August 9th 2024.
Can you believe it? There was almost another spin-off added to the Frasier universe! Can you imagine a whole new series centered around a surprising character? It's true. The original program, which was a spin-off of Cheers, first aired in September of 1993 and ran for 11 successful seasons. Kelsey Grammer played the title role, joined by Peri Gilpin, David Hyde Pierce, and Jane Leeves.
Last year, we were delighted to see Frasier return for a revival on Paramount+. Season two is set to premiere on September 19th and we couldn't be more excited. But did you know that at one point, there were plans for a spin-off that would explore the backstory of one of Frasier's many girlfriends? It's true! Hacks star Jean Smart, who played Frasier's high school crush Lana Gardner, recently revealed that she was almost given her own series based on the iconic character. Lana appeared in a total of seven episodes between season seven and nine.
Jean Smart shared during an appearance on Good Morning America that the idea was ultimately scrapped due to financial reasons. She said, "I was told they were thinking about spinning off her and her son, but they decided it wasn't feasible financially. Because not only would they have to pay all the producers of Frasier, they would also have to pay all the producers and creators of Cheers. That's what I was told." Despite the plans falling through, Jean still looks back on her time on Frasier with fondness, recalling how much fun she had on set. Her efforts even earned her two Emmy awards for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series.
Many fans may remember Lana's iconic debut in the season seven episode "Big Crane on Campus" in 2000. Frasier was elated when she agreed to go on a date with him, years after they were in school together. However, his excitement quickly faded after spending the night with Lana and witnessing her explosive temper. He tried to end things before they even started, but not before Lana left a lasting impression on him (and the viewers) with her famous line, "Put your brother on the phone!" Later on, in season eight, Lana reappeared as she bargained for Frasier's help in tutoring her son Kirby.
Frasier may have ended in 2004, but its legacy lives on through the revival and the potential for more spin-offs in the future. Kelsey Grammer recently shared his excitement about the show's second season, saying, "There was a sense of, I'm trying to think of the right word, vindication. In my heart, I thought, 'I know we can do this and I know we can do it really well.'" He also revealed that he didn't want the revival to be a mere copy of the original show, but rather a fresh take on Frasier's life with new characters. Could Lana make a comeback in the upcoming episodes? We can only hope!
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