Kelsey Grammer shared in a new interview that his upcoming Frasier reboot would find its title character living a charmed life he never expected.
The 66-year-old actor told WNBC New York earlier this week that Dr. Frasier Crane would end up ‘rich beyond his dreams’ in the upcoming Paramount+ reboot next year.
He also clarified that the rest of Frasier’s principal cast had been invited back to the show, though none of the other actors had yet signed on to make it official.
Success story: Kelsey Grammer, 66, revealed in a WNBC New York interview this week that Dr. Frasier Crane would be ‘rich beyond his dreams’ in the upcoming Frasier reboot
Grammer, who appeared remotely in a smart white button-up shirt, compared Frasier to George Bailey, the iconic character played by James Stewart in Frank Capra’s classic It’s A Wonderful Life.
‘He’s like the George Bailey of television,’ he said. ‘He thinks he’s gonna go off and do one thing, and sure enough, his life takes him in another direction.
‘And he ends up rich beyond his dreams,’ Grammer added, seeming to get choked up a bit.
The character originally debuted as a supporting player on Cheers in its third season, before being bumped up to the main cast in season five and staying through the eleventh and final season.
Classic character: Grammer compared Frasier to the lead character in It’s A Wonderful Life. ‘He’s like the George Bailey of television,’ he said. ‘He thinks he’s gonna go off and do one thing, and sure enough, his life takes him in another direction’; still from Frasier
Change of scenery: ‘Frasier’s gonna move town, he’s gonna change cities again. There’s some surprise there,’ he revealed
He followed the series with his spin-off Frasier, which saw the character moving to Seattle, where the psychiatrist took on a new job as a radio advice show host.
He landed in Chicago for the final episode of that series, and Grammer confirmed that Frasier wouldn’t be Seattle-based in the new revival.
‘Frasier’s gonna move town, he’s gonna change cities again. There’s some surprise there,’ he revealed.
Back for more: The Expendables 3 star confirmed that the reboot was seeking to get David Hyde Pierce (Niles), Jane Leeves (Daphne) and Peri Gilpin (Roz) back in the cast
Reunited: ‘We’ve reached out to everybody. Roz and Niles and Daphne,’ he explained. ‘It is my hope that everybody comes back, and it always was my hope, because it’s a third act for everyone’
The Expendables 3 star confirmed that the reboot was seeking to get David Hyde Pierce (Niles), Jane Leeves (Daphne) and Peri Gilpin (Roz) back in the cast, though they hadn’t made anything official yet.
‘We’ve reached out to everybody. Roz and Niles and Daphne,’ he explained. ‘It is my hope that everybody comes back, and it always was my hope, because it’s a third act for everyone.’
Grammer also said the show planned to address the loss of actor John Mahoney, who played Frasier and Niles’ father Martin Crane and died in 2018.
‘Of course, John’s gone, and we intend to deal with that some in the first episode,’ he shared.
Saying goodbye: Grammer also said the show planned to address the loss of actor John Mahoney, who played Frasier’s father Martin Crane and died in 2018 ‘We intend to deal with that some in the first episode’; still from Frasier
Frasier was originally on the air from 1993 until 2004.
During that time, it was a hit both with critics and audiences, and it took home the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series its first five years in a row.
Grammer won four lead actor Emmys for the title role, while his costar David Hyde Pierce earned four, and Jane Leeves was nominated for one.
Frasier set a record with 37 total Grammy wins throughout its 11 seasons, a record at the time.
