Filed under: random | Tags: david hyde pierce, frasier, john mahoney, kelsey grammer, shows, television
Frasier was first aired in 1993. With Netflix just acquiring the Emmy-winning television sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer, John Mahoney, and David Hyde Pierce, I’ve been trucking through all eight seasons at a rather liberal pace (at least an episode a day…). My reason for coming here to write about a since-finished show is not to write a review or encourage you to watch it, but just to sing its praises a tiny bit. For being released in 1993, the humor is all wonderfully original. Try watching the X-Files, Fresh Prince, Family Matters, or any other show from the early 90s– it’s a little hard to watch. Nostalgia goes a long way with those series. But Frasier somehow still manages to feel fresh and poignant. Even take The Wonder Years. Still a great show by today’s standards… but do I find it funny in the slightest? Nah. Not really. It’s entirely dated and meant for a different generation. It’s probably what lead to Frasier’s Emmy nominations and wins.
I just watched an episode about how Fasier and Niles discover their father, Martin, might be seeing a woman from their family’s past, thinking he may have even had an affair with her back when their mother was still alive. Fast forward 20 minutes and it turns out the mother is the one who had the affair and the dad admitted to being the adulterer just to preserve his sons’ loving memory of her. The emotional, yet not overbearing, dialogue is written to perfection, with the comedic segue completely tasteful and natural. Not many shows can even be this touching in today’s ocean of scripted television; it’s amazing that a comedy from ’93 managed to do so.
Say what you will about Frasier Crane and his antics, but I, for one, am a big fan. The episodes split into chapters characterized by snooty humor is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen. While maybe the show outlines the lives of rich doctors who have “first world” and “white people” problems, the issues are still relevant, and the cast of characters who are a bit more humble (like the father, Daphne, or Roz) really bring the show to a level that anyone can relate to.
As I go to choose between keeping up with 30 Rock, Up All Night, or Frasier… I keep picking a certain psychiatrist who lives in lovely Seattle.
Leave a Comment so far
Leave a comment
