The Frasier reboot finally appears to be going ahead. However, fans are wondering if any original cast members, besides Kelsey Grammer, will feature.
The original show, a spinoff from Cheers, ran from 1993-2004. In a new interview with People, Grammar, 67, says rehearsal for the reboot will begin in February. He revealed the show will find the psychiatrist at a new stage in his life, living in a new city.
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Grammer confirmed that gay actor David Hyde Pierce, who played his brother, Niles, is not returning. And it doesn’t sound like anyone else will be, either.
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Besides Pierce, one of the other main characters was Frasier’s father, played by John Mahoney. He died in 2018.
“We’ve been working on it honestly for about six or seven years,” Grammar said of the Paramount+ reboot. “It’s been on the slow burner. We were like, this is not a bad idea. Maybe this is a good idea!”
Then Hyde Pierce bowed out of the project.
“David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles,” says Grammer. This prompted producers to rethink the direction of the show and to relocate Frasier somewhere new.
“In a very funny way, it just took us to a new place, which was what we originally wanted to do anyway, which was a Fraser third act,” he explains. “It’s an entirely new life for him.”
“He’s our brave little soldier that continues on in life, finding new challenges and a new love and new people and a new city and stuff like that,” Grammer said.
“I’m really very excited about it, and we’ll certainly always honor the past. We have to honor the fact that John Mahoney died and that Martin is no longer with us. We’ll be dealing with that for sure.”
The best of Niles
We’ll reserve judgement on the new show until we see it. That said, we can’t help feeling Niles will be missed.
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blackhook
Kelsey Grammer is a beyond-hypocritical, unapologetic, extremist, right-wing, anti-choice Tea Party Republican.
“Grammer credits his religion for helping him through with his struggles with alcohol and drug use.” LMFAO @ this strange freak.
Oh & Frasier SUCKED!
Man About Town
I give him a pass, considering the huge number of personal tragedies he’s been through.
thebaddestbabby
Frasier most certainly did not suck
SpoogeSF
Kelsey is insufferable, but Frasier is one of the best written, best acted sitcoms ever. So much for charity from our community.
humble charlie
kelsey grammar’s forehead needs a foil. perhaps a baseball bat.
San Diego boy
Niles should get his own show, he was terrific recently as Julia Child’s husband on the show about the birth of her television show on the Boston PBS station before it went national and she became a national treasure. The show is available on HBO Max.
Jack Meoff
Wow how much work has Grammer had done he looks shiny and plastic.
inbama
Despite being titled “Frazier,” the show was very much an ensemble piece, and it was Niles, Daphne, Lilith, his father and his dog Eddie who were actually beloved.
andrewl
Until recently I had never watched Frasier and had only seen a few part episodes. I didn’t particularly like it but most of all I thought Niles was insufferable (I think I saw a bit too much of me in him!). Recently though I have been watching Frasier episodes and I enjoy it immensely and most of all I now love Niles Crane Burns. He has principles, he has character, loving and self aware. I now find myself wishing I could be more like him!
thebaddestbabby
I dunno, I’m doing a rewatch and am getting into season 4 right now. I love David Hyde Pierce, but I think the writers didn’t really know what to do with Niles a lot of the time. There’s too much of Niles getting horny for Daphne, tbh.
Jim
Frasier reboot, if it happens will be short lived.
still_onthemark
The comically hetero-macho Bulldog character on ‘Frasier’ was played by a gay actor, Dan Butler.
Ronbo
And still when I picture a redheaded stud I’d like to buck, Dan Butler remains the iconic go to dream machine.
Terrycloth
Fraiser was pompous ass Niles was worse…never understood why people liked it..Fraizer was better in.small does like Cheers
m
Pass as Grammer is right wing asshat! I’m so done with right wing people.
abfab
And it was all pre-Starbucks…..oh the horrors.
wikidBSTN
Frazier was an excellent show! And both Frazier AND Niles came across as “stereotypically” gay.
thebaddestbabby
They had to use Gil, the food critic, as a foil so that Frasier and Niles would appear, by contrast, as plausible heterosexuals. A Gil-foil you might say…
Paulie P
Without Roz and Daphne the show will be unwatchable. Frazier in a new city dealing with millennial schtick will be good for one episode.
And for the love of God do not have Lilith make an appearance.
RIGay
Frasier was a great show when it first came on the air, but after around the 7 season, it really ran out of steam. The scripts felt rehashed and stale. I was surprised it lasted 11 seasons! But in all honesty, DHP carried the show. He was superb as Niles on every level.
But much like “The Bob Newhart Show” and then “Newhart” (which had the most hysterical and incredible series finale!), if it’s a new show, a new title, then perhaps it will be worth a chance.
1898
i loved “Frasier” when it was on the air. it was definitely in my top 5 favorite sitcoms. i recently watched a few episodes and i noticed that the comedy hasn’t held up as well as the comedy from other old sitcoms like Seinfeld, Golden Girls, or even animated sitcoms from that era like King of the Hill
despite my very strong negative feelings toward Kelsey Grammer, i love the idea of a Frasier reboot… but i *hate* the idea of a Frasier reboot without Niles, Daphne, and Roz
Toofie
Not sure how well this will do. Nostalgia shows restarting after a decade or 2 off the air have run out of steam (Will & Grace, X-Files, Murphy Brown, Punky Brewster, etc.). Plus what demographic would it appeal to? They’ll be lucky to squeak out one season.
PhillyProud
Eh, I never watched the show just for Frazier. Frazier was the pasta, everyone else was the sauce that made it taste good. I might watch an episode. But no Roz!? Dauphne!? Or Niles!!!??? Without the ensemble, Frazier wasn’t nearly as much fun, either on Cheers or Frazier.
Bromancer7
Thing is, the original was an ensemble show. Without the rest of the cast this one is gonna tank hard. Grammer doesn’t have the charisma to carry his own show.
Kangol2
Not a fan at all of Grammer, and without the supporting cast they might as well just leave this on the drawing board.
mr_r
Aw. My favourite part of Frasier was the dynamic between him and Niles. Still looking forward to the reboot.
bachy
I am 100% down to see this! I loved Frasier – and the rest of the cast – but if they’ve got good writers I am sure they can pull it off. My favorite episodes focused on Frasier’s disastrous courtships of beautiful women.
Jane Leeves (Daphne) went on to star in an equally hilarious sitcom: Hot in Cleveland, another huge favorite. The other actors just kind of faded away.
dbmcvey
Frasier was the least interesting character on the show.