Product Details

• Actors: Kelsey Grammer, David Hyde Pierce, John Mahoney, Peri Gilpin, Jane Leeves
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Dubbed: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: May 20, 2003
• Run Time: 544 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (165 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005JLJE
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,138 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Frasier: The Complete First Season" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Thanks to sharp writing and a pitch-perfect ensemble cast, Frasier became one of the smartest and funniest television shows of the 1990s. Following the 1993 demise of Cheers, Diane's fussy psychiatrist boyfriend, Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), seemed an unlikely candidate for a spin-off series, yet the show earned smash ratings and dozens of Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor (Grammer) in the very first season. In an inspired bit of casting, Grammer was matched with David Hyde Pierce as his brother and fellow psychiatrist Niles, and the rest of the players included his radio-program manager, Roz (Peri Gilpin), his father, Marty (John Mahoney), his father's physical therapist, Daphne (Jane Leeves), and the dog Eddie (Moose).

In the first season, Frasier and Marty try to learn how to coexist in the same apartment; Niles and Daphne spend a stormy evening in Niles's house; Frasier acquires pushy agent Bebe (Harriet Sansom Harris) and searches for love with Amanda Donohoe among others; his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) makes a guest appearance; the family takes a cross-country trip in a Winnebago; and the two brothers collaborate on a book.

Bonus features aren't spectacular, but are a cut above many similar DVD sets. Executive producers Peter Casey and David Lee provide a commentary track on the pilot episode. In a 20-minute making-of segment, they and the principal cast members discuss the creation of the show, casting (Lisa Kudrow was the other finalist for the character of Roz), and the mystery of the omni-absent Maris. "Frasier Crane's Apartment" looks at the set and props, and each disc spotlights a few of the celebrity voices that appeared as the radio show's callers. --David Horiuchi

Product Description

Season One of FRASIER finds the recently divorced Boston psychiatrist, Dr. Frasier Crane (Grammer), at a new place in his life. Last seen gracing the bars of Cheers, Frasier has a new life in his home town of Seattle as a popular radio psychiatrist, which has given him the chance to spread his words of wit and wisdom to the masses. Sharing an apartment with his ex-policeman father, Marty (Mahoney), and his father’s English physical care assistant Daphne (Leeves), Frasier must also cope with his psychiatrist brother Niles (Pierce) and Eddie the dog.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 52 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Spinoff To Date. November 5, 2007

By SUPPORT THE ASPCA.

Format:DVD

This series had a variety of unique features, a great cast, chemisrty, on, under & over the top plots, infuriating personalities, Bulldog the sports announcer & sexist twit with few positives, & very endearing ones Frasier, who makes a mess of things{especially his dealings with women} yet you root for him because he keeps trying.

Frasier Crane a psychologist played by the enigmatic Kelsey Grammer has moved from Boston back to his hometown of rainy Seattle to take a job as a radio psychologist. In supporting roles are the great David Hyde Pierce as the even more finicky picky brother of Frasier who is also a shrink. He in my opinion steals more scenes than the rest of the cast members combined. Picture a very hyper "Felix Unger," & you will see how over the top Niles Crane truly is. The brothers cranky but common sense father, is played by John Mahoney, who gives his exasperating sons sound advice that they rarely take. His flaky English live in caretaker{Daphney Moon}, is the wickedly funny Jane Leeves. Frasier's hard bitten, man crazy co-worker Roz is played by Peri Gilpin. The exchanges between her & snooty Frasier are classic.

For me this was the best season of the whole series, the stories had plenty of variety without the usual predictability that so many shows quickly adopt. The cast had chemistry from the very begining. The relationships between the urbane brothers with its sibling rivalry & their relationship with their very provincial father was totally new on TV.

I can't remember anything involving sons & their father that was like this testy trio??? The latter were the heart & soul of the show. The best three episodes to my recollection were "The Good Son, Dinner At Eight, & My Coffe With Niles." Buy this one, you will laugh until it hurts.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Sitcom Ever! January 11, 2004

By Adam Dukovich

Format:DVD

I found myself a while back with a gift certificate in hand and nothing in sight on which to spend it. I chanced upon a copy of Frasier's first season on sale and, since I had always liked it when I had watched it sporadically throughout the years, I went ahead and bought it. I am glad I did. Frasier is an intelligent sitcom alternative for those disillusioned with the crap you so often see on other comedy shows. It has incredibly talented actors, the best writing on TV (this was before Aaron Sorkin came on the scene, anyway), and its blend of family and workplace comedy allowed the show to try out many things, which meant that things never got boring.

The leads and supporting cast are uniformly excellent. Grammer is one of the best comic actors ever and he is always great in his signature role. David Hyde Pierce steals many scenes as Frasier's uptight, snobbish brother Niles. John Mahoney's Martin often plays the straight man to Niles' and Frasier's antics, but he has perhaps the best dry humor of anyone in the cast. Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin both brighten up the show as Daphne and Roz, respectively. One of the strengths of the show, though, is the strength of the supporting cast. I personally love the character of Bulldog, the grating, cheuvenist sports show host. Gil Chesterton is also featured in one episode of the first season, his character is the hilarious but devious food critic. Frasier's manipulative agent Bebe shows up here, as does Lilith, and both are fabulous. Simply put, the support cast is so strong the cast can feel like an ensemble at times.

The first season's highlights include Frasier and Niles going out to dinner with Martin at a decidedly non-fancy establishment (Dinner at Eight), a touching Christmas episode (Miracle on Third or Fourth Street), a return by Frasier's ex, Dr. Lilith Sternin (The Show Where Lilith Comes Back), and an episode revolving about the titular "My Coffee With Niles," in which Niles admits to his attraction to Daphne. That attraction was the cause of many funny moments in the first few years, when Niles and Maris were still together.

All in all, this show has always been funny and literate and successful; it shows that there is a market for smart TV out there.

54 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally on DVD! February 28, 2003

By Edward Garea VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

For those of us who love sophisicated, urbane comedy, Frasier has been our lightning rod for the last ten years. Far better than its predecessor, Cheers, it almost harkens back to its spiritual predecessor in Jack Benny. (It was no accident that Kelsey Grammer hosted a prime-time retrospective on the comedy of Benny.)

The merits of this show are almost too numerous to mention in a short review, but let's start with the cast. A strong group of ensemble players who are given free reign by the star (most refreshing that Grammer is not tempted to hog the limelight when confronted by this group) to define AND broaden their characters. No one remains static.

I realize that to go on is only to continue preaching to the choir. Those who have seen the show know all about it. Even those who have not seen the show have more than an inkling of what it's about. So let me now give you the most compelling reason to buy this DVD:

The only way to see the first season as it now stands is to watch it in reruns on various television stations. One also realizes on second or third viewing that more and more of the show is disappearing into the sea as more time is allotted for commercials. If you want to see it UNCUT and COMMERCIAL FREE at any time anywhere there's a DVD player and television handy, this is the only way you will ever be able to achieve that goal, and for fans of Frasier, it is a goal more than worth the money.