Frasier Frasier Fundamental analysis Category="1990s TV shows in the United States"Category="2000s TV shows in the United States"Category="Frasier"Category="NBC network shows"Category="Sitcoms"Category="Television spin-offs"
Frasier
[image]
FormatSitcom
Run time22 Minutes
Creator(s)David Angell, Peter Casey & David Lee
StarringKelsey Grammer
David Hyde Pierce
John Mahoney
Jane Leeves
Peri Gilpin
CountryUSA
NetworkNBC
Original runSeptember 16, 1993 - May 13, 2004
No. of episodes265

Frasier was an American TV Situation comedy. A Spin-off of the highly successful situation comedy Cheers, it starred Kelsey Grammer, reprising his character of Dr. Frasier Crane. It became even more successful than its parent show, a television first. Its first episode aired on NBC on September 16, 1993, and its last episode aired on May 13, 2004.

Creators

The show was created by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee. It was produced by Angell, Casey and Lee (Grub Street Productions) in association with Paramount Television. Angell was a victim of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Angell, Casey and Lee had also written and produced Cheers and created Wings. [image]

Cast

Regulars:

Recurring Guest Stars

Storyline

Dr. Frasier Crane is a psychiatrist who hosts a radio Talk show in Seattle on KACL 780AM. His friend and producer is single mother Roz Doyle, and his colleague, the sports show host Bob 'Bulldog' Briscoe is always on hand to annoy Frasier and hit on Roz. Frasier lives with his father, retired cop Martin Crane who was shot in the hip when he walked in on a robbery in progress and, because of that, he now walks with a cane. Martin is looked after by his Manchester-born health care worker, Daphne Moon, who is the love interest of Frasier's brother Niles Crane, a fellow psychiatrist who is even more stuffy and pompous than Frasier. Completing the lineup is Martin's dog Eddie (Moose, a well-trained Jack Russell Terrier) who responds with alacrity to the other characters but stares uncomprehendingly at Frasier. When not hosting his radio program, Frasier drinks coffee at the Cafe Nervosa, a pre-Starbucks Seattle coffee house.

Most of the humor is derived from Frasier's search for romance; Social class conflict, particularly with his blue-collar ex-cop father; sibling rivalry; and the pomposity of Frasier as a minor Celebrity.

Characters

Frasier Crane: He has degrees from Harvard and Oxford. He lives in apartment 1901 of the Elliot Bay Towers, on the Couterbalance in Seattle, Washington. His hobbies are playing the piano, watching operas and attending wine parties with Niles. Frasier has one son named Frederick with his ex-wife, Dr. Lillith Sternin. Frasier's first wife was a free-spirited woman named Nanette, who later achieved fame performing for children as the character "Nanny Gee." Although Frasier does not know a single thing about sports, he occasionally plays squash with Niles. Frasier not only helps listeners that call in on his radio show, but also the people that he interacts with on a daily basis, which include Niles, Martin, Daphne and Roz. The irony is that Frasier seems to have all the answers for his patients and friends, but when it comes to his own life, he struggles much like everyone else. He is divorced and his on-going search for that "one woman" led to many humorous situations throughout the series. The conclusion of the show finds Frasier falling in love with a woman named Charlotte, whom he originally hired as a matchmaker. Charlotte was played by actress Laura Linney. Frasier won Charlotte away from her ruggedly handsome boyfriend Frank, played by Aaron Eckhard. In the final show, Frasier is flying on an airplane to join Charlotte in Chicago, in hopes of starting a new life together.

Niles Crane: Frasier's brother and a professional psychiatrist. In the first few seasons, Niles is married to Maris Crane, an unseen character. He then gets divorced and marries Dr. Melinda (Mel) Karnofsky, an uptight plastic surgeon. Just when his father's physical therapist and housekeeper (Daphne Moon) is about to marry a lawyer named Donnie Douglas, Daphne and Niles realize that they have feelings for each other. Daphne leaves Donnie at the alter to run away with Niles. In his free time, Niles enjoys high culture such as opera, symphony, and wine. He is almost always seen wearing an expensive suit and tie. In fact, in the show's final season, while wearing a t-shirt, he says "This is the first time I've worn an undergarment in public before!" He is equally uninterested in sports as Frasier, and has been described as Metrosexual.

Martin Crane: Frasier and Niles' father, also called "Marty" by friends. He worked as a police officer with 30 years' experience until being shot in the hip during an armed robbery. Shortly after this, Martin moved in with Frasier (bringing Eddie and his battered armchair with him). Martin's working-class attitude and simpler outlook on life sometimes leads to confrontations with Frasier; the bond between them, however, is strong enough to withstand these tensions.

Daphne Moon: A green card immigrant from Manchester, Daphne is hired by the Cranes as Martin's physiotherapist and general helper (despite Frasier's initial reservations). Niles develops a crush on her almost from their first meeting, but this is (often humorously) suppressed until the eighth season, when they finally acknowledge their love for each other. Daphne's overbearing mother, Gertrude, also makes several appearances in later seasons, along with her brothers Simon, Steven, Michael and Nigel (played by Anthony LaPaglia, Richard E. Grant, Robbie Coltrane and Cameron Dye respectively). She has a homosexual brother named Billy, who is never seen on the show.

Roz Doyle: The producer of Frasier's radio show, and regular customer at Cafe Nervosa. Roz grew up as part of a large family in Wisconsin, and she visits them throughout the series. She is renowned as a "serial dater" and always has a new man in her life; she is seen with a different boyfriend in nearly every episode. This lifestyle led to her becoming pregnant from a one night stand; her daughter Alice May Doyle, was born in 1998. The character is named after a producer on Wings, who died shortly before the series began.

Minor characters

The series finale

On May 13, 2004, the Series finale of Frasier aired. It was watched by 25.4 million viewers.

Several circumstances led to the decision to end the series:

Guest stars in the series finale included Wendie Malick, Anthony LaPaglia, Robbie Coltrane, Richard E. Grant, Laura Linney, Jason Biggs, and Jennifer Beals.

The last show was dedicated to David Angell, one of the creators of Frasier, who, along with his wife, Lynne, died on American Airlines Flight 11 in the 9/11 attacks.

Records

Trivia

See also

External links