By BILL BRIOUX
Toronto Sun
The straw that stirs the drink is Bebe Neuwirth, who guest stars as Frasier's flinty ex-wife, Lilith. Neuwirth, who won an Emmy for this role, seems to lift the entire cast, all of whom could probably mail in their performances by now.
Lilith is in Seattle to drop off son Frederick (guest star Trevor Einhorn) to spend Thanksgiving with his father Frasier (Kelsey Grammer). Then she's supposed to leave to visit a friend in Vancouver. "Do they even celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada?" asks Frasier. "They will when she leaves," says Roz (Peri Gilpin).
When Lilith's plans fall through, Frasier reluctantly invites her to spend Thanksgiving with the Cranes. Nobody seems too happy about this, especially Frasier's dad Martin (John Mahoney). Even Eddy the Dog seems spooked.
As usual, David Hyde Pierce as Niles gets off the best lines. Asked what he learned after his last encounter with Lilith, he deadpans, "When you kiss her too fast you get an ice cream headache."
The only one who seems happy his parents are back together is Frederick, who has his own agenda. He's the one who is behind this Apparent Trap, as the episode is titled.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Frasier at its best is that these characters can carry an entire show on virtually one set.
Frasier may have left the building, but he rarely, if ever, leaves that living room.