The details surrounding the Frasier revival remain relatively ambiguous but there's one clear distribution mistake the reboot has already made. Pertinent characters from the original show are still unconfirmed to be returning despite Kelsey Grammer continuing to push forward in the reboot's pre-production. Nevertheless, bringing Frasier back to the small screen for a new season may not actually be the best platform for the classic sitcom to return to.
Frasier star Kelsey Grammer recently updated the progress of the Paramount+ reboot. "We're in the final stages of the final script for the first episode of Frasier, and it looks pretty good" (via E! News). The reboot entering the final stages of its pre-production could imply that the show may start filming at the end of this year or early next year. David Hyde Pierce and other key actors from the original series have warned fans against expecting them in the revival but there hasn't been confirmation they won't return. Grammer has described the reboot as a "third act" for Frasier as the episodes will show Frasier Crane living in a new city, similar to how he moved from Boston to Seattle after he departed from Cheers.
The Frasier reboot has been in pre-production for a long time with Grammer occasionally dropping vague hints about the series' advancement. It is transparent the actors who starred in the original show are unsure about their involvement. This means there may be scheduling issues or Frasier's story will be taking a turn in the opposite direction, and not for the better. Negative feedback has already stirred in regards to Frasier Crane potentially being the only original character returning, but the proposed revival has already made one crucial error. The Frasier reboot is a project that needs to be handled delicately due to its massive fanbase but it has already made a big misstep. Kelsey Grammer is working on scripts for Frasier's return which will hopefully be arriving soon as a new season on Paramount+. A far more achievable goal for Frasier to continue its legacy would be to have the story revived as a movie rather than a TV reboot.
Why A Frasier Movie Would Be Better Than A TV Revival
Frasier released a total of 11 seasons during its run, with each season airing just over 20 episodes. Needless to say, Frasier covers almost any topic a sitcom can come up with. Frasier Crane underwent various character arcs that revealed the source of his commitment issues and insecurities. For cult comedy to return as a series of episodes may detract from the accomplishments of the original. A movie could offer a closer focus on modern conflicts Frasier must deal with rather than resort to drawing out pre-existing conflicts that were exacerbated by the end of Frasier's run. Popular shows like Downton Abbey are successfully continuing their stories in film. A Frasier movie wouldn't mean a conclusion either since it can be greenlit for sequels if it does well. If it is poorly received, Frasier's legacy won't face a prolonged demise similar to that of Dexter: New Blood.
Bringing Frasier back for a season rather than a movie will remain the reboot's biggest mistake if the original cast doesn't return. Martin Crane's dynamic with Frasier and Niles was the show's lifeblood and since Mahoney's passing, reviving Frasier has become risky. Niles Crane, Daphne Moon, and Roz Doyle are returning faces that could keep the reboot from sinking. If scheduling is the reason their return looks doubtful, then reworking the reboot's script into a movie might be the better option for these busy actors. In 2018, Kelsey Grammer stated during Frasier's 25th anniversary that he wouldn't commit to a reboot unless Pierce did as well, confirming that the cast is necessary for its success.
Frasier remains one of the most sought-after properties in the modern-day surge of TV revivals. Kelsey Grammer's commitment to his character and the journey he'll be on in the reboot has kept expectations for the series high, but the prospect of Frasier's original cast not returning continues to stir controversy. However, the biggest mistake the Frasier reboot may have already set in stone is that it won't continue the sitcom's legacy in film.