Unveiling Frasier Crane's Journey: The Predecessor Sitcoms You Didn't Know About

The Big Picture

Paramount+ is reviving the show Frasier with new weekly episodes, bringing back the original character with a new mix of characters.

Frasier Crane originated from the Boston bar Cheers, where he initially appeared as a supporting character prior to starring in his own show. He also had a guest appearance on the spin-off show Wings, highlighting the interconnected nature of the Frasier universe.

Paramount+ has finally released new weekly episodes of its revival of Frasier. The show is finding its original essence once again, although with a different cast of characters. In this new installment, Dr. Frasier Crane, portrayed by Kelsey Grammer, strives to distance himself from his previous Dr. Phil-like TV persona and embraces the more esteemed role of a Harvard lecturer. He is joined by his colleagues Toks Olagundoye and British sitcom icon Nicholas Lyndhurst, as well as his nephew-turned-student David, played by Anders Keith. However, his personal life faces challenges as he reconnects with his estranged son Freddy, portrayed by Jack Cutmore-Scott, who resides with his friend Eve, portrayed by Jess Salgueiro. This revival takes place in Boston, where viewers were first introduced to the character in 1984, although much has transpired since then.

For many, the title Frasier is synonymous with the popular sitcom that aired from 1993 to 2004, over the span of 11 seasons. The show followed the story of the main character, Dr. Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist who returns to his hometown of Seattle to work as a radio host and be closer to his father Martin, played by John Mahoney. Frasier's radio producer Roz, portrayed by Peri Gilpin, often served as a source of tough love, while his brother Niles, portrayed by David Hyde Pierce, encouraged his pomposity. Daphne, Martin's caregiver from Manchester, played by Jane Leeves, became the object of Niles' infatuation with all things British, and Martin's dog Eddie added to the charm of this beloved sitcom. However, as true fans of Frasier know, the character's origin story can be traced back to a Boston bar called Cheers (and the show of the same name). Did you know that Frasier also had a prior appearance before he got his own show?

Frasier

Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father and works as a radio psychiatrist.

Release Date September 16, 1993Cast Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, John MahoneyMain Genre ComedyRating TV-PGSeasons 11

Frasier First Appeared in a Supporting Role on ‘Cheers’ in 1984

In the early seasons of Cheers, the show revolved around the romantic tension between bar owner Sam and academic Diane. After their breakup in Season 2, Diane is admitted to a mental institution where she is treated by Dr. Frasier Crane. When Diane returns in Season 3, we are introduced to her doctor-turned-boyfriend, who was originally meant to be a temporary obstacle in the Sam and Diane relationship, but grew into a much more significant character. The role of "Frasier Nye" was initially written for John Lithgow, but he turned it down, claiming that television was beneath him. Mandy Patinkin was considered as a replacement, but he recommended his Julliard classmate Kelsey Grammer instead, as Grammer recounts on The Rich Eisen Show.

Frasier not only assists Sam with his alcohol issues, but also becomes an integral part of the ensemble cast. In the Season 3 finale, Diane leaves Frasier for Sam at the altar. Typically, this would mark the end of the road for an antagonistic character, but Frasier's success on Cheers allows him to outlast both his relationship with Diane and Diane's character on the show. Later in the series, new characters like Lilith and Nanette are introduced, specifically to further Frasier's own storyline. Throughout Cheers, Frasier experiences ups and downs, eventually finding happiness as a married man with a son named Frederick.

‘Cheers’ Led to Spin-Offs 'The Tortellis' and 'Wings' Before ‘Frasier’

Image via Paramount

In 1987, the writers of Cheers - Ken Estin, Glen Charles, Les Charles, and James Burrows - created the first spin-off of the show. The Tortellis featured Dan Hedaya and Jean Kasem reprising their Cheers roles as Nick, Carla's ex-husband, and his new wife Loretta. Although the sitcom was set in Las Vegas, it only lasted for 13 episodes before being canceled. However, this would be the beginning of several more spin-offs to come from Cheers. While Cheers was coming to an end, Kelsey Grammer, who played Frasier, expressed his desire for the character to have his own ending as well. Grammer had a deal with Paramount, who assured him of another show once Cheers concluded. Initially, Grammer pitched a show about a bedridden guy on a motorcycle due to a severe accident, but Paramount's President at the time, John Pike, didn't find it funny. Eventually, Grammer agreed to Paramount's suggestion of bringing back the character of Frasier Crane. Before getting his own Frasier sitcom, Grammer reprised his role in another Cheers spin-off, Wings, alongside his onscreen wife Bebe Neuwirth. Wings followed the story of two brothers running a small Nantucket airline called Sandpaper. Although the regular cast of Wings was not originally from Cheers, the presence of overlapping cameos established that Wings existed in "The Frasier-verse."

Frasier Appeared on ‘Wings’ in 1992, One Year Before ‘Frasier’ Began

Image via Paramount

Cheer's producers David Lee, David Angell, and Peter Casey created the show Wings, which is set in the fictional Tom Nevers Field Airport. The eight-season show included future stars Tony Shalhoub and Thomas Haden Church, as well as notable guest appearances from Boston's finest, such as Cliff, Norm, and Rebecca. Kelsey Grammer, who made his debut on Cheers in its third season, also made his Wings debut in the third season episode titled "Planes, Trains and Visiting Cranes," a clever reference to Frasier and Lilith's last name.

In this particular episode, Frasier embarks on a "working vacation" to Nantucket to conduct a seminar on low self-esteem. Roy humorously comments on the seminar attendees, stating, "Yeah, that's my kind of flight. You lose their luggage, they think it's their fault!" It is revealed that Helen, a character from Wings played by Crystal Bernard, holds a personal grudge against Frasier because she followed his advice in the past, which resulted in disastrous consequences. The episode revolves around Frasier's desperate attempts to redeem himself before Helen undermines his credibility to the seminar attendees. Grammer's positive experience on Wings led him to seek the same creative team when he embarked on producing Frasier the following year.

"I approached the members of Wings - Angell, Casey, and Lee," Grammer disclosed to The Rich Eisen Show. "I specifically stated, 'No children, no pets, and no spouses.' Consequently, Lilith was written off the show not because it was impossible to include her, but [...] I believed that our dynamic as a couple had been exhausted." He reluctantly lost the battle regarding the dog, which ultimately became one of the most endearing additions to Frasier. Regarding his wife, Frasier arrived in Seattle freshly divorced, eager to explore his own understanding of relationships throughout the series. Bebe Neuwirth made appearances in 12 episodes over the span of 11 seasons, and their young son Frederick was primarily portrayed by Mad Men's Trevor Einhorn. In a sense, Grammer let go of his "no children" condition as well. Nonetheless, it is evident that without Cheers and Wings, Frasier would not have achieved the cultural status it holds today.

Frasier is currently available for streaming on Hulu in the United States.

Watch on Hulu