5 Reasons Why 'A Lilith Thanksgiving' Is The Best Frasier Episode

It's a new week after Thanksgiving 2023, but we're still fighting the aftertaste of turkey and cranberry sauce. Hopefully your holiday was enjoyable as well. But let's just say that it's not all about the food – special TV episodes of our beloved shows are a big part of Thanksgiving Day.

In this regard, Frasier is no exception. During its eleven-year run, the NBC sitcom had several Thanksgiving episodes, but the one titled A Lilith Thanksgiving remains the ultimate fan favorite.

Here are just five reasons why.

Stellar Cast

The seventh episode of season 4 of Frasier boasts a star-studded cast that includes the sitcom's regulars like Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Jane Leeves, and Peri Gilpin, the show's recurring star Bebe Neuwirth, as well as many guest stars like Paxton Whitehead, Lisa Banes, and Jane Lynch. These actors make for a potent brew of talent and hilarity in which this episode is cooked.

Plenty of Conflict

As the title of the episode suggests, this episode revolves around B. Neuwirth's character, Frasier's ex-wife Lilith, meaning it's full of the tension and conflict that the two always have when they're around each other. Since Drs. Crane and Sternin seem to be full of spite for each other, they taunt each other with some of the best jokes and retorts on the entire show.

The Turkey Joke

While A Lilith Thanksgiving undoubtedly has many funny moments and amusing jokes, the hilarity surrounding the festive turkey in this episode is unmatched. First and foremost, Niles' obsession with cooking it right is gag-worthy, but his witty and self-deprecating remarks about it are even more enjoyable.

'I have a turkey so undercooked, a skilled veterinarian might still save him,' is the line that's stuck with millions of Frasier fans, and it's clear why.

Adorable Eddy

Frasier's canine arch-nemesis is a big part of the episode's atmosphere. Eddy is simply adorable in A Lilith Thanksgiving. And even though he doesn't say a word (he's a dog, duh), he's crucial to the story, as his presence adds some fun to the scene. And again, just look at his pretty glowing eyes – this episode needs nothing more to be great!

David Hyde Pierce's Performance

Going back to Niles' antics in this episode, it's worth mentioning that they would have been so fun and funny to watch if it weren't for D.H. Pierce, who played the character in the original series. Perhaps that is why viewers of Paramount+'s Frasier revival miss the actor so much and want to bring him back to the revamped sitcom.