Real Stories of Near-Miss Casting
4/6/2012
by Andy Lewis


John Lithgow as Frasier Crane instead of Kelsey Grammer


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/Lithgow_Grammer_html.jpg


The "Cheers" team wrote the part of Crane for Lithgow, but he didn't want to do a TV series then. "I just said, 'No.' … I barely even remembered that request," recalls Lithgow. "It was like swatting away a fly. … I just wasn't going to do a series."

Lithgow eventually agreed to do a TV series, starring in "3rd Rock from the Sun" from 1996-2001.









Fred Dryer as Sam Malone instead of Ted Danson


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/Danson_Dryer_html.jpg


For the part of ex-athlete Malone, NBC looked to a number of former pro-athletes-turned-actors. The leading contender was former NFL player Fred Dryer. In fact, the character was originally supposed to be a former football player.

Littlfield admits that if it had been up to the network "suits" Dryer would have gotten the role, despite his limted acting experience. Intstead, the part went to Danson and the character was changed into a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

Dryer later appeared on an episode of the show as a sportscaster who was friends with Malone.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/courteney-cox-nicollette-sheridan-kelsey-grammer-ted-danson-nbc-top-of-the-rock-casting-308749

Real Stories of Near-Miss Casting
4/6/2012
by Andy Lewis


John Lithgow as Frasier Crane instead of Kelsey Grammer


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/Lithgow_Grammer_html.jpg


The "Cheers" team wrote the part of Crane for Lithgow, but he didn't want to do a TV series then. "I just said, 'No.' … I barely even remembered that" request, recalls Lithgow. "It was like swatting away a fly. … I just wasn't going to do a series."

Lithgow eventually agreed to do a TV series, starring in "3rd Rock from the Sun" from 1996-2001.









Fred Dryer as Sam Malone instead of Ted Danson


http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/custom/Book%20covers/Danson_Dryer_html.jpg


For the part of ex-athlete Malone, NBC looked to a number of former pro-athletes-turned-actors. The leading contender was former NFL player Fred Dryer. In fact, the character was originally supposed to be a former football player.

Littlfield admits that if it had been up to the network "suits" Dryer would have gotten the role, despite his limted acting experience. Intstead, the part went to Danson and the character was changed into a former relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

Dryer later appeared on an episode of the show as a sportscaster who was friends with Malone.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/courteney-cox-nicollette-sheridan-kelsey-grammer-ted-danson-nbc-top-of-the-rock-casting-308749

In addition, the part of Diane was originally written for Julia Duffy.