It looks like Kelsey Grammar’s Frasier Crane is going to be reuniting with Lilith, in some form or another, for the upcoming Frasier sequel series. Cheers vet Bebe Neuwirth, who recurred as Lilith on Frasier, is set to reprise her role in a guest starring part. Neuwirth famously won two Emmys for playing the role on Cheers and showed up on Frasier a dozen times. It makes sense that they would bring her back, with the show set to focus on Frasier’s relationship with his now adult son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott). Lilith, of course, is Frasier’s ex-wife and Freddy’s mother. Sparks flew whenever she showed up on Frasier, so it’s possible she and the lovelorn psychiatrist could rekindle their relationship.
Notably, the spin-off has Frasier moving back to Boston, where he once famously patronized a bar where “everyone knows your name.” So far, Neuwirth is the only Cheers or Frasier vet announced for the reboot, although you have to think the door is wide open. Daphne (Jane Leeves) and Niles’ (David Hyde Pierce) son, David (played by Anders Keith), is part of the show, so hopefully, they’ll at least show up for a cameo. According to a THR article, Pierce was asked to reprise his role and turned them down (apparently he just didn’t want to reprise the role at this point in his career). Former co-stars Leeves and Peri Gilpin aren’t part of the cast (yet), and John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles’ father, passed away in 2018.
The Frasier sequel series is being made for Paramount+ and will likely debut at some point this year. With both Cheers and Frasier pretty evergreen titles for the studio, they’ll dig into the coffers and bring in some Cheers or Frasier vets for guest spots. Getting Neuwirth is a good start, but, to be sure, the show’s success will depend on whether or not they’re able to surround Frasier with a supporting cast that was as good as the famous ones on his previous shows. Time will tell.