Kelsey Grammer downplays talk of a possible revival of Frasier

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Last month it was revealed that Kelsey Grammer and CBS TV Studios were testing the waters in order to see if there was any potential for a revival of Frasier, the Cheers spin-off which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004. During a Television Critics Association panel for his upcoming series Proven Innocent, Kelsey Grammer confirmed that there has been some talk about the possibility of Frasier returning, but was quick to caution reporters against assuming that it's a sure thing.

"I have a wonderful life. I played Frasier for 20 years," Grammer said. "It might happen again, it might not." The actor went on to say that it all depends upon the script, as there's obviously no point in bringing the series back if it isn't going to be great. "We just have to make sure it’s going to be a great show. If it’s not a great show and we don’t hear a pitch that really hits it out of the park, it probably won’t happen." If the scripts do prove up to the task, Grammer added that we could see more than the limited episodes which audiences typically get from other revivals, "There’s nothing wrong with doing a full-blown season [with 22 episodes] if it’s great." Both Frasier and Cheers originally aired on NBC, but even if they aren't interested, Kelsey Grammer isn't about to rule out taking the series someplace else. "I don’t believe in exclusivity," Grammer added. "I think NBC may not be interested. We might go somewhere else if that’s the case."

Frasier found Kelsey Grammer reprising his role of Dr. Frasier Crane from Cheers as he returned to his hometown of Seattle as a radio host. Also starring in the series were David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane, Frasier's younger brother as well as a fellow psychiatrist, John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Frasier's retired Seattle Police Department detective father, Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, Martin's live-in physical therapist, and Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, the producer of Frasier's radio show. I'm still uncertain whether I'd want to see Frasier return, especially after the passing of John Mahoney, but I'm willing to give it a chance if they're able to come up with an intelligent way to bring it back. What do you folks think?