Frasier
Frasier was an American sitcom that ran from 1993-2004. Starring Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Janes Leeves and Peri Gilpin, it boasted a stellar cast. What some people forget about the show, is that it's actually a spin-off. The most successful spin-off of all time yes, but a spin-off nonetheless. The main character of Frasier actually started out on another famous show, Cheers.
Cheers ran from 1982-1993. The show had a large cast of principal characters. The ones best remembered apart from Kelsey Grammer are probably Ted Danson (Sam Malone), Shelley Long (Diane Chambers), Rhea Perlman (Carla Tortelli), Woody Harrelson (Woody Boyd), John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) and George Wendt (Norm Peterson). Another character was Frasier's wife. Lilith, played by Bebe Neuwirth. The series Frasier started when Frasier and Lilith divorced. Frasier left Boston and moved back to his hometown of Seattle.
In the first episode of Frasier, we learn that he has found a job as a radio psychiatrist and moved into an amazing apartment with a beautiful view. We are briefly introduced to Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin) Frasier's producer on his show and then are introduced to the rest of the principal characters.
Frasier Crane
"I'm listening."
Frasier is a psychiatrist who moves back to Seattle from Boston after divorcing his wife, Lilith. He gets a job as a radio psychiatrist on a call-in show where people call in with their problems and he gives them advice. He has a son with Lilith, Frederick, who visits him and is visited by Frasier. While many of the episodes feature things that happen to Frasier, there are episodes which have a story focussing more on the other characters. Kelsey Grammer directed the episode "Moon Dance" which focused on Niles and Daphne and Frasier was absent for the majority of the show and only appeared for approximately two minutes.
The Brother: Niles Crane
"It is possible to move a relationship along too fast and ultimately marry too hastily. You could find a few years down the line that the person isn't really right for you, and then what happens if you meet the right person, someone who REALLY EXCITES you and makes you feel ALIVE, but you can't ACT upon it because you're TRAPPED in a STALE, albeit comfortable MARIS...marriage"
Frasier's younger brother, Niles Crane, was played by David Hyde Pierce. The producers of the show said that Niles was essentially Frasier if he'd never left Seattle. Niles is a psychiatrist who is married to a wealthy but cold woman named Maris. Although Maris is mentioned and referenced often in the show, the audience never sees her. Although Niles and Maris genuinely love each other, their marriage is fraught with many problems, including Niles' attraction to another woman. Although Niles is faithful to Maris, he does fall in love with someone else. Throughout the series, Niles and Frasier often turn to each other for advice. Their relationship is close but their competitiveness leads to some fights between the two. Like all characters, Niles changes as the season progresses, he forms a good friendship with Roz and becomes more confident and self-sufficient.
The Father: Martin Crane
"I used to think there was some sort of mix-up at the hospital when Frasier was born. Of course, when Niles came along, it shot that theory all to hell"
Played by John Mahoney (who sadly passed away in 2018) Martin Crane is a retired cop who walks with a cane due to being shot in the hip when trying to stop an armed robbery. In the first episode, he moves in with Frasier, Frasier and Niles believing he is not well enough to live alone. Frasier and Niles have a difficult relationship with their father partly due to the fact the boys have little in common with him. As the series progresses relationships improve and all three are very close. Martin has several relationships during the show, often with women the boys don't like. He is often the one to get Frasier and Niles to calm down and be rational when they over-complicate situations.
The Physical Therapist: Daphne Moon
"I must confess, I'm a bit psychic. It's nothing big. Just little things I sense about people. I mean, it's not like I could pick the lottery. If I could I wouldn't be talking to the likes of you two now, would I?"
Both Daphne Moon and the actress who played her, Jane Leeves, are from England. Leeves put on a Manchester accent for the character of Daphne. Daphne is hired by Frasier to assist him in taking care of his father and to give Martin physical therapy to help with his hip and mobility. Daphne is also essentially a housekeeper as she does the chores around the house and cooks meals. Daphne moves in with Frasier and Martin in episode one and they gradually become very close and consider each other family. Daphne is unknowingly the object of Niles' affections from the moment they meet. He often describes her to Frasier as an angel and/or Venus. Daphne and Roz become best friends quite quickly and maintain a close friendship throughout the series. Daphne believes she is psychic and has feelings and visions. This aspect of her character is downplayed as the show progresses.
The Producer: Roz Doyle
“If you ask me, it's divorced people you want to watch out for. If someone's never been married, it might just mean they're a careful shopper, whereas your divorce will buy any old piece of fruit without even giving it a squeeze first.”
Roz is Frasier's producer and soon becomes his friend. The role was originally given to Lisa Kudrow (who later became Phoebe in Friends) but it didn't work so Peri Gilpin was cast. Roz is a promiscuous, outspoken woman with a good heart. She seems to prefer having fun rather than settling down. Although she meets a few men she has relationships rather than flings with, she remains single most of the time. She is unattached at the end of the series. Roz forms close relationships with all the characters, though she and Niles don't like each other in the beginning they later become friends.
The Dog: Eddie
"Woof!"
Eddie is Martin's dog and Martin refers to him as "my best friend" in episode one. Eddie was played by a dog named Moose. Eddie is exceptionally well trained. He often stares at Frasier which irritates the latter. As Eddie, Moose performed many tricks on the shoe including a safety demonstration, rolling over, jumping and barking in warning of people almost being home to alert Daphne (who was shirking her housekeeping duties) and Frasier and Niles (when they had rifled through a strangers satchel). Eddie was a main member of the cast for all eleven seasons and is some people's favourite character.
Recurring characters
The Ex Wife: Lilith Sternin
"I'm here for a convention, and I happened to hear your voice on the radio. I kept hoping you'd introduce Pearl Jam's latest hit but, much to my chagrin, you were doling out worthless little advice pellets from your psychiatric Pez dispenser."
Lilith appears in 12 episodes of Frasier and appears in every season except season 6. She has custody of her and Frasier's son, Frederick and lives with him in Boston. Frasier has visitation rights. Frasier and Lilith have an amicable relationship and respect each other as parents, individuals and psychiatrists. They often turn to each other for advice. Lilith first appears in the season 1 episode 'The Show Where Lilith Comes Back'. Her half-brother, Blaine, appears in the season 9 episode 'Wheels of fortune, played by Michael Keaton. Lilith is played by actress, singer and dancer Bebe Neuwirth.
The Son: Frederick Crane
"It worked! All I did was tap into my parents' feelings of inadequacy and they crumbled."
Frederick Crane is the son of Frasier and Lilith. He appeared in Cheers played by twins Christopher and Kevin Graves. In 1995 he appeared in Frasier played by Luke Tarsitano and from 1996-2003 was played by Trevor Einhorn. Frederick appears in 9 episodes of Frasier. When he is little he has a crush on Daphne, much to Niles' chagrin. His crush on Daphne lasts for several seasons but he eventually gets over it. Frederick is Jewish through Lilith and Frasier's family all attend his Bar Mitzvah. Frederick's final appearance is in the season 11 episode 'High Holidays' in which he has become a goth. Frederick only appears once in every season and that is because it was a stipulation Kelsey Grammer had for making Frasier as he doesn't like children.
There were other recurring characters such as Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe, who hosts a sports show at the same radio station as Frasier, and Kenny Daily, Frasier's boss in later seasons, but Lilith and Frederick are the main ones. One thing that often happened in Frasier was a character from Cheers making an appearance. Like the first Lilith episode, they were titled: The Show Where (Name) Comes back. These characters were Sam Malone, Dianne Chambers (with whom Frasier had a relationship during Cheers) and Woody. In an episode in which Frasier and his family travel to Boston for a talk Frasier is giving, they run into the character Cliff Clavin who believes they're there for his retirement party and at the party the family meets Carla and Norm.
Frasier is a more grown-up show than sitcoms such as Friends. The jokes are clever and, perhaps because the show's creators are LGBT friendly and crew members and David Hyde Pierce are gay, there are no real gay jokes. There are a couple but they are not offensive and do not cause the characters any crisis or fear. The first actually appears to be an in-joke as it is aimed at Niles, David Hyde Pierce's character
Frasier is a sitcom that is still regularly aired (in England it is slightly edited and shown as part of a morning segment on Channel 4) and watched by many people. There has been talk of a reboot (which fans are strongly against) and even a reunion. A reunion would be bittersweet as John Mahoney is no longer with us but no definite plan seems to be in motion. Of course, like the Friends reunion episode, it may be simply on hold due to Covid-19 but we can't be sure.
While Frasier is a little dated in some ways it is one of the few sitcoms that has aged well. While there is the lack of a main character that is gay (as seems to be almost the rule these days) there are gay characters in some episodes. It doesn't get bogged down in heavy storylines or standalone episodes that are unneeded. There is always a storyline they are following. The season opened well, everything is set up cleanly and it ended nicely tied up. While there was room for the story to continue all the characters began anew and it was a very definite finale. All the characters were likable and, as happens with shows like this, came to feel like a family I would love to see a reunion, even if it would be sad in many ways but a reboot? I honestly don't think it will work. There are some TV shows that you should really leave alone once they finish, this is one of them. All but one of the main actors didn't even have to audition, they were pre-approved for the characters, how often does that happen? I really think it's a show you should watch, it's very enjoyable. All in all, I only have good things to say about this show, it has become one of my favourites. As I was only five when it started and sixteen when it ended it has been through reruns and DVDs that I have come to love it but that is the beauty of television today. If you're looking for a good, American comedy show a little more sophisticated than Friends (Take what you want from the fact it lasted longer) look no further.
