Summary
- The original Frasier show had some problematic elements that haven't aged well, including storylines that were abhorrent in hindsight and jokes that are no longer acceptable.
- The series lacked diversity, with little representation of people of color, and when it did feature them, they were often relegated to small roles as baristas and waitstaff.
- The show also had problematic romances, racist storylines, and regularly shamed Roz for her active sex life, while Frasier's job as a radiotherapist is outdated since call-ins are no longer as relevant.
After 30 years, there are elements of the original Frasier show that are difficult to get through now. A personal tragedy and a professional endeavor that was no longer fulfilling drove Kelsey Grammer's snobby therapist out of Boston and back into his hometown of Seattle for the Cheers spin-off. Admittedly, there was much skepticism about awarding Frasier his own spin-off, especially on the heels of The Tortellis' failure. At that time, there wasn't intense clamor to learn about the good doctor, who just accidentally became one of Sam's regular bar patrons after briefly dating Diane. So it was a big surprise when Frasier turned out to be quite good.
Calling the original Frasier good may actually be an understatement. It was brilliant, currently holding the record for most Emmy wins for a comedy series — surpassing its already equally acclaimed parent show, Cheers. The Seattle-based series was both a critical and commercial hit for NBC, and it's no wonder that it is currently the subject of a revival on Paramount+. As beloved as it was, however, there are certain elements from the original Frasier show that just didn't age well. Some jokes are no longer acceptable, while other storylines are simply abhorrent in hindsight.
10 Frasier Was Groomed By By His Teacher
Frasier season 2 opened with the revelation that Frasier's first sexual encounter was with his much older piano teacher. However, instead of actually tackling the issue with the entanglement, Frasier was chastised for leaving her without properly saying goodbye, as if what they had was a straightforward romance. Considering their dynamic, it was wrong for Clarice Warner to engage in any personal relationship with him — something that the comedy failed to address.
9 Niles Obsessions With Daphne Was Borderline Creepy
While Frasier's love life didn't have a clear trajectory, his brother, Niles was always set up to be with Daphne. The original Frasier's take on the will-they/won't-they trope that Cheers popularized with Sam and Diane focused on the pair, but the spin-off took much longer to bring them together. Instead, for the first seven years of the old Frasier, it was mostly one-sided, with Niles secretly pining over Daphne. It was played for laughs, but it's now difficult to get through some of his scenes leering over his father's homecare health worker.
8 Daphne's Fathphobic Storyline
After years, Frasier finally delivered on the promise of bringing Niles and Daphne together in season 8. However, in order to hide Jane Leeves' pregnancy, the show devised one of the oddest storylines in the series — Daphne gaining weight over the stress from their new relationship. Although Niles was still wonderfully attentive and dedicated to his love, Frasier and Martin got several offensive jokes at the expense of Daphne's situation. In the end, they had to bring her into an intervention spa, so she could shed the extra pounds that she put on during this time.
7 The Original Frasier Series Lacked Diversity
Much like the majority of shows from its time, the original Frasier missed the mark on diversity. Its main cast noticeably did not have any person of color (POC) characters, but 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 Seattle-based series did, they were mostly the baristas and waitstaff at Cafe Nervosa. Luckily, the Frasier reboot is fixing this big issue by bringing in characters such as Eve and Olivia.
6 The Original Frasier Had Problematic Romances
Romances were a big part of the original Frasier show's storytelling as all Crane men were actively dating. Frasier, in particular, however, had some problematic ones. At one point, he rushed to the airport in the hopes of making a connection with a stranger who mistakenly called his number. Granted that he bowed out after learning that she was married, it was still disturbing behavior from the radiotherapist. He also tried taking a photo of his model girlfriend while she was asleep in his bed just to prove that he was dating her. Other dysfunctional relationships include Maris and Niles' toxic marriage.
5 The Original Frasier Series' Racist Storylines
Aside from lacking diversity, the original Frasier series also had some racist storylines. The biggest and most memorable one was when it introduced Dr. Mary — the first and only Black female prominent character in the show. Frasier's mimicry of how a Black woman supposedly gets mad is off-putting, especially since it drew some intense laughter. Meanwhile, in a separate instance, Martin hitting on Daphne's much younger Asian friend isn't only creepy but also fetishizes Asians. This wasn't the first time that the Crane patriarch did this, however. At one point, he also mentioned purchasing a bride from the Philippines.
4 Roz Getting Regularly Shamed For Her Active Sex Life
While the original Frasier didn't have any problem tackling the Crane men's dating life, it routinely shamed Roz for her sexual encounters. As a modern-day woman, Roz had a great career being a successful producer at KACL, she was fiercely independent, sassy, smart, and beautiful. The fact that she liked going out and meeting men shouldn't have been used to take the character down, which was the case countless times in the Seattle-based series. Niles was particularly mean to her about the way she handled her sex life, especially during the earlier years of the series.
3 The Original Frasier Had Outdated Technology
For a show that was set around the turn of the century, Frasier was at an odd point in history where the use of mobile gadgets was becoming the norm. Frasier and Niles both had mobile phones, with their cars having their special lines. In hindsight, it significantly dates the comedy. The fact that two of the wealthiest people in Seattle had to share a bulky laptop to write their book in season 1 or that they had to go to the library for resources instead of accessing the internet for information may be jarring for new viewers who didn't have the same experiences.
2 Bulldog's Antics In Early Seasons Of The Original Frasier
As a character, Bulldog was meant to juxtapose the more refined Frasier. He was the extreme version of Martin, and that meant that his masculinity was problematic. In the earlier seasons of the original Frasier, he constantly harassed Roz to go out with him while also shamelessly hitting on every woman he deemed desirable. Bulldog also had racist tendencies as evidenced when he did the ad for some Asian establishments in Seattle during his radio show.
1 Frasier's Job As A Radiotherapist
When Frasier moved to Seattle, he was coming from a successful private practice in Boston. Because of his considerable wealth, he was able to take a more modest job as a radio personality. Frasier's call-ins were the best part of the original series, but considering that it's no longer a thing, it effectively outdates the comedy. So although it would be great to see Frasier dole out advice to complete strangers, it's difficult to revisit the job in the Frasier reboot.
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10 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The Original Frasier Series, 30 Years Later - Screen Rant
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