After 20 years Frasier came back for a new streaming series. Now, the Paramount+ revival is in its second second, with the new season having premiered on September 19, 2024. Over the summer, the Television Critics Association visited the set where the cast read the script for what will be the ninth episode of the season.
Peri Gilpin was on set that day for her return as Roz Doyle, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer)’s Seattle radio colleague. An episode in which Frasier returns to Seattle airs October 31st. Gilpin spoke with reporters on the soundstages at Paramount Studios about the new season of the revival.
What is Roz up to in Boston?
Peri Gilpin: “Well, she’s visiting her daughter, Alice, who’s at RISD in Providence, not too far away. So, she flies into Boston to get there and hangs out with Frasier a little bit and is loving his new life, and just getting to know him. Then we go back to Seattle and things aren’t exactly the same in Seattle as they used to be. They’ve changed a lot because radio’s changed a lot.”
But Roz is still at the station?
Peri Gilpin: “Yeah, still at the station which I love that so much because I really loved at the end of Frasier that Roz became the station manager. My father had a career in radio and it was something that really resonated for me. So when we went back, a lot of the gang is there. We got to see the sets we walked on. It was a very powerful thing to walk back into your own past but then also walk back to the past of your character with all your buddies. We had a really amazing time.”
Had they kept the set all this time?
Peri Gilpin: “They recreated it, I think, but it looked exactly the same. They were kind of watching us as we walked into the room to see it. It was kind of weird because the emotions, the feelings were indescribable. I haven’t been able to figure out how to say it. It’s amazing now.”
How many episodes are you in this season?
Peri Gilpin: “Five, which is so cool. Someone said, ‘You get to go back to high school,’ and I’m like yeah, it is like that.”
When Frasier ended did you ever expect it to come back?
Peri Gilpin: “I really kind of did always. I just don’t know why I did. There was no reason, but I always loved playing her and I hoped I would get to someday again. I don’t know why I thought that and I love playing her at this age and coming back to it and figuring out what she would be like now. And having a daughter, I’ve got 20-year-old twin daughters so I know what that whole deal is like. I love exploring Roz as a mom with a grown-up daughter.”
What was it like to keep your season one cameo a secret?
Peri Gilpin: “Oh my God, first of all, he [Grammer] teed that up. It was an amazing response because there was a trailer right outside the stage that said ‘Roz’ so I don’t think it was that big a surprise. But the response was overwhelming and wonderful. I did have to keep it a secret for a while and that was really hard, but I was just looking forward to it so much. It’s fun to have a secret.”
Have you been in touch all along?
Peri Gilpin: “We do keep in touch. Yeah, we all do. The whole cast does and we are the greatest of friends because he is a great leader. He’s a great leader on the set. He gives everybody room to do what they need to do. When we hit a rough spot, he’s there to help but you don’t have to do it his way.”
Was there ever talk of joining the cast full-time?
Peri Gilpin: “Originally, and originally we all talked about it and then it just went a different way.”
Were you okay with that?
Peri Gilpin: “I understood. I went with the flow for once.”
Was coming into a new ensemble uncomfortable at first? Or were you confident Kelsey would make it easy?
Peri Gilpin: “I did know that. That’s why it was so easy to make that decision. I knew he would surround himself with people that I would be cool with, and I knew they would be nice, and I knew that he would be great. And they all were so welcoming. It’s completely comfortable.”
Did you speak with your other original costars about whether or not to join the reboot?
Peri Gilpin: “We all talked. We talked our way through that whole process. I completely understand where everybody was and how everybody felt. I completely understand and I support them and their decisions because it was not easy to make all of those decisions at the same time.”
Was there ever any doubt that you would?
Peri Gilpin: “No. Not really. I really wanted to come back to this character. I really love this character and I love working with Kelsey and working at Paramount. It’s kind of bizarre but I did two series before I did Frasier here. I’ve worked here a long time. It’s been a long time since I got to come back and it’s been great for me.”
Who plays Roz’s daughter as an adult?
Peri Gilpin: “Greer Grammer. His daughter, Greer, who lived on my street and I lived on Roz Doyle’s street. Isn’t that weird?”
There’s no insinuation she could be Frasier’s daughter, is there?
Peri Gilpin: “No. No, he used to actually bring Greer to the set. I met Greer when she was young. No, she’s an actress who’s been working a lot.”
How is Roz’s love life going now?
Peri Gilpin: “It’s pretty good. I think Roz was always happy in her love life. I think it was exactly the way she wanted it. She complained about it, but she kept going. She was up for it.”
