Frasier Trailer: Kelsey Grammer Is Back In Boston
Rejoice, sitcom-lovers: the "Frasier" revival is almost here! The Paramount+ continuation of NBC's long-running "Cheers" spinoff dropped its first trailer today, and it goes without saying that life looks a bit different for snobby psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammar) two decades after we last saw him. The titular character is older, of course, but he's also moved back to Boston (the original finale in 2004 saw him heading to Chicago), the place where audiences first met the character way back in a 1984 "Cheers" episode. It's an interesting location change, and one that makes me slightly terrified the show will attempt to reunite the cast of one of the best sitcoms of all time if it goes on long enough.
There's no mention of another of the original finale's biggest plot points — the reason Frasier is not in Chicago. In "Goodnight, Seattle," the radio therapist records his last show in Seattle before heading east, presumably in hopes of catching up with his love interest, Charlotte (Laura Linney). There's no Charlotte in the new show, though, and when one character offers to set Frasier up with someone in this trailer, he jumps at the chance. We also don't see any glimpse of David Hyde Pierce's Niles, which makes sense given that Pierce reportedly didn't want to return to the character — but this ultimately makes the show feel a bit less like the "Frasier" we know and love. In any case, watch the trailer below.
New castmates abound in the first trailer
There's still at least one familiar face due to appear in the "Frasier" reboot. Variety reports that Bebe Neuwirth will reprise her role as Dr. Lilith Sternin for at least one episode of the new season. Fresh faces to the series include Nicholas Lyndhurst, who plays Frasier's college buddy Alan, Jack Cutmore-Scott as his son Freddy, Jess Salgueiro as Freddy's roommate Eve, and Anders Keith as Frasier's nephew — whose parents are Niles and Daphne (Jane Leeves). Toks Olagundoye will also be joining as a university psychology department head who is friends with Alan. Another major absence that's sure to be felt is that of John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles' dad, and passed away in 2018.
The reboot may initially feel a lot different than the original thanks to major casting changes and the absence of characters fans loved, but don't count "Frasier" out just yet. Paramount+ has a surprisingly great track record when it comes to breathing new life into old shows; the streamer's "iCarly" reboot keeps the spirit of the original while improving upon it in every way, and the final season of "Star Trek: Picard" was lauded as an excellent "Star Trek: The Next Generation" reunion. Hopefully, the "Frasier" reboot will strike the right balance of new and old, and maybe even throw in some surprise appearances from former cast members.
The new trailer does still pull off a few classic Frasier Crane moments, like when Frasier misunderstands a rather literal mention of the phrase "top shelf," or preens over his Christian Lacroix couch pillows, insisting Freddy not sit on the couch in jeans. Time hasn't dulled the man's sophisticated sensibilities, it seems.
"Frasier" premieres on Paramount+ on October 12, 2023, and on CBS a few days later on October 17.