Summary
- The Frasier reboot is set to premiere on October 12, 2023, with Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as Frasier Crane and serving as an executive producer.
- The original Frasier cast members returning for the reboot will be Peri Gilpin as Roz, but other main cast members will only make guest appearances due to various reasons.
- The reboot will take Frasier back to Boston, where Cheers was set, and will explore new storylines while maintaining the classic Frasier Crane sentimentality. The teaser trailer builds nostalgia and hints at a connection to Frasier’s past in Cheers.
The classic sitcom Frasier is officially getting the reboot treatment, and there have been plenty of exciting Frasier reboot updates in preparation for Frasier Crane’s return in 2023. Kelsey Grammer famously starred as the titular character Frasier Crane after he initially debuted in NBC’s Cheers as Diane’s (Shelley Long) former boyfriend. The character’s spinoff, which also featured John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, David Hyde Pierce as Niles Crane, and Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, ran for 11 seasons before it wrapped up in 2004. For years, there have been rumors that the show was getting revived, but nothing came out of these speculations until it was confirmed that Frasier will indeed return on Paramount+.
Now, nearly two decades after Frasier ended, Frasier and his family are gearing up for a TV comeback through a revival — and new about the Frasier reboot already promises a show that both switches up the formula and has plenty to keep fans of the original happy. Grammer publicly discussed his interest in a Frasier reboot for several years, and aided by Frasier‘s success and critical acclaim, he successfully spearheaded the efforts to bring it back to the air. Not only is Grammer reprising his most memorable role, but he will also serve as an executive producer. There’s been plenty of Frasier reboot news since it was first announced, from its release date to which cast members will return.
The Latest Frasier Reboot News
The latest Frasier reboot news delivers several exciting updates. The Frasier reboot teaser trailer has arrived which finally reveals the show’s long-awaited release date. The show will begin streaming on Paramount+ on October 12, 2023 as announced in the new teaser. The trailer doesn’t offer any actual footage of the show, but does feature a nice surprise with a new version of the famous theme song “Tossed Salad & Scrambled Eggs” sung by Kelsey Grammer. While there have been a lot of questions about his new Frasier revival and all the changes it will be making to the original, hearing the synonymous theme music with the final tease of “Frasier has reentered the building” is enough to get returning and first-time viewers excited about this next adventure, especially with the release date now known.
The Frasier Reboot Release Date Info
The Frasier reboot release date is October 12, 2023. The project was originally aiming for an early October start date, but it was unclear is the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes would delay things. Luckily, that doesn’t seem to be the case with the reboot not too far away now. However, the Frasier reboot’s episode count is way lower than the 24-episode seasons the series had in its original run. But the TV landscape has changed drastically since Frasier season 11, and a 20-episode reboot season would have been just as surprising.
The Frasier reboot was officially set to order on Paramount+ in October 2023. Rumblings about the upcoming sequel season have been in the air long before this confirmation, with teases going all the way back to 2019. Unfortunately, the project was caught up in development hell before scripting and production finally began. Production hit snags, as Frasier was initially intended to return to his old stomping grounds, but this plot was nixed with Mahoney’s tragic passing in 2018.
Grammer’s production company, Grammnet Productions, and CBS Studios are producing the reboot, which is being written by How I Met Your Mother scribe Chris Harris and Life in Pieces writer Joe Cristalli. Grammer revealed in late 2019 that he, alongside those working on the show, was busy trying to crack the show’s story. Since then, the actor has been asked a few more times regarding the series’ potential debut. Filming began in February 2023, and Grammer confirmed in May 2023 that production had wrapped (via Collider).
Will Frasier’s Original Cast Return For The Reboot?
In June 2020, the main cast of Frasier appeared for a virtual reunion to reminisce about their days working on the show while also raising money for The Actors Fund — a fundraiser for actors who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. While the subject of Frasier reboot updates came up at the time, none of the stars commented about their supposed involvement, although Grammer previously said in 2018, during Frasier’s 25th anniversary, that he wouldn’t be revisiting the series unless Pierce, Leeves, and Gilpin also returned.
Spearheading the Frasier reboot, Grammer has revealed that they have been actively asking his old co-stars to reprise their roles for the upcoming project. However, it’s been confirmed that the only returning Frasier cast members will be Gilpin, who played his producer Roz, and Grammer himself with the rest of the cast being reduced to guest appearances. Sadly, Mahoney — who played Martin, Frasier’s father — passed away in 2018, so he won’t be involved in the project. Meanwhile, according to Grammer, Pierce has no intentions of revisiting his Niles role.
Other Frasier reboot updates confirm that Leeves, who played the original Frasier’s physical therapist Daphne Moon, told EW in February 2021 that she would not leave her current show, The Resident, to do the Frasier reboot. Meanwhile, Bebe Neuwirth, who played Lilith, Frasier’s ex-wife from Cheers, said in 2019 that she’s open to reprising the role in the Frasier reboot. While the returning cast members are so far unconfirmed, it can be assumed that some of the original Frasier cast will at least cameo in the reboot. Along with possible returns of some Frasier characters, Grammer hinted at several Cheers cameos
Why Niles Isn’t In The Frasier Reboot
According to Grammer, Pierce simply wasn’t interested in returning (via Indie Wire). The actor explained, “David basically decided he wasn’t really interested in repeating the performance of Niles.” However, Grammer quickly spun Pierce’s absence from the Frasier reboot cast into a positive, noting, “In a very funny way, it just took us to a new place, which was what we originally wanted to do anyway, which was a Frasier third act.” As Niles was such a beloved character and just as important to the show’s success as the titular character, fans might not see it the same way as Kramer, but that’s to be determined.
New Frasier Characters In The Reboot
The Frasier reboot cast will mainly consist of new characters alongside Grammer’s titular psychiatrist and Gilpin’s Roz, and some of these new characters have already been announced. Save for two new characters, most of the cast is made up of the younger generation, as the show is meant to focus more on Freddy Crane, Frasier’s son. Playing Freddy Crane is actor Jack Cutmore-Scott who is mainly known for his part as Rufus in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Klaus in Tenet.
Jess Salgueiro, who can be spotted as Hughie’s girlfriend Robin in The Boys, will be playing Freddy’s roommate Eve. Freddy isn’t the only Crane family member who will appear, as Frasier reboot updates confirm that Daphne and Niles’ son David will be portrayed by Anders Keith, and this will be his first role. Alan, who is Frasier’s old college buddy, will be played by Nicholas Lyndhurst (Only Fools and Horses). Grammer selected Lyndhurst for the role after the two worked together in the play Man of La Mancha with Grammer praising his co-star, “I warned them in America. I said, ‘Wait until this guy gets here’” (via Deadline). Alan’s colleague Olivia will be played by actress Toks Olagundoye (Castle).
Kelsey Grammer Will Direct A Frasier Reboot Episode
Frasier is also following a series tradition with Grammer revealed to direct an episode later in the season. This bit of news came from Salguiero’s Instagram (via Reddit), where the star posted a picture of the script from season 1, episode 8, which denoted that Grammer was directing the installment. Grammer previously stepped behind the camera to direct several episodes of the original show, so these particular Frasier reboot updates bode well for the new series’ ability to hold up against the original.
Frasier Reboot Story Details
While Grammer has been careful about what he reveals about the Frasier reboot story details, he’s dropped some updates about what can be expected. In 2019, the actor hinted that Frederick will be a significant factor in the reboot as viewers will learn what the younger Crane has been up to these last several years. It’s also imperative for Frasier‘s revival to address Marty’s absence following Mahoney’s death.
As for Frasier himself, Grammer said in more Frasier reboot news that the psychiatrist-turned-radio host is looking for a “third act.” (via People). However, his new adventure won’t be set in his home city of Seattle; instead, other Frasier reboot story details have revealed that Frasier will return to Boston, where Cheers was set, flipping the trend of the character moving from one place to another in between sitcoms on its head. Fans should also expect a different version of the character as he returns to his origins, but he’ll still maintain the classic Frasier Crane sentimentality. Grammer also confirmed the story will focus on Frasier’s friendship with Alan.
Grammer also teased in 2021 that the Frasier reboot will see the title character “rich beyond his dreams,” though later elaborated on Rob Lowe’s podcast Literally! from January 2022 that he meant it in the emotional, and not necessarily financial, sense. As such, the revival’s Frasier Crane will still be financially comfortable from his successes in Seattle and Chicago, but his vast “wealth” is defined by his family, love, and experience. Although Grammer seems to be clear about the overall trajectory of the Frasier reboot’s story, plot specifics have yet to be full revealed.
The Frasier Reboot Trailer
The first Frasier reboot trailer has been released with little in the way of reveals but an exciting tease all the same. The teaser for the new series of Frasier doesn’t actually show any footage from the show, instead showcasing stylized animation and text over a black screen (reminiscent of the act break black screens from the original series). The text first teases, “Frasier has reentered the building,” then goes on to tease “No more callers. All new hang-ups.” The final text reads, “Oh, what fresh start is this?” before showcasing the title card which looks like the one from the original show, but the cityscape seen in the background replaces Seattle with Boston.
The teaser is incredibly apt for the legacy of Frasier, and Kelsey Grammer singing an updated version of that classic theme song taps into all the nostalgia many have for the classic and incredibly unique 90s sitcom. Interestingly, the animated images shown include a silhouette of Frasier Crane himself as well as some tossed salad and scrambled eggs. However, the final image accompanying the text about a fresh start appears to be a glass of beer, perhaps teasing some connection to Frasier’s past life in Cheers which was also set in Boston. While not much has been revealed with this short teaser, it does sell the Frasier reboot in an interesting way.