'Frasier' creators, stars reunite to share show secrets, save Palm Springs' Plaza Theatre

Frasier (Kelsey Grammer, right) talks with his brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce, left), as their father (John Mahoney) looks on in the final episode of "Frasier."
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer, right) talks with his brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce, left), as their father (John Mahoney) looks on in the final episode of "Frasier."
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Fans of the hit TV situation comedy "Frasier" might remember the titular character's grand Seattle apartment, his tense relationship with his father and brother and some of the biggest laughs they got from watching the show, which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004.

But what about all the behind-the-scenes secrets or things that didn't make it on air, like the fact that it was originally going to be set in Denver, or the fact that co-creator David Lee's own couch was used during the course of the Emmy Award-winning series' run?

Those are just some of the tidbits Lee, joined by "Frasier" co-creator Peter Casey and actors David Hyde Pierce and Peri Gilpin, shared as they looked back at the show's pilot episode as part of a special fundraising event called Team Frasier Reunites to Save the Plaza Theatre on Saturday in the 1936 theater in downtown Palm Springs.

Audience members gather for a fundraiser at the historic Plaza Theatre on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
Audience members gather for a fundraiser at the historic Plaza Theatre on Saturday, March 19, 2022.

There was also a VIP Meet the Creators reception following the event. Ticket proceeds went toward the historic Plaza Theatre's restoration efforts, explained former Palm Springs councilmember J.R. Roberts. Among those in attendance Saturday were California's Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Palm Springs Mayor Lisa Middleton.

Lee, a Palm Springs resident, donated $5 million to the theater last fall after the COVD-19 pandemic made the restoration effort come to a screeching halt. Roberts said Lee provided $3 million upfront and the other $2 million will come as matching dollars. He added that the goal is to raise $10 million, which will go toward "fully restoring the theater to what it was in 1936," but with updated plumbing and other infrastructure.

"Frasier" co-creator David Lee recently donated $5 million to the Plaza Theatre.
"Frasier" co-creator David Lee recently donated $5 million to the Plaza Theatre.

"Frasier" ran on NBC and was a spin-off of the sitcom "Cheers" featuring the character Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer). In the show, Crane returns to his hometown, Seattle, and hosts a radio show produced by Roz Doyle (Gilpin). He takes in his father, Martin (John Mahoney), and connects with his younger brother, Niles (Pierce).

Related: 'A beautiful building': David Lee talks Plaza Theatre and 'Frasier' ahead of benefit show

More: Efforts to restore Plaza Theatre back on track after $5 million donation

Why they shifted the setting from Denver to Seattle

Lee said that there were a number of questions the creators asked when writing the show, and tried to fight against some cliches, such as "why do all sitcoms have to have a stupid character?" and "why does there have to be music between scenes?"

"There were hundreds of why's, and sometimes the answer was because that's the way to do it, and if that was the answer, we did it that way," he said. "But we never did anything on the show if the answer was merely because that's the way it's always been done, or that's the way everyone else does it."

The co-creator led a nearly packed audience through the show's first episode, which has Martin moving in with Frasier and the disruption it brings to both their lives.

The opening titles of "Frasier" feature the Seattle skyline, but the show was originally going to be set in Denver. However, during the time, Lee said Colorado passed an "egregious law," called Amendment 2, which prevented municipalities from enacting anti-discrimination laws protecting gay, lesbian or bisexual people. Once that happened, Lee said the creators all agreed "we're not setting this series there," which was met by loud applause from the audience.

"Frasier" co-creator David Lee talks audience members through a scene of the show on Saturday, March 19, 2022.
"Frasier" co-creator David Lee talks audience members through a scene of the show on Saturday, March 19, 2022.

They then looked around at cities that were on the rise, and they were interested in the coffee culture in Seattle, which is seen throughout the pilot episode when Frasier and his brother meet at a local coffee shop. They also wanted to settle Frasier far away from Boston, where "Cheers" was set.

Title cards an unusual feature

The show features black title cards with white letters whenever scenes change, instead of traditional establishing shots. Lee said that ended up being "very useful for passing on information, identifying a character ... or a passage of time" until the title cards ended up being used for after-the-fact jokes.

"For instance, we would put up on the card 'Approximately 345,000 acres,' and then somewhere in the scene, Martin says, 'Oh, he had a butt the size of Albuquerque,'" Lee said.

Pierce and Gilpin shared their experiences from being on the show. Pierce said "all the characters evolved in relationship to each other," which he attributed to the show's strong writing. Gilpin "loved" her character, Roz, and admitted that she "didn't appreciate it enough at the time."

Lee said he's "especially happy" to see so many people still interested in the show even after it premiered 29 years ago.

City of Palm Springs Councilmembers Geoff Kors, Dennis Woods, Mayor Christy Holstege and former Councilmember J.R. Roberts during a press conference at The Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021.
City of Palm Springs Councilmembers Geoff Kors, Dennis Woods, Mayor Christy Holstege and former Councilmember J.R. Roberts during a press conference at The Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, Calif., on Oct. 20, 2021.

Theater opened in 1936 with Greta Garbo film

The Plaza Theatre opened in 1936 for the world premiere of the film "Camille" starring Greta Garbo, Robert Taylor and Lionel Barrymore. The story goes, Roberts said, that Garbo snuck up into a balcony once everyone else was seated so she could avoid paparazzi. The theater went on to be a connection to Hollywood, he said, and it always had a "certain glamourous quality about it."

The theater hosted its first event in six years in 2019 when Nancy Sinatra, her daughters A.J. Lambert and Amanda Erlinger, actor and singer James Darren and Wrecking Crew member Don Randi took part in a fundraiser to restore the Plaza. In a surprise twist, Sinatra walked out on stage and performed "Bang Bang" as well as her 1966 hit "Boots" for the show's finale.

Rick Vila, a board member for the Plaza Theatre, said he is looking forward to the historic site's restoration. He sees it being used in a number of ways, including holding talks, performances and film festival screenings.

"It's going to retain its flavor from the past, but it will have the modern infrastructure that we need," Vila said.

Previous reporting from The Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye contributed to this report.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: 'Frasier' creators, stars reunite to save the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre