Warning: Spoilers for the Frasier season 2 finale
The cancelation ofFrasier’s revival series by Paramount+ has tarnished the legacy of one of the all-time classic TV comedies. While the original iteration of the show got to go out on its own terms, the rug has been pulled from under this new version after only two seasons, just as Kelsey Grammar and co were beginning to settle into the show’s new set-up. Even if the reboot wasn’t living up to the level of greatness achieved by its forerunner, it was still the standard-bearer for a story that began more than four decades ago withCheers.
WhenCheersbowed out with the most watched TV episode of the 1990s,Frasiertook over its mantle. After starting out as a modest spin-off about the life of eruditeCheersregular Frasier Crane, the show quickly became a behemoth in itself.Frasierpreviously claimed the record for Primetime Emmys awarded for a scripted show, and when it ended in 2004, it was the secondlongest-running sitcomof modern times, with only its parent series bettering the show’s 264 episodes. Now, its successor has only been afforded 20 episodes, and has been denied the chance to give one of television’s most enduring characters a proper send-off.
Frasier Is One Of The Greatest Sitcoms Of All Time
Its Unapologetic Individuality Sets It Apart
As revolutionary asCheerswas for TV comedy at the time it was broadcast, its spin-off show arguably surpassed it for sitcom innovations, reaching the level of all-time greatness.Frasieris unapologetically less relatable thanCheers, making itwittier, more sophisticated, and indifferent to the norms of American comedyat the time, much like its titular character. Its original setting was thousands of miles from the densely-populated economic hubs of the Northeastern United States and Southern California, in Frasier Crane’s hometown of Seattle, and it became the first American sitcom to feature a major character from Britain.
20 Best Frasier Episodes, Ranked
Frasier has been gracing screens since 1993 with plenty of comedy and heartfelt moments, but only 20 episodes are considered to be the best.
The quickfire repartee betweenFrasier and his brother Niles Crane, played by David Hyde-Pierce, did much to garner the show its legendary reputation. Meanwhile, its send-up of social class was pitched perfectly to knock the brothers down a peg or two. On the other hand,Frasiernever shied away from its cerebral pretensions, withhighbrow cultural references written for its charactersmore than the audience. Far from creating a barrier between the series and its viewers, this approach proved enormously popular, helping endear Frasier and Niles to millions around the world.
Frasier’s Reboot Deserved The Chance To End On Its Own Terms
Frasier Crane’s Final Story Has Been Cut Short
Frasier’s reboot has brought the character back to where TV audiences first encountered him, inBoston, his old stomping ground fromCheers. Yet the revival series has also attempted to show new sides to Frasier Crane, as an overbearing father trying to mend the past, and a fraternal college boy who makes mischief alongside new character Alan Cornwall. It might not have drawn the viewership of the show’s original run, but the revivedFrasier’s characterizations of Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Cornwalland Crane’s son Freddy were developing nicely.
“Lyndhurst is as good in the emotional moments as he is with his comedic timing. Despite barely having any set-up, the arc is poignant and touching."- Ana Dumaraog -ScreenRant’s review ofFrasier’s season 2 finale
Both Freddy andAlan were at the heart of season 2’s moving finale, while Frasier himself played more of a peripheral role. Nevertheless, it was ultimately Frasier’s show, and he deserved the chance to get one final flourish of his own on the small screen, before saying his goodbyes for good. Instead, season 2 leaves us with questions about whether Frasier will really settle down in Boston and fully repair his relationship with Freddy, and whether Cornwall will reconcile with his other estranged children.
Why Was Frasier Season 3 Canceled?
It Was No Longer Worth It For Paramount+
Earlyupdates suggested thatFrasier’s season 3was already being planned when Paramount+ pulled the plug on it at the start of 2025. The streaming platform most likely made the decision as Paramount finalized its budget for the new year, following last summer’s news thatthe studio was going to make $500 million in cutsafter a sharp fall in year-on-year profits. (viaThe Hollywood Reporter).Frasieris far from the only show to have been hit by a wave of culling across the streaming industry, as platforms look to rein in their spending and increase their profit margins.
It appeared to be getting more views from network TV audiences on CBS than from streamers, which meant it wasn’t making as much of a direct return on Paramount’s investment.
However, the revival series was particularly vulnerable to cancelation for two reasons. Firstly, it appeared to be getting more views from network TV audiences on CBS than from streamers, which meant it wasn’t making as much of a direct return on Paramount’s investment than the platform’s big streaming hits. Secondly,FrasieractorKelsey Grammar allegedly commanded one of the highest salariesof anyTV show on Paramount+, being paid almost $2 million an episode to revive the show’s title character (viaCloser Weekly). If Paramount was looking to cut its losses in one fell swoop, then Grammar and his show were easy targets.
Is There Any Hope For Frasier’s Future?
Another Streaming Giant Could Pick It Up
Still, all might not be lost for fans holding out hope for a third season of the revival series. Last month, afterParamount+ announced their cancelation ofFrasierseason 3, Amazon and Hulu were both reportedly showing interest in picking up the show. It’s currently being shopped around to various streaming companies, and it seems that some of them might be ready to give the show another chance. This story has gone quiet for now, butit’s not ruled out thatFrasierwill be back in business later this year. The original show’s mass appeal should, in theory, make the revival something of a banker for TV companies.
Frasier: 10 Biggest Differences Between The Revival Show & The Original
Frasier came back last year with a revival series on Paramount+, and the reboot does a lot of things differently than the classic original show.
Frasierhas long since cemented its place in the American sitcom hall of fame, and will continue to be held in the highest esteem by audiences and critics alike. Its revival series was, at the very least, a gratifying footnote to the show’s legendary original run. But it will be a shame if this revival ends here, and Frasier Crane isn’t given the chance to round off his four decades on television with a fitting goodbye.
Frasier
Cast
Follow Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston, Mass., with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.
