The X-Files third season had many standout episodes, and several them were Darin Morgan scripted, including the Emmy-winning 'Clyde Bruckmans Final Repose', which walked the line between broad comedy and bittersweet drama. Morgan's 'War Of The Coprophages', however was just plain nuts.

A vacationing Mulder learns of several deaths in the community of Millers Grove, Massachusetts...and somehow cockroaches seem to responsible. Aided by sexy roach expert Dr. Bambi Berenhaum and, eventually, Scully, Mulder investigates an increasing bizarre case that involves a Stephen Hawking-ish genius, robotic bugs from outer space and an exploding manure plant.

A wonderfully outlandish Morgan script and witty direction by Kim Manners help make this one of the best comic episodes in the shows history...and one hell of a education on the topic of cockroaches.

Directing human actors is one thing, but, as Manners discovered, directing insects is another thing entirely. "I've never directed cockroaches before, and I found it very interesting. I actually had cockroaches and actors in scenes together, and I've got to tell you, we had the most uncanny luck with these bugs. It was unbelievable; I would set up a shot, where we would have to have a bug stay in one area--if it moved a little to the left, it would be out of frame--and it stayed right there. I would do sots where I would dolly in on an actor sitting on the can, and I would move in and over, and the cockroaches on cue would come up between the wall and the toilet, and scurry on top of the toilet tank."

The director has fond memories of the show, and of one particular scene. "There are some great comedic moments in that show. Gillian was very funny in one sequence, in a mini-mart, where she comes in looking for a road map, and people are panicking because roaches have infected this town. They're buying up supplies as though there's an earthquake, and then they're getting out of town, and she has a really great Barney Fife moment, where she calms everybody down. It was a lot of fun."

Bobbi Phillips guest appearance as Bambi the entomologist was something that the young actress (best known for her work as Julie Costello on the riveting Murder One), had hoped for, although didn't expect what she'd have to do on the show. "I made a list of 10 shows for my agent and asked him to get me a guest-starring role on any of them," recalls Phillips. "The next week, I got an audition for The X-Files. I was so excited because it was one of my favorite shows, but it ended up being a comedy episode. I said, 'Wait, what do you mean? It's supposed to be scary!' I didn't understand how they could do a comedy. So I was nervous going to do it because it was a show I loved so much, and because I wasn't playing a scary part. I was freaked out that the name of my character was Dr. Bambi! I thought it was going to be horrible. But I did it, then I got back to Murder One and thought, 'Ok, my career is over as soon as that airs. Everyone is going to hate me.' Darin Morgan was saying, 'What are you talking about? It's great!' And it was. I went from thinking my career was over to getting a lot of fan mail from it."

The near-romance between Mulder and Bambi caused a stir amongst many X-fans, and Phillips felt the effects. "There was no love scene between Mulder and me, but people saw the episode as if there was something going on between us. Many of the letters said, 'Nothing personal, but stay away from Mulder!' That made me laugh, because there was just that little underlying spark. It's not like we started dating."