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Sunday, September 22, 2024

Second Season of 'Frasier' Reboot Divides the Critics

         On September 19, 2024, Paramount+ premiered the second season of the second iteration of the classic sitcom 'Frasier', which has earned a mixed reception from critics, currently holding at 56% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the series, "Frasier is off to a different city with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge, and an old dream or two to finally fulfill; Frasier has re-entered the building." The ensemble cast includes Jack Cutmore-Scott, Kelsey Grammer, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Anders Keith, Jess Salgueiro, and Toks Olagundoye. Read the full review round-up below.

        Joel Keller of Decider says, "The new Frasier isn’t as awful at the beginning of its second season as it was at the beginning of its first. But it’s not great, either." Adding, "The recommendation is because of all the guest stars that we’re going to see this season and a hope that the first episode of the season won’t be an indicator of what the rest of the season is like."

       Josh Bell of Tom's Guide notes, "While the first season of the new “Frasier” worked hard to establish its ensemble players on their own terms, the second season is more willing to indulge in nostalgia for beloved characters. In the five episodes available for review, Peri Gilpin returns as Frasier’s former radio producer Roz Doyle, in a more substantial role than her brief appearance in the first season, and Harriet Sansom Harris shows up as Frasier’s devious agent Bebe Glazer. Gilpin is set to recur as Roz this season, but her first outing in the season’s third episode is a little underwhelming, as she’s awkwardly shoehorned into the ongoing group dynamic. Harris fares better, delivering a powerhouse performance in what’s easily the best of the second season’s episodes thus far, fully embodying Bebe’s ruthless ferocity.  Even better, guest star Rachel Bloom matches Harris’ energy as Bebe’s daughter and protégé Phoebe, and she’d be a perfect fit as a recurring character, providing a similar type of foil for Frasier that Bebe did in her earlier appearances." Continuing, "Later episodes this season are set to feature even more returning “Frasier” characters, and that sense of familiarity is key to the show’s success. Whether it’s previous characters popping up again or new characters echoing the traits of old favorites, creators Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli know how to play to the strengths of the material. Watching “Frasier” is like slipping into a cozy pair of slippers and flipping through a well-worn photo album."

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unplash
       LaToya Ferguson of AV Club was less impressed, stating, "Developed by Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli (Acapulco), this return to the world of psychiatrist Frasier Crane is a far broader one. While the farce element of the series still exists, it’s far from expertly-executed in its current iteration—to the point where it seems the only thing keeping the show from moving away from farce altogether is that it wouldn’t technically be Frasier then. The original Frasier was not only like a comedic play in television form. It was a sitcom that also visually looked sophisticated, often in a way that Frasier and Niles Crane (David Hyde Pierce) only believed themselves to be. Paramount+’s Frasier looks and feels like a multi-camera sitcom and not in a way that evokes nostalgia. Even with TV directing legend James Burrows’ guidance behind the camera, there’s nothing exceptional about how this looks. Instead, Frasier wouldn’t feel out of a place on any contemporary CBS—or, to be uncharitable, Nickelodeon—sitcom." Concluding, "It’s always fascinating to watch a series’ second season and see what the writers decided needed tweaking. But here, it’s actually fascinating just how little was tweaked. There are a couple of things this season pulls back on. But if you were into the revival last season, expect to still be into it. If you wanted more or something else, that’s not going to come from this. With the exception of those moments where Grammer’s allowed to go off and remind everyone why he’s been able to make this character work for so long, the series’ pacing remains slow, falling more into broad sitcom territory instead of an escalating rhythm—a rhythm Grammer excels at while the rest of the cast, barring Nicholas Lyndhurst, has yet to prove they can keep up with."

   

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