With the sixth episode of the new series, June Diane Raphael, of “Grace and Frankie” fame, plays Frasier/Freddy’s blind date, also named June. While we all await the arrival of some familiar guest stars in upcoming episodes of the “Frasier” reboot, Raphael’s appearance made for a nice change of pace.
In the episode, Eve (Jess Salgueiro) sets up Freddy on a blind date because he always finds reasons to dislike the women she finds before they even meet. Frasier seems astounded by the very concept of a blind date, saying, “Gosh, I love that. The only thing you know for sure is this… this could be your soulmate! Yes Eve, I’d like the same treatment. No information!” But this is one instance where the revival series seems to have either forgotten, or deliberately departed from the character’s history.
In the season nine episode “Three Blind Dates,” Niles (David Hyde Pierce), Roz (Peri Gilpin), and Martin (John Mahoney) set Frasier up on three separate blind dates. Niles attempts to introduce his brother to one of his former patients, a bookstore owner named Lisa (Bellamy Young) who initially proves elusive when Niles attempts the introduction while trying to remain out of sight. For Roz’s part, she introduces Frasier to her artist friend, Susanna (Allison Janney) but the pair soon prove incompatible and their date descends into petty name-calling. Lastly, Martin (John Mahoney) sets his son up with a girl from his bar named Kris (Bridgette Wilson), who spends her date with Frasier playing pool with some locals, sending Dr. Crane to the dry cleaners to get change for the game. It’s only then that he finally meets Lisa, who also happens to be in the same place. It’s classic “Frasier” stuff that apparently went overlooked by the revival show.