Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane in a scene from “Frasier.” IMDb photo
If you had to spend the rest of your life locked down in a safe house, and you only had one complete series you could watch, with no masks in sight, no war, no impending doom, what would it be? “Friends?” “Seinfeld?” Those are top rate comedies.
SERIES REVIEW
“FRASIER”
Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father, and works as a radio psychiatrist.
Comedy
Rating: Mild sex, nudity, profanity, alcohol, drugs and smoking.
Creators: David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee
Stars: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce
Streams: Hulu
Both of those series are now bronzed in the comedy legends hall of fame and represent different schools of style, but I would add and most certainly favor “Frasier” that debuted September ’93, and ran for 11 seasons until May 2004.
The 11 seasons of “Frasier,” starring Kelsey Grammer, the radio psychiatrist with an iconic opening line, “This is Dr. Frasier Crane, and I’m listening,” was the one that was considered the most “intelligent.”
According to a list by Mensa, the group for people with extremely high IQ’s, ranked “Frasier” among 10 of the smartest TV shows of all time along with “Jeopardy” and “Cosmos with Carl Sagan.” Make of that what you will.
Most viewers are now familiar with the master comedian Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane; “natty” David Hyde Pierce as his brother Niles; Jane Leeves as their charming British housemaid, therapist and cook, Daphne; Peri Gilpin as the eternally promiscuous Roz, Frasier’s radio show producer; and the late, and seriously missed John Mahoney as their father, Martin Crane.
I would add Dan Butler as “Bulldog” Briscoe and his “Gonzo Sports Show,” and the added spice of Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe Glazer, Frasier’s duplicitous agent, who Niles described as “Lady Macbeth without the sincerity.” A wow!
In a small survey, I find I’m not alone in having watched all 11 years of the show repeatedly, the show that also won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, for five consecutive years. The “Frasier” character was taken from the critically acclaimed 1980’s series “Cheers” and enlarged by writers David Angell, (who died at the World Trade Center on Sept. 11) Peter Casey and David Lee.
Sources tell us that a revival has been green lit and is expected to be released in 2022, with almost everyone on board but the late great John Mahoney, and will be shown on Paramount+.
“Frasier” is currently streaming on Hulu.
J.P. Devine of Waterville is a former stage and screen actor.
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