Frasier

An effete snob who knows more about French wine than football? Hmmm. Believe it or not, he's not gay, he's just a deluded, highbrow radio shrink from Seattle.

Kelsey Grammer, who originated the role of Frasier on the megahit Cheers, stars in this model spin-off. Each week Frasier's delusions of grandeur are shot down by the Fates, his neighbors, or that perky dog Eddie.

Grammer, who joined Cheers in 1984, has received a Golden Globe Award, an American Comedy Award, and a People's Choice Award in addition to three Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the character.

The all-too-brief episodes with Dan Butler as raging heterosexual sports commentator Bob "Bulldog" Briscoe add to the show's queer mix, since Butler is an accomplished gay playwright and Human Rights Campaign spokesman.

And while David Hyde Pierce, who deftly portrays Frasier's snooty brother Niles, prefers not to discuss his private life, his presence at many gay and AIDS-related events ensure his reputation as a practicing thespian.

John Mahoney, who plays Frasier's retired father, co-stars in The Broken Hearts League, a film about a gay softball team in West Hollywood.

Frasier, a Paramount show, is in a sticky place during the Dr. Laura boycott. David Lee, the show's co–executive producer and co-creator, recently came out in the midst of stormy statements against Paramount's contract with the anti-gay "doctor."

Here's an idea: How about a celebrity shrink-off pitting the two advicemongers? Now that would be must-see TV.

Frasier airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC, and is syndicated through many regional TV stations.