Biggest Unanswered Questions From Frasier

One of the biggest inconsistencies of Frasier’s character with his transition from “Cheers” to “Frasier” is his backstory. In “Cheers,” Frasier first appears as Diane’s sophisticated romantic partner and develops into a bar regular, drinking beers along with the other series regulars like Norm and Cliff. In “Frasier,” he ditches the beer for sherry and takes on a more pompous attitude as opposed to being “one of the boys.” 

These changes are minor compared to how the shows portray his family. While his brother Niles is never even mentioned in “Cheers,” Frasier reveals troubling news about his father. According to Frasier, he comes from a wealthy background, with his father working as a research scientist and dying in the field. However, this story changes in “Frasier.” Turns out, Martin is alive, and no, he’s not a wealthy research scientist, but rather a retired police officer. Why would Frasier lie about such a thing? Well, in Season 2, Episode 16, “The Show Where Sam Shows Up,” Cheers bartender Sam Malone visits Seattle, giving Frasier a chance to explain himself. The simple explanation is that a disagreement between the two caused Frasier to lie out of anger. His reasoning is flawed, but it’s played for laughs. 

It’s hard not to wonder what kind of disagreement would make Frasier so angry as to lie about the death of his father. I’m sure some psychoanalysis of the situation would clear the air.