Frasier star Kelsey Grammer’s comments comparing the reboot to Roseanne actually hides an awkward truth about the project. On the surface, linking the revivals isn’t too much of a stretch. After all, both the original runs of Frasier and Roseanne saw the series’ develop huge followings, and their respective returns were generally greeted warmly. However, thanks to the controversy around Roseanne, as well as the nature of the Frasier reboot itself, the analogy is more inappropriate than it might seem.
At their peak, both Frasier and Roseanne were two of the biggest comedies on American television. Starting in 1988, Roseanne offered an uncompromising and often challenging take on working-class American life. Frasier meanwhile, despite originating as a Cheers spin-off, grew into one of the most beloved sitcoms of the 90s thanks to its eclectic mix of eccentric and lovable characters. In both cases, the shows endured a lengthy hiatus before being brought back for a revival. However, the controversial legacy of Roseanne and its success following Barr’s departure makes Kelsey Grammer’s comments connecting the two shows somewhat awkward.
Grammer’s Roseanne Comparison Reveals An Awkward Frasier Reboot Truth
In an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show veteran Simpsons star Grammer revealed that he was mostly inspired to revisit Frasier “when Roseanne got her show back on.” While this might seem fairly innocuous, it ignores the uncomfortable truth that the new iteration of Roseanne has arguably enjoyed its greatest success when it left its titular star behind and was reborn as The Conners. Given that returning characters in the Frasier reboot are scarce, there’s a strong argument that Frasier too would be best off leaving the past behind. Drawing attention to this problem so explicitly only highlights what could be a major issue with the reboot moving forward.
A second issue that makes the Roseanne comparison somewhat awkward is the circumstances around Roseanne Barr’s departure. Having been briefly revived between March and May 2018, the new incarnation of Roseanne was abruptly taken off the air after Barr was accused of racism for a tweet aimed at a former Obama administration official. Given how ill-fated this version of the revival turned out to be, Grammer explicitly linking the series with Frasier seems somewhat ill-judged.
The Frasier Reboot’s Inspiration Makes Its All-New Cast More Confusing
The fact that Frasier seems to have been so clearly inspired by Roseanne makes its brand-new cast and setting even more confusing. Roseanne‘s successful transformation into The Conners – whatever the controversy that necessitated the change – proved that lead characters are not as integral to sitcoms as they might seem. So long as the surviving characters have believable arcs and interesting stories, the show can go on.
By contrast, Frasier seems to be putting all its eggs in its eponymous character’s basket. The fact that there will be no Niles or Martin to bounce off the lovably pompous lead psychiatrist means that there’s no chance of following the blueprint set by The Conners. Given that the Roseanne spin-off continues to go from strength to strength, the fact that Frasier is taking an almost opposite approach to the show that supposedly inspired its return is slightly baffling, to say the least.
