• Home
  • Mail
  • Tumblr
  • News
  • Sports
  • Finance
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Answers
  • Groups
  • Mobile
  • More
Yahoo
    • Skip to Navigation
    • Skip to Main Content
    • Skip to Related Content
    • Mail

    'Frasier' had a surprising influence on 'Avengers: Infinity War'

    Kevin Polowy
    Senior Correspondent, Yahoo Entertainment
    ,
    Yahoo Movies•May 4, 2018

    If you thought the Arrested Development Easter egg in Avengers: Infinity War was unexpected, it’s not the only beloved TV comedy manifested in the record-smashing superhero ensemble.

    As Peter Parker might say, you ever hear of an old TV show called Frasier?

    In a visit to Yahoo Entertainment’s studios this week, Infinity War screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely revealed the fact that the eccentric intellects from the Emmy-winning ’90s Cheers spinoff were the main inspiration for the dynamic between Tony Stark, aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), and the Master of the Mystic Arts, Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch).

    “Frasier was influential in our decision to put Stark and Strange together,” McFeely revealed (watch above).

    As the writing duo explained, most shows would have given Dr. Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) a brother who was completely different they would play against each other. But the Frasier creators made the bold decision to pair the titular therapist/radio host with a sibling (David Hyde Pierce’s Dr. Niles Crane) who was “even more like Frasier than Frasier,” Markus said. “And it gives Frasier the opportunity to go, ‘Wow, I must be really annoying.’”

    So how did that translate to a pair of superheroes? “To take Tony and Dr. Strange, who are quite similar — they both have goatees, they’re both arrogant — the impulse might be, ‘Well, let’s keep them separate because they occupy the same space, and everyone will get their own Arrogant Goatee Man,” said Markus.

    “But to put them together, one, is funny, and their powers are totally different. But also it helps Tony go, ‘Wow, arrogant people are really annoying … I’m arrogant, huh.’ This is how we become better people in life.”

    Suddenly that “I don’t feel so good” meme with Frasier makes even more sense.

    Avengers: Infinity War, you may have heard, is now in theaters.

    Watch the Infinity War cast show off their (hypothetical) death faces:

    Read more on Yahoo Entertainment:

    • ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ saddest scene spawns tragic ‘I don’t feel so good’ meme (spoilers)
    • Avengers, disassemble? Where the MCU goes after the shocking ending of ‘Infinity War’
    • The crazy measures Marvel took to keep ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ shrouded in secrecy

     

     

     

     

    What to Read Next

    • Snow, ice, torrential rain bringing weather havoc to 39 states, 200 million people

      USA TODAY
    • The Bachelor's Colton Underwood Brings 1 Woman Home to Meet His Family — Then Sends Her Packing

      People
    • Trent Lott thinks Joe Biden is the strongest Democratic presidential candidate

      Yahoo News
    • Former Colorado player T.J. Cunningham fatally shot in dispute over parking spot

      Yahoo Sports
    • PHOTOS: Presidents Day protests decry Trump's emergency declaration

      Yahoo News Photo Staff
    • Jussie Smollett case draws comparisons to Tawana Brawley allegations

      FOX News Videos
    • Kirsten Powers apologizes for ‘judgmental and condemning’ tweets

      Yahoo News Video
    • Trump's dubious emergency declaration sparks nationwide protests

      Yahoo View
    • 3 children among 4 found dead after west Michigan shooting

      Associated Press
    • Report: AAF was in danger of missing payroll last week before NHL owner invested

      Yahoo Sports
    • Critics call out Billy Ray Cyrus's weed photo: 'Every single person in jail right now for smoking pot should be released'

      Yahoo Celebrity
    • How the world mocks Trump in protest art

      Yahoo News Photo Staff
    • The Internet Thinks Meghan Markle Was Spotted Incognito in New York City Based on Her Coat

      Cosmopolitan
    • Alabama newspaper encourages KKK to 'clean up D.C.'

      Yahoo News Video
    • Lawrence's Last Word: Trump's next victim?

      Yahoo View
    • Aly Raisman on Larry Nassar assault: Sometimes people forget I’m still coping with it

      Yahoo News Video
    • Piers Morgan hits out at Kim Kardashian's extreme cut-out gown

      Yahoo Style UK
    • Man allegedly pulls gun on couple wearing MAGA hats at Sam's Club: 'This is a good day for you to die'

      Yahoo Lifestyle
    • PHOTOS: Remembering Parkland: One year later

      Yahoo News Photo Staff
    • The Morning After: Razer will close its game store

      Engadget
    • West Virginia teachers go on strike again

      ABC News Videos
    • CA AG on suing Trump: ‘First-year law student could argue this case’

      Yahoo View
    • Walmart's Q4 smashes expectations, U.S. online sales jump 43%

      Yahoo Finance
    • Woman who called Michelle Obama an 'ape in heels' pleads guilty to FEMA fraud

      Good Morning America