Frasier is an American sitcom that ran from 1993 to 2004. The show premiered on September 16, 1993, on NBC and aired its final episode on July 13, 2004. It is a spin-off of Cheers and follows psychiatrist Frasier Crane in Seattle. Below is a verified production and broadcast timeline, followed by season-level details and notes on how long the show was made and when key seasons were filmed.
Quick Reference: Key Dates for When Frasier Was Made
The production and broadcast of Frasier spanned more than a decade. These dates represent when episodes were aired and when principal photography typically occurred for each season.
| Season | Season First Air Date | Principal Photography (Typical Filming Period) | Notes on Production Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | September 16, 1993 | Mid-1993 | Produced after Cheers wrapped; filmed for the 1993–94 schedule |
| Season 2 | September 21, 1994 | Mid-1994 | Filmed for the 1994–95 cycle |
| Season 3 | September 20, 1995 | Mid-1995 | Continued NBC midseason lead-in strategy |
| Season 4 | September 24, 1996 | Mid-1996 | Shifted to Sunday night lineup |
| Season 5 | September 23, 1997 | Mid-1997 | Strong ratings into second half of the decade |
| Season 6 | October 5, 1998 | Mid-1998 | Moved to Wednesdays at 9:00 PM ET |
| Season 7 | September 21, 1999 | Mid-1999 | Continued Wednesday timeslot |
| Season 8 | December 5, 2000 | Fall 2000 | Return after a brief hiatus; NBC Friday night placement |
| Season 9 | October 24, 2001 | Fall 2001 | Aired after 9/11; timeslot adjustments occurred |
| Season 10 | November 7, 2002 | Fall 2002 | Shifted to Sundays; smaller episode order |
| Season 11 | September 23, 2003 | Fall 2003 | Final season produced; began in 2003 and ended in 2004 |
Production Start and End Dates Across the Series
Frasier was made across an 11-season span. Production for Season 1 began in mid-1993, ahead of its September premiere, and production for Season 11 concluded in 2004. The series regularly filmed several months before each season aired, which is standard for network sitcoms. Most seasons filmed between mid-year and fall for a corresponding fall premiere, with adjustments during later years when the show moved days and times.
Notable Production Milestones
- 1993: Series ordered after Cheers finale; production started for a September launch.
- 1999: Reached 200-episode milestone mid-series.
- 2002–2004: Contract and timeslot changes influenced shortened seasons and reduced episode counts in the final two seasons.
- 2004: Final episode filmed and aired in July, marking the end of the series.
Season-by-Season Context for When Episodes Were Made
Each season of Frasier typically filmed about four to five months in advance of its premiere, aligning with NBC’s multi-camera sitcom schedule. Season 1 filmed in the first half of 1993; subsequent seasons maintained a similar rhythm with slight variations due to casting changes, showrunners, and network planning. Later seasons, especially Season 9 and 10, experienced production delays and smaller episode orders, which affected when episodes were finalized.
How Long Was Frasier in Production Overall?
Principal photography for Frasier spanned from mid-1993 to mid-2004. The series produced 11 seasons and 264 episodes over roughly 11 years. This makes Frasier one of the longer-lived live-action scripted comedies of the 1990s and 2000s, with a production run that extended from the early post–Cheers era into the early 2000s streaming and syndication window.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When did Frasier start filming? Most episode filming took place from mid-year to fall of each season year, beginning in 1993 for the debut season.
- When did Frasier air originally? It aired on NBC from September 16, 1993, to July 13, 2004.
- How many episodes were made per season? Early seasons often had 24–25 episodes; later seasons ranged from 17–22 due to scheduling and contract changes.
- Was Frasier filmed in front of a live audience? Yes, like its parent show Cheers, Frasier was filmed in front of a live studio audience.
Wrap-Up: The Production Timeline in One View
When was Frasier made? The answer spans from mid-1993 to mid-2004, with Season 1 premiering in September 1993 and Season 11 concluding in 2004. The show maintained a consistent production cycle for most of its run, aligning with NBC’s fall schedules and delivering more than two decades of widely syndicated episodes.