The Frasier reboot recently revealed a huge, and very promising detail, Bebe Neuwirth is reprising her role as Lilith. Lilith’s return is highly promising, especially considering previous disappointing updates from Paramount+’s upcoming reboot. Lilith was a key figure throughout each incarnation of Frasier’s life, and also represents a key facet of his character.
Dr. Lilith Sternin was Frasier’s second wife, first introduced in Cheers season 4, episode 17, “Second Time Around.” Neuwirth appeared in 80 episodes of the sitcom Cheers, during which Lilith and Frasier married and had a child, Frederick. By the conclusion of Cheers, Lilith and Frasier had separated, with their divorce finalizing some time between Cheers and Frasier. Despite this, Lilith still appeared throughout Frasier, appearing in 12 episodes over the sitcom’s 11 seasons.
Frasier’s Reboot Badly Needed Familiar Characters
With the devastating news that the original cast of Frasier will not be reprising their roles, the upcoming reboot desperately needs some recognizable characters. Lilith is the perfect choice for this. Lilith was one of the most regular characters in Frasier outside the central five, averaging over 1 appearance per season. Lilith was also mentioned multiple times and had storylines regarding other characters, such as Niles, which fully entwined Lilith into the spin-off Frasier.
Other than Frasier, Lilith was only constant throughout both the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier. Bringing Lilith back will ground the new series, lending it much credence and drawing from decades of successful characterization. If Niles, Daphne, and Roz are not returning, Lilith is the next best option. However, Lilith also serves another purpose in Frasier.
Lilith & Frasier’s Dynamic Makes The Reboot Much More Interesting
Frasier and Lilith developed a better dynamic throughout Frasier than the comically stiff psychiatrists depicted in Cheers. The evolution was a delight to watch, seeing them reconcile and enjoy a plutonic (yet very bitter) relationship was a highlight in Frasier. The opportunity to see how it continues to develop will surely provide much character growth and hilarity. This is particularly appropriate considering Frederick has been cast and will appear in the Frasier reboot as an adult. Frasier and Lilith must therefore both navigate their new roles in life now they neither are full-time parents, with each other to blame, support, and snipe at.
Lilith’s return also facilitates a huge aspect of Frasier’s personality which must be addressed in the Frasier reboot. Frasier is ultimately a hopeless romantic. He never found true love during Frasier, and Lilith represented every romantic failure he had. On occasion, Lilith even reappears just as Frasier might have some promising love interests. In the final episode of Frasier, the titular psychiatrist traveled to Chicago to pursue a relationship with Charlotte. As the Frasier reboot is set in Boston, Frasier’s romance with Charlotte has presumably fizzled. Lilith must surely appear to remind him that his life hasn’t worked out the way he’d hoped and prompt further self-analysis from the psychiatrist.
