Frasier

As a spin-off of Cheers, who would have thought Frasier could be even more popular than its parent? Set in Seattle, the show explores the life of verbose Doctor Crane (Kelsey Grammer), providing much insight into his character. The eleven series cover the psychiatrist’s many trials and triumphs in life and love, but the key to Frasier is the character dynamic. Contrast between characters is vast, yet they share enough to hold them together, and their differences complement each other. Indeed, much of the show’s success is due to cast camaraderie.

Although Frasier’s bouts of pomposity are irritating at times, they are regularly punctured by his family and friends, which is the source of much of the comedy. Grammer plays the part skilfully, so Frasier’s grandiosity is rarely overpoweringly annoying and he’s actually rendered rather endearing by his insecurities as he negotiates his love-life with help from his sexually-predatory producer and friend, Roz (Peri Gilpin). Frasier gains new dimensions as he rebuilds relationships with his father, Martin (the wonderful John Mahoney) and brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), and cements new ones with Roz and Daphne (Jane Leeves), bringing about some cosy “ah” moments which, however, never get too cloying.

Hyde Pierce has by far the best lines, many of which centre on his never-seen wife Maris, and his instant and continuous adoration and hair-smelling of Daphne, and he is particularly brilliant at physical comedy. However, the gorgeous doggy-features and astounding training render Eddy (Moose/Enzo) the scene-stealer whenever he’s on camera.

Despite the show centring on Frasier, some of the best moments don’t even feature him: season three, episode thirteen entitled Moon Dance is a perfect example of Niles’ infatuation with Daphne, and her total inability to see it. Frasier has that rare, brilliant gift of laughing-so-much-you-almost-wet-yourself combined with truly touching, pass-the-tissues moments, as revealed in the dance scene when Niles proves to his snotty “friends” he’s not broken by his divorce with Maris.

When Niles and Daphne finally get together, as is always the case with this sort of situation, the show’s dynamic changes. However, despite some of the angst magic being lost, the show by no means loses its way, and the final series is just as acerbic as ever, thanks to the large number of writers keeping it fresh, as well as the great efforts of the cast.

Regrettably, some episodes fail to live up to the show’s good name, for example when Frasier and Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) go to extremes to get Freddy into an exclusive boarding school; situations are taken too far and become aggravating rather than funny. However, none of these episodes feature Bebe “The Devil” Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris) who provides some stupendously immoral comic moments whenever she’s about; the only down-side being she doesn’t appear often enough.

There are plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments to savour though, for instance, after a radio show, Frasier asks Niles, “Guess which thriving Seattle nightspot is finally closing its doors?” to which Niles responds “Roz, you’re leaving?”; one of many instances of a perfect marriage between wit and physical comedy, as Roz, to Niles’ horror, licks the rare first edition in his hands.

Sometimes the writers miss the mark and some of the wit is exchanged for too much farce, and, understandably with so many of them, some series are not as good as others. Fortunately however, this is a rare occurrence, and with such a fantastic combination of cast and writers, and because it had enough sense and dignity to bow out on a high, Frasier is definitely up there with the best classic TV shows.

Holly Curtis