Kelsey Grammer has said that the spin-off sitcom “Frasier” nearly did not follow “Cheers” because he was initially considering a different television project. According to Grammer, a conversation helped redirect plans towards building a new series around psychiatrist Dr Frasier Crane, a decision that ultimately created one of US television’s most successful sitcoms.

Grammer played Frasier on “Cheers” for nine seasons before the character moved to Seattle for “Frasier”, which premiered in 1993. The spin-off ran for 11 seasons, won numerous awards and later returned in a revival, underlining how a last-minute creative change shaped Grammer’s career and the programme’s lasting popularity.