“Frasier“ fans have a reason to cry or rejoice today, depending on how you look at things. We reviewed the revival of the beloved sitcom back in October of 2023. We didn’t have positive things to say about it. It was a mess of rehashed ideas and storylines with weak characters and jokes that lacked the sophistication of the original series. As we noted when “Frasier” had its first series finale in season 11, it was running on fumes. Whatever steam it may have mustered for its revival seems to have petered out as Paramount+ will not be continuing with a third season.
The second season tried to up the ante of nostalgic fan-service with returning characters and settings. Frasier Crane found his way back to Seattle and was able to see some old colleagues like Gil Chesteron (Edward Hibbert) and Bulldog (Dan Butler). Never mind the continuity snarls with this where Frasier’s son Freddie acted like he’d never met Bulldog before; it was a sign that the writers just couldn’t or wouldn’t keep to the idea of Frasier leaving Seattle behind. We did get more Roz (Peri Gilpin), which is an added perk, and the return of her daughter Alice, but it just muddied the waters of what this show was trying to do with Frasier. If this is supposed to be new chapter of Frasier’s life, then why do we even have Bebe Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris) coming back? Of course, Bebe is amazing, but what does she have to do with Frasier’s continuing adventures on the other side of the country?
Because of the nature of streaming and ratings, it’s hard to know exactly what “Frasier” was pulling in but it clearly wasn’t enough for Paramount+ to continue with it. The parent company of the streamer still owns the show, so it’s possible it can be picked up elsewhere. This is reportedly what CBS Studios is intending to do. The concern with this is, how exactly does it look when you’re trying to shop around a show that your own corporate umbrella doesn’t want under it?
Some of the elements of this revival, including the characterization of Freddie and the reveal of Frasier having had his own television show, were embarrassingly bad. To see the series be put out of its misery is a blessing. However, comedy is subjective and there are those who enjoyed it. Twenty episodes for the revival across two seasons isn’t exactly what fans would’ve hoped for. It’s certainly not what Kelsey Grammer wanted either considering he was on record saying he wanted to do at least 100 more episodes. Is there a chance that could still happen? Maybe, if some network wants to pay for it. Should it happen? No.
In the same interview, Grammer said he wanted the show to be sillier. He succeeded, and that could be what cost the show. Fans of “Frasier” never watched the show because it was “silly,” they watched it because it was witty.
You can watch the entire original series and 2-season revival on Paramount+.
