When the US sitcom asks us to invest more in the characters, it finds there isn’t much there, making the whole farce a bit tedious
Frasier – both the show and the titular character – grows on you. It is something of a miracle that Kelsey Grammer’s snobby Dr Crane, initially created as a romantic foil in the Sam and Diane “will they, won’t they” storyline on Cheers, ended up becoming one of the longest-running, most-celebrated comedy characters in television history, racking up critical praise and Emmy awards (a then-record-setting 37 wins) during its initial broadcast on NBC from 1993 to 2004. That streak could continue if Grammer’s efforts to revive the show become reality.
The joy of Frasier begins with appreciating that it is classic farce, with the staging and performances giving each beat the necessary level of theatrical hamminess. The show’s writing and identity was clear from the first episode, introducing each character into Frasier’s new life with deliberate precision, setting the stage for a dynamic that would last over a decade. Season three’s Look Before You Leap and season five’s Ski Lodge are great examples of the show’s careful plotting, witty jokes, big physical expressions and act-outs all synchronising expertly. The dialogue-free scene in which Niles sets fire to Frasier’s couch in season six is delivered like a one-act play.
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