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Just as the original “Frasier” series did, the reboot continues to surprise its audience with a host of guest stars in each new episode. Season 2 has already seen a fan-favorite character from the original series make a comeback and introduced a guest star with a real-life connection to Kelsey Grammer, who plays Frasier. The beloved, albeit stuffy, psychiatrist has also taken a trip back to Seattle, his home for all 11 seasons of the ’90s show, where fan-favorite characters like Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe (Dan Butler) and Gil Chesterton (Edward Hibbert) made their return.
The Introduction of a New Love Interest
As the season nears its end, more guest stars are brought into the mix, including Holly in episode 9, who becomes Frasier’s new love interest. Holly, played by Patricia Heaton, is a bartender at one of Frasier’s go-to spots, which, in true Frasier fashion, is actually a fancy restaurant. Holly first made an appearance in episode 2 of the second season of the revival, “Cyrano, Cyrano,” where she saw Frasier endure a Valentine’s Day fiasco. Now, she’s back and has become the latest interest of the ever-romantic psychiatrist.
What’s exciting about this new love interest is that it’s not the first time Grammer and Heaton have shared the screen.
Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton’s Past On-Screen Appearances
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In episode 9 of “Frasier,” “Murder Most Finch,” we find Dr. Crane at Holly’s bar, where he entertains her with stories of his past escapades. Shortly after, they attend a Boston Bruins game together, and Frasier begins to fear he may be too pompous for the more practical Holly. Their second date, a murder mystery party hosted by Olivia (Toks Olagundoye), does little to alleviate Frasier’s worries. However, by the end of the episode, Holly reveals that she likes Frasier for who he is, suggesting a potential ongoing relationship between the pair.
The Grammer-Heaton Dynamic
Holly’s straight-forward personality complements Frasier’s pompousness well, making Patricia Heaton’s character the perfect foil for the doctor’s more snooty tendencies. The strong on-screen chemistry between Kelsey Grammer and Heaton is likely due to their past collaboration in the short-lived Fox comedy series “Back to You” (2007-2008), where they played news anchors Chuck Darling and Kelly Carr. The show’s plot revolved around the co-anchors of Pittsburgh’s WURG News 9, who were friendly and amicable on-screen but constantly at odds off-screen. The storyline saw Grammer’s character, Darling, return to WURG after a decade, only to discover he’s the father of Carr’s young daughter.
“Back to You,” created and executive produced by “Modern Family” creators Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, only lasted one season but was notable for having legendary sitcom director James Burrows on board. After “Back to You,” Grammer and Heaton worked together when Grammer guest-starred on the CBS series “Carol’s Second Act,” where they once again portrayed former lovers, setting the stage for their reunion on “Frasier.”
A Potential Long-Term Relationship for Holly and Frasier?
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Patricia Heaton’s return in episode 2 of “Frasier” season 2 was the first time she and Grammer had shared the screen since their brief stint on “Carol’s Second Act.” Now, with Frasier and Holly seemingly hitting it off, it seems the pair might get to share more screen time. Whether this will aid the revival, which has been a comforting but often disappointing return to the world of Dr. Crane, is yet to be seen. The show did have its best episode in season 2, but it was tinged with sadness, as the best part of that particular episode was Peri Gilpin’s Roz — a painful reminder that not only is no one else from the original cast involved, but the new cast can’t quite recreate the chemistry of the original ensemble.
Grammar spoke to TVLine about his and Heaton’s storyline in “Frasier,” describing the couple as “kindred intellects,” and noting, “They may like different things, but you can see a connection that’s mental […] The thing we fall in love with, it’s the eyes and the brain. That’s honestly what we really fall in love with.” So far, Holly and Frasier couldn’t seem more different, but this could just be a classic case of opposites attract.
It seems Holly might be able to temper some of Frasier’s pretentiousness, but is that something we want? Part of Dr. Crane’s charm is his stuffiness, and Grammer’s ability to balance this trait has been a key factor in the character’s appeal since the 1993 “Frasier” pilot — a pilot that David Hyde Pierce, who played Niles, initially thought was “terrible.” This brings us to the main issue with the revival: the return of Hyde Pierce. As of now, nothing is confirmed, but while it’s nice to see Grammer and Heaton reunited, fans are hoping for a reunion of the Crane brothers. Here’s hoping a third season of the show delivers.
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