Extremely well written episode. Just far enough in the season to show the sibling similarities as well as they differ. Plus the addition of Mako as the publisher is perfect. Especially to those of us who were fans of uncle Iroh. Anybody who's ever tried to have a writing partner knows that it's the little differences that kill the momentum. Love this show and episode.
4 Reviews
Best of the 1st season
CubsandCulture7 May 2021
By the time Frasier is yelling at Niles about their mother the episode has fully demonstrated how Niles and Frasier are so alike, and yet so different. The bickering between the brothers-and their absurd games for precedence-is a huge theme in the show and this is one of the best episodes that deal with that. The writing here is so crisp and clever that I still laugh out loud at multiple gags in this story. As an academic I especially like the quip about how the book they are writing can't be like their academic work-it has to be interesting!
Hopeless Sibling Rivalry
Hitchcoc26 September 2019
When Niles publisher pulls the plug on his idea for a book, he is desperate. The publisher thinks a book on sibling rivalry and the results would make a marketable publication. So, reluctantly, Frasier agrees to co-author the thing with Frasier, eliciting documentation from his radio show. But the two of them are toxic.
Author, Author
studioAT11 March 2023
This is my least favourite episode from Series One by a country mile. I'm surprised it scores so very highly on this site.
It takes a long time to get going in terms of plot, and then feels as tedious as the brothers trying to write together. It then all builds to a rather silly fight, perhaps to stretch things to the end of the running time.
The cast are game, there are some nice moments, but this isn't anywhere near the quality I've come to expect from the show at this stage of its run.
Overall, a basic premise isn't really explored in a way that I found funny, and I wouldn't rush to watch it again.
It takes a long time to get going in terms of plot, and then feels as tedious as the brothers trying to write together. It then all builds to a rather silly fight, perhaps to stretch things to the end of the running time.
The cast are game, there are some nice moments, but this isn't anywhere near the quality I've come to expect from the show at this stage of its run.
Overall, a basic premise isn't really explored in a way that I found funny, and I wouldn't rush to watch it again.
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