what is a poly hot chi?

Question

I was watching Frasier the other day and they were talking about a porcelain sad clown figurine and they called it a poly hot chi. well at least i think thats what they called it. I didnt have the closed captioning on at the time. :( Any info would do. I tried to surf it but I came back empty handed.

Answer 1

It is the name of an opera : Pagliacci (pronounced poly-ot-chi). The composer s name is Leoncavallo and he composed this opera in 1892.

Characters:
Canio [ Pagliaccio in the play ], Tenor, head of a troupe of strolling players
Nedda [ Colombina ], Soprano, wife of Canio
Beppe [ Arlechino ], Tenor, a clown
Tonio [ Taddeo ], Baritone, a clown
Silvio, Baritone, a villager
Villagers.

Plot:
A troupe of traveling actors is being welcomed by villagers and after the welcome, Canio thanks them and invites them to the show that evening. A villager jokes about Tonio's interest in Nedda and Canio's mood turns extremely dark as he tells them it would not be tolerated. The locals leave for church to celebrate the Assumption. Alone, Nedda reflects on the fierceness of Canio's jealousy. Tonio enters and tries to declare his love for her. She insults him repeatedly and beats him with a whip. No sooner has he left than Silvio, her lover, enters and they talk lovingly with each other. Tonio comes in unnoticed and observes them. He rushes from the scene and brings back Canio. Silvio slips away and Canio demands his name from Nedda. She refuses and Canio becomes violent. Beppe intervenes reminding Canio of their upcoming performance. The air remains charged with rage as Canio slowly puts on his make-up. After a brief Intermezzo, the crowd is seated and waiting for the show to begin. Colombina [ Nedda ] brings another man home to eat with her since her husband Pagliaccio [ Canio ] is away for the evening. He returns home early and interrupts the two. Reality and stage become intertwined for Canio and Nedda as Canio's rage drives the opera to it's tragic close.

Answer 2

This skit is a reference to the song Tears of a Clown by Smokey Robinson. The particular part of the song goes like this:
Just like Pagliacci did
I try to keep my surface hid
Smiling in the crowd I try
But in a lonely room I cry
The tears of a clown

If you Google Pagliacci you will find a lot of information on this Operatic character.

Answer 3

'Chi' is noun and means the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine. Poly means multiple and hot is hot. So poly hot chi may mean multiple active life forces or medicines.