Frasier’s second season is the perfect way to boost your sitcom humor

There’s nothing groundbreaking or modern about this reboot of the classic sitcom “Frasier,” and that’s what makes it so appealing. While some other revivals of old TV series try to update their formats or storylines to fit the latest TV trends, “Frasier” remains stubbornly old-school, much like its titular character.

The second season of the remake premieres this week on Paramount Plus, but aside from a few uses of modern technology, it could have easily aired on NBC 20 years ago during the sitcom’s original run.

I’ve watched every episode of those 11 original seasons, and anyone who was a devoted “Frasier” fan at the time should find a lot of solace in the new show. The first season took a while to find its footing, but by the time it ended, it had captured much of what made “Frasier” so enjoyable, even though the fastidious shrink Frasier Crane, played by Kelsey Grammer, is the only recurring character in the main cast.

No one on the new “Frasier” is as memorable as David Hyde Pierce as Frasier’s brother Niles or the late John Mahoney as Frasier’s father Martin, but they all carry on the spirit of these iconic characters.

The new season of “Frasier” brings back familiar faces

Frasier | Season 2 Official Trailer | Paramount+ – YouTube

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While the first season of the new Frasier worked hard to establish its ensemble cast 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 appears as Frasier’s scheming agent Bebe Glazer.

Gilpin is set to return as Roz this season, but her first appearance in the season’s third episode is a bit disappointing, as she’s awkwardly squeezed into the ongoing group dynamic. Harris fares better, giving a powerful performance in what’s easily the best episode of the second season so far, fully embodying Bebe’s ruthless ferocity.

What’s more, guest star Rachel Bloom matches Harris’ energy in her role as Bebe’s daughter and protégé, Phoebe, and would make an ideal recurring character, providing a similar foil to Frasier as Bebe did in her earlier appearances.

Later episodes this season are expected to feature even more returning “Frasier” characters, and that sense of familiarity is key to the show’s success. Whether it’s reprising old characters or bringing in new characters that hark back to old favorites, creators Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli know how to play to the material’s strengths. Watching “Frasier” is like slipping into a cozy pair of slippers and leafing through a well-worn photo album.

The main cast continues to shine

(Photo source: P+)

The prominent guest stars never outshine the main characters, and the creators continue to develop the relationships between the central characters.

In particular, there’s some new emotional depth to Frasier’s best friend, Alan Cornwall (Nicholas Lyndhurst), a fellow Harvard psychology professor who was defined in the first season largely by his contempt for his work and his students. He retains that cynicism, but also reveals some regret over his estrangement from his adult daughter, who seems poised to eventually emerge. This theme of intergenerational misunderstanding is a staple of “Frasier,” and it becomes even more central in the second season.

The first season reintroduced Frasier’s son, Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), a down-to-earth firefighter who doesn’t share his father’s refined, erudite tastes. Frasier continues to have trouble bonding with Freddy, although their relationship is less combative this season. Roz also struggles to bond with her adult daughter, Alice, who is set to be played this season by Grammer’s own daughter, Greer Grammer. The characters’ personalities remain intact over the decades, but they face new challenges as they enter late middle age.

There’s a loose rapport among the series regulars that long-running sitcoms tend to develop over time, and “Frasier” inches closer to that dynamic with each episode. Frasier and Alan’s boss, Olivia Finch (Toks Olagundoye), and Freddy’s friend Eve (Jess Salgueiro) stick together, cracking jokes with sitcom veterans like Grammer, though Frasier’s nephew, David (Anders Keith), has been a bit of a drag so far this season.

The humor in “Frasier” is simple but reliable

You could say that some of the comedy in “Frasier” is creaky or obvious, but the cast plays it with such deft charm that it feels timeless rather than dated. Even when I see the jokes from a distance, I still end up laughing, and Grammer in particular is such a seasoned pro at this type of comedy that he makes it look effortless.

The new season is full of sitcom-typical misunderstandings. In the Valentine’s Day episode, Frasier plays both sides of the Cyrano de Bergerac script. At best, however, the whole thing feels like a classic farce.

Sitcom legend James Burrows is back on hand to direct many episodes, and he masters the comedic rhythms perfectly. The first episode features an extended slapstick segment with David, Eve and a gourmet ham that recalls the best of the physical comedy from the original “Frasier.”

In an era when so many shows billed as comedies rarely feature jokes, “Frasier” is a welcome throwback and a reminder that sometimes the traditional approach still works best.