The much-anticipated revival of the cherished sitcom ‘Frasier’ on Paramount+ sees our eponymous hero embarking on a new chapter in Boston. However, as Frasier himself has discovered, escaping the past is easier said than done. This theme resurfaces in the third episode when Frasier grapples with the ghost of his illustrious television career. Given the scant information about Frasier’s TV career and the conspicuous absence of his popular radio show in the new series, fans are undoubtedly seeking clarity on Frasier’s journey in the media world. So, let’s dive into the details of Frasier’s TV and radio shows! Spoiler alert!
Frasier’s Mysterious TV Career
In the 2023 reboot of ‘Frasier’, Dr. Frasier Crane’s relocation to Boston signals a significant career shift for the psychiatrist. After choosing to remain in Boston to reconnect with his son, Frasier takes up a faculty position at Harvard University. Despite his eagerness to inspire his new students, his teaching career is swiftly eclipsed by his television career. In the original series’ finale, Frasier is offered a TV show hosting gig, contingent on a move to San Francisco. The series concludes with the revelation that Frasier moved to Chicago to rekindle his romance with Charlotte.
The reboot’s first episode verifies that Frasier not only maintained a long-term relationship with Charlotte but also realized his dream of hosting his own TV show. However, Frasier’s stint as a TV star remains largely unseen as it transpires between the original series’ end and the reboot’s beginning. In the third episode of the reboot, viewers catch a fleeting glimpse of the ‘Dr. Crane Show’, hosted by Frasier. Nevertheless, Frasier expresses dissatisfaction with the show’s later seasons, which favored spectacle over psychiatry. Despite this, Frasier’s TV career spanned nearly fifteen years, with his show airing for fourteen seasons, presumably from 2003 to 2018.
Frasier’s Memorable Radio Show
Original series enthusiasts will recall Frasier’s role as a radio talk show host in Seattle. After ‘Cheers’, where the character first appeared, Frasier’s life takes a dramatic turn when he returns to his hometown at the onset of his eponymous series. Frasier’s radio talk show is introduced early in the series, with him already hosting in the pilot episode. Frasier presents a show on KACL 780 AM Talk Radio as an on-air psychiatrist, with his longtime friend Roz Doyle as a producer. The original series’ plotlines often center around Frasier’s trials as an on-air psychiatrist or the shenanigans at the radio station.
In the sixth season, Frasier briefly loses his job at KACL after the radio station undergoes a significant programming overhaul. However, in the ninth episode, KACL reverts to its original format, with Frasier and his colleagues resuming their roles. Frasier’s radio career spanned nearly eleven years, culminating in the series finale when he accepts a TV hosting job, eager to turn over a new leaf.
In the series finale, Frasier airs one last radio show episode, expressing gratitude to his listeners and staff before signing off. The series finale is aptly titled ‘Goodnight, Seattle’, echoing Frasier’s signature sign-off. By the time the reboot begins, Frasier’s radio career has been over for nearly two decades. Moreover, with fresh starts being a central theme of the reboot, it’s unlikely that Frasier will return to radio hosting. Regardless, fans will surely miss Frasier’s hilarious insights from his radio show in this new era.