Kelsey Grammer has said that the impending Frasier remake would pay tribute to the late John Mahoney.
The acclaimed comedy is set to be published later this year on Paramount Plus, with the 68-year-old resuming his role as the legendary Dr. Frasier Crane when he returns to Boston.
Viewers were moved to tears when the first episode’s title was revealed as The Good Father – an homage to the original pilot as well as a possible allusion to Martin Crane, who died in 2018.
In a recent interview, Grammer discussed the resurrection and what brought him back to Boston, where we originally met the character in Cheers.
‘He’s going back to Boston because his son lives there,’ he said. ‘There’s a nod to certainly my father in the show, John Mahoney, there.
‘You’ll see things about John all through the show. I think people will be very happy to see that he’s honored in the way he is in the show.
‘And it’s all about love. It’s all about looking for love, becoming a good father. Because… Frasier has always been looking to become a full man.’
Frasier premiered in 1993 and was an instant sensation, winning 37 Emmys and two Golden Globes during its original run.
It followed the doctor as he returned to Seattle for his own radio programme, while also reconciling with his father and brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce).
Mahoney appeared as the Crane family patriarch and was a fan favourite, appearing in every episode of the series.
He died in 2018 at the age of 77 from cancer complications while in hospice care.
It is unclear how the writers will address his absence in the new show.
The Jesus Revolution star also expressed concern about how devoted Frasier fans will react to the revival, over 30 years after the original originally aired.
‘You always want it to be okay,’ he added to Entertainment Tonight. ‘Honestly, you just put your best foot forward and do your best work. We’ve been doing that… honest work. You can write the best script you can and make it as funny as you possibly can and make it as heartfelt as you can.
‘And we have done that and I think people are going to open this new page and say, “Let’s have another taste.”’