Embed from Getty Images
Hollywood is at it again. It was announced a last month that there will be a limited series Sex and the City reboot on HBO Max. Now Paramount+, formally CBS All Access, may be considering picking up a Frasier reboot. The Frasier reboot has been in the pipeline since at least 2018. Kelsey Grammer is onboard to reprise his role as Frasier and David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane), Jane Leeves (Daphne Moon), and Peri Gilpin (Roz Doyle) may get involved as well. Sadly we lost John Mahoney (Marty Crane) in 2018. According to TvLine the reboot’s premise may involve a move to a new city. Currently the show is still being pitched but if it is greenlit, filming can start as early as this summer. Below are a few more details from TvLine:
TVLine has learned exclusively that Paramount+ — the streamer soon to be formerly known as CBS All Access — is circling the years-in-the-making project, which would find Kelsey Grammer reprising his iconic role of Dr. Frasier Crane. (Frasier is, of course, a Paramount property.)
A Paramount+ rep did not respond to TVLine’s request for comment. A CBS TV Studios spokesperson, meanwhile, declined to comment.
News of the potential new iteration first broke in July 2018. At the time, it was revealed that the revival would find Grammer’s Seattle-based shrink decamping to a different city. The following month, Grammer stressed that the quality threshold was understandably high given the original series’ stories history (Frasier garnered 37 Emmys during its 11-season run).
“[We] have to make sure it’s going to be a great show,” he noted at the time. “If it’s not a great show, and if we don’t hear a pitch that hits it out of the park, it probably won’t happen.”
In addition to Grammer, the comedy starred David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane, Frasier’s younger brother; Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, Frasier’s live-in housekeeper and Niles’ eventual love interest; Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, the producer of Frasier’s radio show; and the late John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Frasier’s father.
According to sources, the hope is that Pierce, Leeves and Gilpin would all be involved in the revival in some capacity. If the project is greenlit (and an insider maintains that it is still very much in the if stage), we’re told shooting could begin as early as this summer (after Grammer wraps production on Season 1 of his forthcoming, untitled ABC multi-cam comedy co-starring Alec Baldwin).
I personally never watched the original Frasier as at the time I was boycotting all shows with all white casts sprinkled with a token BIPOC with the exception of Sex and The City because it was SATC. So I didn’t watch Frasier, Friends or any of the other late 90s early 2000s cult shows. However, I wouldn’t mind revisiting the old Frasier just to check it out because I heard that despite its lack of diversity it was a great show. I must also admit that I am so damn tired of the reboots, recasts, re-everything. I will continue to say that I would really like to see fresh ideas and newer actors taking on diverse roles. It would seem that Hollywood is afraid of letting go of what was once their golden geese. While there are many who want the nostalgia of the classic shows and movies, at some point we have to recognize that reboots and remakes rarely have the same magic as the original. However, I do like what Kelsey Grammer said, that if the Frasier reboot (pitch) isn’t as good or the material isn’t as good as the original then there is no point in making it. I wish other players in Hollywood would take this same mindset. I personally I am not looking forward to the SATC reboot (what’s SATC without Samantha?) nor the many other reboots that are rumored to be in production. However, I like Kelsey and I hope that he and the cast of Frasier are able to spark a new kind of magic if this is a go.
Photos credit: NBC and via Avalon.red
Oh. Kelsey Grammer huh?
*sighs in tired of another rich white conservative douche getting all the things.
yeah, he’s a trumper, too.
he was one of those republicans in hollywood who complained how hard it was for republicans/conservatives in hollywood to get work. WHILE HE WAS WORKING. he had a #1 show for years, FFS!
so…trumper?…hard pass.
I find Kelsey Grammer so confusing personally. I’ve always known he’s a Republican but he’s also executive produced popular black television shows like Girlfriends and The Game.
So, he’s an example of someone I have to separate the work from the real life person.
“produced” just means he put up $$ for it.
cash money will often “trump” someone’s political beliefs. he can be a trumper and support a horrible, bigoted, fascist person and also realize that Black entertainment sells so he can make a buck. doesn’t negate his odious political views. makes him a worse person, IMO, because he’s privately OK with racism while he makes money off Black people.
I loved Frasier so much, Niles was my favorite…David Hyde Pierce was so good!
The scene with Niles ironing his pants and fainting every time he saw the blood on his fingers was my first episode of the show and made me watch the entire series. David Hyde Pierce is comedy gold and he and Kelsey plays perfect off each other. Actually to be perfectly honest the entire series was well cast and well done. When Daphne’s family took over the show, it wasn’t as great, but overall a excellent show that doesn’t need a reboot. It’s the only series I can re-watch even though I can’t stand the actor playing the protagonist.
Yes! That scene was a master class in character and comedic acting and an example of why he won so many Emmys for that role.
Oh my God…yes, so funny, he’s so stiff and just perfect! Love him. Anytime I’m scrolling through Hulu and it’s on, I stop and watch it. I loved John Mahoney too.
It really was great. And I agree about Daphne‘s family kind of bringing it down. The writing was so excellent and apparently the cast all got along really well together which showed. I’m glad to see the above picture of Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce still friendly in spite of some homophobic comments made by Grammer after the show was no longer being filmed. I don’t think much of Grammer as a person, but he’s funny as hell, and I’d love to see the cast together again.
Niles and Fraser were such a disaster together. I loved when they tried to run their own restaurant (Les Freres Jolie, was it?). Or when they were competing to be the head of some snooty wine club and ended up beholden to Lana’s idiot son (loved his character too.) And the episode where Daphne tries to host a dinner party. Was there more than one? Oh, and the murder mystery radio play. I could go on and on. I’m going to have to rewatch these.
Les Freres Heureux.
Roz: Big blue flash. Cherries everywhere.
Kills me every time.
Thank you Elizabeth! It came to me too just a few minutes ago so I came to check this post. Also, Martin at the end answering the phone to take reservations with a chipper “ Happy Brothers’ Restaurant“. Many shows that I once thought funny now seen dated and unfunny, but Frasier still makes me laugh.
I’d like a reboot focused on Niles, one of my favorite characters in anything ever. Thank you.
Yes, This! I love Niles. He and Daphne were the main reasons I watched
I also love Niles – and Niles and Frasier’s dynamic of being competitive but also supportive.
But I don’t know if the show can find an audience now: is there anybody left that can enjoy jokes like “Flagstad’s Gotterdammerung in the discount bin”? Or all the jokes about French wines? It was somewhat self consciously elitist, as a show and concept – delightful, but maybe a bit of its time
It’s been a long time since I watched this show, but I was under the impression Niles died in surgery. A way to kill his character so he could do other projects.
No, he survived.
I would LOVE this idea. David Hyde Pierce is so talented in so many ways.
John Mahoney as Marty was the best thing about that show. His working class sensibility really anchored the pretentiousness of Frasier and Niles. I don’t think the show will really work without him.
This exactly. without him as a foil to Frasier and Miles, it’s just white dudes whining about being white dudes.
Agree with MMR and CM!
Possibly, possibly, Marty’s widow Ronee (?) could be the foil?
Dare we hope for Lilith?
Lilith is my all time favorite TV character. I watched every episode of Cheers and Frasier during the pandemic. I really hope this pans out.
I think she had a problem with the way her character was constantly portrayed as evil for being strong. I seem to remember reading something about that being the reason she stopped appearing on the show in the later episodes.
They have Daphne and Roz to take over that role this time around.
I watched Frasier is it’s original run and yes, it was/is one of the greatest comedies of all time.
Frasier and Niles toed the line of being neurotic and pretentious without being malicious which is why I think it worked. They were just like their mother is that aspect.
I was thinking the same thing. Daphne and Roz also anchored them in the original.
You’re right. Although they could bring in new characters like a late teens-early 20’s child of Niles and Daphne who is like a Chet Haze style white rapper or something totally opposite of Frasier and Niles. Frasier would obviously be like Dr. Phil now with a tv show, which means any number of assistants, co-stars or publicists who can serve as foils.
But also, as much as I loved Frasier as a kid, I don’t really want to watch any more stories centralized around rich old white dudes (or rich old white women *cough SATC cough*). Also, Grammer is a Trump supporter so…no thanks.
That’s a possibility.
Frasier and Lilith’s son Frederick would be 32
Roz’s daughter Alice would be 23
And Niles and Daphne’s son David would be 17.
Ohhhhhhhh, I forgot we’d lost him. :'(
I thought Frasier’s relationship with Charlotte fell apart when he found out she was a con artist and he got together with the Jennifer Beals character. Her retired plumber father could live with them and cause mayhem. Niles and Daphne’s son David is a soccer hooligan like her brothers, but the daughter is like Frasier and Niles.
I enjoyed the show the first time around. I”m not onboard with another reboot and won’t seek it out to watch it. Kelsey needs money?
Is anyone asking for this? The show was on TV so long ago. Wouldn’t they have all retired from radio by now?
Fraiser was a very funny show, one of the few I would actually lol watching. But I’m not interested in a sequel. I was very interested in the rumored complete reboot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a diverse cast. I have a feeling that will never happen because of Whedon who apparently is quite problematic on film sets.
Urgh sometimes things need to be left alone. I loved Frasier but quality definitely went downhill when Niles and Daphne got together imho so can’t imagine a reboot will be amazing.
I LOVED Frasier! If you ever watched the show, you would see that Frasier and Niles were so uptight and insulated in their upper crust worlds that they probably rarely met a POC. That’s why it was so awesome having blue collar Martin and Roz as their foils.
Although, they did tackle the fact that Frasier didn’t know how to deal with a POC in one brilliant episode with guest star Kim Coles from Living Single called “There is Something About Doctor Mary” when he thought he was doing a good deed giving a novice black radio producer a chance but becomes terrified of being branded a racist if he tells her he doesn’t like how she does her job.
As lily white as it was, it was a fantastic show. I personally would center the show around Niles and Daphne and the son they had by the end of the show.
I’d completely forgotten about “Dr. Mary”. That would have been a funny show. Loved KC in Living Single.
Series 8 was bloody awful. And nomartin? No Eddie? DON’T DO IT, for the absolute love of God.
Frasier was amazing. No one who wants to support BIPOC folks (or women) should “like Kelsey” or want anything to do with this new project. He’s a known gross trophy-wifer and MAGA type.
If they go there it’s going to be Rosanne all over again. Leave it alone, I have a feeling that KG has only become more entrenched in his political wrongness and like Rosanne, will likely not be able to help himself from sticking his foot in his mouth and having to be pulled.
Please God, no.
I adored Frasier in it’s original run, but bringing it back now is a big mistake. Especially since John Mahoney is no longer with us.
Did anyone else watch it for everyone except Frasier? Kelsey Grammar is the worst.
I love Frasier. I discovered it when it was on Netflix several years ago and rewatched the entire series multiple times.
I purchased the complete series on DVD months ago and it’s been a comfort during the pandemic.
That being said, I don’t see the point of a reboot. I feel the ingredients that made the show a success were lightning in a bottle which is very rare. Especially when it was already a spin-off of another well-done and long-running show (Cheers).
David Hyde Pierce has already signaled he won’t be a part because he feels what they accomplished with the original was too special to recreate. That, coupled with John Mahoney’s death (although Martin would most likely be dead anyway given he was “73” when the show ended). Though if John were still with us and game, I’m sure they could find a creative way to include Martin.
I just don’t see it working without the original players and it just seems like a bad idea all around.
Well, if there is no Niles then I ain’t watching!
Darn. The dynamic between Niles and Fraser is what made the show. And of course Martin too.
Based on the comments so far, I accept that I’m alone on this, but I could never stand the character Frasier when he was on Cheers and I tried to watch the show when it was on and everyone loved it so much and I just don’t get it. I had to force myself to get through a full episode. I’m not attacking the show, no show is for everyone, it’s just one of those shows that I don’t see the appeal of, but I accept that in the minority on that.
Once I started to learn what a terrible person Kelsey Grammar was, I stopped trying to find something to like in Frasier.
Frasier was a show that you could enjoy while disliking the main character, it was a curious situation for me discovering I enjoyed it because I dislike KG intensely. I hope there’s no reboot because I still enjoy the original and see no need for a reboot since it holds up so well. If they had spin the show off with Daphne and Niles at the time, that may have worked the way Frasier being spun off from Cheers worked.
I watched Frasier because I loved Cheers. I remember liking it well enough at the time, but it was just sort of there. It isn’t one that I ever had a desire to revisit and I have a feeling it probably hasn’t held up. Plus I’m just so turned off on Kelsey Grammer now that I know more about him. I doubt I will tune in for this.
I love Frasier, and I think we should leave it in the past. None of the actors are hurting financially; I’m sure they all collect handsome royalties from reruns, streaming, DVD sales, etc. Rebooting a 90s show rarely works—just witness the disasters that were Murphy Brown and Mad About You, and to a lesser extent, The X Files.
Plus, I really don’t want to see Kelsey Grammar now, lol. I wonder how David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin feel about working with him again? They’re definitely not Retrumplicans.
totally agree
I watched a lot of the original series when it aired, so I must have liked it. From what I remember, the dad was a key ingredient to the comedic success. It would be hard to replicate that without him. For me personally, I’ve evolved a lot in my entertainment tastes since then. Can’t see myself spending any of my free time watching a show about two white male roommate brothers in their 60s. The concept alone seems incredibly dated.
Plot twist: A spin off about Maris.
But would we ever see her?
Never!
One of my favourite scenes is when Niles and Frasier take their dad to dinner, and he wants to go to the Timbermill. They go, and the boys are absolute snobby dicks about the whole thing until their dad lets them have it by telling them how ashamed their mom would’ve been of them. ” I thought you two took after your mom by liking all that fancy stuff, but she had too much class to make me or anyone else feel beneath her”. They then remorsefully eat their meal and are seen taking him back there again. The show had great awareness about who the characters were and allowed them so much room for development. I love it so much; it’s absolute comedy gold.
I love that one! It’s one of my favourites. Martin is probably my favourite character, then Niles.
He is a garbage human being. That’s all I have
Nope. Chelsea is a PO 💩
I really truly liked Frasier. But just leave it in the past.