Frasier reboot helmer James Burrows addresses the titular character’s seemingly nonexistent evolution.
Despite nearly two decades passing between the end of Frasier and its reboot series, director James Burrows admits little has changed about Kelsey Grammer’s character.
Speaking with El País, Burrows suggested Frasier Crane “hasn’t evolved” since the original Frasier series ended in 2004, with his persona and experiences in the reboot mirroring what fans remember from the Emmy-winning sitcom. However, Burrows seemingly hinted that this lack of character development was by design, “Frasier’s character remains the same, he hasn’t evolved over the years,” he said. “You don’t want to rewrite the Bible, you want to make sure the character stays the same.”
Audiences have seen a different Frasier in the reboot, but not the one they expected coming in. So far, the central character has been more laid back in his approach, refraining from giving out advice at every opportunity like he did on his KACL hotline during the original series. While there were improvements along the way, this was a concern for viewers, especially considering the revival series was plugged as the “third act” for the eponymous psychiatrist.
Reviews of the Frasier reboot have been mixed since its premiere episode, with its plot and humor considered inferior to its predecessor. The series has a 58% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, though the audience ratings are more encouraging at 83%. Burrows directed the first two episodes of the reboot, “The Good Father,” and “Moving In,” with the episodes premiering back-to-back on Oct. 12.
The Frasier reboot is a full circle moment for Crane as he moves back to Boston, the home of Cheers, following the death of his father Martin, played by the late John Mahoney in the original series. The eponymous character pursues a teaching position at Harvard University while attempting to rekindle his relationship with his estranged son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott). While the show has some connections to the original, including the return of key characters like Lilith Sternin (Bebe Neuwirth) and Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), other franchise staples such as Niles and Daphne Crane are noticeably absent.
