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When Frasier returns as a Paramount+ revival, it will do so without the titular radio host’s little brother. In a new interview, series star Kelsey Grammer is shedding some light on David Hyde Pierce‘s decision not to revisit his character from the long-running Cheers spinoff.
“David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles,” Grammer tells People.
in June, Pierce hinted to Vulture that he might not be down for the series’ continuation.
“That whole time of my life [doing Frasier] is deeply important to me. And I would never disrespect that in such a way as to say just offhandedly, ‘Oh, no, thanks. I’m not going to do that again.’ It’s too valuable to me,” he said at the time. “But by the same token, because it’s so valuable to me, I also wouldn’t do it just to do it. And I believe it can be done without me, too — finding new stories to tell, in the same way that Frasier did after Cheers.”
Grammer elaborates that Pierce’s decision not to revisit his lovably finicky alter ego wound up having an upside. “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 Frasier third act,” Grammer says in the interview. “It’s an entirely new life for him.”
The revival, which Paramount+ ordered in October, will find Frasier starting over in a new city among a new cast of characters. Grammer adds that the show will explain the absence of Niles, as well as that of original series mainstays Daphne and Roz. (John Mahoney, who played Frasier’s dad Martin Crane, passed away in 2018; Grammer has said the show will deal with that in its first episode.)
Frasier ran for 11 seasons and won five Best Comedy Series Emmys. In addition to starring in the revival, Grammer will serve as an executive producer alongside Chris Harris (How I Met Your Mother) and Joe Cristalli (Life In Pieces) writing the scripts. The series order reportedly is for 10 episodes.
This is a terrible idea. Don’t do it.
That is exactly what people were saying after Cheers
Even after Cheers when Kelsey pulled off Fraiser with all new actors/characters? I don’t see why he can’t do it again.
No problem, but they should have called the new series a spin-off rather than a revival. Otherwise it feels misleading.
Agreed.
Bummer. The show would already be a lot less without John Mahoney.
So the only original cast member will be Kelsey Grammer? That is a…choice, and not a good one.
Why? He was the only familiar character when the first show started.
Depending on the cast, it’s certainly possible lightning finds another bottle.
Shady of Tvline to have The Worst Reboot of All Time linked on article. lmao ;) This might join the list. Niles tagging along with Frazier was a big part on why the show was funny. I haven’t watched the show in years but all humorous memories I have of that show are Frazier and Niles interactions. Bad enough the dad sadly can’t be part of it. Rip.
I don’t blame DHP, I wouldn’t want to work with Kelsey either.
As if you’d be asked to!
God forbid people have opinions, right? Good thing you’ve never once commented on something that didn’t or couldn’t happen to you. What a hypocrite you’d turn out to be.
I still think they should go a slightly different route and make it an hour long “dramedy”, instead of a straight on sitcom revival. You can’t top perfection. They should come at it differently.
Good thing Kelsey also executive producers The Game on BET Plus.
That’s an excellent idea.
Ed Asner did that with ‘Lou Grant’ after ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ and it worked very well.
I don’t know if Grammer could pull off that transition though.
The more I hear about this revival the worse it starts to sound.
I’ll withhold judgement until it airs, but I will say I loved the supporting characters on Frasier more than I did the character of Frasier so I hope the supporting cast is as strong in this revival. And that David’s stance is in regards to being a series regular and he is still up for an appearance as I would love to see Frasier and Nile’s talk about the loss of their dad together. I hope Roz and Daphne appear too.
Great ideas.
Having David Hyde Pierce show up for an episode would be “must see TV” – even if the show is bad. Bebe Neuwirth too.
And is Shelley Long busy these days? Or George Wendt?
Keep in mind that the reason the supporting characters were so beloved was that Kelsey Grammer had no problem with them being the focus of a storyline and getting great jokes in the script, letting us get to know the characters and the actor’s talents (Niles ironing is classic!). If they get a talented supporting cast and let them fly in the reboot it could work.
I would hope for a guest spot a la cheers on frasier…
All I’m hearing is more story room for the return of Eddie!
This doesn’t sound good at all. We know what happened with Will & Grace revival
Niles and Eddie were my 2 favorite characters. Obviously, Eddie [RIP Moose & Enzo] and Martin [RIP John Mahoney] won’t be back, but without Niles, I don’t see a great outcome for this revival. Plus add the no-shows of Daphne & Roz & it sounds even less desirable to watch.
Sorry to say that I love for Niles FAR outstripped my love for Frasier. I won’t be tuning in.
They really need to give this show a name other than “frasier” or else people will never accept this iteration. It has the potential to be great if the supporting cast is strong enough. Frasier was not cheers and this is not frasier and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Never thought of that before – a title change would help with acceptance by viewers. (You deserve a bonus and an associate producer credit!)
The two funniest characters not in this Martin/Niles. I will pass .
I think this can work just as Frazier did after Cheers. It’s one of the few reboots after reboots worth a try.
I never really cared for Cheers, but I adored Frasier. I loved the entire ensemble cast of Frasier. For this new spinoff Frasier, it will need another strong supporting cast. After all, Frasier made it work the first time. I’ll really miss the old gang, though. Not sure I’ll turn in to the new one. We shall see.
Same!! I also didn’t care for Cheers but Frasier was the classiest of tv comedies! Watching an episode was like watching an act of a play–each one was expertly written and directed and acted with so much verbal and physical comedy by all of the cast, Kelsey Grammar and the supporting cast. I will miss David Hyde Pierce and the rest of the cast, but based on the excellence of Frasier, I am hopeful that they can assemble another first rate supporting cast, and my husband and I will definitely give it a try.
I was not a “Cheers” fan, but “Frasier” was must-see TV. At the conclusion of the series, Frasier was leaving Seattle for a new life. So it makes sense that it would be set in another city. It sounds like the relationship he left to pursue didn’t work out, either, so there are all kinds of possibilities here. I’ll watch, at least for a few episodes, and I hope I’m not disappointed. But I’m willing to give it a shot!
There were 4 great things about Frasier: Niles, Martin, Roz and Eddie. Frasier was the annoying character you put up with. But Niles stole the show, Martin and Roz was the normal people, and the dog was super cute.
The only way a revial would work would be with a great supporting cast. Frasier alone is just annoying.
Without Fraiser there wouldn’t be any other characters. It worked as a team. Let’s see where it goes. It’s only 10 episodes.
Niles made the show. It just won’t work the same without him or Martin
I wish they would stop with the reboots of classic tv sitcoms; it just doesn’t go very well. Frasier, yet again, going to a new city and meeting up with a crazy cast of people. The character appears to never be satisfied with his life. Cheers was great and moving Frasier on his own was risky, but it worked. He had a great supporting cast with Martin, Niles, Daphne and Roz. Overtime, I grew tired of Frasier, he become much more annoying. On Cheers, he was a lonely guy who hung out with a few crazy beer buddies and he could be just as crazy. On his own show, he become more snobbish and elite. In later seasons, he became prissy and unbearable.
The new show might work, but given the track record of these reboots, I don’t hold out much hope for it.
It’s not a reboot, it’s a continuation. A reboot is starting over; that’s not what this one is doing.
This really sucks. I would have liked to see Niles and Daphne and Roz for just one episode. I really don’t care about Frasier. He was the least interesting part of his own show. I’ll watch it but I’m already deeply disappointed.
No …… just, no. The last episode of Frasier was brilliantly done – touching without being saccharine, cerebral while still being funny, & it wrapped it up perfectly – leaving the Laura Linney storyline up in the air was brave & inspired – but come on, we all know they got together and are living happily-ever-after in Chicago. When I watch the re-runs, it’s like pulling on my favourite comfy slippers & relaxing on the couch for 1/2 hour & reminiscing about my life back then, while enjoying some fantastic comedic writing & acting (especially
from DHP). PLEASE don’t “Last Jedi” my memories of one of my favourite shows & characters. I don’t need or want to see an old, embittered Frasier belittled for cheap laughs.
I would be disappointed if Frazier’s son “Freddy” isn’t part of the show – he’d be 33 now. (I’d expect a recast?)
The Father-Son dynamic was important in the original show, and although they are doing something “new”, It would be a shame to miss trying out this dynamic.
Trevor is still acting and very good. They could bring him in. It would make sense and it should happen. Only thing that could maybe pull me in. But the lack of NIles is pretty much no go
I don’t really have much hopes for this revival. None of the cast are returning. That is what made Fraiser such a great show in the first place. The cast and the writing.
They could certainly pull it off the way they did when Fraiser spun off from Cheers. Fraiser is imo a better show that Cheers. But I don’t really have a good feeling about this. Picard and the Sex in the city revivals are terrible, I fear this will happen to Fraiser.
Frasier was an arrogant, pompous snob but with Martin, Niles, Daphne, Roz and Eddie to offset that it was pure magic. I’m not willing to tarnish my memories of Frasier with just Kelsey as I have never been a fan. Hard pass for me.