Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Frasier reboot pilot.
Summary
- The original Frasier lacked diversity, with a main cast that had no POC characters and minimal representation throughout the show's run.
- The Frasier reboot addresses this issue by introducing two primary characters who are women of color, Olivia and Eve, hinting at more diverse storylines to come.
- Olivia and Eve have the potential to become fully-developed characters in their own right, with Olivia already established as a respected academic and Eve as an aspiring actress.
The Frasier reboot is amending the original series' biggest flaw 30 years later. As a spin-off of Cheers, Frasier's work was cut out for it, and luckily for it, the show succeeded against all odds. It remains the record holder for the most number of Emmy wins for a comedy, which is a testament to how consistently great it was throughout its 11-year run. What makes its critical acclaim much better is the fact that it was also a crowd favorite. As beloved as it was, however, Frasier wasn't a perfect show, and the new revival can rectify some of the original run's misses.
Effectively differentiating himself from what came before it, Frasier focused on the familial aspects of Frasier's life, which was kickstarted when he returned to his hometown, Seattle. However, aside from spending time with his father, Martin, and brother, Niles, Frasier also made the rounds in the Emerald City's social circle. This allowed him to meet new people and get to know his hometown again. However, despite Frasier's religious hanging out at Cafe Nervosa or his dining out endeavors, the show never felt like it truly depicted Seattle accurately because of one storytelling lapse.
The Frasier Reboot Repeats His Biggest Cheers Crime, But Now It's Even Worse
Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane is hit with karma in Paramount+'s Frasier reboot after he becomes the victim of his worst crime in Cheers.
The Original Frasier Lacked Diversity
The original Frasier missed the mark on diversity. Aside from the fact that its main cast does not have any person of color (POC) characters, it also barely featured them in any capacity throughout the show's more than a decade time on the air. During the rare times that the show did, they were mostly the baristas and waitstaff at Cafe Nervosa. Meanwhile, when Frasier introduced a Black character in Dr. Mary, it did so stereotypically, especially when Frasier mimicked how a Black woman supposedly gets mad. In any case, it shouldn't have been like this, considering that Seattle was already a diverse city in the '90s.
How The Frasier Reboot Makes Up For Its Predecessor’s Issue
Revisiting Frasier has major risks, considering its brilliant legacy. This is one of the reasons why David Hyde Pierce turned down the opportunity to reprise his iconic role as Niles in the reboot. However, bringing the show back also allows Grammer and Paramount+ to make some positive changes to it. That clearly includes making up for the original's lack of diversity. Two of the Frasier reboot's primary characters are women of color: Olivia, played by Toks Olagundoye, and Eve, played by Jess Salguiero. Only time will tell how their stories will pan out, but the pilot hints that they will be integral to the show moving forward.
Unless there are some cast changes in potential future seasons of the Frasier reboot, both Olivia and Eve can eventually grow into fully-fleshed characters on their own. Olivia has already made a name for herself in academia, being the chair of Harvard's psychiatry department. Meanwhile, Eve is an aspiring actress, who is a bartender on the side. Aside from their ties to Frasier, hopefully, their respective lives are also properly explored in the new show.