During the 200th episode of "Frasier," billionaire tech mogul Bill Gates stopped by the titular doctor's radio station to tout his then new Windows Xp operating system. It was an odd moment for the sitcom, which ran for 11 seasons from 1993 to 2004 with very few blatantly promotional stunts of this sort. There was, of course, the time Dr. Phil stopped by for one of the worst episodes of "Frasier," but otherwise the series stayed relatively insular, concerned only with its own little sitcom vision of Seattle and the people therein.

Years later, the show remains a beloved example of '90s sitcom brilliance, setting itself apart from contemporary series such as "Friends" or "Seinfeld" with not only a more hifalutin sense of humor but by also leaning into theatrical farce in a way that its rival shows didn't. "Frasier" often felt like watching a real stage play, especially in the more straightforwardly farcical installments,...