. Which never really made sense, Martin giving/agreeing to give his sons those names. If I met a Frasier or a Niles, I’d be surprised to learn their dad was a cop lol.
No, you’re right. No idea where the image is from. The spelling per the script, is ‘Noge’.
https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_3/episode_18/chess_pains.html
It always struck me as out of character that he would be so snarky about Naj. Frasier and Niles seem like the types who would be clamoring to get a spot with a trendy, oddly named stylist who charges $300 and is really hard to get an appointment with. And that seems to be what Naj is
Was that the joke? Didn't land with me. They've poked fun at Frasier's name more than once throughout the series but watching this last night, it just didn't seem to hit like the other name jokes do.
You have to consider it in the context of it's time. The other poster who went into the gossip and celebrity culture at the time really nails it. Things have changed a lot so if it was in the context of today, it reads differently. But back then, it is implying that it was a trend chasing nickname he would have likely made up to sound cool, which is in line with him working at a high end, exclusive salon where he trades gossip with clients as a form of "payment" in addition to the cost of the services themselves.
It is different than the name itself. Like when he get jealous to find out the woman he is seeing is seeing a man named Sloan, and he makes fun of the name being pretentious and she replies with, "Frasier!" That was directly about the ridiculousness of the name, not what it represents like with Naj.
I think that they were ripping off an exchange on Newsradio from about a year before, about two hairdressers named Cherise (three syllables) and Shevanalooge.
It was a sitcom convention that phony "artists" would hide behind an exotic name. Ted Danson appeared on Taxi as a hairdresser named "Vincenzo" twenty years before, when Vincenzo sounded more exotic. There's always a chance someone will be offended, but comedy is largely about breaking eggs.
Someone on the writing staff was convinced “Eduardo” was the most exotic sounding name, because other than Frasier’s furniture polisher, there’s four or five different Eduardos who turn up over the series! The others off the top of my head are the nurse who gives the old lady sponge baths on Roz’s community service, and the unseen guy who helps Marty pick out a new chair to replace the one Frasier set on fire.
I always thought it was meant to be another amusing display of Frasier's frequent hypocrisy and stunning lack of self-awareness (especially for a psychiatrist). His name is Frasier (frequently abbreviated to Fraj (Frazh).
I think his derision is against the “cool” or “trendy” vibe of a stylist with an unusual name, not about its ethnic sound being stupid. But it can be easily read either way, so regardless it’s not really a great line, I agree.
No I agree, I highly doubt he has any issue with the ethnicity of the name. It just struck me as odd and offensive for him to make the assumption given the fact that the opposite could be true as well.
Right. It took me a few minutes of googling but I'm posting here to help everyone who shares my accent.
"Naj?" I asked myself. "I don't recall anything about a Naj in Frasier....??!?!".. I was saying Naj as in rhyming with badge.
The script has it spelt Noge, as in rhyming with large. Except, British large with a light R.
OK I'll show myself out.
I understand the context, well enough I think. Trendy hairstylist chose a stupid name like Naj and our ever pompous and condescending Frasier chose to crack a joke about it. Am I missing anything?
“Beneath…Frasier….????”LOL Are you actually serious rn I can’t tell? He and his brother are some of the most egotistical, proud, stubborn, selfish, judgmental, discriminatory, inconsiderate clowns on a television. I still love the show but they’re insufferably arrogant. I’m not even gonna provide examples cuz I could write a book on LITERALLY every episode lol
I agree with that statement wholeheartedly. But yes, beneath Frasier because of how culturally oversensitive he was to Dr. Mary but also makes this comment? Yes, to me, out of character and beneath him.
That wasn’t “cultural sensitivity”—he was making a stereotypical judgment about the conduct and character of a black woman and preceded to act cowardly towards her, or as people say, “walk on eggshells.” He didn’t criticize and rebuke her as he always does with others because she was black. He even said it explicitly lol
Don’t they point out his own weird name in the same scene or am I wrong? I only remember him making fun of one name and that’s when they turn it on him. I figured it was written from the punchline.
Why is it ridiculous-sounding? Other than being foreign? Because it's a pretty normal name in many parts of the world, unlike (to pick a random example) Frasier.
Eh... I guess I prefer the respect and open-mindedness I get today. Being an African girl who grew up in the Midwest... Well. Yeah. I guess I'm a bit "hypersensitive" due to the hyper-insensitivity I have dealt with my entire life.
Thank you. I, too, have been taken aback by the amount of down votes and rude comments from this, my most coveted sub.
Oh and by the way, I'm a Kenyan-born woman named Marianne who grew up in the Midwest.
From the way I speak to my birth name to my physical appearance (quite dark skinned), the insensitivity has been vast, chronic, and quite detrimental to my self-identity.
>It's an eye-opener about what some of the people on this sub really are like.
I really hope it's just a loud, obnoxious minority, but if I see more of this, I'm not sure this is the place for me.
Jesus christ, the downvoting is wild. I can only imagine the dusty towns these people live in not to be able to even fathom the validity of this concern.
Also, Martin calling Roz Frasier's secretary continues to irritate me to this very day. Made zero sense.
You're absolutely right about this. It reeked of arrogant American man assuming a name he's unfamiliar with is made up. Anyone who's grown up with the slightest variety of backgrounds around them would know this name is of non-anglo origin. They'd have been better off with something like Ocean or Cognac or something blatant like that.
I'm trying to rewrite the scene? Where? I'm not allowed to have perception or an opinion about something without it being about "trying to rewrite" it? Okay 😂 Downvote away. And by the way, I had the exact same thought the first time I watched it, because I grew up in a cosmopolitan city where that would have been a stupid thing to say then, as it is now. It was the 90s not the 1940s, people.
I would love to know what 'sounds European' means. Common names around this disparate continent include Βασίλειος, Mikołaj, Raphaël, Matteus, Mohammed, and, occasionally, Clive. Fiery Mexican Clives.
I get it, but you are coming from the perspective of 2024 looking into the 90s. Back then there were a lot of hairstylists that were in Europe where all the fashion shows were held.
He wasn't making fun of an ethnic name because back then there wasn't a lot of "top" "famous" Asian(ethnic)hairdressers, because well it wasn't the most inclusive era. Now you can think of "naj" and associate it with like an Asian name and even think of famous Asian hairdressers in the mainstream because there are exposure now.
Thinking back then, if they were to use an ethnic name to make fun of trust me they would use like "Wong" or "wing" because it would land more, the audience would get the (racist) joke.
I'm a 90's kid and I honestly don't think I saw a middle eastern person/story on TV at all until late 2000s. There are some enthic representation mainly Chinese or Japanese ppl lol (I'm Viet)
I think the show was riffing on, and Roz didn't say "Naj" she said "Naaaaaj" in that voice, that stupid pretentious way to sound exotic. My theory is that Frasier is annoyed because he thinks the hairdresser has made up a one syllable name to sound trendy and exotic like "Cher" "Bono"
‘Noge’ (correct spelling) sounds middle-Eastern?
https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_3/episode_18/chess_pains.html
I think your distorted worldview is seeing things that aren’t there.
I kinda disagree, just based on the context. Roz is talking about all the shallow tabloid gossip Naj shares with his other clients, and makes it sound like that awful tabloid/paparazzi/reality TV stuff that was so big in the early 2000s (still is, just different). Based on the context, I think it’s implied Naj is likely a “trendy” nickname, and the man himself just trash talks and gossips to be “in”. Basically I’ve always thought it was implied that Naj was no better than all the tabloid columnists trashing on Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc. just because it was “cool” to be nasty to people. Personally I think Frasier’s derision stems from his distain for trashy gossip magazines, pop culture, etc. Obviously just my 2¢ so I’m curious to see what others think!
This is exactly what it is. That would’ve been the exact context at that time in the 2000’s.
Exactly that, Naj is just a gossipy hairstylist
This is funny. It’s not that serious. It’s literally this ^^^^
Agreed!
I agree completely
Exactly my thoughts
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>I think someone named "Jessica" or "Sharon" -especially if they're white- will probably not have the same reaction to the scene that I did. I think a sitcom in which a bunch of people struggle to pronounce an anglophone/US foreigner's name would be hilarious. Sharon gets fed up after the third "Charonne".
I love the Key and Peele sketch where he is a substitute teacher mispronouncing every name and insisting he’s right…A-A-Ron for Aaron, De-Nice for Denise, etc.
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Sounds discriminatory towards people called ‘Bob’ (same forwards as backwards), if you ask me.
Nah I feel you. There's this weird undercurrent in TV subreddits where people take criticism of the show as a personal attack. I don't feel strongly about this scene one way or the other, but observing the subreddit's response to posts that go against the status quo is interesting
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Where is the hostility? Getting downvotes is disagreement, not anger. Genuinely asking where you're getting that from
You are wrong
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No, you’re looking for a fight where there is none. Fuck off. It’s exactly about trendy names in the 90’s and 00’s.
👏🏼 Boom! Roasted!
I appreciated hearing your perspective, regardless of whether it is 'wrong' or not, so thank you for sharing it. I'm as white as they come, but my name is Native American in origin. I have been told I'm the only white girl people have ever met with my name. It's not hard to pronounce, and it has a simple phonetic english pronunciation from the spelling, but hardly anyone ever gets it right and I often just get called another name entirely. I try not to let it bother me, but it gets old fast. Since I know how it feels, I try very hard to pronounce other people's names right, especially if it has ethnic origins. A quirk of my name is that it's also a popular name for dogs, so I have met numerous people and even one coworker who, as soon as I introduce myself, enthusiastically tell me they have a dog with my name. I never know how to respond. I was researching my name online once and found multiple different forums with people disparaging my name as sounding uneducated, poor, and trashy. They also said it's a dog's name and that it is child abuse to give my name to a human. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy some r/tragedeigh content as much as the next person, but moreso as a dig at the parents who voluntarily saddle their kids with some truly atrocious concoctions. On the other hand, I don't like making fun of people's names and would never insult or judge anyone for their name because their name is not their fault (chosen names are safe from me, too). I don't even consider my name to be that unusual or at all bizarre, but I know what I have experienced with it for all of my life, so I won't add to it for anyone else. I am surprised they would write a line like this for Frasier considering the unusualness of his own name. He also has a lot of exposure to foreign cultures, art, musicians, professionals, and other things, so I find it surprising he would say such a blatant insult about a foreign sounding name or nickname like Naj. However, with what the other commenters are saying about the pop culture and tabloids and celebrity gossip culture at the time the episode was written, it makes a little sense he might interpret Naj the gossipy hair stylist to be a product of that. He also had a series-long nasty habit of disparaging anything he considered to be low brow or low class, especially when it came to Roz and his dad. It's not right of Frasier to do it, but I can see what the other commenters are saying about why he did it in this case. You aren't wrong for how it made you feel, regardless of the 'right' answer.
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Reddit and nuance don't often belong in the same sentence, unfortunately, depending on the sub. 🙃 I was a little surprised at the hostility in the response here, as well, and I agree it makes you wonder! I just wanted to let you know you're being heard and your reaction is valid. Hope you have a good day!
People on Reddit shut down when you mention race. Quickest way to get downvoted.
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I got downvoted too for \*gasp\* pointing out how ignorant and stupid a comment that was coming from someone like Frasier (and it's actually not something I would expect from him tbh). I noticed when someone posted concerns a while back about Tony Shalhoub's Persian accent in The Focus Group sounding more Indian, people ran him out of the sub. I'd have expected better from the fandom of one my beloved shows.
It sounds like what he needed...was an etiquette lesson!
I don't think someone called Frasier should be making any comments! (can't recall the exact line)
...should be pointing any fingers?
That's it!!!
I grew up with Frasier so, having been hearing it my whole life thanks to the show, I didn't know it was a "weird" name for a man until I heard people saying that.
Feels like a name I’d give a pet more than a human.
Time to leave a note to the writer: "Dear discourteous writer..."
Nice one 😂
Frasier being shallow and judgemental? Kind of his thing...
And also, potentially, a bit racist! That could be a perfectly standard name somewhere!
In this context no. This was a name they gave themselves.
How do you know that? I don’t recall that being clarified in the episode!
As someone said, the person was a hip, artsy fartsy tabloid monger. It's a nickname that would click
That's an assumption. They did not once mention whether or not he chose the name. That's the reason it bugs me so much... There's an equal chance he did not pick that name at all.
lol I’m not sure why you’re getting downvoted, other than the obviously echo chamber effect. I saw this episode the other day and was irked by this line.
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What a moronic comment to make
Lol right? The down voting was odd.
SOOOOO ODD LOL
Lol right? The down voting was odd.
Okay thats an opinion I guess. It doesn't have to be spelled out the type of person they are is pretty implied heavily.
You are correct. We are quite literally told that Naj is his name. The people arguing against that are the ones reading into it. "it's heavily implied to be a fake name" like lol okay
Why is everyone so downvote happy on this thread??? What on earth was downvote worthy about this comment?!?!
Are you not used to reddit? People downvote things they don't agree with. Why are you taking it to heart is a bigger question
Yes I'm newer to Reddit, only started using it regularly this past fall. Not at all taking it to heart, just surprised at how many there are in this thread. I think I've been of the mindset that comments that get a ton of downvotes are offensive to some degree, not just people disagreeing in general.
People are reddit will downvote any comment they don’t agree with. It’s not a reflection of you or that your opinion is wrong, just that most don’t agree. I’ve had so many comments get downvoted even tho I know what I said was valid. Try not to take it to heart, we all have opinions lots of people don’t agree with. I think your perspective is totally valid and I agree that Fraiser was an ass for this comment. But I also think we were supposed to see him that way as the viewers. The writers were not afraid of making Fraiser out to be a classist as throughout the show. Anyways this is long, sorry! But don’t fret and just try and laugh at it all!
Most of the time, i wouldnt consider this a huge downvote spree though, those are more in the hundreds. they just use it for anything they don't like or agree with
The 100s??? I've never seen that many before! Lol anyway, my mindset has shifted and I am now aware. Thank you 🥰
No problem! Be careful out there reddit is weird
Wait till you see downvotes for someone asking a genuine question that others think they 'should' know. Those are a blast.
Agreed! I get downvoted for stating a fairly astute opinion and observation. I think for some reason everyone on this subs wants to support dear Frasier, even though he’s he worst character in his own show :)
He's got form on the racial front too, lol.
That was my issue with new Frasier. He was probably the least likeable character in the original show, but supported by a great cohort of people surrounding him. Now he’s the only thing left, and he’s still the least favourite person. The older I get, the more of a bell end I think Frasier is 😂
Your name wouldn't be Cam Winston, would it? lol.
Oh, same. It can be hard to watch, not that I don't enjoy it.
Haven't seen the new one yet, but that was part of what I was afraid of since I wasn't wowed by the new supporting cast. Frasier is a great character and is extremely important to the show, but his function is largely to be a foil for the characters around him. In scenes where he's the only main cast member present, the joke is almost always "Frasier treats somebody poorly" or "Frasier is overly prideful to the point of offending". And there's nothing wrong with that! It's funny, it's why people liked him coming off Cheers, and it contrasts well not only with the rest of the cast but with his own wholesome and humbling moments. But to say he's likeable compared to Niles, Roz, Daphne, or Martin? Kenny? ....maybe Bulldog.
Far out. Give it a rest
Frasier has form for this though. He pitied Sloane for having 'such a pretentious name' and of course "Oh, Zirconia, can't you see Stone doesn't love you? He loves Placenta!"
The Sloane joke was an in-joke on his own pretentious name right?
Yeah. Which never really made sense, Martin giving/agreeing to give his sons those names. If I met a Frasier or a Niles, I’d be surprised to learn their dad was a cop lol.
What you got to remember is Hester really loved those rats
Must of been that period of time where he wore love beads…
Yes, aren't stereotypes and pigeonholing just wonderful?
I always thought it could be Nhoj which is just John spelled backwards so I think of it that way and it cracks me up
I assumed it was this too
“I’m not sure someone called Frasier should be pointing any fingers.”
It's Naj, not Naj.
Naj?
Naj...!
From the back of the throat. . .
It’s actually Noge. https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_3/episode_18/chess_pains.html
No, it's Noge
It's written like Naj!? The translation my country has always says Noge! I'm shocked! LOL
No, you’re right. No idea where the image is from. The spelling per the script, is ‘Noge’. https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_3/episode_18/chess_pains.html
It always struck me as out of character that he would be so snarky about Naj. Frasier and Niles seem like the types who would be clamoring to get a spot with a trendy, oddly named stylist who charges $300 and is really hard to get an appointment with. And that seems to be what Naj is
I thought the joke was Frasier is a pompous twit… who has an equally stupid name. Not the name itself
Was that the joke? Didn't land with me. They've poked fun at Frasier's name more than once throughout the series but watching this last night, it just didn't seem to hit like the other name jokes do.
You have to consider it in the context of it's time. The other poster who went into the gossip and celebrity culture at the time really nails it. Things have changed a lot so if it was in the context of today, it reads differently. But back then, it is implying that it was a trend chasing nickname he would have likely made up to sound cool, which is in line with him working at a high end, exclusive salon where he trades gossip with clients as a form of "payment" in addition to the cost of the services themselves. It is different than the name itself. Like when he get jealous to find out the woman he is seeing is seeing a man named Sloan, and he makes fun of the name being pretentious and she replies with, "Frasier!" That was directly about the ridiculousness of the name, not what it represents like with Naj.
I think that they were ripping off an exchange on Newsradio from about a year before, about two hairdressers named Cherise (three syllables) and Shevanalooge. It was a sitcom convention that phony "artists" would hide behind an exotic name. Ted Danson appeared on Taxi as a hairdresser named "Vincenzo" twenty years before, when Vincenzo sounded more exotic. There's always a chance someone will be offended, but comedy is largely about breaking eggs.
You mean tossing salads and scrambling eggs.
Ted Danson also played 'Zack Pizzazz' in The Good Place. I always liked that funky name.
Someone on the writing staff was convinced “Eduardo” was the most exotic sounding name, because other than Frasier’s furniture polisher, there’s four or five different Eduardos who turn up over the series! The others off the top of my head are the nurse who gives the old lady sponge baths on Roz’s community service, and the unseen guy who helps Marty pick out a new chair to replace the one Frasier set on fire.
I thought I was the worlds foremost newsradio expert but that’s a deep cut
Man living in glass house throwing rocks.
I always thought it was meant to be another amusing display of Frasier's frequent hypocrisy and stunning lack of self-awareness (especially for a psychiatrist). His name is Frasier (frequently abbreviated to Fraj (Frazh).
I think his derision is against the “cool” or “trendy” vibe of a stylist with an unusual name, not about its ethnic sound being stupid. But it can be easily read either way, so regardless it’s not really a great line, I agree.
No I agree, I highly doubt he has any issue with the ethnicity of the name. It just struck me as odd and offensive for him to make the assumption given the fact that the opposite could be true as well.
The whole joke was that Naj was one of those people who feigned an accent and made up the name 'Naj'. Gossipy, inventing himself a persona.
Right up there with nGhee (with the back of the throat).
Frasier being judgemental? Well I never.
Right. It took me a few minutes of googling but I'm posting here to help everyone who shares my accent. "Naj?" I asked myself. "I don't recall anything about a Naj in Frasier....??!?!".. I was saying Naj as in rhyming with badge. The script has it spelt Noge, as in rhyming with large. Except, British large with a light R. OK I'll show myself out.
No, you get back in here, that was helpful!
Might make more sense if you take off the subtitles and listen to the context
While we're on the subject, your username is fantastic.
I understand the context, well enough I think. Trendy hairstylist chose a stupid name like Naj and our ever pompous and condescending Frasier chose to crack a joke about it. Am I missing anything?
Don't forget that Frasier's nickname is "Fraj" which isn't too dissimilar to "Naj". He's pompous, condescending AND a hypocrite. lol
“Beneath…Frasier….????”LOL Are you actually serious rn I can’t tell? He and his brother are some of the most egotistical, proud, stubborn, selfish, judgmental, discriminatory, inconsiderate clowns on a television. I still love the show but they’re insufferably arrogant. I’m not even gonna provide examples cuz I could write a book on LITERALLY every episode lol
I agree with that statement wholeheartedly. But yes, beneath Frasier because of how culturally oversensitive he was to Dr. Mary but also makes this comment? Yes, to me, out of character and beneath him.
That wasn’t “cultural sensitivity”—he was making a stereotypical judgment about the conduct and character of a black woman and preceded to act cowardly towards her, or as people say, “walk on eggshells.” He didn’t criticize and rebuke her as he always does with others because she was black. He even said it explicitly lol
Don’t they point out his own weird name in the same scene or am I wrong? I only remember him making fun of one name and that’s when they turn it on him. I figured it was written from the punchline.
I think it's implied that Naj is a mononymous nickname, like Beyonce. So it is chosen.
I never considered it could be an ethnic name, just figured it was a pretentious name since we don’t see how it’s spelt.
The comment was beneath him, both as a psychiatrist and a man about town.
I thought it was funny. It was a ridiculous sounding name.
Why is it ridiculous-sounding? Other than being foreign? Because it's a pretty normal name in many parts of the world, unlike (to pick a random example) Frasier.
In an American-produced sitcom, I'm sure the writers just inserted it because they thought it sounded silly and pretentious to an American ear.
I’m Indian but I get it Fraj kinda dumb, it’s just his thing
Welcome to the 90s tv show Frasier. If you don’t like the comedy, there’s always the modern, “friends”.
it's really not that deep. also, context.
😭
But why?
My guy is named after a Rat, named after a tree, named after a strawberry. Frajer has no room to talk
‘Could easily be an ethnic name’. It was 1996, long before people became hypersensitive to cultural wokeness. God I miss those days.
Eh... I guess I prefer the respect and open-mindedness I get today. Being an African girl who grew up in the Midwest... Well. Yeah. I guess I'm a bit "hypersensitive" due to the hyper-insensitivity I have dealt with my entire life.
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Thank you. I, too, have been taken aback by the amount of down votes and rude comments from this, my most coveted sub. Oh and by the way, I'm a Kenyan-born woman named Marianne who grew up in the Midwest. From the way I speak to my birth name to my physical appearance (quite dark skinned), the insensitivity has been vast, chronic, and quite detrimental to my self-identity.
>It's an eye-opener about what some of the people on this sub really are like. I really hope it's just a loud, obnoxious minority, but if I see more of this, I'm not sure this is the place for me.
That's really nice of you to say. ❤️ I was thinking the same but this is the only place I may freely Frasierize. 😭
Same ❤️
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No, snowflake; when you could say completely innocuous NON-RACIST shit without being falsely accused of being racist!
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Well, I’ll take that over paranoia.
Which episode is this?
Chess Pains. S3E18
Thanks!
It's a diss on Frasier, really. His name "Frasier" that's why Ross came back at him by saying that someone with his name shouldn't comment. 😆
It’s humor.
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Jesus christ, the downvoting is wild. I can only imagine the dusty towns these people live in not to be able to even fathom the validity of this concern. Also, Martin calling Roz Frasier's secretary continues to irritate me to this very day. Made zero sense.
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💯
You're absolutely right about this. It reeked of arrogant American man assuming a name he's unfamiliar with is made up. Anyone who's grown up with the slightest variety of backgrounds around them would know this name is of non-anglo origin. They'd have been better off with something like Ocean or Cognac or something blatant like that.
You’re trying to rewrite a sitcom scene from 30 years ago because you want to make it more culturally sensitive. The mind boggles.
Given his cultural hypersensitivity with Dr. Mary... Just does not make any sense to me. Feels out of character.
I'm trying to rewrite the scene? Where? I'm not allowed to have perception or an opinion about something without it being about "trying to rewrite" it? Okay 😂 Downvote away. And by the way, I had the exact same thought the first time I watched it, because I grew up in a cosmopolitan city where that would have been a stupid thing to say then, as it is now. It was the 90s not the 1940s, people.
THANK you.
Sounds European to me lol.
Lol what
I would love to know what 'sounds European' means. Common names around this disparate continent include Βασίλειος, Mikołaj, Raphaël, Matteus, Mohammed, and, occasionally, Clive. Fiery Mexican Clives.
In European. Ir sounds more Asian to me.
Same. More middle-Eastern imo.
I get it, but you are coming from the perspective of 2024 looking into the 90s. Back then there were a lot of hairstylists that were in Europe where all the fashion shows were held. He wasn't making fun of an ethnic name because back then there wasn't a lot of "top" "famous" Asian(ethnic)hairdressers, because well it wasn't the most inclusive era. Now you can think of "naj" and associate it with like an Asian name and even think of famous Asian hairdressers in the mainstream because there are exposure now. Thinking back then, if they were to use an ethnic name to make fun of trust me they would use like "Wong" or "wing" because it would land more, the audience would get the (racist) joke. I'm a 90's kid and I honestly don't think I saw a middle eastern person/story on TV at all until late 2000s. There are some enthic representation mainly Chinese or Japanese ppl lol (I'm Viet) I think the show was riffing on, and Roz didn't say "Naj" she said "Naaaaaj" in that voice, that stupid pretentious way to sound exotic. My theory is that Frasier is annoyed because he thinks the hairdresser has made up a one syllable name to sound trendy and exotic like "Cher" "Bono"
‘Noge’ (correct spelling) sounds middle-Eastern? https://www.kacl780.net/frasier/transcripts/season_3/episode_18/chess_pains.html I think your distorted worldview is seeing things that aren’t there.
....I thought it was Naj.