While John Mahoney isn't around to feature in the upcoming Frasier reboot, the new series plans to keep the late actor's legacy alive.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, actor Kelsey Grammer spoke about how the Frasier reboot pays homage to Mahoney, who played the titular character's father, Martin Crane, in the original sitcom. According to Grammer, the show will feature nods and references to Martin that will engage fans. "There's a nod to certainly my father in the show, John Mahoney, there," Grammer said. "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."
Martin Crane's Role in Frasier
Mahoney's Martin Crane was ever-present in the original Frasier, with the army veteran and retired police detective appearing in all of its 263 episodes between 1993 and 2004. The Crane family patriarch was a lifelong Seattle resident who first appeared in Cheers but was initially estranged from his son. In Frasier, the titular psychologist makes amends with his father after taking him in following a serious injury in the line of duty.
The pilot episode for the Frasier reboot is titled "The Good Father," a play on the premiere episode of the original, "The Good Son," in honor of Mahoney. Grammer stated that the upcoming series is "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." Mahoney, who also featured in 3rd Rock from the Sun, ER and Hot in Cleveland, passed away in 2018 following an extended battle with throat cancer.
The Fraiser Reboot Returns to Cheers' Home Town
The Frasier reboot sees the eponymous radio show host and psychologist return to Boston, the setting for Cheers and where Frasier Crane originally moved from when he headed to Seattle. Frasier faces challenges and forges fresh relationships as he looks to fulfill new dreams. The series introduces several new faces, including Jack Cutmore-Scott's Frederick "Freddy" Crane, Frasier's son, as well as Anders Keith and Jess Salgueiro, who play David (Fraiser's nephew) and Eve (Frederick's roommate), respectively. Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Frasier's college friend Alan Cornwall in the original comedy, returns for the reboot. However, David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles Crane in the original, won't appear in Season 1.
The original Frasier is one of the most decorated scripted series ever, winning 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, a record number that's since been surpassed by Game of Thrones. The sitcom also notched Grammer a pair of Best Actor Golden Globes while earning Mahoney and Pierce wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Source: Entertainment Tonight