Frasier: The Complete First Season

In its inaugural season--with all 24 episodes presented on this four-disc set--Cheers spin-off Frasier garnered Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series and Lead Actor. Kelsey Grammer's Dr. Frasier Crane graduated from supporting character to series anchor with a move to Seattle to start up his own psychological talk radio show, and he's surrounded by an expert ensemble: multi-Emmy-winner David Hyde Pierce as Frasier's equally effete brother Niles; John Mahoney as Martin, their father, a curmudgeonly former cop; Jane Leeves as Daphne, Martin's physical therapist and sometime psychic ("We've decided to find it charming," Frasier states); Peri Gilpin as Roz, the wisecracking producer of Frasier's Seattle talk radio show, and, of course, Moose, as Eddie the dog. At the heart of this first year is Frasier's strained relationship with his estranged father, who moves in with him, and Niles' thunderstruck lust for Daphne. In a season of consistently intelligent and witty writing, several episodes stand out, "The Show Where Lilith Comes Back," "Selling Out" (which introduced Harriet Sansom Harris as unscrupulous agent Bebe--who deserved a series of her own), and "My Coffee With Niles," the poignant season-ender in which Frasier takes stock of his new life. Frasier, once the sitcom gold standard, has overstayed its welcome by several years, but this opening 1993 season offers a reminder of its former glory as one of the signature sitcoms of the 1990s. Boasting a handsome DVD transfer and solid sound, the set also features a few notable extras, including a commentary track on the pilot episode, a "making-of" documentary, and a featurette on production design Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. (K. Lee Benson)