Kelsey Grammer is phenomenal on Frasier reboot: Review

Frasier Reboot Review: At age 68, Kelsey Grammer is still one of the world’s top 10 actors, not missing a single beat as Frasier Crane in the revival. Impeccable line delivery and comedic timing, dare I say, Perfection.

This non-spoiler Frasier review covers the pros and cons of the reboot’s first five episodes on Paramount+.

The Pros of the Frasier Reboot:

– The revival truly makes an effort to spiritually be a continuation of the original. Almost like a Season 12 decades later. Plot points that fans have wondered about for eons like what happened with Charlotte (Ozark’s Laura Linney) are answered early. You even start the reboot back where we last saw Frasier, the airport.

– Writing is as eloquent and smart as the original. Superb. Just hearing the dialogue banter between Frasier and Oxford buddy Alan Cromwell (Nicholas Lyndhurst) alone is brilliant, such as when they use speaking Latin to secretly scheme.

– Features one of Kelsey Grammer’s funniest line deliveries ever. “If I may… There is only one person to blame for this confusion… And it’s not Freddy. (long pause) It’s Freddy’s mother!” – Frasier Crane.

– Classic Frasier elitist jokes mocking other Universities than Harvard are pure gold.

– Credit to actor Anders Keith for keeping the spirt of Niles alive without him on-screen (for now) as son David Crane. My favorite David Crane moment is when he discovers his cousin Freddy’s collectable glass case of dirt from Fenway Park (Red Sox) and nonchalantly pours it back in a plant pot. Something Niles could definitely do!

– The writers didn’t try to ‘reimagine’ the Frasier Crane character. Rather, they left defining points of his personalty like his healthy ego fully intact. For example, Frasier pretends he’s above interviews with the Boston Globe but really, really wanting it! Just like the old days.

– You get to see a ‘flashback’ to Frasier’s TV show days where it starts off really serious in Season 1 and becomes something akin to the later seasons of The Jerry Springer Show before he quits. Frasier’s “Let’s put on our thinking caps!” phrase would make great T-shirt and online meme material.

– The classic episode structuring is a big deal. You’ll see the old school white text chapter intros over black backgrounds and tossed salad and scrambled eggs closing theme scene outros. As a long time fan, I really appreciated this. Comforting.

– You have Frasier trying to connect with his son Freddy the way he once tried to connect with his own father Marty. Kelsey Grammer’s performance really is timeless… And it’s no easy task to step back into the frame of mind you were in two decades ago as an actor.

L-R: Kevin Daniels as Tiny, Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, Jimmy Dunn as Moose and Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy Crane in Frasier, episode 2, season 1 streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

– Frasier’s interactions with Eve (Jess Salgueiro) are always a great source of laughs. and in later episodes, feel heartfelt. Showing the dramatic side of Kelsey (just like Boss did on Starz).

L-R: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane and Jess Salgueiro as Eve in Frasier, episode 1, season 1 streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

– Olivia (Toks Olagundoye) being envious of her sister and wanting to compete over everything is Niles-like and what you’d expect from a character on Frasier.

– Homage to Marty Crane and even a new dog introduced in place of Eddie.

The Cons of the Frasier Reboot:

L-R: Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane, Jess Salgueiro as Eve and Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy in Frasier, episode 2, season 1 streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

– Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) taking on Marty’s role is a fantastic concept but not quite as charming on-screen with the ages reversed. It could also be that John Mahoney is too tough an act to follow for any actor. And you inevitably compare the two in your subconscious.

– The show has to be careful not to make David Crane too eccentric and naive at points. I wasn’t a fan of the subplot in a later episode where Freddy attempts to ‘teach’ David quite condescendingly how to talk to girls. Or when firemen treat David like a child of sorts.

Perhaps, some of his personality is crafted that way to channel the Daphne Moon side but I think they should go full Niles with David. He’s at his best in those moments.

– Speaking of which, no Niles (as of yet). Alan is a truly great character but I can’t say Niles (David Hyde Pierce) isn’t missed. He was the perfect counterpart to Frasier. Hopefully he makes a cameo or returns full time in the future.

Worth a mention that there is no substitute for Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) in the Frasier reboot, even in spirit.

Frasier Reboot Review Score: 9.5

The Frasier reboot is excellent, Kelsey Grammer is in top acting form, and the writing is superb. The new cast members are a worthy addition to the Frasier franchise. Can’t wait to see more new episodes!

– Discover how to stream Frasier on Paramount+ this Thursday, October 12th in our article: Everything You Need to Know to Stream Frasier Reboot Free

Frasier Reboot Cast Photo

From top, left to right: BTS of Nicholas Lyndhurst, director James Burrows and Anders Keith. Bottom from left: Jess Salgueiro, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Cutmore-Scott and Toks Olagundoye on the set of Frasier, episode 1, season 1 streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Chris Haston/Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Key art for Frasier, streaming on Paramount+, 2023. CREDIT: Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Be sure to read:

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Visit the Frasier section for the latest episode reviews, exclusive interviews, recaps, analysis, free online stream info and much more!

L-R: Jack Cutmore-Scott as Freddy Crane and Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane in Frasier, streaming on Paramount+, 2023. Photo credit: Pamela Littky/Paramount+ TM & © 2023 CBS Studios Inc. Frasier and related marks and logos are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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