Frasier(1993-2003) is a cerebral sitcom starring Kelsey Grammer aspopular Seattle radio psychiatrist, Dr. Frasier Crane, and it has several great season finales. When Frasier returns to his hometown in Washington state, his father, Martin Crane (John Mahoney), moves in with him, creating endless tension between the two. To top things off, Frasier’s brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), promptly falls hopelessly in love with their disabled father’s caregiver, Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves).
The Crane family antics have been a beloved mainstay of the sitcom genre for the past 32 years. This 90s comedy show was recently resurrected in the2023Frasierreboot, although the remake was greeted with less critical acclaim. Over the course of 10 years on the air, theoriginalFrasiershowcreated big shoes to fill with its interplay ofscrewball comedy and universally relatable themes. Many of the most memorable episodes of the show were its season finales, whether for their dramatic plot points or hysterical happenings.
11Season 10"A New Position For Roz"
11/11
In the season 10 finale, Dr. Frasier Crane has a falling out with his ride-or-die producer,Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), who issues Frasier an ultimatum: either he breaks up with his new girlfriend, or their friendship is over. While this fight could have been a showstopper, it lacked the believability and punch needed to hang in the minds of fans. The attempt at a major conflict fell flat especially given that it was preceded by 9 seasons ofRoz and Frasierhaving a loyal, platonic dynamic, with no noticeable chemistry or feelings for one another.
Ultimately, the writing of this finale felt lazy and out-of-character for Roz, although it did lead to heavy speculation among viewers regarding whetherFrasier and Roz would have a romance, especially with the recentupdate on season 3 of the Frasier reboot. This episode is not particularly notable on the whole, with the most memorable part beingBulldog Briscoe’s (Dan Butler) ruthless roast of Rozduring her KACL going-away party, and Noel’s (Patrick Kerr) comical leap to her defense.
10Season 9"Moons Over Seattle"
10/11
In the season 9 finale, Niles makes the misguided choice to bringDaphne Moon’sfather, Harry Moon (Brian Cox), back to the states in an attempt toreunite Harry with his ex-wife, Gertrude Moon(Millicent Martin). A great deal of bickering ensues, as is often the case when the Moon and Crane families come into contact.
Why Kelsey Grammer Didn’t Want Daphne In Frasier
Daphne Moon is a beloved character that receives some of Frasier’s best storylines, but Kelsey Grammer initially objected to Jane Leeves' role.
Gertrude’s character is annoyingly reminiscent of Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) inStar Trek: Deep Space 9, and while the humorous bickering and universally relatable family dysfunction is a cornerstone ofFrasier,Gertrude and Harry Moon’s storyline in this episode doesn’t stand outas one of the best finales. The moment in which Harry first meets Martin Crane – who happens to be wearing his security guard uniform – and hurriedly surrenders a stolen object after assuming he has been caught shoplifting is arguably the best moment of the episode.
9Season 2"Dark Victory"
9/11
As a blackout sweeps through Seattle right in the middle of Martin’s birthday, the usual suspects bicker through an evening withRoz Doyle, who is depressed after missing her family reunion. There is not much about this finale that would stand out in the minds of viewers, beyond a party game in which Frasier breaks out in a desperate attempt to entertain his grumpy guests.
What If Lisa Kudrow Had Played Roz Doyle On Frasier
Lisa Kudrow was originally cast as Roz Doyle on Frasier, only to be replaced by Peri Gilpin - but how would Kudrow’s Roz have changed the show?
Passing out a pile of pennies to each person,Frasier explains the game “I Am The Dullest Person,”in which one player states “I am the dullest person because…” before naming something they have never done. Players who have done this thing pay one of their pennies into the communal cup. When Daphne rattles off a list of adventurous places in which she has never had sex (an airplane, an elevator, a phone booth, and a merry-go-round), Roz clinks coin after coin into the pot, owning up to each one with a hilarious amount of nonchalance.
8Season 4"Odd Man Out"
8/11
When a dinner with Roz is unexpectedly canceled, Frasier spends an evening by himself, leading him to the depressing realization that he is the only single person in his life. Throughout the episode,Frasier is comically bombarded with couples in love, and his dinner for one quickly becomes disastrous. Eventually, his loneliness leads him to make a spontaneous decision, and while it doesn’t pan out, the confidence boost he gains leads him to further adventures.
Roz’s Frasier Season 2 Return May Have Shut Down One Of The Biggest Theories For Good
The nature of Roz Doyle’s (Peri Gilpin) return in the Frasier reboot’s second season seems to have finally shut down a popular fan theory for good.
The show often explores themes of happiness, love, and relationships, and this episode leans into Frasier’s struggle to enjoy his own company in a relatable but extremely comical way. However, asFrasierprimarily follows several everyday characters’ journeys to find love, the way this episode misses the opportunity to reframe loneliness and fulfillment is slightly disappointing in the grand scheme of Dr. Crane’s character arc.
7Season 5"Sweet Dreams"
7/11
The closing of a beloved local Seattle bookshop incites a protest, to which Frasier drags an unwilling Daphne along before promptly abandoning her and Niles as soon as the police begin to make arrests. In an attempt to make up for this cowardly act,Dr. Crane resolves to take a standagainst unethical practices at the station. Soon enough, his lack of cooperation costs KACL station manager Kenny Daly (Tom McGown) his job.
While this finale doesn’t pack much of a punch in the plot department, the unfortunate chain of comedic missteps and hilarious outro of Frasier forlornly carrying his belongings out of the station to the sound of Latin beats make this a classicFrasierepisode.
During a dramatic confrontation in which Frasier prompted station owner Jose Martinez (Miguel Sandoval) to question his ethics and true desires for the future of the KACL talk show network, Dr. Crane unwittingly encouraged him totransform the network into a Latino music station, firing the entire network staff. While this finale doesn’t pack much of a punch in the plot department, the unfortunate chain of comedic missteps and hilarious outro of Frasier forlornly carrying his belongings out of the station to the sound of Latin beats make this a classicFrasierepisode.
6Season 6"Shutout in Seattle, Pt. I" & “Shutout in Seattle, Pt. II”
6/11
While mutually single and suffering, Niles and Roz attempt to one-up one another as the person who has the worst love life. Ironically, Niles then takes up with free-spirited young Cafe Nervosa waitress Kit (Jessica Cauffiel), andRoz stumbles into an ill-advised fling with Bulldog Briscoe. Soon enough, Roz is embroiled in a laughably one-sided relationship with Bulldog, and Niles is trying to become a “bad boy” for his mismatched partner.
Bulldog Briscoe Is Gay: The Frasier Reboot’s Character Reveal Explained
Season 2 of the Frasier reboot series brought back Bulldog Brisco and confirmed that the character from the original series is, in fact, gay.
The meltdown that ensues whenNiles dumps Kit at Cafe Nervosais arguably one of the show’s best and most hysterical performances from a one-off character. This finale also continues the running joke of Noel Shempsky’s (Patrick Kerr) indefatigable interest in Roz, with cringe-worthy and ill-timed passes made throughout the episode. The Crane family rendition of the James Bond theme “Goldfinger” at the end of this episode is particularly adorable and makes the season 6Frasierfinale all the more memorable.
5Season 8"Cranes Go Caribbean"
5/11
A string of frustrating coincidences leads Frasier, Niles and Marty to all wind up in Belize on the same weekend, along with their respective significant others. On the way to the airport, his ex-girlfriend Lana’s (Jean Smart) comments thatFrasier doesn’t know how to be happy, and he wrestles with this realization for the remainder of the trip, struggling to keep his chronic dissatisfaction at bay after a series of unfortunate incidents.
Frasier Season 2 Officially Ends The Original Series 20 Years After It Went Off The Air
The Frasier reboot’s return to Seattle officially wraps up the original Cheers spinoff 20 years after Kelsey Grammer’s character left Emerald City.
Much like theFrasierseason 4 finale, this episode witnessesDr. Crane grappling with his ability to find happiness, although in this case, fulfillment is not lacking from the absence of a relationship.Frasierseems to regularly circle back around to the theme of self-sabotage or dissatisfaction becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, in a way that many sitcoms (such asSeinfeld) have also famously explored.
4Season 1"My Coffee With Niles"
4/11
The first season is ranked as one of the most well-lovedseasons ofFrasierby ratings, so, unsurprisingly, season 1 boasts the 4th best finale of the entire series. This particular season’s end focused onFrasier and Niles’ adorable dynamic, with the entire episode consisting of a Cafe Nervosa coffee talk between the two brothers.Frasier reflects on his first year in Seattlefollowing Niles’ prompting of, “Are you happy?”
David Hyde Pierce breaks the fourth wall in this episode, one of several times this is done in the show. During their coffee chat, Frasier jokes that Niles is gay, asking who should tell their father. Though not publicly out at the time, Pierce sneaks a quick glance at the camera and grins.
For such a lighthearted show,Frasierfrequently manages to delve into some deep topics in the realm of love and relationships, and the specific question of how to find fulfillment and happiness in life is explored in every season. The reflective nature of this episode – sprinkled with witty exchanges between the Crane boys as well as their insufferable pickiness driving a Cafe Nervosa server mad – is quintessentialFrasier.
3Season 3"You Can Go Home Again"
3/11
On his 3rd year broadcasting anniversary, Roz gifts Frasier a tape of their very first show. As Dr. Crane listens to the tape and flashes back in time, this season 3 finale establishes some ofthe backstory of Frasier’s strained dynamic with his father, Martin. The tension and resentment between the two was palpable during Frasier’s initial days back in Seattle, and at the time, he did not have the support system of close relationships with Niles, Daphne, and Roz.
Eddie’s dog actor, Moose, was replaced in season 7 by his own son, Enzo.
The episode centers around theCrane family dysfunction, highlighting the extreme differences between Martin and his two sons, and diving into how he came to live with Frasier in the first place. While the episode is poignant and relatable from the standpoint of difficult family dynamics, it also sets upone ofFrasier’sbest running gagswhen Niles redirects Eddie’s penetrating stare towards his brother and informs the dog, “Eddie, Frasier is the first born.”Eddie’s primary role inFrasierfrom that moment on is to follow Dr. Crane around, practically staring into his soul.
2Season 11"Goodnight, Seattle, Pt. I" and “Goodnight, Seattle, Pt. II”
2/11
The final season finale ofFrasierallowed this beloved sitcom to go out with a bang, its ratings reachinga whopping 25.4 million viewerseven after the show’s 10-year stint on the air. The finale managed to remind viewers of everything that was most-loved about the show with one hilarious disaster after another, including Eddie eating Marty and Ronee’s wedding rings and Daphne delivering Niles’ baby in a veterinary office. Frasier also parts ways with Charlotte (Laura Linney), having one last romantic dinner before she leaves for Chicago.
“For 11 years, you have heard me say, ‘I’m listening.’ Well, you were listening, too, and for that I’m eternally grateful… Goodnight, Seattle.” -Dr. Frasier Crane, “Goodnight, Seattle, Pt. II”
Frasierfaces its final curtain with grace, delivering a beautiful last broadcast from Dr. Crane, as well as a cliffhanger that went unresolved for 10 years until the 2023Frasierreboot ended the original Seattle series: when Frasier leaves Seattle for the last time, his plane lands in Chicago, not San Francisco as planned.
