Dr. Frasier Crane, the radio psychiatrist immortalized by Kelsey Grammer in the classic sitcom Cheers and its equally iconic successor, Frasier, is back — in denim and sneakers.
Frasier, which ran for 11 seasons on NBC from 1993 to 2004, amused millions of viewers with its combination of espresso-laced humor and Seattle skylines. Now, the urbanite intellectual is preparing to return in the highly anticipated revival premiering on Paramount+ on October 12.
Chris Harris, co-executive producer, clarifies, “He’s still Frasier Crane.”
“Nearly two decades have passed since we last saw Frasier, so naturally, a lot has changed,” Harris, who serves as a writer and executive producer alongside Joe Cristalli, tells Yahoo Entertainment. “He’s beginning the game a little looser and more assured than we’ve seen him in the past. Frasier is the same Frasier he’s always been: fascinated by the finer things, desperate for validation and acclaim, seeking love, and unable to resist a decent sherry.
What has changed since the last time?
Sincerely, quite a bit. Frasier now lives in Boston as a Harvard lecturer, ditching his tailored suits and shiny shoes for more casualwear: a button-up and blazer with very expensive jeans and sneakers (more on that later).
Now a multimillionaire, Dr. Crane is “at a point in his life when he’s eager to ‘give back’ a little more,” as Harris explains. This includes spending more time with his son Freddy and instructing the next generation of psychology specialists at Harvard.
Frasier’s father, Martin Crane, was portrayed by the late John Mahoney, who passed away in February 2018. “Frasier has always wanted to be a good father, and in light of his own father’s recent passing, this becomes an even more important goal for him,” Harris says.
The producer adds, “Despite all these changes, we hope that people will still feel a warm familiarity with the show — the elevated tone, the farcical situations, the ending theme song, and various returning characters throughout the season.” “Once we began assembling the first few episodes, we all felt a touch of magic — seeing the title Frasier leading into the first scene, reading the title card transitions, and hearing ‘Tossed Salads and Scrambled Eggs’ over the ending.”
Harris continues, “It felt like reuniting with an old friend after a long separation.” We hope that viewers at home share the same sentiment.
Now, regarding those trendy jeans and footwear
The show’s costume designer, Lori Eskowitz-Carter, whose impressive resume includes Will & Grace, Hot in Cleveland, and The New Adventures of Old Christine, among many others, states that Frasier’s “laidback” style was a well-intentioned decision supported and advocated by Grammer, the writers, and the producers.
Regardless, it didn’t sit well with some hardcore fans who went viral after criticizing his casualwear on Twitter — menswear fashion journalist and blogger Derek Guy proclaimed “they massacred my boy” by dressing him in jeans while Vulture writer Rebecca Alter called the choice “disgusting.”
