One bizarre Frasier conspiracy theory attributes a particular cultural shift to the sitcom and its regular use of Cafe Nervosa as a setting. After making the character of Frasier Crane one of Cheers' most interesting ing characters, Kelsey Grammer carried over that popularity to the hugely successful spin-off, Frasier, which went on to become one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time. Frasier's huge cult following has ensured its continued success, proving that the cultural relevance of the show extends far beyond the decades in which it originally aired.
Though Frasier borrowed its titular character from Cheers, it changed a number of things about Frasier Crane and adjusted its tone accordingly. Perhaps the most significant of these changes was the introduction of the Crane family: Frasier had claimed Martin was dead in Cheers, and his brother Niles had never been mentioned. However, the addition of these characters contributed to Frasier's winning dynamic and, ultimately, to its success. One other minor change was Frasier moving on from his bar-dwelling days in Cheers, instead opting to spend his spare time in his local coffee house, Cafe Nervosa, with his brother.
According to one Reddit theory, Frasier may have been responsible for the rise of Starbucks in the '90s. This has led to the circulation of a conspiracy theory that Frasier may have been part of a psychological priming operation to help the growth of coffee chains - affectionately referred to as "Big Coffee." It may well be true, too - there's no in-universe explanation for Frasier's sudden switch from alcohol in Boston to caffeine in Seattle, so this theory works as well as any other.
How Frasier's Big Cheers Change Made Coffee Shops More Popular
The huge success of Frasier as a spin-off made it one of the biggest sitcoms of the '90s and early '00s. Perhaps Frasier's biggest unexplained character change was his sudden switch to coffee, as he'd spent a number of years on Cheers frequenting its titular bar. Suddenly, he was seen in practically every episode patronizing Cafe Nervosa - a seemingly innocuous change, but one that may prove Frasier was part of a coordinated attempt to sell Big Coffee to unsuspecting viewers.
Seeing the beloved character enjoying the ambiance of his local coffee shop subtly became a key part of Frasier through sheer repetition. In fact, there's a direct correlation between the rise of coffee chains and the popularity of Frasier - as the show's ratings grew, so did Big Coffee's profits. Frasier wasn't the only show to feature a coffee shop, but the fact that it rewrote Frasier's Cheers habits to accommodate the setting is potentially telling.
This strange Frasier theory is perfect because Starbucks got its start in Seattle - the same city in which Frasier is set - in an odd coincidence that lends additional credence to the idea. The most sensible real-world explanation for the shift in Frasier's behavior is simply that TV executives wanted to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed on television, but the huge global success of coffee chains means that people are far more likely to believe in a sinister conspiracy. That Frasier is such a well-loved show only seems to fuel speculation about the Big Coffee conspiracy, with some believing that the popularity of the former may have ed the latter.