33 Years Ago Today, NBC Did The Impossible With The Best Sitcom Spinoff Of All Time

Published Sep 16, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT

Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things

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Comedies continue to be a small screen staple, even as the way people consume media changes, but nothing still tops NBC's 1993 sitcom that remains to be the undisputed best spinoff in the genre. The Peacock network may have laid low in terms of producing humorous shows, as it anchors itself on procedurals, such as Law & Order and Law & Order: SVU, as well as One Chicago. NBC's fall 2026 lineup will start to beef up its comedy portfolio again, with the debut of Newly Weds, joining Happy's Place and St. Denis Medical. That said, there was a time that it was the go-to destination for all things funny.

A number of legacy comedies that continue to be relevant today originally aired on NBC, and they vary premises and ensemble compositions as well. The '60s had I Dream of Jeannie; the '70s had Sanford and Son, Diff'rent Strokes, and Family Ties; the '80s had Cheers, Night Court, Golden Girls, and Seinfeld; the '90s had The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Friends, followed by The Office, 30 Rock, Community, Parks & Recreation, Superstore, and The Good Place in the next two decades. Among all of these fan-favorites, however, it was a 1993 comedy that had the most impressive success.

Frasier Premiered 33 Years Ago Today

NBC (via MovieStillsDb)

On September 16, 1993, Frasier premiered. Created by Peter Casey, David Lee, and David Angell as Grub Street Production, the show shifted the focus on Kelsey Grammer's snooty psychiatrist from Cheers, Frasier Crane. Originally introduced as Diane Chambers' therapist/boyfriend on the heels of her split from Sam Malone, the character became a staple of the Boston-set comedy from 1984 until it wrapped up in 1993, staying even after Shirley Long left. When Cheers started setting up its finale, NBC attempted to continue capitalizing on its popularity by launching Frasier — a spinoff sequel.

Admittedly, there was pushback towards this plan. Despite the popularity of Cheers, it was already burned before when it came to franchise expansion with the short-lived offshoot, The Tortellis. Even with Carla and her family regularly dropping by at Sam's bar, it failed to generate viewers, eventually getting canned after just a single season. Frasier was being built around a character who wasn't even part of the original Cheers ensemble. Granted that his story with Lilith Sternin was compelling, the NBC spinoff wasn't bringing her or anyone else from the Boston-set comedy to the next one in Seattle.

Those hurdles weren't even close to the end of Frasier's problems. It had to come up with a solid premise that could continue for years to come, and with the inevitable comparison to Cheers, it couldn't rely on its parent show's old tricks for success. To top it all off, Grammer didn't originally want to continue playing Frasier. Against all odds, NBC went all-in on Frasier, and with the additional casting of David Hyde-Pierce, Jane Leeves, Peri Gilpin, and John Mahoney, it went on to become one of the most critically and commercially successful comedies, and the best spinoff in the genre of all time. It won a total of 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, a record-most until Game of Thrones broke it in 2016 with 38. It still has the consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, however, winning five from 1994 to 1998, tied with ABC's Modern Family.

NBC (via MovieStillsDb)

Much has been said about Frasier's overall success. Casey, Lee, and Angell solved all the narrative issues and found the perfect launching pad for the next chapter for Frasier Crane in his hometown. While its writing was impeccable for the most part of its run, Frasier's pilot, "The Good Son," directed by legendary comedy director, James Burrows, was as best as any show could ever want for a premiere. By the end of its half-hour slot, it was able to establish its premise, introduce all the new characters, including Eddie, catch the audience up on what Frasier had been up to since Cheers ended, and make it clear that it was nothing like its parent show. It did all of that in a way that was funny and also emotional — two things that it excelled at throughout its time on the air.

While Frasier's relationship with Niles was the humorous anchor of the series, his dynamic with Martin was the beating heart of it. These were both established early on. "The Good Son's" scenes with Hyde-Pierce highlighted the wit of the comedy's writing, as his brother allowed Frasier to unabashedly display his intelligence without looking like he was showing off, which was rarely the case in Cheers. That said, the brightest spots of the Frasier pilot involved Martin and his firstborn. After the Crane patriarch's initial move-in, the tension intensified, leading to their surprisingly emotional argument about Frasier's growing resentment over his father's lack of appreciation during this transition period and Martin hating the feeling of being a burden.

anyone who has had to repair a fractured relationship with a family member or had to start all over again in their adulthood could see themselves in Frasier in spite of his exaggerated nature

Somehow, Roz's story about Lupe Velez, which was factually inaccurate, set up the pilot's poignant resolution — Martin gruffly calling Frasier's radio show and publicly thanking him. While Frasier's brand of comedy ranged from farcical to satirical with over-the-top characters, its ability to cut through all of that and remain grounded was mainly through these kinds of moments. Suddenly, anyone who has had to repair a fractured relationship with a family member or had to start all over again in their adulthood could see themselves in Frasier in spite of his exaggerated nature. "The Good Son" was a window into what people could expect from the NBC comedy, and thankfully, the response was overwhelmingly positive.

Frasier's Legacy Endures (Despite The Cancelled Revival)

MovieStillsDB

On paper, Frasier shouldn't have worked. No one wants to watch a pompous, elitist stuck-up, let alone cheer for him. Comedies are usually comforting, with shows like Friends and Seinfeld making people feel seen and offering them a sense of belonging. Even Cheers was about found family, with the occasional involvement of the cast's blood relatives. Frasier, on the other hand, was about all kinds of relationships — personal, familial, platonic, and even societal. Throughout its run, Frasier's arc was molded by his experiences, either in his day-to-day life living in Seattle or through his callers in his show. The fact that NBC was able to tap in so many A-listers for voice cameos is one of the most underrated aspects of the project.

Although Frasier's popularity remains, thanks to its regular reruns on cable and availability on streaming platforms, Grammer's efforts to bring it back for the modern audience failed with the cancellation of the 2023 revival on Paramount+. There were a lot of factors that led to the project's early end, but instead of tainting the legacy of the original, its existence actually highlighted just how brilliant its original run was. Frasier's jokes were smart, and they expected their viewers to get in on them. But it also didn't shy away from dumb ones, which made its comedy more complex and layered — something that is now quite rare. While it was born out of Cheers' success, Frasier was able to carve its own path and become the best comedy spinoff of all time.

Frasier