Frasier‘s return has hit a major bump. Paramount+ has opted not to renew the Kelsey Grammer-led comedy for a third season, Deadline reports. Producer CBS Studios remains committed to the series and plans to shop it to other outlets.
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| Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane in 'Frasier' / Paramount+ |
Those are not expected to include the most logical home for a multi-camera sitcom that originated on broadcast — CBS Studios’ sibling CBS. The network, which is eying a planted spinoff of The Neighborhood among other comedies in development, has no current shelf space available. Possibilities include Prime Video and Hulu, which both carry the library of Frasier‘s original run. Seasons 1 and 2 of the revival, along with the original library episodes, will remain available on Paramount+.
Paramount+ ordered Frasier to series in 2022 with James Burrows directing the first episode. Season 1 premiered a year later and Season 2 dropped in September.
Despite its well known title and Grammer reprising his popular title role, Frasier could not break through in a major way on Paramount+, which has become known as a drama destination and the home of the Taylor Sheridan and Star Trek universes.
Frasier was a lone multi-camera sitcom and one of only two original comedy series on the platform, alongside the single-camera international co-production Colin From Accounts, which is done under a different model and is looking good to continue.
Comedy — especially multi-camera sitcoms — has been harder to crack for streamers than drama, with very few multi-cam originals sticking.
The new Frasier follows Frasier Crane — a character Grammer originated on NBC’s Cheers and then reprised on the network’s spinoff Frasier — 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.
The series also stars Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son, Freddy; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy turned university professor; Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university’s psychology department; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Frasier and Freddy’s neighbor; and Anders Keith as Frasier’s nephew, David.
While the cast was comprised of new actors, there were plenty of familiar faces who made appearances including Bebe Neuwirth, reprising the role of Frasier’s ex-wife Lilith, Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle, Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe, Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton and Harriet Sansom Harris as Frasier’s delightfully devilish agent, Bebe Glazer. Grammer spoke to Deadline at the Emmys last January about his wish to see Shelley Long return to the role of Diane Chambers in a future season of Frasier.
David Hyde Pierce opted not to reprise the character of Niles Crane in the new spinoff series, much to the chagrin of longtime fans of the original Frasier.
The series comes from writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, who executive produce with Grammer, Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Grammer’s Grammnet NH Productions.
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Originally published: January 20, 2025.
