Over the last year and a half, I’ve written about the DVD releases of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd seasons of “Cheers” and “Frasier” onto DVD. Now, oddly enough, Paramount is skipping ahead a little bit and releasing the final season of “Frasier.” It’s kind of fitting that the studio has been releasing seasons of these shows at the same time as they’ve both shared the character of Frasier Crane over the course of the last twenty years. Frasier, played by Kelsey Grammer, first came into being during the 3rd season of “Cheers.” When that series ended, the character spun off into his own highly successful series, which just recently ended after 11 seasons, matching the run of “Cheers.” Both series lasted long enough to make Frasier Crane the longest running character in television history.

It’s so rare that any TV show spin-off is as successful as the show it spins off from. “The Jefferson’s” (which came from “All in the Family”) did it and both “Laverne & Shirley” and “Mork & Mindy” enjoyed successful runs coming off of “Happy Days.” “Frasier” proved itself right from the start that it had what it takes to make a successful show. The 1st season introduced us to an amazing troop of characters, each one specifically set up to be a foil to Frasier Crane.

When the series premiered in September of 1993, we found Frasier Crane newly divorced from his insufferably insane wife Lilith. He had moved from Boston back to his hometown of Seattle, Washington to start over. He trades in his psychiatric practice in for a stint as a radio psychiatrist, allows his disabled father, Martin (John Mahoney), to move in with him along with his live-in therapist, Daphne (Jane Leeves). The way these three play off each other is hysterical.

But perhaps the strongest character actor of the bunch is David Hyde Pierce who plays Frasier’s brother, Niles. Pierce first had the opportunity to read for the series because he so strongly resembled Kelsey Grammer. Once he made it through the initial interview, the creators of the series wrote the part of Niles Crane specifically for him. Those used to seeing Grammer on “Cheers” were immediately taken aback by Pierce, leading many to question whether or not the two were really brothers. The character of Niles, amazingly neurotic in his own right had to deal with his own wife Maris, whom we never saw but knew was intolerable. This along with the hidden feelings he had for Daphne, carried over into many seasons with a mixture of humor, pathos and poignancy.

Pierce has impressed many with his abilities as an actor, so much so that to date he holds the record for most Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor for a single character with nine to date. Over the years he’s lent his voice to many animated films, and has tried to choose parts that are removed from the character of Niles. His performance last year in “Full Frontal” was nothing short of amazing. Of course I still remember him in his pre-Niles days as Lou Rosen in “The Fisher King.” His role was small, but chilling.

Releasing the Final Season of “Frasier” is a bit of a departure from the schedule Paramount has been releasing these shows, and though it is a bit odd, I am glad to know that they aren’t skipping the rest of the seasons entirely. They are going to start releasing them in order again next year. I believe the timing of this was simply meant to capitalize on the recent departure of the series. This new 4-disc set includes all 24 of the episodes from the 4th season in a nicely packaged box set.

The series and its cast were continuously up for and won no less that 31 Emmy Awards, and deservedly so. Having watched it from the beginning, “Frasier” rarely served up a weak episode, and though it appeared be losing steam during it’s 10th season, it came back with full force during this 11th, and final, season. Watching this DVD set reminds one that the series absolutely went out at the top of its game.

There were so many favorite episodes, it’s really hard to know where to begin, but I must call special attention to a couple in particular. There is a two-part storyline that re-introduces the character of Maris (Niles’ ex-wife). While these episodes offer up quite a few laughs, there was a poignancy that was not expected. Then if you’re looking for a laugh riot, I have to mention “The Doctor is Out”, which features Patrick Stewart as a gay character who believes that Frasier is also gay. Stewart has gone this route before in the movie “Jeffrey” and is excessively funny in the role.

Most of the rest of the episodes serve as standalone stories, but a few offer up some wonderful closure for many of the characters we have come to know and love from the series. All in all, a fitting ending to a terrific show.

As in the sets that have already been released, the features are few, but worthwhile. The main featurettes offer the cast and crew opportunities to reminisce about working on the series, as well as talk a bit about how they feel about the show ending.

If you’re a fan of great TV, and love the series “Frasier” as much as I do, this DVD set belongs in your collection.

Episodes:
No Sex Please, We’re Skittish
A Man, a Plan, and a Gal: Julia
The Doctor is Out
The Babysitter
The Placeholder
I’m Listening
Maris Returns
Murder Most Maris
Guns & Neuroses
Sea Bee Jeebies
High Holiday
Frasier-Lite
The Ann Who Came To dinner
Freudian Sleep
Caught in the Act
Boo!
Coots and Ladders
Match Game
Miss Right Now
And Frasier Makes Three
Detour
Crock Tales
Goodnight, Seattle: Part 1
Goodnight, Seattle: Part 2

Starring: Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin, Janes Leeves, John Mahoney and Moose
Specifications: Full Screen
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: 11/16/2004
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Frasier: The Final Season an A.