An original Frasier star explains why it wouldn’t happen”feel good“to return for the Paramount+ revival. A spin-off of Healththe sitcom originally aired on NBC from 1993 to 2004, following Kesley Grammer’s titular psychiatrist as he returns to his hometown of Seattle, where he reconnects with his father, Martin (John Mahoney). The Paramount+ revival, which premieres in 2023, brings Frasier back to Boston, and while it follows a mostly new cast of characters, it features the return of some original stars, like Peri Gilpin as Roz Doyle.
Now another original Frasier star addressed a potential return in the Paramount+ revival. Chatting with TV Insider promoting Apple TV Shrinking 2nd season, Wendie Malick said no”feel good“to return for the Paramount+ revival without John Mahoney, who passed away in 2018. Read the full comments below:
It’s like when people ask me about Just Shoot Me. Without George Segal, I just don’t think it would feel right. I had such a connection to John Mahoney playing his love interest and ultimately marrying him that I’m not sure I want to revisit it. That was something that was a lovely ride, and that season was really fun and I was honored to be a part of it. And sometimes I think you feel like you’ve taken your character as far as you can, and then maybe you just let it go and savor those memories. Never say never, but that’s my feeling.
She probably won’t return
Wendie Malick starred in the original Frasierappearing in 10 episodes in season 11 as Ronee Lawrence, Niles and Frasier’s childhood nanny who, after a chance meeting, begins a romantic relationship with Martin. After dating for several episodes, Martin and Ronee get married during the Frasier series finale. Years later, Mahoney and Malick reunited in another comedy, Hot in Clevelandwhich also featured Frasier star Jane Leeves.
Malick’s comments mean that She is hesitant to return to the Frasier revivalcomparing this to his reluctance to revisit Just shoot me without her late co-star, George Segal. Although she feels deeply connected to her Frasier character, Ronee, especially through her on-screen relationship with John Mahoney’s Martin, which culminated in their characters’ marriage. Malick cherishes these memories, feeling he took Ronee’s story as far as possible. While she doesn’t completely rule out a return, she’s inclined to put it aside for now.
Our thoughts on Wendie Malick not returning for Frasier Revival
She has a good reason
Wendie Malick has a good reason for not being interested in returning to Frasier. The Paramount+ revival has already brought an end to the story of Martin, who passed away on the show, and the revival’s series premiere episode was dedicated to Mahoney’s memory and also paid tribute to him by naming the show’s bar after him. Malick is right to let Ronee’s story rest, as her character was inextricably linked to John Mahoney’s Martin, and without him, a return could risk feeling forced.
Source: TV Insider