Niles, Daphne; Together Or Not?

It has been one of television’s better teases, the pining of the lovelorn Niles for the oblivious Daphne.

But it’s been six years now. Something has to give with those kids from “Frasier.” Otherwise, David Hyde Pierce says, “It starts being unbelievable.”

The time has come for Dr. Niles Crane (Pierce) and Daphne Moon (Jane Leeves) to either hook up or press on, Pierce said in an interview last week in Pasadena.

“I know they are going to shake up me and Daphne,” said Pierce, 40, a native of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “I’m not entirely sure the direction they are going, whether they are bringing us together, or whether they are going to sort of seal it for a while.

“We all feel like it is time to really toss that up in the air.”

If Pierce has his way, his alter ego will be hitting the singles scene.

“My vote would be to send them off in opposite directions,” he said. “I think it would be fun, maybe come up with some interesting people for Niles to go out with.

“I would not want to see them together yet,” he continued. “I could understand sending them so far apart that it stops being an issue, so that at a future date they could get back together.”

“Frasier” is up for 10 Emmy nominations from last season, including outstanding comedy, comedy writing, lead actor (Kelsey Grammer, as Frasier Crane) and supporting actor (both Pierce and John Mahoney). With 64 Emmy nominations and 20 wins in five years, it is one of the most lauded series of all time (10 more Emmy wins and it will pass “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” for the most ever).

The outstanding comedy Emmy winner the past five years? “Frasier,” “Frasier,” “Frasier,” “Frasier” and “Frasier.” It is a string unmatched by any other show in any category.