Television: Five Cheers for Frasier

For a group of people who are taking on the biggest job of the new TV season, the cast of Frasier seems pretty relaxed and excited. At a recent rehearsal of the first episode, Kelsey Grammer, who plays Frasier Crane--radio psychiatrist, aesthete, lech--cracks jokes and sucks on a lollipop. David Hyde Pierce--Frasier's brother Niles--lounges on the set sharing a newspaper with John Mahoney, who plays Frasier's and Niles' father Martin. Jane Leeves, Martin's home-health aide, and Peri Gilpin, who plays Frasier's producer, chat and giggle on a nearby couch. Moose the dog (known on the show as Eddie) curls up in...