Sitcom 'Frasier' to end 11-year NBC run in May

NBC said on Monday that "Frasier," which debuted in 1993 as a spinoff of the long-running barroom comedy "Cheers" and won Emmy Awards as best comedy for five years in a row will end its 11-year run at the close of the current TV season in May.

The decision was announced by NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker during a television critics luncheon at the Paramount Network Television lot in Hollywood, where the show is filmed.

Official word that "Frasier's" days are numbered comes as NBC prepares to bid farewell in May to another of its signature sitcoms, "Friends," whose fate was sealed by Zucker last January. "Friends" will have run for 10 seasons.

Grammer, 48, stars as the elitist but lovable Dr. Frasier Crane, a neurotic Seattle psychiatrist who dispenses advice to radio listeners as host of his own call-in show. David Hyde Pierce co-stars as his fussy younger brother, Niles.

The impending departure of "Frasier" has been widely anticipated for at least a year, but executives at the General Electric Co.-owned broadcaster had until now left open the possibility of the show returning.

"The show is going to end, and we're all actually kind of at a place where we're OK with it," he said. Added co-creator David Lee, "From the executive producers' standpoint, (there) was never an intention of going further than this year."

Source: Reuters