‘Frasier’ draws biggest ratings in 3 years

The final episode of “Frasier” attracted the NBC comedy’s largest audience in more than three years but less than half the viewers who had tuned in to see the “Friends” finale a week earlier, figures from Nielsen Media Research showed Friday.

Kelsey Grammer’s swan song as psychiatrist Frasier Crane -- a character he originated on “Cheers” in 1984 -- was seen by 25.2 million people, compared with nearly 52.5 million who watched “Friends” bow out. That was still good enough to win the ratings battle from 9 to 10 p.m., with CBS’ “CSI” finishing second with 22.5 million.