Fraser’s Donnie Douglas originally had a much smaller role

Every great television sitcom should have a third wheel. As with the classic romantic comedies of the 1930s and 1940s, the whole idea of ​​these romances between two characters that audiences (hopefully) love is that there have to be some obstacles in the way of a happily ever after. Despite the fact that it is a cult and multi-award-winning sitcom “Frasier,” now in second season revival on Paramount+ (read /Film review)was itself a spin-off of NBC’s equally iconic show Cheers, both of which ended up involving long-running romances between the two main characters.

Certainly in the case of Cheers, the romance between charmingly goofy bartender Sam Malone and his well-read barmaid Diane Chambers, which began in the pilot episode and didn’t conclude until the series finale in season 11. “Frasier” went in a slightly different direction; while protagonist Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) was often searching for his one true love, it was his even more jaded brother Niles (David Hyde Pierce) who served as half of the pivotal romance. Niles quickly falls in love with his father’s housekeeper, Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves), and it’s been pretty one-sided over the years. It wasn’t until Daphne began a serious affair with Niles’ divorce attorney, Donnie Douglas (Saul Rubinek, the man behind one of Star Trek’s most evil villains) that the possibility of getting into Niles became serious. But while Donnie has been a recurring character for several seasons, it turns out that he was originally only supposed to be a part of the show for a few episodes.

When the time came for Niles to finally end his relationship with his (frequently mentioned and never seen) wife Maris, he enlisted the services of Donnie, an outspoken and tough lawyer who didn’t bother to show up for the first meeting. in sports clothes. Although Niles is quite put off by Donnie’s approach, he quickly realizes that this lawyer may be reckless and brash, but he’s also the kind of lawyer you want on your side. Inevitably, however, once Niles’ dance card is released (after Niles learns that Maurice’s inheritance came from the urinal cake business, which is too gross for a geek like her to ever admit), Daphne falls for Donnie . As noted by Rubinek v interview with The Natural Aristocrat in 2023however, he was never a serious rival for Daphne’s affections. At least not at first.

“Originally, I was only contracted for three episodes (…), but it was such a successful challenge to Niles’ secret crush on Daphne that they kept the character for almost two seasons,” the actor noted. It just so happened that Rubinek appeared in 15 episodes of Frasier over the course of the show’s four seasons, mostly (but not entirely) focused on his ill-fated affair with Daphne, from their first courtship to the marriage proposal to the wedding. where she dumped him at the altar to run off with Niles, and the inevitably messy fallout in season eight, when he initially tried to sue his now-ex for breaking his heart. Aside from his brief comments in this interview, it’s easy enough to see why the actor is such a good fit as Dhoni. He’s just one of a long line of characters meant to burst the posh and tense bubble that Frasier and Niles live in, just as their own father did in every episode.

Donnie, who ended up calling himself Mr. Chump after Daphne left him (but before he realized that Frasier essentially put them together), was tough enough. And the hot-tempered Rubinek, who was already on the screen with the likes of Gene Hackman in Unforgiven (a film Hackman originally turned down)was so cocky you’d believe he was wooing Daphne at all.

With “Frasier” in the middle of the aforementioned revival, it’s inevitable to wonder who might and might not be back. Although Grammer is the only regular returning cast member, others like it Perry Gilpin as Rose Doyle (replacing Lisa Kudrow)Harriet Sansom Harris as Baby Glazer and Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe appeared during the first two seasons. At the moment, as mentioned in the interview at the link, Rubinek is not going to return. (Perhaps since neither Niles nor Daphne appeared either, although they are frequently referenced, it would be a little strange if Daphne’s ex-lover popped up anyway.) But the fact that Donnie Douglas was never intended to be the third circle at the climax of the great romance between Niles and Daphne, just over a year before the two characters finally confess their feelings to each other and fall in love forever, means that everything it is possible

The new version of “Frasier” tried to balance something new with something borrowed (in a way, borrowing the title of the two-part climactic episode that effectively ends Donnie’s time on the show) by sending Frasier back to Boston and having him be a grumpy old man whose son, of all forces trying to connect with him while living together, while Niles and Daphne’s son serves as extremely stupid foil. But the revival was most exciting when familiar characters returned. Yes, they’ve all aged a bit, and the series doesn’t try to hide the fact that they’re getting older. All that said, it’s true that Donnie would be an amazing character to show up if the “Frasier” revival gets a third season, but returning favorites are very welcome in this reboot.

He was a surprise foil for Niles during the show’s initial run; why not bring mr chump back one more time?