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Feeble Attraction

‘Feeble Attraction’

Season 8, Episode 11 -  Aired December 7, 1989

After Norm fires his secretary, Doris (Cynthia Stevenson), she becomes infatuated with him and won't stop following him around. Meanwhile, Robin surprises Rebecca with an antique desk, and Woody wins a radio call-in.

Quote from Woody

Host: [on radio] Mr. Boyd, what was the coldest day in Boston's history?
Woody: [on the phone] Well, you don't really care. You're just like all the rest.
Carla: Woody, tell him.
Woody: All right. The coldest day in Boston's history is January 12, 1981.
Host: Mr. Boyd, you've won our grand prize!
Carla: All right!
Woody: The winds were westerly at 20 miles per hour.
Host: You'll be staying...
Woody: Interestingly enough, the coldest day in Boston's history did not start out that way.
Host: ...home of the world-famous mahi-mahi burger.
Woody: The barometric pressure was hovering...
Host: Hey, weatherman, shut up!
Woody: Not till I'm finished.
Carla: [on the phone] Give me that. He'll be right down to pick up his prize.
Woody: What did I win, a t-shirt?
Carla: Woody, you're going to Hawaii.
Woody: I'm going to Hawaii? It's not cold there, suckers!

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Quote from Norm

Frasier: How you doing there, Norm?
Norm: Uh, kind of at loose ends, a little bit, you know? Just feels strange not having that sad, pathetic creature following me around all time.
Frasier: Doris kind of grew on you, huh?
Norm: Oh, no. I meant Cliff.

Quote from Norm

Pete: I'm telling you guys, Davy Crockett was the greatest American hero. question.
Norm: Come on! Man, he deserted his wife and kids and one of the worst absentee records in the history congress.
Pete: Well, who's your hero?
Norm: Bambino. Babe Ruth. Sultan of Swat. Built Yankee Stadium.
Cliff: Come on, stop, will ya? From what I hear, the guy was a glutton, a regular eating-and-drinking machine.
Norm: Oh, who am I supposed to pattern my life after, Gandhi?

Quote from Norm

Woody: Oh, boy. Hey, everybody, guess what. I was reading "The Farmer's Almanac." Guess what. This is an historical day. This is the second coldest day in the history of Boston.
Norm: Yeah.
Woody: And don't you want to know when the coldest day in the history of Boston...
Norm: Uh, Woods, things are pretty boring around here, but I don't think we've quite sunk that low yet, OK?
Rebecca: Guess what, you guys. Robin Colcord bought me a new desk.
Norm: So when was the coldest day in the history of Boston, Wood?
Woody: Interestingly enough, the coldest day in Boston's history did not start out that way. Yeah, it started out relatively warm, but then, by noon, the temperature began to drop.
Norm: So, you got a new desk, huh?
Cliff: [enters] Hey, Normie, you want to see where the Flannigans' dog almost bit me?
Norm: Well, congratulations, Cliff. You have just won the Boston Bore-Athon.

Quote from Norm

Norm: Anyway, she's on her way over here. I got to finish this puppy.
Sam: Well, what do you got so far there?
Norm: I got... All right. "To whom it may concern, Doris..." And then there's this big middle chunk that I'm still working on. Then I close with, "And I hope the Red Sox win the Pennant. Norm Peterson." That's how I end all my correspondences.
Frasier: Actually, Norm, you have to use upbeat adjectives like, um... Oh, hardworking, loyal, professional...
Norm: Good. Good, good, good.
Cliff: How about prompt?
Norm: Ooh, prompt. Cliffie, all right.
Frasier: If I might make a suggestion, too, why don't you write it on stationery instead of a cocktail napkin?

Quote from Frasier

Norm: All right, guys. I think I got a good start on this. I open up with all that courtesy crap, and then I go, "I'm sorry to let Doris go. No reflection on her. She's a fine worker. And I'm sure she'll be an asset to any company.
May the Red Sox..." Yada-yada. Norm Peterson.
Sam: That's good.
Norm: Yeah.
[Doris enters wearing a yellow raincoat]
Norm: Uh-oh. Oh, there she is.
Frasier: My God, he's going to fire the Morton Salt girl.

Quote from Woody

Man: Could I please just have my beer?
Woody: All right, but just guess. What was the coldest day in the history of Boston?
Man: Am I gonna have to talk to the manager?
Woody: She don't know.

Quote from Carla

Rebecca: Guys, guys. Robin just faxed me this message about the desk. "Dear Rebecca, by now, you've received your desk. You should know that it has a hidden secret that's going to make you very happy. But don't look for it, because I want to be there to share the surprise. I will give you one hint. The key word is... Ring." It's a ring, Carla. There is a ring hidden in that desk. Isn't that romantic?
Carla: My ex-husband hid my engagement ring in an X-rated soap on a rope. He scrubbed me raw for two hours before I found it. Now, that's magic time.

Quote from Frasier

Frasier: I have had it with giving out this free psychological advice. It's bad enough I do it as a living. I mean, I have to come to the bar and do it here, too? I'm not about to analyze this poor, pitiful creature who obviously is suffering from a very low self-image and finds in you a validation of her sense of self in her own personality. Damn it, I did it again!
Norm: So what you're saying is that I basically appeal to her desperate nature?
Frasier: Clinically speaking, she'd go for anything that could lumber up to her under its own power.
Norm: OK, now, how do I get rid of her?
Frasier: Well, try building up her self-confidence. If she feels better about herself, she'd be less inclined to degrade herself by going for the likes of you. I mean no offense. I mean, when I say, "the likes of you," I don't mean you personally. Just any unappealing, go-nowhere loser.
Norm: So why should I take offense?
Frasier: Good man.

Quote from Cliff

Norm: No, Doris, I didn't write the damn letter, OK? I mean, I wrote the part about the Red Sox, but the other guys, they helped me with it. Cliff- Cliff wrote the word "prompt," didn't you, Cliffie?
Cliff: Oh, yeah, you bet.
Doris: Wow. And you don't even know me. Although, maybe in a way, you do.
Norm: Ooh, ooh. Red light. Red light, Cliff.
Cliff: Oh, what's the matter?
Norm: Frasier, come on, tell him. Come on!
Frasier: All right, but after this, you're on the clock. Cliff, you may think that you're getting involved in a nice conversation with this girl, but believe me, she will read volumes into everything you say and do.
Norm: Cliffie, it's like she's a zombie love slave, just willing to do anything to serve her man. You understand what I'm saying?
Cliff: Oh, yeah. Crystal clear. I got a live one. I don't even have to buy her a drink.

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