‘That’s My Gut Feeling’: Frasier’s Wendie Malick Explains The Touching Reason Why She Probably Won’t Return For The Revival

by

As a devoted Frasier fan who has been following this series since its inception, I must say that the revival has been an absolute delight. The return of Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane and the introduction of new characters have only added to the charm of the show. However, the absence of Wendie Malick‘s character Ronee Lawrence is a noticeable gap in the narrative.

It appears that the revival of “Frasier” has been well-received by Paramount+ subscribers, leading to a second season renewal. Kelsey Grammer reprises his role as psychiatrist Frasier Crane, returning to Boston to repair his relationship with his son and accept a professorship at Harvard. Alongside new characters, some familiar faces from the original series also make appearances. However, Wendie Malick has no intention of returning for Season 2 on the 2024 TV schedule or any future seasons, citing a heartwarming explanation.

In the final and eleventh season of the original Frasier, Wendie Malick joined the cast as Ronee Lawrence, the siblings’ childhood babysitter. This character eventually developed into Martin Crane’s girlfriend, and they got married in the 2004 series finale. The role of the Crane family patriarch was played by John Mahoney, who passed away in 2018 due to complications from throat cancer. Malick has shared with TV Insider that Mahoney’s death is a significant factor behind her reluctance to reprise Ronee.

It’s akin to discussing Just Shoot Me without George Segal. The absence of John Mahoney playing my love interest, culminating in our marriage, feels off-kilter. I cherished that journey so deeply and enjoyed the season so much that I question if I want to revisit it. It was an enchanting experience, one I’m proud to have been a part of. Sometimes, you feel like you’ve taken your character as far as possible, and then perhaps it’s best to cherish those memories and not return. But remember, ‘never say never.’ That’s essentially how I feel.

That’s certainly a heartwarming reason to not return to the franchise, and it definitely makes sense. While the Hot in Cleveland alum only appeared in 10 episodes of Frasier, but it’s clear that those 10 episodes were more than enough for her to form a connection with John Mahoney. I can understand that the veteran actress would have mixed feelings about returning to the show without her co-star in tow.

Although the performer is no longer with us, his impact continues to thrive. Moreover, the reboot tastefully honored John Mahoney by naming the bar where Frasier frequents after him – a quiet tribute that carries a touch of sweetness too.

In summary, it appears there’s still a possibility for Wendie Malick to reprise her role in Shrinking, but according to her, Ronee’s story might have already been concluded. It’s challenging to imagine how the show might reintegrate Ronee given Martin’s absence, though the writers could devise an appropriate solution.

It’s been delightful watching the revival of Frasier‘s second season, with many familiar characters making an appearance. Recently, Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli revealed to TopMob that they organically brought back Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), who will be appearing in several episodes this season. Additionally, the show has also featured Bebe Neuwirth as Lilith Sternin, Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe, Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton, and Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe Glazer.

As a fan, I say this legacy show — which drops new episodes on Thursdays — is one of the best Paramount+ original shows, regardless of who comes back and who doesn’t. Of course, it’s always a treat when fan-favorites from the OG Frasier pop up, even it is brief. It would honestly be great to see Wendie Malick join them but, if she’d rather not, I’d hope that fans would understand her sentimental reason.

Read More

2024-10-29 21:10