Kelsey Grammer getting ready to get back to Dr. to become Frasier Crane†
On Monday, the actor appeared on “The Talk” and gave viewers a taste of what’s to come from the reboot on Paramount+.
“We’re in the final stages of finalizing the script for the first episode of ‘Frasier’ and it’s looking pretty good,” the 67-year-old told presenter Akbar Gbajabiamila. “I’ve driven through it a few times and I’ve cried, so you know I’m happy.”
The Emmy winner said the main ingredient for the reboot is “actually Frasier”.
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“Honestly it’s always been called that, so it’s me,” he joked. “I am the key, or I am the key.”
Grammer noted that production on the series is expected to begin in the fall.
“There have been talks about [starting in] maybe October, maybe a little later,” Grammer said. “There are a few other things coming up. We’ve developed some other projects that look like they’re going to shoot first.”
In February 2021, the streaming service announced that Grammer would perform again his famous role.
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“Having spent more than 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot, producing shows as well as performing in various gigs, I would like to congratulate Paramount+ on its foray into the streaming world,” Grammer said in a statement at the time. “I look forward to sharing the next chapter in Dr. Frasier Crane’s ongoing journey.”
The star played the famous radio psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane, who moved back from Boston to his hometown of Seattle, where he lives with his father (John Mahoney). The sitcom aired from 1993 to 2004.
The 11-season spin-off “Cheers” won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in each of its first five seasons, finishing with 37 Emmy Awards in total, including four for Grammer’s role, Deadline.com reported.
Grammer first played the character in 1984 when he was introduced on “Cheers” as a love interest to Diane Chambers (Shelley Long). He also made special appearances in “Wings”, a series produced and created by “Cheers” veterans that aired from 1990 to 1997.
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“He’s moving,” Grammer told Fox News Digital in 2021 about what fans will see from Dr. Crane can expect. “He’s going to end up in a different place…and he’s going to start what he thinks is one life and it turns into another. I see him now as George Bailey from ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. He’s standing up about to travel the world.
“He wants to go see the world and something happens… that pulls him back and he has to live a very different life than he planned,” he continued. “But as a result, he ends up with love and emotional wealth, and just a life that’s so extraordinary. And I think that’s Frasier’s story.”
It was previously reported that Grammer has contacted the show’s original co-stars, including David Hyde Pierce, Jane Leeves and Peri Gilpin, among others. The actor said he was optimistic about their return.
“I think they’re a little nervous about it, but I think they’re really willing,” Grammer said. “I think they’re really interested in seeing where we’re going. We’ll see, you know what I mean? You never know. One or two of them might say, ‘Oh my God no, we can’t We just can’t.” But I don’t think so. I think they will see the wisdom in giving it a try.”
But there is one figure that will be missed. Mahoney, the TV patriarch, passed away in 2018 at the age of 77†
“John was a remarkably nice guy,” Grammer recalled. “He was always nice and sweet and nice. But the ironic thing about him — once when I directed him on the show, I said, ‘John, let’s take the dog [Eddie] on your lap.’ And he says, ‘No, no.’ I said, “What’s going on?” “He always bites me. He always growls at me. He scares me and I don’t like it.’ So I thought, ‘Oh, this is weird, I had no idea.’ So they had to put a little bit of sardine oil on his hands so the dog would lick something instead of trying to growl at him or bite him. This love for Eddie that existed [in the show] really wasn’t real. It was just a love for the camera. They fought each other, and he was really funny about his relationship with the dog.”
“…Every time I spoke to him, we just had a blast,” Grammer said. “We spent time together in New York off screen, and I saw him in Chicago and I saw him once in Ireland. He was just a great guy.”