Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer Talks Roz’s Emotional Return in the Christmas-Themed Season Finale — Watch Video
Warning: This post contains spoilers from Thursday’s Frasier season finale.
Leave it to Frasier to wrap up the first season of its Paramount+ revival with a Christmas episode.
Thursday’s season finale found Frasier throwing a lavish holiday party to distract himself from his grief he was still feeling over the death of his father Martin. It backfired on him, of course: He ended up with a room full of two dozen Christmas trees, a live goose and an out-of-tune kids’ string quartet. But he got the best gift of all when Freddy arranged for his old pal Roz — with Peri Gilpin reprising her role from the original Frasier — to drop by for a surprise visit. The two honored Martin’s memory by sharing a beer and catching up, and Frasier star Kelsey Grammer says their reunion was part of the plan all along.
“Of all the people in the legacy cast, I always thought we’d find a place for Peri somehow,” Grammer tells TVLine in the video above. His fellow co-star David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles, “decided he really just didn’t want to be part of the show again,” he notes, “but in terms of Peri, I always thought, ‘Oh, there’s gotta be room for her.’ Because we were always so close, you know, on the show.” Someone suggested a Christmas episode, “and people sort of responded to that, and we thought, ‘Well, that’s the place to bring Peri in.'” (Grammer would like to bring back Gilpin again, too, in a future episode if they can find “a reasonable justification for it.”)
Roz’s return “also upped the game for the character of my son, for Freddy. Because it meant he was aware that his father needed some love,” Grammer says, his voice catching with emotion. “It was the first Christmas he spent without his own dad, and that’s a big thing. That sort of absence is powerful. And so Freddy addressing that need for his dad was a very cool thing.”
Press PLAY above to hear more from Grammer, including Frasier’s tradition of memorable Christmas episodes, and grade the finale in our poll. Plus, tell us in the comments: Would you watch a Season 2?
Yes!! Please renew for season 2! Season 1 really hit its stride the last several weeks.
wasn’t it already renewed?
Nope.
So great to see Roz back. Her and Kelsey still have such great chemistry. Really good season finale.
I really enjoyed the finale. I liked that it was a Christmas episode. We got to see some of Martin’s old Christmas decorations and Frasier missing his dad. That was very poignant. Loved that they decided to throw a party. I cackled at the references to past failed Crane parties (A dead seal, a bird on the head, a bed through the ceiling, a corpse…). The best part though was the reunion with Roz. She and Frazier have always been great together and they still had it. What was also fun to watch in this episode was the pairing of Alan and David in some silly party games. That has potential for future humorous bits. I hope Frasier gets renewed for a second season.
I really hope paramount renews this show. I found myself looking forward to the episodes more and more each week. I’m so tired of streamers cancelling things and not giving shows time to grow.
I have always loved the Frasier’s cast but I can’t watch the new series because of the channel it’s on. So sorry I have to miss it. I hope that next season it will come on a channel I can get.
If you have a Walmart+ membership, a free subscription to Paramount+ is one of the benefits.
Paramount+ is offering a 30 day free trial.
You are not missing anything. It is terrible.
Need more roz, but it was so aawww when they were holding hands like just more of them please
Ugh! They couldn’t give us any update on Roz’s life?! Grrr….
They talked about Alice. So I guess that’s something.
It appearance was way too short.. The commercials were longer
I really want there to be a season 2 and I really want DHP and Jane Leeves to be in one episode. Throw a bone for the fans guys.
It’d be nice if the Paramount app actually worked! We haven’t been able to watch Frasier for 3 weeks in a row – and yes, a trouble ticket was submitted. The Frasier eps just keep kicking back an error.
Not just FRASIER. Pretty much everything on P+.
I get an error when I try to select new shows from the main screen, but if I go to the show’s page and select the new ep from the season episode listing, it works.
Fantastic! it would have been nice to have her on screen longer to include an update on her life. Hope it gets renewed, and plays next year. Not two years from now like some shows!
“Damn it, Frasier.”
.
That about sums up this inaugural season for me. I want to love this show. I really do. I love Kelsey Grammer. I have even come to appreciate the other characters. But with Roz back for (the minimal time she was on…. grrrr), the episode, it just highlights the major problem I have with this show.
.
“Damn it, Frasier.”
.
There isn’t anything captivating like the original. The emotional connections on this episode were increased, but those were mostly due to the past and the last incarnation. What I hope happens is that Roz spent the night with Frasier and she decides to stay in Boston for next season. It wouldn’t fix everything wrong with this show, but it would help my feelings.
I would imagine Roz has more reasons to stay in Seattle than to pick up and move to Boston solely to be Frasier’s pal.
I was disappointed that Roz´s appearance was an overextended cameo. I wish she would´ve been there at least for 75% of the episode. Still quite a good first season back.
I miss the magic of the original series. It’s not the same. Niles, Martin, Roz, Lilith and even Eddie all worked. It was believable. The new show is OK but nothing as good as the original.
Who else thought this episode had shades of the “Friends” episode “The One With The Two Parties”?
Would love to see a second season and really enjoyed the new Frazier. It was great seeing Roz from his past and Lillith as well. Everyone I know who watched the show enjoys and they hope a new season will be made.
I always loved Cheers and Frasier so l am enjoying more of the story. The contrast between both fathers and sons is close to my heart because l see it in lots of families.
Oh gosh, this episode caught me right in the feels. I lost my mom around this time of year a few years ago and she loved Frasier. And she left me that cowboy Santa. And she loved Christmas.
Grief is sneaky
Please bring Frasier back to regular tv. Not everyone can afford to stream.
I loved the last episode! It had all the charm and humor of the old show. I am getting used to the new characters, and I really think if this is given room to grow it will only get better,
I LOVE the new show . It has the same zaniness as
The original and Kelsey has those expressions and is still brilliant but I like his new softer quality , he seems less reserved and more down to earth. Love how he played along when Freddie brought home a date and she thought Frasier had some sort of memory issue . Not that that is anything to poke fun of . My father died of Alzheimer’s and there wasn’t any fun in seeing him succumb to that . Yes I would watch a season 2 . I wish it would be on CBS so lore people could enjoy it . Streaming services are expensive and not a luxury all can afford . Thanks and Happy Holdiays
Please bring Peri back as a regular. Please. It’s the shot in the arm the show needs. I will watch regardless but more enthusiastically if Peri comes back! PS – Anders Keith has done an AMAZING job blending the quirkiness of Niles & Daphne. He must have studied old episodes for hours on end!
I enjoyed the entire 10 episodes. Shows need to be given a chance to settle in and get their rhythm. I think it will just just better over time.
The show is amazing! I already love all the characters. Let there be more seasons to follow.