Frasier, the award-winning sitcom that aired from 1993 to 2004, is being revived at Paramount+. After years of speculation about a possible reboot, news of a continuation was officially revealed during Paramount+'s Investor Day event, being one of the many properties about to be revamped for the streaming service.
During its original run on NBC, Frasier was one of the most acclaimed sitcoms on the air, garnering heaps of accolades, including 37 Emmy Awards. Although story and cast details are still sparse on the revival, let's explore what we know so far about the return of the series.
Who Is Frasier Crane?
Frasier Crane first appeared in the sitcom Cheers, where he was introduced as a love-interest for Shelley Long's Diane Chambers. Characterized as a snobbish, yet neurotic psychiatrist, he beat the odds to become a beloved main character and staple barfly at the titular watering hole. He went on to marry, have a son with and then divorce fellow psychiatrist Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth).
After Cheers ended, NBC green-lit a spin-off show focusing on Frasier's life after his divorce from Lilith. At the start of the eponymous spin-off, Frasier moves from Boston to his hometown of Seattle to pursue a career as a radio psychiatrist. He ends up taking in his ex-cop father Martin (John Mahoney), who is the exact opposite of him in almost every way. Other main characters included Frasier's radio producer Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), his equally snobby brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce), live-in physical therapist/housekeeper Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) and Martin's dog Eddie. Many of the show's plotlines involved Frasier's hilariously dismal love-life and endless competitions with Niles. However, by the end of the series, it appeared as though Frasier had finally found the one in Charlotte (Laura Linney).
The Cast of the Revival
Kelsey Grammar is the only cast member confirmed for the reboot thus far, though rumors claim that many of the original cast members --including David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin -- will return to reprise their roles. This is welcome news for longtime fans, as original reports suggested that the revival would have a brand-new supporting cast. Sadly, the only main cast member unable to reprise their role is John Mahoney, who passed away in 2018.
Frasier's Release Date
Paramount's Investor's Day event did not reveal a release date for the revival. However, considering the restrictions of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the fact that Kelsey Grammer is set to star in an ABC sitcom alongside Alec Baldwin, it's unlikely the series will release in 2021.
Regardless of when it releases, though, Grammer's hints about the reboot wanting to explore Frasier Crane's "third act" sound promising for the beloved character's future escapades on Paramount+.