Frasier TV Series Review

Frasier (1993-2004)

Season 1 - 24 episodes (1993-94)
Season 2 - 24 episodes (1994-95)
Season 3 - 24 episodes (1995-96)
Season 4 - 24 episodes (1996-97)
Season 5 - 24 episodes (1997-98)
Season 6 - 24 episodes (1998-99)
Season 7 - 24 episodes (1999-2000)
Season 8 - 24 episodes (2000-01)
Season 9 - 24 episodes (2001-02)
Season 10 - 24 episodes (2002-03)
Season 11 - 24 episodes (2003-04)
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Created by: David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee
Starring: Kelsey Grammer, Jane Leeves, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin, John Mahoney
Rated: TV-PG
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Plot
Dr. Frasier Crane moves back to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father, and works as a radio psychiatrist.

Verdict
This show's dialog is excellent. It's witty and smart while managing to make two aloof psychiatrist's comedic and relatable. Frasier's father is the every-man that calls out his sons' antics as needed. It's incredibly funny and smart. That's not an easy combination, and this show does that effortlessly. From the premise to episode situations, this show exhibits a mastery of the medium. Even when talking about wine or opera, this show manages to make those jokes funny. Maybe most impressive is that this show remains excellent through six seasons. Even the seasons after are strong, just not quite as good. The last season, the eleventh, was when my interested waned.
Watch It.

Review
I had caught the odd episode in syndication years ago, but had never watched the show diligently. After watching and enjoying Cheers. I decided to watch the spin-off. I like this more than Cheers. This never tried to copy the original, which a lot of spin-offs make that mistake.

What impressed me immediately is the sharp dialog. This frequently references wines and opera, but you don't need to know the specifics to get the jokes. The references only reinforce how self-important Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) think they are. The brothers are incredibly competitive, and working in the same field only acts as a catalyst. There foil is often their father Martin (Jim Mahoney), nearly their opposite in all ways. This is a simple, yet great basis for comedy and the show never fails to capitalize. It's just so smart from premise to dialog. Daphne (Jane Leeves) is Martin's live-in nurse, the character serving as comic relief. Roz (Peri Gilpin) is Frasier's producer.

Jane Leeves, Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Jim Mahoney play Daphne, Frasier, Niles, Martin

This keeps the core cast through the series run, though their lives do change throughout. This focuses on family, understanding the relationships between these characters and almost never missing an opportunity to exploit. Every character is a foil for Frasier, amplifying or opposing his tendencies. I was continually impressed with the sharpness of the dialog. It's clever and witty. Despite the characters' antics, we know they care about each other. Frasier and Niles always want to have the best or be in the best clubs. They're incredibly snobby and the show makes that so much fun.

This show remains great for six seasons which is surprising. The basic plot remained the same, and it was still very funny. The show knows its characters well and manages to revel in their differences while still finding common ground. Into season seven, this show was still mostly as what it started. It avoided dramatic character swings and sweeping changes to the core of the show. Season seven is where this starts to shift a bit. The show has been leading to this season with drama between Niles and Daphne. It's a lot of drama when I just want a funny show. I don't care for this season due to that, but I'd bet during airing it was a wild story line.

From season seven on is when I wanted the show to get back to normal. If I was doing a re-watch I wouldn't go past season six. I thought season nine was better than seven and eight, but even then that season has an indulgent story line with a Frasier romantic interest the show has danced around for a while.

The last two seasons really take Frasier and Niles's character quirks to an extreme. These seasons are a bit more slapstick. The show is silly instead of just being funny. The last few seasons feel like this show is trying to be or fill the void of Seinfeld. It ramps up situations to a ridiculous level. The last season is easily the worst season. If it wasn't the final season, I'd skip it altogether. This season was proof the show had run its course, but the first half of the series is great. I don't blame the show for running with it as long as it could. With most shows, story arcs are going to suffer, especially when this kept the core cast and premise intact the entire run. I appreciate this show didn't try to introduce a Cousin Oliver or Jumped the Shark.  With Niles and Daphne, you have to pay off that story line at some point, but once you do you've boxed the characters. This show did a great job with that restriction in place, though I couldn't help but hope for what the show used to be.