Frasier: Season 01  (1993)

Theatrical Release Information:
Frasier: Season 01

The first of Frasier's eleven seasons began just where the series' predecessor, Cheers, left off -- with psychiatrist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) bidding farewell to Boston and heading to his new home in Seattle, WA, where he has accepted a job as host of a radio advice show on station KACL. Though it was clear that there would be no love lost between Frasier and his producer and call-screener, the abrasive Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), our stylishly neurotic hero could take heart in the fact that he now lived in one of the fanciest apartments in all Seattle. But he didn't live there alone: At the behest of his married brother and fellow psychiatrist Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce), Frasier reluctantly invites his father, retired policeman Martin Crane (John Mahoney), to move in with him. Semi-invalided since sustaining a gun wound, Martin relies upon the round-the-clock ministrations of his attractive, outspoken, and seemingly psychic cockney caregiver, Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves), who likewise moves into Frasier's apartment -- along with Martin's tiny, phlegmatic dog, Eddie (played by Moose the dog), who seems contemptuous of Frasier's very existence. Although the relationship between Daphne and her two male "roommates" is strictly platonic, she becomes the object of obsessive adoration on the part of Niles -- who, of course, would never, ever admit to yearning for Daphne (who seemed oblivious to his ardor), lest he damage his already fragile relationship with his fabulously wealthy -- and never seen -- wife, Maris. Season one of Frasier introduced one supporting character who would soon become a series regular: The insufferably macho Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe (Dan Butler), KACL's resident sports-show host. Others making their first appearances were such recurring characters as Frasier's carnivorous agent Bebe Glazer (Harriet Sansom Harris), Roz's moony eyed admirer and full-time Star Trek freak Noel Shempsky (Patrick Kerr), and KACL's snobbish restaurant critic Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert). Also established during this inaugural season was the series' habit of using celebrities to provide the voices of Frasier's mixed-up listeners: Among those heard in the first 24 episodes were Mel Brooks, Christopher Reeve, Joe Mantegna, Eddie Van Halen, Mary Tyler Moore, and even LSD guru Timothy Leary. Arguably the most memorable of the first-season episodes was the self-explanatory "The Show Where Lilith Comes Back," in which Kelsey Grammer's former Cheers co-star Bebe Neuwirth made a memorable return appearance as Frasier's insufferable ex-wife Lilith. Conspicuous by his absence was Frasier and Lilith's son, Frederick, though his existence was alluded to from time to time. Frasier wound up its maiden season with four Emmy awards including Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (Kelsey Grammer), Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series (single episode) (James Burrows), and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (single episode) (David Angell, Peter Casey, David Lee). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide