played by Nancy Marchand

As I previously said, I've watched 'Frasier' first and only later 'Cheers'.
This totally ruined the image I had of her in 'Frasier', and I'm glad of all the changes and adjustments that the authors and writers did.

The real love of Marty's life...

Yeah, I really love those old home movies in that Mama Mia episode. Rita Wilson played her just exactly as I might have pictured a "mismatched" soulmate for Martin and a mother for Frasier and Niles. It's like you can perfectly see that she's the missing piece that ties these three men together. I'm sure that other actress was fine for Cheers at the time, but she doesn't have the right look for the character they developed through memories on Frasier.
And that is a humongous diamond that Rita has on in that picture. :eek:

I love that they had Rita Wilson play Hester on Frasier b/c it ties in with the whole "Seattle" theme since she was in "Sleepless In Seattle" (with David Hyde Pierce). I'm probably the only one who would notice something like that though.

In fact, a third actor from Frasier also appeared in Sleepless in Seattle - Tom McGowan, who played station manager Kenny Daly.