Kelsey Grammer gets a pilot pickup in new sitcom Hank!

[Brian Damage]

—Untitled Kelsey Grammer Project (ABC): The "Frasier" star returns as a once-successful CEO who gets fired and has to learn how to reconnect with his family. Tucker Cawley wrote the pilot and will executive produce the show. Warner Bros. TV and Good Humor are producing.

Cedric the Entertainer and Kelsey Grammer moved closer to returning to television Wednesday, while CBS is expanding its relationship with "The Unit" creator Shawn Ryan.

In a busy afternoon for pilot pickups, CBS ordered two drama projects while ABC gave the thumbs-up to multiple half-hour pilots.

http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/02/cedric_grammer_ryan_pilots_get.php

[Marvo301]

Some of the best humor in "Frasier" came from Frasier Crane reconnecting with his family after moving back to Seattle from Boston. So hopefully the same will be true of this show and it will have a lengthy run as well.

[catlover79]

Some of the best humor in "Frasier" came from Frasier Crane reconnecting with his family after moving back to Seattle from Boston. So hopefully the same will be true of this show and it will have a lengthy run as well.
Let's also hope ABC gives this one a chance - unlike the idiots over at FOX...:mad:

[ryan423]

I agree. I don't know how they can top Frasier and BTY though. It'd be tough! Let's just hope for a lengthy run, as said above!

Anyone else dying to see the cast? Personally, I'd love to see guest spots made by BTY cast members. Just a *in your face* to FOX if this and Patty's new show make it next year. Which reminds me; has her's been picked-up? I believe it was.

[catlover79]

I agree. I don't know how they can top Frasier and BTY though. It'd be tough! Let's just hope for a lengthy run, as said above!

Anyone else dying to see the cast? Personally, I'd love to see guest spots made by BTY cast members. Just a *in your face* to FOX if this and Patty's new show make it next year. Which reminds me; has her's been picked-up? I believe it was.
I'm pretty sure it was. Too bad ABC couldn't have just picked up BTY, but this is the next best thing. :D

[Marvo301]

Let's also hope ABC gives this one a chance - unlike the idiots over at FOX...:mad:
The best news in this press release is that the show isn't on Fox! ABC seems to be committing to numerous new comedies these days. Hopefully that means there committed to making theses shows successful.

[ryan423]

Well, all the talk is that ABC plans to re-brand itself next year as the home for comedy. It'll be tough to beat CBS Mondays though. I hope they don't try and compete. I'd love to see them bring back TGIF with such shows as Kelsey's, Patty's and Bob Saget's "Surviving Suburbia." Thursday would be great as well, as NBC "Must-See-Tv" will officially be over once ER ends.

From what I understand, they want to bring back the family sitcom format.
And if it weren't for the Olsen Twins not wanting to take part, and Lori and Bob committed to other shows, we would've seen a Full House spinoff next year. And as bad as it would've been, I, like all Full House fans, would've watched it anyway.

[catlover79]

Well, all the talk is that ABC plans to re-brand itself next year as the home for comedy. It'll be tough to beat CBS Mondays though. I hope they don't try and compete. I'd love to see them bring back TGIF with such shows as Kelsey's, Patty's and Bob Saget's "Surviving Suburbia." Thursday would be great as well, as NBC "Must-See-Tv" will officially be over once ER ends.

From what I understand, they want to bring back the family sitcom format.
And if it weren't for the Olsen Twins not wanting to take part, and Lori and Bob committed to other shows, we would've seen a Full House spinoff next year. And as bad as it would've been, I, like all Full House fans, would've watched it anyway.
I like the way ABC is thinking. Remember a few years ago they had George Lopez, Bonnie Hunt, and 8 Simple Rules? It seems that after the passing of John Ritter, the whole comedy format went by the wayside. I'm willing to give this new block a chance.

[ryan423]

All three of those were great. It's a shame Bonnie's show only got 2 seasons.

[catlover79]

All three of those were great. It's a shame Bonnie's show only got 2 seasons.
I'm sure had John Ritter lived, 8SR would've been a linchpin on ABC for a long time to come.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I cant wait to see Frasier back on TV

[ekkostar]

YES! I rather miss having Kelsey on TV. I wasn't a huge fan of Back to You, at times I think it could have been better and sometimes the humor on the show fell short.

I'm sort of hoping John goes back to the audience sitcom format as well, because they need him there. He and that Boston Legal format didn't *mesh* very well, he was just out of place there.

I'm sure had John Ritter lived, 8SR would've been a linchpin on ABC for a long time to come.

I noticed that traditional sitcoms sort of faded out once John Ritter died. It's sad, really. People sort of lost faith in the format after 8 Simple Rules. When a legend dies it sort of changes things for the format.

[Pavan]

This means a pilot will be made for consideration. It is not a series pick-up, if that is what you all think right now. We won't know until upfront in May if it makes it on the schedule.

[Raisingdad2004]

I didn't see enough of Back To You, but does "once successful ... now not" describe the character he was on there. Granted, in this show he returns to the family not back to a lesser job, but still ... it sounds like a common theme in his new shows. It also, to me, somewhat describes Kelsey himself. He was on two super successful shows and is now not, he did one show which failed and here comes another.

I do hope this show works out for him, he is such a great talent and does deserve to do well ... hopefully this will be the show.

[JulieSomoski]

This is great news - looking forward to learning more about this new pilot for Kelsey. Hopefully it's a good cast . . . ABC should have some good comedies for next season, and I'm hoping this will be one of them.

[catlover79]

If this pilot makes it to series, I'll definitely watch!! :D