Season 2 · Episode 20 · 1994
Breaking The Ice
20 cultural references across 9 categories.
Fashion
3Polo Ralph Lauren
American fashion brand founded by Ralph Lauren, known for preppy sportswear and casual clothing.
“I dressed in layers — Polo, Eddie Bauer, and Timberland.”— Niles
Eddie Bauer
American outdoor clothing and gear company known for outerwear and cold-weather apparel.
“I dressed in layers — Polo, Eddie Bauer, and Timberland.”— Niles
Timberland
American manufacturer of outdoor footwear and apparel, known for rugged boots.
“I dressed in layers — Polo, Eddie Bauer, and Timberland.”— Niles
Film
2Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981 Steven Spielberg film featuring the iconic scene where Indiana Jones runs from a giant boulder in a temple.
“he got this look on his face like Indiana Jones running from the big ball!”— Roz
Elmer Fudd
Fictional cartoon character from Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, a bumbling hunter known for his distinctive hat and hunting attire.
“You look like a skinny Elmer Fudd.”— Frasier
Food/Dining
2Stouffer's
American brand of frozen prepared foods. Frasier humorously imagines them becoming frozen entrées for wolves (spelled 'Stoafer's' in the transcript).
“By morning we'll be Stoafer's Frozen Entrées for wolves!”— Frasier
Sushi
Traditional Japanese cuisine consisting of vinegared rice with various toppings or fillings, typically seafood.
“we could catch a matinee, and then go out for sushi, and stay well within the same theme music”— Frasier
Historical Figure
1Literature
2Moby-Dick
1851 novel by Herman Melville about Captain Ahab's obsessive pursuit of a white whale; its famous opening line is "Call me Ishmael."
“Call me Ishmael.”— Niles
Fielding's Geological History of Western Canada
fictionalA reference to what appears to be a fictional geological textbook Niles claims to have browsed.
“last night I was browsing through "Fielding's Geological History of Western Canada."”— Niles
Other
3Jeopardy!
American television quiz show where contestants select categories and dollar amounts; Frasier parodies its format with "I'll take... for five hundred."
“Oh, Alex, I'll take "Bodies of Water" for five hundred!”— Frasier
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
A fictional character from a long-running radio and TV series about a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the Yukon. Frasier alludes to this with 'Sergeant…
“this whole "Sergeant Niles of the Yukon" act”— Frasier
Cenozoic Era
The current geological era, beginning approximately 66 million years ago, during which many glacial formations occurred.
“Lake Nomahegan was formed by the retreat of several glaciers during the Cenozoic Era”— Niles
Philosophy/Psychology
1Theatre/Opera
5The Iceman Cometh
A 1946 play by Eugene O'Neill set in a New York saloon, exploring themes of self-deception and pipe dreams.
“they're doing a revival of "The Iceman Cometh" playing downtown! Now, you see, we could catch a matinee”— Frasier
Afternoon of a Faun
"Afternoon of a Faun" likely refers to "Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune" by Debussy and/or the ballet "L'Après-midi d'un faune" choreographed by Vaslav Nijins…
“After you've seen Maris's interpretive dance group perform "Afternoon of a Faun" in the east garden, the wilderness holds no terror.”— Niles
La Traviata
An 1853 opera by Giuseppe Verdi, which indeed contains the famous drinking song "Libiamo ne' lieti calici" (the Brindisi).
“there's a wonderful drinking song from "La Traviata" called, uh, "Libiamo Brindisi!"”— Frasier
Libiamo ne' lieti calici (Brindisi)
The famous drinking song from Verdi's La Traviata, sung at a party in Act I, often known simply as the Brindisi.
“there's a wonderful drinking song from "La Traviata" called, uh, "Libiamo Brindisi!"”— Frasier
Rigoletto
An 1851 opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Niles incorrectly claims the Brindisi is from Rigoletto rather than La Traviata.
“No, no, no, no, that's from "Rigoletto."”— Niles