Frasier’s footie tie-in an own-goal

The tie-in between The Paramount Comedy Channel’s Frasier Weekend and football broadcaster Stadium Radio easily wins the first in an occasional Diary competition entitled “Dodgy Marketing Idea Of The Week”.

Frasier epitomises the fine wine drinking, opera loving, effete, middle class, middle-aged man. He is not noted for his love of the beautiful game. Yet Paramount thought Stadium Radio – which is networked to various football grounds around the country – the perfect medium to advertise last weekend’s Frasier fest.

Stadium radio managing director Kevin Moran says: “You don’t need a shrink to work out that it’s a great time to remind football fans what’s on TV tonight.” True, but you might need one to work out the connection between football and Frasier.

Apparently there is no truth in the rumour that the cable channel wants Paul Gascoigne, Paul Merson, George Best, and Oliver Reed as guest presenters on a forthcoming Cheers weekend.