Kelsey Grammer’s Diane Return Hopes For Frasier’s Reboot Totally Cheapen The Original Show

Summary

• Bringing back Shelley Long as Diane Chambers in the Frasier reboot could cheapen the legacy of the original series.
• The original Frasier show resolved Frasier and Diane’s romance in a creative way, making it tricky to come up with a better separation in the revival.
• If Diane does return in the Frasier reboot, her reunion with Frasier should focus on their odd friendship and how she can help him navigate his final act in a better way.

Shelley Long returning as Diane Chambers in the Frasier reboot will cheapen the legacy of the original series. After a bumpy road in development, Kelsey Grammer’s endeavor to bring his snooty but lovable therapist back on the small screen paid off thanks to Paramount+. The 10-episode Frasier reboot saw its titular character re-acquaint himself with Boston 30 years after moving out of the city to his hometown of Seattle. Wealthier than ever after a successful hosting gig in Chicago, Frasier decided to prioritize his relationships, particularly the one he has with his son, Freddy.

Being back in Boston drives up the nostalgia factor for the new Frasier — something that so many revivals tend to lean into in the hopes that it will be enough to make the reincarnation successful. Interestingly, however, the Frasier reboot season 1 was quite conservative in terms of referencing Frasier’s history with the city. The revival hasn’t even determined the fate of Sam Malone’s bar — Cheers, let alone consider revisiting it. However, with the Frasier reboot season 2 moving forward, Grammer wants to bring back a legacy character in Diane.

Kelsey Grammer was originally going to play Frasier for a few episodes before Diane ultimately got back with Sam in Cheers.

The Original Frasier Gave Diane and Frasier’s Romance The Best Ending

Long before Frasier became enamored with Lilith Sternin, his first romantic pairing was Diane. Being a foil to Sam and Diane’s relationship was the original purpose of the character, and at one point, Frasier was even on the verge of marrying her. However, she jilted him at the altar, leaving him heartbroken more than he would like to accept. In Frasier reboot season 3, episode 14, “The Show Where Diane Comes Back,” Frasier, with the advice of Niles, aired out his remaining grudges, allowing him and Diane to have a better split than their initial one.

Presumably, Frasier had already processed all his pent-up issues regarding her, but Grammer’s hopes of bringing Diane back would dispel that. Conversely, it would mean that all the relationships, including the one he’s had with Charlotte, were somehow bogged down by his unresolved issues with Diane. In any case, there’s also an argument to be made about the original Frasier show resolving the matter in the best and most creative way possible. Reuniting Frasier and Diane in the revival is easy, but it would be tricky to come up with a better separation than the last one they had.

How Diane Can Still Return In The Frasier Reboot?

Long can still reprise her role as Diane in the Frasier reboot, but the revival needs to alter the reason for her appearance. Instead of Frasier getting a better closure, their reunion needs to highlight their odd friendship. Despite their tortured love affair, Frasier and Diane were similar in so many ways — it’s why they stood out in Cheers. Their past can play a part in their reunion, but it shouldn’t be its focus. Perhaps Diane can help him realize certain things about himself, allowing him to navigate his third and final act in a better way.

All episodes of the Frasier reboot are available to stream on Paramount+.