The Almost Frasier Spin-Off That Never Was
There were plans for a spin-off in the Frasier universe that never came to be, focusing on a surprising character from the original series.
The Frasier Universe
The original series, a spin-off of Cheers, premiered in September 1993 and ran for 11 seasons. The show starred Kelsey Grammer in the titular role alongside Peri Gilpin, David Hyde Pierce, and Jane Leeves.
The Almost Spin-Off
One of the characters considered for a spin-off was Lana Gardner, played by Jean Smart. Lana, Frasier’s high school crush, appeared in a total of seven episodes between season seven and season nine.
During an appearance on Good Morning America, Jean Smart revealed that there were discussions about spinning off Lana and her son but the idea was eventually abandoned due to financial considerations.
Despite the spin-off not materializing, Jean Smart cherished her time playing Lana, describing it as ‘so much fun’. She even won two Emmy awards for outstanding guest actress in a comedy series for her portrayal.
Lana’s Storyline
Lana made her debut in 2000 in the season seven episode ‘Big Crane on Campus’. Her storyline involved a date with Frasier that didn’t go as planned, leading to some comedic moments and misunderstandings.
In subsequent episodes, Lana reappeared, adding more depth to her character and interactions with Frasier, including a storyline where she blackmailed him into tutoring her son, Kirby.
The Frasier Revival
Last year, Kelsey Grammer reprised his role as Frasier in a revival of the series on Paramount+. The revival received mixed reviews but was renewed for a second season, much to Kelsey’s delight.
Kelsey expressed his satisfaction with the revival, stating that he felt ‘vindicated’ by the show’s success and the opportunity to explore new stories with the character of Frasier.
Potential Future for Lana
Could Lana still make a comeback in future episodes of the Frasier revival? Only time will tell if fans will see more of this iconic character on screen.