A comedy spin-off from Cheers, Frasier told the story of psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), who moved from Boston to Seattle after his divorce from his overbearing wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) and became the host of a radio advice show – The Frasier Crane Show – which went to air at AM radio station KACL 780 between 2 pm and 5 pm daily.
His ex-Marine ex-police detective father, Martin (John Mahoney), retired after being shot in the hip while investigating a convenience store robbery when he was 62 and moved into Frasier’s strikingly modern apartment – with wonderful views of the city – with his son.
He brought with him his favourite well-worn, ratty-looking recliner chair, and his beloved Jack Russell terrier, Eddie (whom Frasier hates).
Martin was obsessed with solving a 20-year-old murder case, “The Weeping Lotus Murder” (someone killed a hooker and tried to stuff her body into a bowling ball bag).
Because his father was disabled, Frasier hired an at-home care worker, Daphne Moon, to look after him.
Daphne (Jane Leeves) was an offbeat Englishwoman who claimed to have psychic powers and got “psychic headaches” when she encountered negative energy.
As a child, Daphne had starred in a British TV series called Mind Your Knickers (about a 12-year-old girl in a private boarding school). She was also a pool shark, having learned her skills from her brothers when she was six years old.
Frasier’s frail younger brother, Dr Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), was also a psychiatrist. He had an IQ of 156 (Frasier’s was 129).
He was also neurotic, and much of the comedy centred on the interactions of Frasier and Niles, often with Niles complaining about his overbearing (and unseen) wife, Maris.
At KACL, Frasier’s feisty call-screener and producer, Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), and fellow broadcaster Bob ‘Bulldog’ Briscoe (Dan Butler) were constant thorns in Frasier’s side, although the sexually-liberated Roz later became more of a friend than a nemesis.
Regular appearances were made by station manager Kate Costas (Mercedes Ruehl), restaurant critic Edward Hibbert (Noel Shempsky), and Martin Crane’s girlfriend, Sherry Dempsey (Marsha Mason).
Niles eventually became romantically involved with Daphne Moon, and Frasier fell in love with his former nemesis, Roz.
Several of Kelsey Grammer’s former Cheerscolleagues made appearances on the show, including Shelley Long, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson.
Dr Frasier Winslow Crane Kelsey Grammer
Dr Niles Crane
David Hyde Pierce
Daphne Moon
Jane Leeves
Martin Crane
John Mahoney
Roz Doyle
Peri Gilpin
Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe
Dan Butler Kate Costas
Mercedes Ruehl Edward Hibbert
Noel Shempsky Sherry Dempsey
Marsha Mason Dr Lilith Sternin
Bebe Neuwirth Gertrude Moon
Millicent Martin Alice May Doyle
Ashley Thomas Eddie
Moose
