Paramount+’s Frasier reboot is taking the good doctor back to Boston, and while a nostalgic ploy, this is also the thing that will save the show.
More than being a nostalgic ploy, Frasier heading back to Boston is what will make the reboot work. Alongside the likes of James Arness in the Western series Gunsmoke, Kelsey Grammer is among a rare breed of actors who played the same role for 20 years. Between Cheers, Frasier and his guest appearance on Wings, Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane for two decades straight. Almost 20 years later, he’s returning once more for Paramount+’s upcoming Frasier reboot.
The new series will see the titular character back in his former stomping grounds of Boston, which he left shortly before Frasier began. It appears the reboot will see Dr. Crane starting from scratch again, but original cast members like Jane Leeves and David Hyde Pierce won’t be appearing. Some fans of the series are concerned about how the Frasier reboot could possibly live up to the original, but the move to Boston is actually a canny one.
Frasier’s Reboot Couldn’t Have Worked With The Original Setting
In the original series, Frasier’s move to Seattle signified a soft reset. It took him away from the cozy setting of Cheers and introduced viewers to a new cast of characters. However, by the end of its run, Frasier had thoroughly picked clean every possible storyline and scenario that was possible in Seattle. While Frasier’s perfect ending saw him heading to Chicago, having him move back to Seattle just wouldn’t have worked without the original cast present too. The absence of Niles, Daphne or Martin (the late, great John Mahoney) would have cast too large a shadow over the revival.
Frasier In Boston Is Both Fresh And Nostalgic
Frasier returning to Boston is a great move, as it takes the character back to his roots while still setting up his next chapter. Frasier’s revival will bring back his now-grown son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) and ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) – and maybe some cameos from the Cheers gang – but it’s clear from the cast list that the show will feature mostly new faces. The downfall of some sitcom reboots is trying desperately to recreate what made the original work, but with Frasier’s Boston setting, it’s giving audiences a little nostalgia while focusing on building a whole new dynamic for the title character.
How The Frasier Reboot Will Be Different In Boston Instead Of Seattle
While Frasier might be going back to Boston, it’s worth remembering he’s been out of the city for around 30 years. Maybe part of the good doctor’s decision to move back is both to be close to his son and because he’s feeling nostalgia himself. Seeing how much Boston has changed in the intervening years – and how his old friends have moved on – could leave him feeling a little alienated. The Frasier reboot could still involve a trip to Seattle for an episode, but the showrunners were right to place him in a (somewhat) familiar setting for his next dysfunctional adventure.
