Alex Carson
For over 15 years, fan have been anxiously awaiting a reboot of the hit show Frasier. That show, which ran on the NBC network for 11 seasons, aired it’s final episode on May 13 of 2004. The show itself was a continuation of the titular character’s exploits in the previous hit NBC series Cheers. The character was portrayed by Kelsey Grammer. Cheers introduced Frasier Crane as a temporary character before eventually promoting him to a series regular. It appears that television audiences have always loved Frasier Crane, and their love affair with the character looks as if it’s about to be reborn. It has recently been announced that a potential reboot of Frasier is in the works, on Paramount’s new streaming service, Paramount+. Now that a Frasier Reboot is happening, here’s what you should know!
Frasier initially appeared on the NBC network on September 16, 1993. The show was a spin-off of the show Cheers and revolved around the life of Frasier Crane, as portrayed by Kelsey Grammer. As well as the titular psychiatrist, the show also showcased his friends, family, and coworkers in the city of Seattle, Washington. Frasier had been introduced to Cheers as a love interest for the character of Diane Chambers, a main character of the show famously portrayed by actress Shelley Long. The original intention of the character was to add some drama to the relationship of Diane and series main character Sam Malone, played by Ted Danson. When Shelley Long was fired, Frasier Crane was kept on as a series regular due to the popularity of the character with television audiences. It was no surprise when this popularity lead to a spin-off soon after Cheers came to an end.
Although Frasier was technically a spin-off of Cheers, it soon became apparent to audiences that it was going to be a much different beast. Cheers appealed to the everyman, the type of blue collar worker that might become a regular of the titular bar in real life. In Cheers, the character of Frasier Crane caught on because of how he contrasted with the mostly middle class denizens of the bar. As a highbrow radio psychiatrist, Frasier’s interactions with the denizens of Cheers lead to some unique situations with the established characters of the show. However, when it came time for Frasier to take center stage in his own show, the tone was going to end up shifting considerably. Frasier ambitiously attempted a much more conceptual and dry-humored format, slightly more akin to a British sitcom than an American one. Along with other genre-bending sitcoms, such as Seinfeld, some feel Frasier represented a turning point in the complexity of television. If Cheers were the kind of show that Ted Danson’s Sam Malone might want to watch, Frasier was the type of show that Frasier Crane might want to watch.
The spin-off saw the character of Frasier make a clean break from his life in Cheers. His wife was written out of the story in the form of a divorce, and no other characters were set to make appearances. Conveniently, his wife retained sole custody of their son, Frederick. The setting of Boston, which Cheers wore on it’s sleeve, was to be replaced with that of Seattle, Washington. Frasier Crane was to move there after being offered a job, and he was never going to look back.
Along with a new setting, the show also brought with it plenty of new and interesting characters that audiences were soon going to fall in love with. These included Frasier’s family, friends, and coworkers. Perhaps most prominent were Frasier’s brother and father, played by David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney, respectively. In the show’s initial episodes, Frasier was looking forward to life as a bachelor before being forced to take in his retired father. His father, Martin, was a retired detective with mobility issues and a short temper. While Frasier’s upper-class ways brought an element of culture-clash to Cheers, Martin’s lowbrow ways brought an opposing culture-clash to it’s spin-off. Martin also brought with him his small dog, Eddie, who constantly posed a different kind of contrast to the cleanly and somewhat OCD-stricken Frasier.
Frasier hired a live-in nurse for his father who became a main character, and was written as a love interest for Frasier’s brother, Niles. Niles was a fellow psychiatrist who was routinely present, whether hanging around the Seattle apartment with their father or accompanying Frasier and waxing poetically about the events of the day. Although Niles was married when the series began, he fell for Daphne over the course of the series. Other notable characters included Frasier’s coworkers on his radio show, headed by his producer, Roz. If you’re enjoying this video so far, be sure to hit the like button to show your support! As well, subscribe to the channel if you’d like to be among the first to know when more content is on it’s way!
Despite it’s somewhat experimental tone, Frasier became a huge hit with audiences. Apparently, it was just what the doctored ordered. The show went on to last for 11 seasons, making it one of the longest-running sitcoms of all time. Over it’s run, the characters got into plenty of hijinks, including a good deal of reliable will-they-or-won’t-they tension between Niles and Daphne. In a novel choice, Niles wife, Maris, was never portrayed on screen, although her character served as a major conflict throughout the series. The classic irony of the show was that, despite being educated psychiatrists, both Frasier and his brother seemed completely inept at solving their own problems. Niles was often pushed around by his wife, and had a very hard time standing up for himself. Similarly, Frasier had a hard time standing up for himself when it came to his father, as well as other people.
By the time Frasier was cancelled in 2004, Kelsey Grammer had been portraying the character of Frasier Crane for 20 years. Since his introduction on Cheers in 1984, the character had become a part of the family for much of the television audience. For this reason, many were understandably upset to see him go. However, as the show’s actors became more and more popular outside of television, it simply became too expensive to keep producing new episodes. By the end of the show, Kelsey Grammer was receiving $1.6 million per episode. Although the show was still doing okay in the ratings, it’s high production cost simply made further production no longer feasible. Grammer suggested he was open to pay cuts to keep the show going, but that was only going to fix part of the problem. In the end, it appeared as if the show had reached it’s end… at least, for the time being.
Although Frasier ended it’s 11-season run in 2004, the character never died in the hearts of fans. As well, he never died in the heart of the actor who portrayed him. Kelsey Grammer routinely fought for the resurrection of the popular character, and it now appears that he may have finally won the battle. It has recently been announced that a Frasier reboot is in the works at Paramount. The reboot is to be an exclusive for their new streaming platform, Paramount+. Fans were understandably ecstatic at the news. However, the good news came with a caveat.
Since the end of Frasier in 2004, one of it’s stars has passed away. John Mahoney, who portrayed Frasier’s father, passed away in 2018. After having been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, the actor eventually passed away due to related complications. Because of this, any Frasier reboot will have to eschew the beloved character of Martin, Frasier and Niles’ father. While this is understandably a major concern for fans of the series and the character, Kelsey Grammer is optimistic that the new reboot can make it work.
Grammer likened the issue to the event of Nicholas Colasanto’s passing during the filming of Cheers. Nicholas Colasanto portrayed the character of Coach before his death in 1985. After his death, the show replaced him with up-and-coming actor Woody Harrelson. Woody, whose character shared his first name, became a huge hit with audiences. While his character brought a different energy than Coach did, it was an energy that the fans grew to welcome. Hopefully, the new Frasier reboot can find a similar solution for replacing the beloved character of Martin! In the meantime, fans and coworkers alike continue to pay their respects for the late character actor who portrayed him.
Over it’s 11-season run, over 260 episodes of Frasier were produced! Comment down below to share your personal favorite episode from the series, or if you have any ideas for story lines you’d like to see in the upcoming Paramount+ reboot. As always, like the video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way!
