The end of "Frasier" - it's official - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 06-25-2003, 07:18 PM

Frasier: Time's Up

By Lia Haberman
E! Online

The therapy session's over.

Kelsey Grammer announced Tuesday on E! News Live that his alter ego, espresso-fueled pop psychologist Frasier Crane, would be taking down his shingle next May.

"It ends next year, and we've discussed it. We think it's time to let Frasier go off into some other world. Somewhere where his life goes on," said Grammer Tuesday. "But we'll end it with dignity."

And, according to the Emmy winner, he's been thinking about how to take his last bow for a while, even though he remains mum on the details. "We've actually talked it out…I've had an image for what the last show should be for the last 11 years, and so I think that's what we're going to do," said Grammer.

The news hardly comes as a surprise. After all, Dr. Crane's been dispensing his neurotic brand of wisdom for 10 years on the Seattle-based series, in addition to the nine years prior on Cheers. In fact, next season will make Grammer a record holder for playing the same character on prime-time television for 20 years.

"It's been a great run for me. I mean, it was really lucky. Twenty years...it's like being a cop, and then I'm gonna quit," mused Grammer.

The actor's long maintained that he wanted Frasier to match the longevity of its predecessor, Cheers, which was on the air from 1982 to 1993. (Dr. Crane joined the Boston barflies in 1984.) Next season will mark a match with the sudsy sitcom.

Earlier this year, Variety predicted that the show's license deal would not be renegotiated after it expired in 2004 due to a mutual lack of interest between Paramount, the show's producer and the Peacock.

Despite a record 30 Emmys and a respectable 12.6 million viewers this past season, the series had never recovered from its schedule flip-flop, when Frasier lost its Thursday-night slot to younger-skewing Will & Grace.

Even NBC programming chief Jeff Zucker admitted in January that the net has done the shrink show "no favors" this past season with its weak In-Laws lead-in.

In addition, the good doctor's show also comes with a hefty price tag. Grammer, 47, currently takes home $1.6 million per episode, making him the highest-paid performer in television history. (And that's without house calls.)

The big bucks are part of a deal NBC agreed to in 2001 to keep the spinoff series on the air until 2004 at the cost of about $5.2 million per episode.

But you won't find Grammer on the unemployment line. He's currently promoting his new project Gary the Rat, an animated series that bows on the would-be Spike-TV network Thursday. Grammer is credited both as a producer and as the voice of Gary, a sleazy lawyer transformed into a giant rat.

Brian Damage · 06-25-2003, 08:13 PM

I'll be sad to see it end.

Brian · 06-25-2003, 08:16 PM

20 years as Frasier Crane?

Wow. I hope it ends with a good finale.

Frasier W. Crane · 06-26-2003, 01:22 PM

When they said he had an image of what the ending episode would be like for the past 11 years, I am thinking that he means a reunion with the "Cheers" cast. Maybe going back to boston. I think thats a pretty good guess, who agrees?

DianeChambers87 · 06-26-2003, 01:55 PM

I would love to see a Cheers reunion special more than anything, but I don't want it to be on Fraiser. Fraiser is a good show, it's had a respectable 11 season run with it's own cast, it deserves to have it's last episode to be about them. Here's the thing, if they do a "Fraiser goes back to boston" and then that's the Cheers reunion as well IMO it would kind of suck cheers from having their well deserved reunion. If they did the whole "Fraiser goes back to boston" and since it is the FRAISER finale, there is no doubt on my mind that they would focus on Fraiser. Now I like Fraiser and I love every single Character in Cheers. But Fraiser was one piece of an entire pie in Cheers not a one man show, so I would rather see a 2 hour movie for a Cheers reunion with Fraiser in it, and it be about Cheers and not just "Fraiser returning to boston".

Plus regardless since it is their shows Finale, if Fraiser went back to boston, the "Fraiser" cast would come along to. I have no problem with Daphne, Martin, Niles, and Ross, but they were never part of Cheers. So I think it would be better if they had their own finale, and then you know maybe in the last second you see Fraiser getting on a plane to boston, and then they air the Reunion movie! that would be perfect.

06-25-2003, 07:18 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The end of "Frasier" - it's official Frasier: Time's Up By Lia Haberman E! Online The therapy session's over. Kelsey Grammer announced Tuesday on E! News Live that his alter ego, espresso-fueled pop psychologist Frasier Crane, would be taking down his shingle next May. "It ends next year, and we've discussed it. We think it's time to let Frasier go off into some other world. Somewhere where his life goes on," said Grammer Tuesday. "But we'll end it with dignity." And, according to the Emmy winner, he's been thinking about how to take his last bow for a while, even though he remains mum on the details. "We've actually talked it out…I've had an image for what the last show should be for the last 11 years, and so I think that's what we're going to do," said Grammer. The news hardly comes as a surprise. After all, Dr. Crane's been dispensing his neurotic brand of wisdom for 10 years on the Seattle-based series, in addition to the nine years prior on Cheers. In fact, next season will make Grammer a record holder for playing the same character on prime-time television for 20 years. "It's been a great run for me. I mean, it was really lucky. Twenty years...it's like being a cop, and then I'm gonna quit," mused Grammer. The actor's long maintained that he wanted Frasier to match the longevity of its predecessor, Cheers, which was on the air from 1982 to 1993. (Dr. Crane joined the Boston barflies in 1984.) Next season will mark a match with the sudsy sitcom. Earlier this year, Variety predicted that the show's license deal would not be renegotiated after it expired in 2004 due to a mutual lack of interest between Paramount, the show's producer and the Peacock. Despite a record 30 Emmys and a respectable 12.6 million viewers this past season, the series had never recovered from its schedule flip-flop, when Frasier lost its Thursday-night slot to younger-skewing Will & Grace. Even NBC programming chief Jeff Zucker admitted in January that the net has done the shrink show "no favors" this past season with its weak In-Laws lead-in. In addition, the good doctor's show also comes with a hefty price tag. Grammer, 47, currently takes home $1.6 million per episode, making him the highest-paid performer in television history. (And that's without house calls.) The big bucks are part of a deal NBC agreed to in 2001 to keep the spinoff series on the air until 2004 at the cost of about $5.2 million per episode. But you won't find Grammer on the unemployment line. He's currently promoting his new project Gary the Rat, an animated series that bows on the would-be Spike-TV network Thursday. Grammer is credited both as a producer and as the voice of Gary, a sleazy lawyer transformed into a giant rat.

06-26-2003, 01:22 PM	#4
Frasier W. Crane Farewell, Frasier Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 22, 2002 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 782	When they said he had an image of what the ending episode would be like for the past 11 years, I am thinking that he means a reunion with the "Cheers" cast. Maybe going back to boston. I think thats a pretty good guess, who agrees?
	__________________ George W. Bush: "We Keep Our Word." Almost 3 Million Jobs Lost No Child Left Behind Act Underfunded by $9 Billion 3.8 Million More Americans Lost Health Insurance Small Deficit? Annual Deficit To Exceed $400 Billion in the Next 10 Years 200,000 Veterans Cut From Health System Raids Entire $2.6 Trillion Social Security Trust Fund We need a President who means what he says, and keeps his word. John Kerry is the President that can do that. Sen. John F. Kerry for United States President. HE WILL keep his word. Visit www.johnkerry.com to get more information about the Senator that will turn our country around. https://contribute.johnkerry.com/ind..._code=00014509

06-26-2003, 01:55 PM	#5
DianeChambers87 Elizabeth B. Malone Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 16, 2003 Location: Swampland USA Posts: 5,178	I would love to see a Cheers reunion special more than anything, but I don't want it to be on Fraiser. Fraiser is a good show, it's had a respectable 11 season run with it's own cast, it deserves to have it's last episode to be about them. Here's the thing, if they do a "Fraiser goes back to boston" and then that's the Cheers reunion as well IMO it would kind of suck cheers from having their well deserved reunion. If they did the whole "Fraiser goes back to boston" and since it is the FRAISER finale, there is no doubt on my mind that they would focus on Fraiser. Now I like Fraiser and I love every single Character in Cheers. But Fraiser was one piece of an entire pie in Cheers not a one man show, so I would rather see a 2 hour movie for a Cheers reunion with Fraiser in it, and it be about Cheers and not just "Fraiser returning to boston". Plus regardless since it is their shows Finale, if Fraiser went back to boston, the "Fraiser" cast would come along to. I have no problem with Daphne, Martin, Niles, and Ross, but they were never part of Cheers. So I think it would be better if they had their own finale, and then you know maybe in the last second you see Fraiser getting on a plane to boston, and then they air the Reunion movie! that would be perfect. Attached Images
	__________________ Strange Fascinations, Fascinating me

06-25-2003, 08:13 PM	#2
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	I'll be sad to see it end.

06-25-2003, 08:16 PM	#3
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	20 years as Frasier Crane? Wow. I hope it ends with a good finale.

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