Comedy lovers were devastated by the news that theFrasierrevival has been canceled, although there’s a glimmer of hope that it could return for a third season. As the continued misadventures of Dr. Frasier Crane returning to Boston to work as a Harvard lecturer in his life’s third act,Frasierreceived mixed reviews from critics, although it was still great to see Kelsey Grammer seamlessly slip right back into his most famous role. WhileParamount+ may have called it a day onFrasier, CBS Studios has announced they will be shopping it to other outlets for its potential continuation.
TheFrasierrevival introduced plenty of great new characters, and it would be a shame if this series were relegated to being yet another short-lived, disastrous two-season spin-off likeJoeyand instead could carve out a legacy as a surprise success, like the originalFrasier. With so many plot points yet to be fully explored and major characters we’re still waiting to return,Frasierseason 3truly needs to happen. It would be a shame for things to end so prematurely, and these werejust a few reasons thatFrasiershould be picked up by another provider.
10Olivia Finch’s Character Was Just Starting To Come Into Her Own
Toks Olagundoye has made the character a highlight of the show
TheFrasierrevival has its work cut out for it when it opted to shift the story back to Boston and leave behind most of the Seattle characters that made the original series such a success. Without classic characters to fall back on,Frasierhad to carve out its own identity through the introduction of a new ensemble cast. Among the new additions was Toks Olagundoye as Professor Olivia Finch, the chair of Harvard University’s psychology department.
Finch’s character was essential in getting Frasier to remain in Boston, as she hired him for a lecturing position at Harvard. However, it took some time for Olagundoye to find her feet with the character, and it was only in the second season that Finch’s endearing awkwardness really shone through.Frasierseason 3 needs to happen so that the potential for Finch-centric storylines can truly be explored, and we can see more of her eccentric tendencies, like hosting her own murder mystery party in the episode “Murder Most Finch.”
9We Need To See More From Frasier’s TV Talk Show
There’s so much more potential to look back on the Dr. Crane Show
There was an almost 20-year gap between the finale ofFrasierand the start of the revival, which means there’s so much backstory that could be explored regarding these intervening years.Frasiergave us a very brief glimpse into the psychiatrist’s time hosting his own daytime TV show calledDr. Crane, but we haven’t seen nearly enough from it.Frasierseason three needs to happen so that we can watch him either be coaxed back into hosting the show again or see a flashback episode set during these years.
WhileDr. Cranewas initially shown as a thoughtful psychology talk show, it was clear that it soon devolved into lowest-common-denominator programming with the introduction of props like the ‘Thinking Cap’ and guests that include the world’s smartest pig “Albert Swinestine.” Thisdelightfully silly satire of series likeDr. Philhad so much untapped comedic potential that it must return in a potential third season of the show. EvenFrasier’sexecutive producers Joe Cristalli and Chris Harris hinted at its return (viaTV Insider), as Frasier’s agent Bebe Glazer and daughter Phoebe could trick him into returning.
8There Are So Many Familiar Faces That Still Need To Appear
Plenty of notable names have yet to appear
As one of the most successful TV spin-offs of all time, we mustn’t forget that theFrasierrevival not only boasts a beloved cast from the original series but was also set in the same world asCheers. This means the potential for guest appearances is practically endless, andFrasierseason 3 needs to happen so that more faces from times past can pop up in the new show. While everyone’s holding their breath for the appearance of Niles Crane,it would also be exciting to see some of Frasier’s old acquaintances from Cheers bar.
Outside of the core cast of the originalFrasierseries, the most highly anticipated guest appearance would surely be Ted Danson as Sam Malone. This would not be unheard of, as Danson already appeared in the originalFrasierseason 2 episode “The Show Where Sam Shows Up.” With Danson as active in TV work as ever through appearances in everything fromCurb Your EnthusiasmtoThe Good Place, it would be a real shame for theFrasierrevival to conclude without at least one appearance from Sam to pay tribute toFrasier’sorigins onCheers.
Peri Gilpin has only been in six episodes of the revival
The first season finale gave us exactly what we wanted withthe long-anticipated return of Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle. This major guest appearance hinted at the potential for the old cast to become an essential part of the new show, and audiences were excited to see more from Roz in subsequent seasons. While Roz did appear throughout season 2, she was mostly relegated to a background role, and the show needs to return for a third season to properly give her time to shine.
Roz was a major reason the originalFrasierwas such a success, and while it’s great the new cast has been getting plenty of time in the spotlight, Roz’s increased presence in the show was helping to reclaim some of the nostalgic magic that viewers have been craving. From a guest spot in season 1 to a recurring role in season 2, ifFrasiercame back for a third season, then Roz could claim her rightful place as a permanent cast member.
6Freddy And Eve’s Will-They-Won’t-They Story Has Only Just Begun
Jack Cutmore-Scott and Jess Salgueiro’s dynamic adds romantic tension to the show
TheFrasierrevival has never tried to rewrite the rulebook regarding a will-they-won’t-they romantic dynamic between Freddy Crane and his roommate, Eve. From the start, their relationship has been framed as something that could turn romantic but hasn’t yet, largely because of timing, circumstances, and their own personal hang-ups. With a backstory involving Freddy’s deceased firefighter best friend being the father of Eve’s child, there’s a blockade to their romance that needs to be addressed if season 3 ever gets made.
The best relationships are built on a foundation of friendship, and whileFreddy and Eve have repeatedly stated they don’t want to get together, the truth is that the audience would love to see their relationship turn romantic. Subtle moments have hinted at deeper feelings buried just below the surface, and it would be a true sitcom tragedy if these complex emotions were never resolved.
5Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Frasier Character Was Great & We Need More Of Him
Professor Alan Cornwall is one of the best things about the new Frasier
Nicholas Lyndhurst had a difficult task in theFrasierrevival, as he not only had to imbue his character with a unique identity but was also filling the gap left by the absence of David Hyde Pierce’s Niles Crane. Luckily, Lyndhurst was more than up for the challenge, as he had a lifetime of experience behind him. Comedy lovers immediately recognized Lyndhurst asRodney Trotter from the British sitcomOnly Fools and Horses, a role he played for over 20 years, which gave him the clout to stand alongside Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane.
Lyndhurst played Professor Alan Cornwall, the hard-drinking intellectual who’s checked out entirely from his Harvard teaching position and is totally estranged from his four children. While this may sound like the backstory of a truly tragic man, Lyndhurst’s hilarious portrayal of Alan made him the show’s standout character. With a well-defined personality, an immensely talented actor, and plenty of room for growth,Frasierneeds to return so we can see more from Professor Alan Cornwall.
4Niles Crane Has Yet To Appear
David Hyde Pierce is open to potentially returning for a cameo
The most disappointing thing about theFrasierrevival was the absence of David Hyde Pierce as Frasier’s brother Niles Crane. This comedic duo was the beating heart and soul of the original series, and in the initial plans for theFrasierrevival, he was envisioned as a main character, with Pierce being involved in multiple conversations about joining the show (viaThe Wrap.) However, Pierce didn’t feel there was enough for Niles to do in the revival and eventually made the decision not to return.
While this was a major setback for theFrasierrevival,the show still references Niles from time to time, and it was clear the door was always open for him to return for a guest spot or cameo appearance. Pierce himself stated he was willing to come back for a special one-off appearance (viaCBR) as long as it didn’t interfere with other acting opportunities. Considering Pierce’s willingness to return, it would be truly sacrilege forFrasiernot to come back for at least one more season and give us the Frasier-Niles reunion we so desperately crave.
3We Still Need To See David Interact With Niles And Daphne
While David Hyde’s Pierce’s reluctance to return as Niles Crane was down to his character not having enough to do in theFrasierrevival, one fascinating area we have yet to see is his role as a father to David Crane.Anders Keith’s portrayal of Niles and Daphne’s son was one of the most enjoyable aspects of the revival series, as his personality combined aspects of both his parents and helped fill the gaps left by their absence.
This interesting characterization of David means that watching him interact with Niles and Daphne would be absolutely hilarious and a core reason thatFrasierneeds to find a way to return for a third season. David was born in the series finale of the original show, meaning that audiences missed out on seeing how Niles and Daphne fared as parents to a young child. With so many gaps in the narrative,Frasiercould help fill in the missing pieces by giving us a glimpse of their parenting skills.
2The Creators Want To Make Season 3 Happen
Frasier is being shopped around to other outlets
While it’s always sad when a beloved show comes to an end, it can be devastating when it’s prematurely canceled. This is what’s happened with theFrasierrevival, as, despite the creators and stars willingness to keep going, Paramount+ has decided to pull the plug on the series. However, all hope is not lost, asCBS Studios has announced their plans to shop the series aroundto other outlets, such as Prime Video or Hulu.
This glimmer of hope thatFrasiermay return for a third season is a significant reason why it should. It was no mean feat managing to carve out a new identity for the series and lay the groundwork for its impressive cast of supporting characters; to let all that go down the drain after just two short seasons would be a real shame. With enough love from everyone involved in the production for them to fight for its return,Frasiershould be given a chance to continue making us laugh for at least one more season.
1Frasier Is The Role Kelsey Grammer Was Born To Play
If Grammer is willing to continue reprising his role, then we should let him
Few actors are as perfectly suited to a role as Kelsey Grammer is to Dr. Frasier Crane. As a character who debuted as a minor love interest for Diane Chambers onCheers, it’s truly astounding thatFrasier first appeared on our TV screens more than 40 years ago, and audiences still haven’t had enough of this hilarious psychiatrist, radio host, and later Harvard lecturer. While it would be understandable if Grammer wanted to bid farewell to the character, the fact that he’s willing to return for a third season means it really should happen.
Grammer’s comedic sensibilities, suave charisma, and unique onscreen charm make him the ideal actor to embody the haphazard, pretentious, and unlucky-in-love psychotherapist. While it’s true that theFrasierrevival has received mixed reviews, nobody can deny that Grammer slipped right back into the role and still has the comedy chops needed to pull off the crazed antics, consistent misunderstandings, and over-the-top plots of classicFrasiermisadventures. For this reason, I think we should allow Grammer to play Dr. Frasier Crane for as long as he’s willing to gift audiences with more moments from this all-time great TV character.
