Frasier Review | Tossed Salad & Re-Scrambled Eggs

Summary

The new Frasier revival on Paramount+ retains the enjoyable and inviting charm of the original, despite feeling like a loose spin-off of Cheers.
The new father-son dynamic between Frasier and Freddy works well, with Jack Cutmore-Scott fitting nicely into the role.
The show stays away from divisive political and cultural themes, focusing instead on relationship dynamics and witty situations, making it a smart and intriguing choice for audiences.

This may not be the Frasier you knew 20 years ago, but there’s something curiously appealing and inviting about the new Paramount+ revival, which feels like a loose spin-off of the famous Cheers spin-off itself. Frasier bowed in May 2004 after 11 seasons on NBC and 37 Emmy Awards, eight of those for acting — Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce each earned four Emmys for their characters, Frasier and Niles Crane, respectively.

At first glance, Frasier promises to be enjoyable, amusing, and endearing. Grammer and his new ragtag team aren’t offering anything that groundbreaking here, but that’s not a bad thing. And while this sitcom doesn’t feel as if it will generate any Emmy buzz this time around — at least not yet — it will initially charm you as it tracks our dear Dr. Frasier Crane moving on after yet another life-altering event.

As for that “tossed salad and scrambled eggs” Frasier croons about in the opening credits, they’re back too. In song, of course. And in mood, too, perhaps — the setting has been tossed back into Boston, where Frasier was originally among the barflies at Cheers, and the plots are scrambled around. Here’s how the entire new outing measures up.

Welcome to Frasier’s Third Act

Paramount+

The new Frasier shows promise, despite succumbing to several outdated sitcom tropes. Some jokes are forced. Others are refreshing and inspired. Overall, the premise works. After the death of his stalwart father Martin (R.I.P. John Mahoney), Frasier leaves Chicago. Fans may recall that at the end of Frasier, Dr. Crane followed his girlfriend, Charlotte (Laura Linney), to the Windy City.

Springboarding off his Seattle-born radio program, we soon discover that Dr. Crane found massive success there. Think: Dr. Phil. Now, years later, his relationship and show having ended, and with his beloved father gone, Frasier longs to reconnect with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott of Tenet and Oppenheimer), who’s left Harvard and become a Boston fireman. What was initially designed as a short visit to reconnect with Freddy suddenly turns into a major life change. Frasier moves back to Boston to be closer to his son.

This new father-son dynamic works well. Cutmore-Scott fits nicely into the role here, and we can thank casting director Jeff Greenberg and original series producers Bob Daily, Jay Kogen, and Christopher Lloyd, and revered director James Burrows — all of whom returned for the series — for being mindful enough in their casting and story choices. The emotional push-pull between Frasier and Freddy will roll through the series no doubt. Other newcomers provide additional comic foils.

Paramount+

One of them is Jess Salgueiro, who plays Freddy’s friend Eve, who works at a local bar and bracing her own struggles. One story arc early on revolves around a well-kept secret. It’s revealed quickly and there’s some fun watching that play out. Salgueiro is a nice inclusion, although it would be nice to give her more to do. She’s prominent in the first few episodes then tends to disappear in the background. Bring her back up front, please. (And yes, we can already sniff that will they/won’t they get together vibe between Freddy and Eve.)

Anders Keith plays nephew David, Niles and Daphne’s kid. David has plenty of personality ticks. He attends Harvard and strives to fit in everywhere he goes. The character, thus far, appears to be the weakest link in this revival, but hey, he’s here for the laughs, however forced they may be. There’s not enough interaction between Freddy and David, which may come down the line. Part of the joy of watching the original series was seeing the Crane Brothers banter. Sadly, David Hyde Pierce’s Niles is absent as is Jane Leeves, who was a joy to experience playing Daphne. It’s still early. Let’s wait this one out.

Coming Full Circle, But All Brand New

Paramount+

After Frasier decides to stay in Boston, he graciously enters the fold at Harvard and reconnects with stodgy but witty pal/professor Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst). Toks Olagundoye is a nice comic foil for the older gents, playing Olivia, the head of the Psychology Department.

Some of the most rewarding scenes in the first five episodes of the season revolve around Frasier and his new role at the university. Olivia is ecstatic to have Dr. Crane on staff as a professor. Frasier vacillates. His students can’t see past his celebrity — the man became famous and a household name, after all. This provides Alan with plenty of fodder. Soon enough, the troika of Frasier-Alan-Olivia becomes one of the comedic staples in the series as these three often attempt to outsmart each other. Lyndhurst shines in the role, recalling Frasier and Niles’ witty repartee.

It’s also nice to see Freddy’s fellow firefighters here. More interesting perhaps when stodgy sweater-wearing Frasier interacts among them, and vice versa. Heads up: there’s a new dog in the series, this time a firehouse Dalmatian. Breaking down emotional walls between father and son becomes one of the show’s prominent themes and there’s an eerie feeling that the show will overplay that card, but thus far, as each episode rolls out, we learn more about Freddy and understand why it’s important for Frasier to establish a new connection with him.

The new Frasier doesn’t take any major leaps and unlike, say, other revivals — Will & Grace, The Conners — this show veers far away from today’s divisive political and cultural atmosphere. Ironic. Especially for a show about a psychiatrist. It’s also a smart move because chances are, audiences wouldn’t like that kind of Frasier. Instead, the writers, director, and producers — Grammer is among the executive producers — keep everything in the middle, focusing on relationship dynamics and the odd situations their characters must move through. Witty, often fun, and surprisingly inviting, Frasier manages to be intriguing enough to keep tuning in. Cheers to that.

Frasier premieres on Paramount+ on October 12. Check out the trailer below:

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