Frasier

Some people spend their lives giving advice. Very few of them manage to take it. Spun off from "Cheers," "Frasier" follows pompous but lovable psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer), who returns home to Seattle to host a call-in radio show on KACL. His hopes for a refined bachelor life are quickly complicated when his retired cop father, Martin (John Mahoney), moves in, along with Martin's beloved recliner, his scene-stealing dog, Eddie, and his quirky live-in physical therapist, Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves). Created by David Angell, Peter Casey and David Lee, the NBC comedy ran for 11 seasons and collected a record-setting number of Emmys, including five straight wins for Outstanding Comedy Series. Frasier's equally snobbish younger brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), is a constant companion and rival, and his long, hopeless crush on Daphne becomes one of the show's sweetest storylines. Their constant squabbling over wine, opera and who's the more accomplished Crane is a highlight of nearly every episode. At the station, Frasier's no-nonsense producer, Roz Doyle (Peri Gilpin), keeps him grounded and trades barbs with him on and off the air. The world never stops finding ways to bruise Frasier's dignity, whether it's a Humvee blocking his parking space, his smug neighbor Cam Winston (Brian Stokes Mitchell) or ongoing battles with his relentless agent, Bebe (the exquisite Harriet Sansom Harris). His icy ex-wife, Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth), turns up every so often, too, adding her own brand of chill. Balancing sophisticated wit with split-second farce, the series delivered one classic after another. Memorable guest stars include Anthony LaPaglia, who won an Emmy as Daphne's besotted brother, Simon; Kristin Chenoweth as an eager young agent; Brian Cox as Daphne's father; Michael Keaton as Lilith's con-artist brother; and Adam Arkin as Frasier's most obsessive fan in the 200th episode. Tony Goldwyn plays Roz's love interest, a charming garbage man, and in "Juvenilia," Frasier finally bests three smarmy teen radio hosts. He even reunites with old friends Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, John Ratzenberger and Paul Willson in a nod to his "Cheers" days. Along the way, Niles and Daphne finally find their happy ending, Martin's cherished chair meets an unfortunate fate in "Bla-Z-Boy," and Frasier keeps searching for love - often in all the wrong places. Like any long-running series, it has its occasional off-key notes, but when everything is in harmony, few comedies have ever been this smart. It's proof that you can be highbrow and hilarious at the same time. Frasier is listening - and, lucky for us, he never stops talking.