Season 1 · Episode 19 · 1993
Give Him The Chair!
24 cultural references across 8 categories.
Art
4Eames chair
The Eames Lounge Chair, designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1956, is an iconic piece of mid-century modern furniture design.
“why don't we just bring the Eames down here?”— Frasier
Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969) was a German-American architect and furniture designer, a pioneer of modernist architecture and design.
“we're looking for something with the presence of a Mies van der Rohe and the playful insouciance of an early Le Corbusier”— Niles
Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier (1887-1965) was a Swiss-French architect and designer, one of the pioneers of modern architecture and also known for furniture design.
“we're looking for something with the presence of a Mies van der Rohe and the playful insouciance of an early Le Corbusier”— Niles
18th-century antiques
Reference to 18th-century period furniture and decorative arts, suggesting Maris's home is decorated in this historical style.
“I'm sure it would fit right in with all of Maris's 18th-century antiques.”— Frasier
Film
4Beavis
Beavis is a character from the animated MTV series 'Beavis and Butt-Head' (1993-1997), created by Mike Judge, representing dim-witted youth.
“I'm sure Beavis will start to wonder where you are.”— Frasier
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme is a Belgian actor and martial artist known for action films in the late 1980s and 1990s.
“cheering on Jean-Claude van Damme with the other”— Frasier
Mise en scène
A French term meaning 'placing on stage,' referring to the design aspects of a theatrical or film production including set design and staging.
“I thought I recognized the mise en scène.”— Frasier
Star Trek
Star Trek is the iconic science fiction franchise created by Gene Roddenberry, beginning with the original TV series (1966-1969).
“one of them spotted it on an old set from the original "Star Trek."”— Stage direction/note
Historical Figure
2Neil Armstrong
Neil Armstrong (1930-2012) was an American astronaut who became the first person to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
“I want the chair I was sitting in when I watched Neil Armstrong take his first step on the moon.”— Martin
1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team (Miracle on Ice)
The 1980 US Olympic hockey team's upset victory over the Soviet Union at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics, known as the 'Miracle on Ice.'
“And when the U.S. hockey team beat the Russians in the '80 Olympics.”— Martin
Literature
2The Menopausal Male
fictionalA fictional book referenced in the episode, supposedly written by Dr. Helmut Bruga about male menopause.
“It's called "The Menopausal Male," and its author, the distinguished psychiatric scholar Dr. Helmut Bruga, has graciously agreed to join us today”— Frasier
Ten Little Indians
'Ten Little Indians' is a play adapted from Agatha Christie's 1939 novel 'And Then There Were None,' one of the best-selling mystery novels of all time.
“in forty-five minutes the curtain goes up on a very shaky production of "Ten Little Indians."”— Mrs. Warren
Other
4Guten Tag
German greeting meaning 'good day,' used by Frasier to greet the German-named Dr. Bruga.
“Dr. Bruga, guten tag. I've been an admirer of yours for a long time.”— Frasier
La-Z-Boy
La-Z-Boy is an American furniture manufacturer famous for its recliner chairs, parodied here as 'Lazy-guy.'
“People seem to like this "Lazy-guy."”— Salesman
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a form of Japanese therapeutic bodywork based on applying pressure to specific points on the body.
“It also has shiatsu.”— Salesman
Elliott Bay Towers
fictionalThe fictional luxury apartment building where Frasier lives in Seattle.
“my father's chair was taken from in front of the Elliott Bay Towers”— Frasier
Philosophy/Psychology
3Dr. Helmut Bruga
fictionalA fictional psychiatric scholar and author, presented as being from the University of Washington.
“its author, the distinguished psychiatric scholar Dr. Helmut Bruga, has graciously agreed to join us today from his offices at the University of Washington”— Frasier
Transitional objects
A concept from psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott referring to objects (like blankets or teddy bears) that provide psychological comfort during transitions.
“But as with all transitional objects - be they a teddy bear, be they a thumb, be they a blankie, be they a chair...”— Niles
The mighty oak and the weeping willow
A common parable or proverb, often attributed to various sources including Aesop's fables, about flexibility versus rigidity.
“Just as the mighty oak snaps and falls in a windstorm, so the weeping willow bends and lives to see another day.”— Frasier
Theatre/Opera
1Travel
4Space Needle
The Space Needle is Seattle's iconic observation tower, built for the 1962 World's Fair.
“so far it's been spotted at the top of the Space Needle”— Roz
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is an inlet of the Pacific Ocean along the northwestern coast of Washington State, on which Seattle is situated.
“If I had stuck Dad's feet into a bucket of cement and thrown him into Puget Sound”— Frasier
Governor's Mansion
The official residence of the Governor of Washington State, located in Olympia.
“in the Governor's Mansion”— Roz
Lake Stevens
Lake Stevens is a city and lake in Snohomish County, Washington, northeast of Seattle.
“a man on Lake Stevens said he saw it flying over his house”— Roz