Why I can’t wait for the return of Frasier

Good news on the potential return of Frasier, as Kelsey Grammer hinted that it could be coming back.

Will it hold on to its much-coveted “9am slot” on Channel 4? That is surely the only place in the schedule a sophisticated and beautifully crafted piece of comedy could ever want to be, where it has appeared as re-runs on UK TV for the last three hundred years. Or will it finally make it to prime time?

I am joking, of course because Frasier has always been a show so brilliant it can withstand any time slot. It is a commissioning marvel too – as a writer of comedy, and a veteran pitcher of new ideas, I can only stand back and admire the balls to head into a meeting with this: “Two wealthy white elitist snobby brothers are both highly successful psychotherapists who love classical music, art, opera and discussing philosophy, but – here’s the kicker – one is from the Jungian school and the other favours a Freudian thesis, so the inherent tension is always hilarious.” I mean, hats off to all of them.

Of course, the character of Frasier already had serious recognition from Cheers, one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. So that helps. But the writers transcended that legacy and made it into something of its own that was consistently smart, human, true and laugh out loud funny. The additional characters of Niles, Daphne and Martin Crane felt as though they had always existed.

So I am waiting with crossed fingers, because I really loved that show. It was simply superb. It will be interesting to see how the new Frasier reflects modern times, too, though it was ahead of its own time in many ways.

I hope it comes back as sharp and smart and funny as ever because, frankly, I could use a laugh.