Frasier is a classic, a sitcom that had to live in the shadow of pop culture phenomena like Seinfeld and then Friends, but brought home an unprecedented five consecutive Emmys for Best Comedy Series. The Kelsey Grammer vehicle won 37 Emmys in total, more than any other sitcom in television history. So why bring back the last great sitcom with a laugh track that went off on such a high and respected note? Well, networks and stars do what they do when the well begins to dry up, and the phone stops ringing—go back to better days.
The story follows Grammer’s Frasier, now a celebrity after succeeding in the profession of television psychiatry. The good doctor returns to Boston to visit his estranged son, Freddy (Oppenheimer’s Jack Cutmore-Scott), who is now a firefighter. As Freddy avoids his attempts to connect, Frasier calls an old college chum from Oxford, Alan (the legendary Nicholas Lyndhurst). He’s a professor at Frasier’s alma mater, Harvard.
Alan’s boss, Olivia (Fatal Attraction’s Toks Olagundoye), recognizes Crane’s value and offers him a professorship position. However, he has no plans to stay in Boston and plans on leaving after things with his son are settled. Most of the pilot’s plot revolves around why Freddy has stayed away from his father and avoided his grandfather’s funeral. In classic Frasier fashion, a misunderstanding begins to snowball involving Freddy’s quirky friend, Eve (The Expanse’s Jess Salgueiro).
The first five episodes were screened for critics, and the show smartly tries to bridge the gap between the original finale by paying tribute to the late John Mahoney’s character, Martin. Then, at the very least, it evokes a connection for lifelong fans of the series as well as being relatable to newer ones.
This also goes for the revival’s characters, who are recycled from the original. That’s nothing new and has been a crutch for showrunners for years. (The creators of The Office come to mind in this regard). Here, it’s evident the writers are forcing Freddy into a blue-collar Martin type. This difference is replacing the profession of a cop with a firefighter to recreate that famous comedic friction. The issue is that Cutmore-Scott is no match for the late John Mahoney’s cantankerous charms.
The similarities do not stop with characters in the Frasier universe, as they recycle our favorites into other roles. For example, Lyndhurst’s Alan is the funniest supporting character, with quick and clever retorts. Alan is the pompous intellectual mirror that Niles represented in the original. Olivia shows some “thirsty” behavior toward Freddy, evoking Roz-like tendencies.
Eve is a Daphne inspiration, full of hippy eccentricities. They replaced the local coffee shop with a new hangout, a bar named Mahoney’s (what a thoughtful tribute). Even Anders Keith’s David, Frasier’s nephew, will remind you of Eddie, the original’s famous pooch. That’s because the character seems to serve no purpose other than to be a loyal lapdog to his cousin and uncle.
Another issue is the excessive laugh track the series utilizes, which borders on absurd. There’s nothing wrong with Frasier using this because the series has always been written as a theater piece that allows a small beat to wait for the audience’s reaction. The problem is that the boisterous clapping, hooting, and howling over the minor cracks ultimately takes you out of the experience.
This revival is much like that episode of Frasier where Woody returns in “The Show Where Woody Shows Up.” Yes, you know their faces and some of the names. However, instead of wondering why you loved the series, this version reminds you of what we once had. Then, how we may never have it again. Unfortunately, Frasier is perhaps a victim of its lofty standards. Sure, it’s nowhere near the Mount Rushmore standard of the original. However, the revival begins to find its swing in the episodes “Trivial Pursuits” and “The Founders Society.”
That means the new Frasier has potential. By the fourth and fifth episodes, you’ll notice some clever wordplay. Lyndhurst is hilarious and develops into a stronger character with some emotional notes that Grammer can play off of to connect on a deeper level. Also, high society’s situational comedy and satirical elements begin to shape into something noteworthy.
This Frasier needs a few minor tweaks where the writing and cast can begin to relax into their roles. For now, the revival is a slightly above-average comedy. This is a series that can be thoughtful and funny and has the potential to be better as the season progresses.
Fraiser will debut on October 12, 2023, exclusively on Paramount+.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz–6tGukuw]
The revival of Frasier is thoughtful and funny, but is trying too hard to regain its classic form.
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Frasier (2023)
I am a film and television critic and a proud member of the Las Vegas Film Critic Society, Critics Choice Association, and a 🍅 Rotten Tomatoes/Tomato meter approved. However, I still put on my pants one leg at a time, and that’s when I often stumble over. When I’m not writing about movies, I patiently wait for the next Pearl Jam album and pass the time by scratching my wife’s back on Sunday afternoons while she watches endless reruns of California Dreams. I was proclaimed the smartest reviewer alive by actor Jason Isaacs, but I chose to ignore his obvious sarcasm. You can also find my work on InSession Film, Ready Steady Cut, Hidden Remote, Music City Drive-In, Nerd Alert, and Film Focus Online.
