Thanks to sharp writing and a pitch-perfect ensemble cast, Frasier became one of the smartest and funniest television shows of the 1990s. Following the 1993 demise of Cheers, Diane's fussy psychiatrist boyfriend Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) seemed an unlikely candidate for a spin-off series. Yet the show earned smash ratings and dozens of Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actor (Grammer) in the very first series.

In an inspired bit of casting, Grammer was matched with David Hyde Pierce as his brother and fellow psychiatrist Niles, and the rest of the players included his radio-programme manager, Roz (Peri Gilpin), his father, Marty (John Mahoney), his father's physical therapist, Daphne (Jane Leeves) and the dog Eddie (Moose).

In the first series, Frasier and Marty try to learn how to coexist in the same apartment, Niles and Daphne spend a stormy evening in Niles's house, Frasier acquires pushy agent Bebe (Harriet Sansom Harris) and searches for love with Amanda Donohoe among others, his ex-wife Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) makes a guest appearance, the family takes a cross-country trip in a Winnebago and the two brothers collaborate on a book. --David Horiuchi

Well, just as the title says above. unlike the last few series, there are no rubbish episodes in series one, without spoiling it, the whole series deals with Frasier coming to terms with his divorce, and starting to rebuild his life, with a new Job, his relationship with father and brother. For me the star of the series is Frasier's brother Niles, and his infatuation with his Martin's health worker.

Very funny, and a must have in your DVD collection.

Frasier emerges almost fully formed onto our screens - within two episodes the whole team are together and the energy is flowing. There are some great episodes in this first series - meeting Lileth for the first time, and the brilliant one in the winnebago. Nevertheless some of the episodes are forgettable and the overall impression is less strong than from subsequent series. Even so, poor Frasier still beats the socks off many other "comedies".

It actually took me a while before i really got into Frasier but once i had i just loved it. There were some great episodes on season one, i love Travels With Martin and Guess Who's Coming For Breakfast. I thought it was a strong first season and it has kept getting better.

Yes, yes, yes it goes without saying that 'Frasier' is the best comedy on TV, but you're all missing the point! Who is REALLY the star of the show, and raises more laughs than anyone else? Yes. you've got it - Eddie. All the characters interact with him to produce 'laugh-out-loud' moments. Worth buying the whole series for that alone.

Started fantastically, went a bit squiffy with some of the later series, but taken as a whole, 'Frasier' is just superb.

'Clever' comedy can often alienate most of its intended audience, but this is clever comedy at its cleverest.

I didn't think the writers could top 'Cheers', but they did.

Witty, incisive and sometimes quite poignant (without being twee or mawkish), 'Frasier' is a tremendous example of television comedy at its very best.

I write this in the knowledge that Frasier himself - Kelsey Grammer - is a huge supporter of George W Bush (Why do your heroes always let you down?).

Despite this revelation, I highly recommend Frasier to everyone.

Buy every series. And then buy everyone you know every series.