Frasier

I have watched this show at least once every week for the last 10 years and people are still leaving positive reviews

Everyone’s got at least one go-to programme they return to now and again. I’ve got several I rotate through, whether it’s The Thick Of It, I’m Alan Partridge or Star Trek, but there’s consistently one that stands head and shoulders above the rest and I’m not the only one who reckons it deserves a viewing.

Boasting a 95% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes, Frasier is the American sitcom that keeps proving its staying power and I’ve tuned in at least weekly (possibly more) for over ten years. I can recall when this brilliant piece of farcical comedy served as a late-morning slot-filler on Channel 4, and that’s where I initially encountered the endearing yet pretentious radio psychiatrist as he adjusts to fresh beginnings in Seattle.

Whilst Frasier originally launched in 1993, plenty of viewers already knew the main character from the Boston-set sitcom Cheers.

Spanning 11 series right through to 2004, Frasier, portrayed by Kelsey Grammer, remains remarkably relevant today, with numerous episodes revolving around the comic consequences of a straightforward misunderstanding that viewers are completely aware of.

It’s packed with brilliant one-liners, gags that mock the upper classes and a dash of slapstick chucked in for good measure.

It follows Frasier’s relocation from Boston to his swanky new flat in the fictional Elliot Bay Towers, and launches his fresh radio call-in programme at the neighbourhood KACL station alongside producer Roz, portrayed by Peri Gilpin.

Comedy gold unfolds when he welcomes his down-to-earth father Martin, portrayed by the late John Mahoney, Martin’s live-in physiotherapist Daphne, brought to life by Jane Leeves, and his scruffy terrier Eddie into his pristine apartment, reports the Express.

There’s no shortage of sharp-tongued sparring between Frasier and his equally pretentious sibling Niles, embodied by David Hyde Pierce, while sipping a steaming macchiato at their beloved Cafe Nervosa.

Both audiences and reviewers adore it, with each series packed with memorable episodes that become more hilarious with repeated watches.

Fans continue posting glowing testimonials more than two decades since it wrapped, cementing this legendary sitcom’s devoted following.

One viewer raved: “Just a fantastic series. Great writing. Brilliant acting. As much as I enjoy Kelsey Grammar in this series… David Hyde Pierce really does steal the show.”

Another declared: “This is a go-to classic for intellectual humour while building upon continuing story arcs and having solid standalone episodes. Frasier is one of the best TV series ever made.”

A third enthused: “Definitely one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, watching it over again.”

There’s been a Frasier revival, though this features a fresh ensemble aside from Kelsey Grammer, and has received divided opinions.

Both the classic and revived Frasier are available on Paramount Plus, whilst the original run can be streamed on Channel 4. Individual series and episodes can be purchased through Amazon Prime.