10 Surprising Frasier Characters Absent from the Highly-Anticipated Reboot

Summary

Frasier reboot brings back Kelsey Grammer as the beloved therapist in a 10-episode first season, but original cast members won't join him.

Niles, Martin, Daphne, Eddie, and other original characters will not have regular roles in the reboot, except for Roz and Lilith who will make guest appearances.

In the Frasier reboot, there will be a need to address the deaths of both Martin and Eddie, as well as the unresolved future of Frasier's love interest, Charlotte.

Kelsey Grammer will reprise his role as Frasier in the reboot, but several original cast members will not be returning alongside him. Paramount+ is bringing back the beloved intellectual therapist for a 10-episode first season of the Frasier reboot. In this project, Frasier finds himself back in Boston, where he started out at Cheers. Now embarking on his fourth and possibly final act, Frasier's return to Beantown is motivated by his desire to mend his strained relationship with his adult son, Freddy. However, relocating to the East Coast means that many of his family and friends from Seattle will not be making an appearance.

Reviving the Frasier reboot was a difficult challenge. Developing the story for the project turned out to be more complicated than initially anticipated. Ultimately, Grammer and his team decided that having Frasier return to Boston was the best way to progress the character. None of the original characters based in Seattle will be regulars in the revival. However, it has been confirmed that Peri Gilpin will make a guest appearance reprising her role as Roz Doyle. Additionally, Bebe Neuwirth will also make a return as Frasier's ex-wife, Lilith, which makes sense considering Freddy's involvement. Apart from them, many other original characters will be absent in the reboot.

8 Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce)

7 Martin Crane (John Mahoney)

NBC retracted Frasier's claim in Cheers that he had no siblings after realizing the uncanny resemblance between a young Grammer and David Hyde Pierce. Despite the plot inconsistency, Pierce's portrayal of Niles became one of the highlights of the original Frasier. It is immensely disappointing that he will not be returning for the reboot. This lack of surprise stems from Pierce's outspoken opposition to reviving Frasier. Contrary to Grammer's statement, Pierce declined the invitation to join the Paramount+ project because he did not want to replicate his award-winning performance from the previous series.

Following the commencement of Frasier's revival in 2018, the unfortunate passing of John Mahoney at the age of 77 occurred. Mahoney's exceptional portrayal of Martin Crane in the Cheers spin-off undoubtedly served as the essence of the entire series, with his bond with Frasier constituting the show's most remarkable love story. While Mahoney's Martin won't physically appear in the Frasier reboot, Grammer has assured that they will pay homage to both the actor and his beloved character. However, it remains uncertain whether Martin's real-life departure will be reflected in the narrative of the forthcoming show.

6 Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves)

Frasier's homecoming marked the reunion with his family in Seattle, but the original show also introduced a variety of additional characters who added interest to his time in the Pacific Northwest. Among them was Daphne Moon, a native of Manchester and Martin's home healthcare worker, who eventually married Niles. Her presence played a crucial role in the overall dynamic of the show, as she had a unique relationship with each member of the Crane family. Particularly noteworthy was her ability to maintain peace between Frasier and his father during the early years of the series. However, similar to Pierce, Leeves declined the opportunity to return in the Paramount+ project. Regardless, it would be perplexing if she were to appear without her husband.

5 Eddie (Moose)

In addition to Martin's fate, the Frasier reboot may have to confront another loss with the passing of his beloved pet dog, Eddie. Although the original sitcom did not explicitly reveal Eddie's age, he had been under Martin's care for several years prior to the events of the show. Taking into account the 11-year run of the series and the 19 years since its conclusion, it is likely that the Jack Russell Terrier has already passed away due to old age. In reality, Moose, the original dog who portrayed Eddie, sadly passed away in 2006. Similar to Martin's storyline, it is crucial for the Paramount+ revival to find a way to address Eddie's demise.

4 Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe (Dan Butler)

Frasier's introduction to a range of new characters came with his new role as a radiotherapist at Seattle's KACL. Apart from his producer, Roz, one of the most prominent figures at the station was Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe, the host of the popular Gonzo Sports Show. Initially, Bulldog played a significant role in the early seasons of Frasier, but his appearances gradually became more sporadic as the show progressed. Surprisingly, he was notably absent during Frasier's farewell speech in the series finale, even though he had returned to work at KACL. However, considering Frasier's move to Boston, it's understandable that Bulldog won't be a part of the reboot.

3 Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert)

Another notable figure at Frasier's workplace was Gil Chesterton, the host of Restaurant Beat on KACL. Surprisingly, despite their shared interests and preferences, Frasier didn't have many occasions to interact with Gil while in Seattle. Nevertheless, their interactions were enough to form a relationship. It remains unclear what became of Gil after Frasier's departure from KACL; it's possible he continued his role at the radio station. Nonetheless, similar to Bulldog, Frasier's relocation to Seattle poses a challenge in bringing Gil back.

2 Ronnee Lawrence Crane (Wendie Malick)

Towards the end of Frasier's run, the introduction of Ronee Lawrence, Frasier and Niles' former babysitter, marked a significant storyline. The reentry of Ronee into the Crane family's lives transpired when she coincidentally crossed paths with Frasier, who had long harbored a secret infatuation towards her. However, to the dismay of the snobbish psychiatrist, Ronee had her sights set on Martin. Subsequently, the two eventually tied the knot, leading the Crane patriarch to relocate from Frasier's apartment. The future of Ronee remains intertwined with Martin's journey in the Frasier reboot, assuming they have remained united following their marriage in the finale.

1 Charlotte Connor (Laura Linney)

In the final season of the Cheers' spin-off, Frasier crossed paths with Charlotte Connor, a matchmaker from Chicago whom he reluctantly hired to salvage his struggling love life. Little did he know that he would become smitten with her. Despite having plans to move to San Francisco for a television hosting gig, Frasier decided to forgo that opportunity and follow Charlotte to the Windy City in hopes of pursuing a future together. The original Frasier show left their future uncertain, concluding with Frasier's plane touching down in Chicago.

There is no official confirmation regarding plans to bring back Laura Linney, but she has disclosed her non-involvement in the new show. The fate of her character remains one of the major enigmas that the Frasier reboot needs to address. It is intriguing to speculate how they will tackle this without Charlotte's presence, unless Frasier's grand romantic gesture ultimately failed.