Summary of "Season 4 - Season 4": The last few years have seen the rise of the TV show on DVD, but it's taken this long to reach the mid-point of certain long running series. So far the results are either that the studios releasing the shows set the bar low, but consistent (ie M*A*S*H) or high at the start and then phase out the production value - this is what Paramount seems to be doing, as both Frasier and it's sire-show, Cheers, started with a bang that turned to a whimper, and now a hum. The quality of the episodes is solid, but the little extras we've come to love in our DVDs is gone (and since we've already seen the last season of Frasier on DVD, we know that they're not winding up for a big finish.) At this point the releases are for the fans, not for the impulse buyer, and what you get in that situation is a DVD set that suffices. Fortunately the show itself provides some good laughs and a few surprises (such as a guest appearance by James Earl Jones, the one man with a voice smoother than Frasier Crane.) (read entire review)
Summary of "Season 11 - Season 11": I didn't regularly watch the last couple of seasons of Fraiser, but I can honestly say, after watching the final season, that it lasted pretty well. A lot of shows burn out fast. Some last awhile and bow out gracefully, but only a few manage to last eleven seasons and still provide some good laughs. This is mostly due to a really tight and funny cast. And partly it was some clever writing.
In the featurette, the writers talked about how they struggled to avoid repeating themselves in the final season. And having had the chance to watch the first three in their entirety, I can say they did repeat themselves a bit. Like the episode were Fraiser is mistaken as gay. Sure, the twist this time is that all of Seattle is speculating and Patrick Stewart is the one interested in the highly cultured radio psychiatrist, but same story, different day. And most episodes involve the typical whacky misunderstanding and crazy attempt to correct the situation. But when it works, it works, right?
This season, as is to be expected, had a long line up of returning friendly faces - Lilith (Bebe Newirth) and Bulldog (Dan Butler) put in some brief appearances, while the final episode guest starred Robbie Coltrane, Richard E. Grant, and Anthony LaPaglia as Daphne's loutish brothers. Jason Biggs, Jennifer Beals, and Arlene Sorkin also drop by one last time. It's a shame that the vocal guest list is so short - the call-ins to the radio show are always a kick.
If there is a drawback to the collection of four discs, it would have to be the lack of extras - not an absence, just skimpy. While the two featurettes were nice, you'd think there would be a lot to talk about at the end of the series. But there is no talk of the awards the show won. There isn't even commentary on the final episode. If there's any one episode that should have commentary (after the pilot episode) it would be the final episode, but no, there's nothing.
Most surprising was the omission of Analyzing the Laughter, a special clip episode wherein Frasier meets with an analyst (Fred Willard) to review his years in Seattle. The special aired the Thursday before the final episode (Thursday nights was where the show first began). This would have been an excellent addition to the DVD set, but it's nowhere to be found. It's for this reason the disc comes off as a little, well, exploitative. But other than that, it's a solid set. Goodnight, Seattle. (read entire review)
Summary of "Season 3 - Season 3": Like the M*A*S*H sets, to pick an example, we're starting to see what you get when a studio starts putting out sets for series that ran for many a year - low risk and steady as she goes. With the same level of presentation and a minimum helping of extras, this set is about as good as the rest. The only difference this time is that the commentary well has finally run dry. Nobody sat still long enough to talk about an episode. Still, "as good as" is way better than if they'd decided to scrimp on subsequent sets. With more than half a dozen seasons yet to cover, only time will tell how consistent they will remain. (read entire review)
Summary of "Season 2 - Season 2": A second season set with more commentary! I can honestly say I didn't expect it, but there it is. Popular shows always have important episodes beyond the pilot, but rarely do these episodes (award winning, controversy spawning, or just super-popular) get commented upon.
But here's my suggestion, if anyone is reading - plan ahead. If you can get the show creators and a couple of cast members together to watch one episode, why not see if they can stick around and talk about a couple of others, like any award winning episodes. Each episode is just over 20 minutes long. Surely if provided with water and a comfy chair, they can stick around for an hour and talk about three episodes. Then you have enough for three whole season sets. Just a thought.
Summary of "Season 1 - Season 1": As sitcom sets go, the Frasier season one set is perhaps the one I'm most impressed with. They include everything you'd normally want on the disc, from general data quality to extras. Even the one thing I demand from my sets, chapter breaks to search through, are there. The only thing missing is a "play all" option, but that I can live without. It's a good start to a collection that will ultimately be ten boxes on your shelf. Paramount, keep going, you're doing great! (read entire review)
The Doctor Is In...For The Holidays! 'Christmas Episodes' DVD Announced
BRING FRASIER HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! Frasier: Christmas Episodes contains eight classic holiday episodes from the hilarious, award-winning sitcom. Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), Niles (David Hyde Pierce),... (read entire news item)
1/15/2015
'The Complete Series' DVD Set Starring Kelsey Grammer
The doctor is in! Frasier - The Complete Series includes all eleven seasons of the award-winning spinoff from Cheers. Kelsey Grammer reprises his Emmy Award-winning role as Dr. Frasier Crane, a stuffy... (read entire news item)
10/12/2007
Episodes Listed Per Disc on Rear Cover Art for 10th Season DVDs
With the December 11th release of Frasier - The 10th Season now just a couple of months away, CBS/Paramount has released the rear cover art for this package. Besides the funny pics, like Frasier and... (read entire news item)
8/23/2007
Package Art Revealed for 10th Season (Final DVD Season Set)
The other day we had the breaking news that CBS/Paramount had announced Frasier - The 10th Season for DVD release. This 24-episode set will arrive on December 11th, and the studio has now provided us... (read entire news item)
8/21/2007
Finally! Finish off Frasier This Fall: 10th Season DVDs!
DVDs for Season 1, Season 2, Season 3, Season 11, Season 4...
Yes, the 11-year run of Frasier did not follow a normal course on DVD releases, because the final season of the show was released on DVD... (read entire news item)
1/24/2007
Season 9 date is Official!
It's been more than a month since we posted the news that season 9 would be released on May 15, and now Paramount has made it official. The 4 disc set will include all 23 episodes (527 mins) from the... (read entire news item)
12/11/2006
Rumored Season 9 Date
We've received tons of email from readers asking about the 9th and 10th season of Fraiser. After releasing 3 sets in 2004, and 4 in 2005, there was just one release in 2006, which had fans thinking the... (read entire news item)
8/13/2006
Get A Small Serving Of Tossed Salads And Scrambled Eggs
Paramount/CBS has decided to provide an inexpensive single-DVD release of Frasier, for those retailers and consumers who prefer to avoid filling the shelves up with big season sets. Many of our readers... (read entire news item)
2/17/2006
Niles & Daphne Found On 8th Season Set This Summer!
Paramount Home Entertaiment has finally announced Frasier - The Complete 8th Season for release on DVD. This 4-DVD set runs 521 minutes and 23 episodes of the (normally) half-hour sitcom, including the... (read entire news item)
8/31/2005
Tossed Package and Scrambled Discs: We've Got Your Season 7 Pics!
It's been a couple of weeks since we posted the heads-up on Frasier - The Complete 7th Season. This 4-DVD set is all set for a November 15th launch, and now we've got the pics to show you: outside, inside,... (read entire news item)
8/16/2005
7th Season Coming This Year!
Frasier - Season 7 is on-the-way. This was the season which led up to Daphne's wedding with Donny, while a (hilariously) miserable Niles looked on. DVDPlanet.com's new pre-order listing shows that a... (read entire news item)
6/07/2005
Season 6 date and artwork
Emmy® Award-winner Kelsey Grammer is Frasier - the hilarious psychiatrist first seen on TV's Cheers and subsequently the star of this smash-hit comedy series. What?! Frasier Crane, unemployed? Yep, that's... (read entire news item)
3/18/2005
An Inside-and-Out Look at Season 5's Package, Plus Studio Info Listing
A couple of weeks ago we brought you early word that Frasier - The Complete 5th Season would hit stores on June 7th. Now we have more info from Paramount, but even more graphics for you! Below you'll... (read entire news item)
3/05/2005
Frasier Crane's back on-the-air with Season 5!
Frasier - The Complete 5th Season is on-the-way to DVD, with a 4-disc set containing all 24 episodes. Bebe Neuwirth returns as Dr. Lilith Sternin, Frasier's ex-wife from his days on Cheers. Other guest... (read entire news item)
12/09/2004
Update on 4th Season set
It's been a month since we brought you the cover and disc art (click here to see it and street date (Feb. 1st) for Frasier - The Complete 4th Season. Now we have the rest of the details to fill you... (read entire news item)
11/08/2004
Now we have an exact street date and box art for Season 4
Over the weekend we revealed that Frasier - The Complete 4th Season was known to be arriving in February. We probably would have just held off for a few days if we knew we'd have the exact date of release... (read entire news item)
11/06/2004
Paramount narrows down release timeframe for 4th season set
We've assured you that Frasier - The Complete 4th Season is indeed on-the-way in 2005 from Paramount, and now we can narrow it down to a February timeframe. We still don't have the exact date or any... (read entire news item)
9/25/2004
Final Cover Art for Final Season
When we first showed you the cover art last July for the 11th Season box set of Frasier, it had a "Now On DVD" tagline that was dead smack in the center of the box. We all pretty much knew that this... (read entire news item)
9/16/2004
4th Season is coming, don't worry!
With the announcement that Paramount would make a special effort to get Frasier - The Final Season (Season 11) out on DVD this Fall (November 16th) to capitalize on the ending of the show, many fans seem... (read entire news item)
8/02/2004
Paramount nails down date for The Final Season
In previous news items like this one and this one (the second one also shows an early look at the cover art), we passed on the fact that Paramount had decided to move the release date of Frasier - The... (read entire news item)
7/13/2004
Season 11 Cover Art!
We told you recently that the 11th (and last) season of Frasier was going to come out on DVD while it was still relatively fresh in the minds of viewers, but that the previously mentioned date (in September)... (read entire news item)
7/02/2004
Final Season box set's date is on-the-move
In mid-May we reported that Frasier - The Final Season (Season 11) would arrive in-stores on Sept. 21st. Now we have word direct from the studio's highest levels that the release date is on-the-move.
The... (read entire news item)
5/18/2004
From Paramount: Fraiser - The Final Season
Earlier today information went out to various retailers about upcoming Paramount releases, including many TV sets. Please keep in mind that these dates are probably correct, but since nothing has been... (read entire news item)
5/04/2004
Possible "Finale" DVD in-the-works?
Video Store Magazine's Erik Gruenwedel posted this story yesterday about the possibility of a DVD release for the final episode of Frasier:
Paramount Home Entertainment is considering releasing a bonus-laden... (read entire news item)
3/13/2004
Recap of Season 3 Specs
We've already posted the various details of Frasier - The Complete 3rd Season in our release listing for this box set. But Paramount sent over the official spec sheet for this package, and we want to... (read entire news item)
2/19/2004
Artwork for season 3
Paramount posted the artwork for the third season of Frasier earlier today and we thought we would share it with our readers.
We don't have any information on the extras for the set, but it will... (read entire news item)
2/17/2004
Season 3 news!
With roughly 7 months between the releases of seasons 1 and 2, Frasier fans were expecting another long wait for season 3. Surprise! Paramount Home Entertainment told us earlier today that we can expect... (read entire news item)
10/02/2003
Sneak Peek of the Season 2 box art
Enjoy this cover and box set art for Frasier: Season 2.
Paramount has not announced the release date yet, but it should be out shortly after the first of the year. (read entire news item)
2/25/2003
Season One Box Art
We thought you might enjoy taking a look at the box art for "Frasier: Season One" which is being released by Paramount on May 20th (the same day as "Cheers: Season One"). We'll be... (read entire news item)
11/17/2002
Frasier DVDs!
Today at the newsgroup ALT.TV.FRASIER, a post was made by "PrestonDL", acknowledged among other members of the newsgroup as being David Lee, the Executive Producer of "Frasier". The post had this to say:
"Just... (read entire news item)
