Kelsey Grammer provides some interesting details on the rumoured Frasier reboot

Paul Moore

The return of Frasier is now in its ‘very, very early stages.’

After the news broke that the iconic comedy Frasier was about to return, our minds instantly turned to to the obvious point – it won’t be the same without Martin (the much-missed John Mahoney).

Aside from the wonderful writing, superb performances and hilarious scenes, Frasier was at its very best when it kept things simple by reminding you of its core theme – two sons trying to reconnect with their father.

In many ways, Martin Crane was the great leveller in that show because he represented the ‘everyday’ man. Frasier and Niles were always prone to moments of arrogance, pomp and hubris, but Martin was always there to cut through the crap and trim their egos.

This entire speech from Martin – when Frasier and Niles start making fun of a restaurant that they deemed to be ‘beneath’ them – is absolute gold.

“I’ve had enough of you two jack-asses. I’ve spent the whole night listening to you making cracks about the food and the help. Well, I got news for you: People like this place. I like this place. And when you insult this restaurant, you insult me. You know, I used to think you two took after your mother, liking the ballet and all that, but your mother liked a good ball game too. She even had a hot dog once in a while. She may have had fancy tastes, but she had too much class to ever make me or anybody else feel second-rate. If she saw the way you two have behaved tonight, she’d be ashamed. I know I am.”

Gold.

In many ways, Martin was the heart of the show and nobody could replace him. This being said, when the very first episode of the Cheers spinoff aired in 1993, some people felt that Frasier never stood a chance.

37 Emmy Awards and 11 seasons later, here we are.

After news emerged that everyone’s favourite psychiatrist could be returning, Kelsey Grammer has provided a few details on what the rumoured reboot will involve.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he said: “This is something we’ve been discussing, we have wondered where he might be, but he left for Chicago in the last episode of the show so we have to deal with that at least. I mean, he left to go be with his lady love who probably didn’t stay with him but you know… some evolution has taken place.”

When the series ended in 2004 with the superb episode Goodnight, Seattle, Frasier was about to embark on a new adventure told as he left for San Francisco to take a new job. However, in the episode’s final moments, we learn that he actually went to Chicago to be with his girlfriend Charlotte (Laura Linney).

During the interview, Grammer also said, “I don’t want to play Frasier and go back to Seattle. I mean it would be silly.”

Frankly, we agree with this direction because nothing could ever replace the magic between Niles, Martin, Daphne, Roz and everyone that worked at KACL, but a fresh start could give the new show room to breathe and avoid the inevitable – and impossible – comparisons.

After all, a clean slate worked back in 1993 when Frasier moved from Boston. If the reboot is half as good as what came before, we could be in for a treat.

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