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Fans of Frasier were thrilled to see Kelsey Grammer return to the iconic role in a new series, also titled Frasier. He returns to his roots, moves to Boston to be with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), as well as teach psychology at Harvard. This comedy-drama boasts almost all-new characters, each of which makes a great addition to the series, but many of Grammer's previous castmates return in cameo roles.
Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli are the creators of this new Frasier series. They both write the series and executive produce as well. Frasier season 2 premieres September 19, exclusively on Paramount+.
Screen Rant interviewed Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who explain why this new Frasier series is a spin-off, not a reboot. They also discuss bringing back the multi-cam sitcom and why it works so well for a show like this. Harris and Cristalli talk about finding the balance between bringing in cameos and characters from the past, while also exploring new and exciting storylines with the new main characters.
"Nothing beats that live audience working-without-a-net feel" of a show like Frasier.
Screen Rant: Can you talk about the decision to stick with the multi-cam approach?
Chris Harris: There was no question, just as, Frasier, the original, was multi-cam. That format has been in a little bit of a slump the last, you could even say 20 years, which is crazy because you go back to the 80s, the 70s, the 60s, that's what comedy was. It was let's put on a stage play every week and shoot it with a world to see. Getting back to it was such a delight, not only for Kelsey, but for us, just because nothing beats that feel. Nothing beats that live audience, working without a net feel, and for us, at least, that's what we love, and that's what I respond to when I watch multi-cams.
You're at home, you're watching a show, you're watching, hopefully, people you love, you get a peek into a found family or a real family that you get to feel a part of, and you're laughing with other people, and you're experiencing emotions with other people, and there's something so wonderful about how communal that is. We've loved making an effort to bring that back on this show.
Frasier Is Not A Reboot Regardless Of The Press Surrounding It
"It's hard to call it a reboot since you're not in the same sets. It feels more like a spin-off to us."
Screen Rant: What was it like bringing Frasier back in this show? It feels more like a spin-off than a reboot.
Joe Cristalli: Yeah, I think so. We kept the name Frasier, but you could have called it The Cranes, because it really is, Cheers was one show, Frasier's another show. This is another show. It's hard to call it a reboot, since you're not in the same sets, you don't have all the same actors and characters, but it feels more like a spin-off to us too. I loved the original, so it's terrifying. It was terrifying to bring this back because it's such a high bar. The original show is one of the best comedies of all time, so the idea of we can do it again, and we're going to do it better, is insane to even think.
It was just so fun to write for Kelsey and the character of Frasier that doing a new show felt like it took some of that pressure off. It would have been great to do the version with Jane and David and Peri, and do that show again, but we're not going to recreate that show. That show's perfect, we can't make it better. We can do our own show, and hopefully bring those people in, and sprinkle them in. That'll be fun in its own way, but doing our own version of the show takes a lot of that pressure off, and hopefully, people just enjoy Frasier the character as much as they did before. Which hopefully they do, because Kelsey's still as sharp as ever, so it was ours to fail on, and thankfully, I don't think we have yet.
The More Cameos, The Merrier For Frasier Season 2 And Beyond
"We haven't even brought Chopper Dave back yet. We have to do like three, four, five more seasons. We've got to get everybody in."
Screen Rant: Can you talk about finding the balance between when you're going to bring people in for cameos, and when you're going to focus on this new core group?
Chris Harris: Yeah, it's totally about finding a balance. That's exactly right. In the first season, we wanted to make sure that we established our own world first, and didn't rely on too many appearances. In the second season, we got to play a little more, which was awesome, because there are so many people from the original series that we can't wait to see again, and we have a good amount of them in the second season. Its just always a delight to bring them back and integrate them into the show.
Joe Cristalli: We haven't even brought Chopper Dave back yet. We have to do like three, four, five more seasons. We've got to get everybody in.
Chris Harris: It's almost like cheating, because the characters and the actors are so fun and sharp that we instantly know who that character is. The lines and the jokes come easy, but we are not above cheating.
Screen Rant: Is there anyone that you would love to bring in that you haven't yet?
Joe Cristalli: Yes. There's several people that we would love, and honestly, it's just finding the right story for some of these folks and making sure the schedules line up, but ideally, we'll get everyone we want from the original and Cheers. There's so many people we haven't seen yet. I don't even know if I could pick a favorite. There's so many options.
Chris Harris: One area is that we haven't yet taken advantage of the fact that Fraser is back in Boston, and that is where Cheers took place. So there's a whole group of characters. Obviously, Bebe was part of that. Lilith, but we'd love for Frasier to run into somebody along the way at some point.
More About Frasier Season 2
The series follows Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.
Check out our other interviews with the cast and creatives of Frasier season 2:
Frasier season 2 premieres September 19, exclusively on Paramount+.
Source: Screen Rant Plus
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