The long-awaited Frasier revival series finally has a home at Paramount Plus. After several years of uncertainty surrounding the fate of this particular follow-up, it looks as though everything has fallen into place for production to move forward. The tossed salad and scrambled eggs are calling again.
The hit Kelsey Grammer-led series has been on the lips of many fans since Grammer himself expressed interest in a revival several years ago. Now, after shopping around for a streaming platform, things have become a bit less uncertain thanks to Paramount Plus. But the new series' premise is both familiar and very different, and it appears to be missing key aspects of the original Frasier series.
The news comes from Deadline, which confirms that Paramount Plus has greenlit a series order for the upcoming Frasier revival. Aside from reprising his role as the titular psychiatrist Frasier Crane, Grammer will also serve as executive producer. However, that appears to be the only main element it will share with its namesake. Featuring an all-new cast of characters alongside Grammer's returning lead, it may have about as much in common with the original Frasier as Star Wars: The Bad Batch has with Cheers.
Reportedly, none of the characters fans grew to love over Frasier's 11-season run will be regulars this time around. If anything, it looks like they may appear in guest roles, but even that isn't confirmed at this point. The revival will focus on the next chapter of Frasier's life as he starts fresh again in a new city. Interestingly enough, it's the same concept that launched Frasier itself, which saw Grammer's character start over in his hometown of Seattle after a successful run as a regular on NBC's beloved series Cheers.
It's certainly a bold move, even as it mirrors that which made the original Frasier into such a classic comedy series. Grammer and the rest of his team could have easily just brought Frasier back from the new life he started at the end of his series and returned everything to the status quo (or at least as close as they could without the late John Mahoney). But as much as many people would (understandably) argue that David Hyde Pierce's Niles Crane was Frasier's true standout, it never would have happened without taking that initial plunge.
It's unclear how much the Frasier revival will retain from its namesake, or even who else will star. But any fans who appreciated both Cheers and Frasier might want to keep an eye on this one. Of course, Grammer's own rather unfortunate political and social views might leave a bad taste in viewers' mouths, particularly since they clash so prominently with Frasier Crane's own stances. But for those who want to give him a shot despite all that, maybe there's something to this new series.
Frasier is available to stream on Paramount Plus.
Source: Deadline