A fantastic follow up to Cheers (Frasier)

Member Name: jazz_mavericks

Product:	Frasier
Date:	06/10/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hilarious, and billiantly acted

Disadvantages: None

Frasier is a fantastic American sitcom, starring Kelsey Grammer, who plays the character, Frasier Crane - a character he returns to, after also playing him in the long running show, Cheers.

After divorcing his wife Lilith, Frasier leaves Cheers and Boston behind, and moves to Seattle to start a new life as a radio psychologist. On his first day at work, he meets his producer, Roz Doyle - someone who will go on to become one of his best friends. That day, he also meets up with his brother, Niles, who also lives in Seattle, with his overbearing wife, Merris - a character we hear plenty about, but never ever see.

Frasier's father, Martin, is an ex-cop who was forced to leave the service after being shot in the hip. He lives on his own in a small apartment, and can't really look after himself very well. Under pressure from Niles, Frasier reluctantly allows his father to move into Frasier's apartment with him. In no time, they are getting on each other's nerves, and Niles suggests that Frasier hires a nurse/physiotherapist to take care of their father during the day. This is where the last main [human] member of our cast is introduced, in the form of Daphne Moon, a physiotherapist from Manchester, who believes herself to have psychic powers. Again, Frasier is guilt tripped, and in no time, Daphne is moving into his apartment too.

There is another member of the cast that should not be forgotten about - Eddie. Martin's dog, Eddie is probably the smartest member of the household, who likes nothing better than to get on Frasier's nerves, generally by sitting there simply staring at him!

After the success of the fantastic Cheers, it was hard to see how Frasier could be any good, but even after a few episodes, I was hooked, and after watching the programme grow over the years, I might even say that the show surpasses Cheers.

The humour is more high brow and intelligent, and the plot lines, although sometimes being quite complex, are always very easy to follow. The acting is superb from every member of the cast, and their comic timing is perfect. The sets are generally second to none, and episodes are normally always focussed around Frasier's apartment, the radio studio, or a local cafe.

Most of the jokes derive from Frasier and Niles' upper class image, and the fact that they are not what you would call, 'manly' men. They prefer the finer things in life, such as a fine sherry, but wouldn't have a clue how to change a spare tyre, or understand the rules of baseball.

Their father is generally the person that teaches them to be men, even though they already should be, and this brings them across sometimes as spoiled immature kids. They are however, highly intelligent and cultured, and usually this can help them get out of any scrapes they get themselves into.

There is a heart of gold to this show, and it can at times evoke real intense emotions in you as you watch it. Of course, there are countless big name guest appearances, and even all of the cast of Cheers have made an appearance on the show at least once.

After Cheers finished, I was gutted we would be leaving their world, but with Frasier, we were given an entirely new world, one even better, where our old friends would show up every now and then to make sure we hadn't forgotten about them.

Summary: One of the most intelligent comedies to ever emerge, will appeal to adults mostly