The long-developing Frasier revival may finally happen at Paramount+, the upcoming streamer, which is due to replace CBS All Access in March 2021. Serving as a spin-off to Cheers, Frasier saw Kelsey Grammer reprise his role as the titular Harvard-trained psychiatrist, who moves back to his hometown in Seattle after his divorce in Boston. The show dropped on NBC in 1993 and ran for 11 highly acclaimed seasons until 2004, winning 37 Primetime Emmy Awards. Besides Grammar, Frasier also starred John Mahoney as Martin Crane, Jane Leeves as Daphne Moon, David Hyde Pierce as Niles Cranksets, and Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle. Over the years, several of the show's cast members have teased a potential revival of the hit sitcom.
Speculations about a Frasier revival first began in 2016, but NBC Chairman Robert Greenblatt and Grammer refuted them. However, the whispers resurfaced in 2018, and this time Grammer himself confirmed that he was considering rebooting the popular show. The actor later suggested that the new series will serve as a "third act" for Dr. Frasier Crane, and it would take place in a unique setting than the previous show. He added that the reboot - intending to pay tribute to Mahoney - would also focus on Frasier's son, who would be his late grandfather Martin Crane's spitting image. The initial plan was for the revival to air in 2020. But due to some creative challenges, the show never materialized. Recently, Gilpin suggested that the show was still in development. And now it seems like the revival may finally happen, although with a new distributor.
According to TV Line, Paraomount+ is seeking to revive Fraiser on its platform. At the moment, the discussions at the forthcoming rebranded ViacomCBS streaming service are in very early stages. But if the talks ultimately materialize, production on the revival may commence as early as summer 2021, right after Grammer wraps up filming for his untitled ABC multi-cam sitcom co-starring Alec Baldwin. TV Line also reports that the revival, if it happens, will feature most of the comedy's original cast, including Pierce, Leeves, and Gilpin.
Although Grammer and ViacomCBS are yet to comment on the news, the revival will likely be greenlit at Paramount+. Quite evidently, Paramount+ is shaping up to become a strong competitor in the cut-throat streaming wars. The streamer has a diverse pool of cable outlets, including CBS, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Network, and Nickelodeon, to include original content from. And it has already created a lot of buzz by ordering a revival of the smash-hit teen-sitcom iCarly, featuring original stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, and Nathan Kress. The service is also eyeing the long-developing Frasier revival, which will expectedly draw the sitcom's bustling fanbase's attention.
After all these years, it appears that the idea of a Frasier revival may come to fruition very soon. Given Parmount+'s newfound interest in the classic sitcom, it is likely that other streamers, including Peacock, which is run by Frasier's home network, will also jump in with tempting offers to shop the project. Frasier's popularity has only grown over the years. And its presence on various streaming services and persistent off-network syndication prove that fans are craving more tossed salads and scrambled eggs. Additionally, Grammer has a brand new narrative in mind for the revival, which, when coupled with the show's original cast, will spawn a project that is fresh and relevant to contemporary audiences and possess the nostalgic essence of the classic sitcom. To conclude, fans can officially start looking forward to the return of their beloved Crane family.
Source: TV Line