Fox Picks Up Kelsey Grammer Sketch Comedy - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 05-20-2004, 02:48 AM

Fox Picks Up Kelsey Grammer Sketch Comedy

By Steve Gorman
Reuters

LOS ANGELES - It didn't take long for former Frasier star Kelsey Grammer to find a new role to play on television.

One week after Grammer shed his 20-year TV persona as neurotic psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the finale of his NBC sitcom, the Fox network said on Wednesday it has picked up a new sketch comedy co-produced and hosted by Grammer for next season.

A Fox Broadcasting Co. spokesman said the News Corp. Ltd.-owned network had ordered six episodes of The Kelsey Grammer Sketch Show, an American version of a British program from the ITV network.

At the same time, Fox said it has bestowed a one-year renewal on its quirky freshman comedy Arrested Development, which emerged as the biggest critical darling of the current season while struggling in the ratings.

Other new shows picked up for the coming season include the blended-family sitcom Related by Family, reality show The Partner (a kind of legal version of NBC's The Apprentice) and three fresh dramas -- undercover cop show The Inside, action adventure Jonny Zero and medical series House.

Fox will reveal the launch dates for those shows and others on Thursday when it unveils its 2004-05 programming schedule for advertisers in New York.

The network previously announced plans to roll out The Next Great Champ, a boxing reality show similar to NBC's upcoming The Contender, and the globe-trotting series Branson's Big Adventure, featuring flamboyant billionaire Richard Branson.

Except for a half dozen shows already set for a June launch, Fox is expected to debut most of its new offerings in November and January. Fox adopted this staggered approach because its coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series falls in the middle of the traditional fall TV premiere season.

Details of Grammer's sketch comedy show remained, well, sketchy. But Fox said the actor will serve as its host, with performances delivered primarily by an ensemble of players, much the way comedian Drew Carey presided over his improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC.

It was just last Thursday that Dr. Frasier Crane bid a final "Goodnight Seattle" to end the celebrated 11-year run of Frasier on NBC.

Grammer's character, introduced on Cheers in 1984, tied the record for the longest-running role portrayed by a single actor in prime time, first set in 1975 by James Arness as Matt Dillon on the CBS western Gunsmoke.

At one point, Grammer clinched a reported salary of $1.6 million per episode in a renewal deal that for a time made him the highest-paid sitcom star on television.

Ria · 05-20-2004, 10:53 AM

I take it this means a spinoff is out . . . for this year anyway.

Interesting choice of project. Shakespearian thespian, to Cheers/Frasier, to sketch comedy. . . .

Chambers · 05-21-2004, 02:59 PM

I'd love to see some more range from him. Sure, we all love Frasier...but he needs to take care of his carreer as an actor and avoid being type-cast like most TV stars are...or maybe it's a little too late for that. Yet for his own sake, I think he needs to remind the world that Kelsey and Frasier are different people - or are they....?

Brian Damage · 05-22-2004, 10:33 AM

After 20 years of playing Frasier Crane, I think it is a little too late not to be type cast.

TJL · 05-22-2004, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Damage
After 20 years of playing Frasier Crane, I think it is a little too late not to be type cast.

Exactly.

I can't understand why Kelsey Grammer woud want to jump into another TV show right away.

Take some time off! You've earned it!

barwars · 05-23-2004, 12:50 PM

Kelsey Grammer IS Frasier Crane.
There's no way around it, and he obviously isnt afraid of being typecasted.
He loves the character, and wants to reprise him again.

Then again.... maybe he just loves the money
but who doesnt?!

05-20-2004, 02:48 AM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Fox Picks Up Kelsey Grammer Sketch Comedy Fox Picks Up Kelsey Grammer Sketch Comedy By Steve Gorman Reuters LOS ANGELES - It didn't take long for former Frasier star Kelsey Grammer to find a new role to play on television. One week after Grammer shed his 20-year TV persona as neurotic psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the finale of his NBC sitcom, the Fox network said on Wednesday it has picked up a new sketch comedy co-produced and hosted by Grammer for next season. A Fox Broadcasting Co. spokesman said the News Corp. Ltd.-owned network had ordered six episodes of The Kelsey Grammer Sketch Show, an American version of a British program from the ITV network. At the same time, Fox said it has bestowed a one-year renewal on its quirky freshman comedy Arrested Development, which emerged as the biggest critical darling of the current season while struggling in the ratings. Other new shows picked up for the coming season include the blended-family sitcom Related by Family, reality show The Partner (a kind of legal version of NBC's The Apprentice) and three fresh dramas -- undercover cop show The Inside, action adventure Jonny Zero and medical series House. Fox will reveal the launch dates for those shows and others on Thursday when it unveils its 2004-05 programming schedule for advertisers in New York. The network previously announced plans to roll out The Next Great Champ, a boxing reality show similar to NBC's upcoming The Contender, and the globe-trotting series Branson's Big Adventure, featuring flamboyant billionaire Richard Branson. Except for a half dozen shows already set for a June launch, Fox is expected to debut most of its new offerings in November and January. Fox adopted this staggered approach because its coverage of the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series falls in the middle of the traditional fall TV premiere season. Details of Grammer's sketch comedy show remained, well, sketchy. But Fox said the actor will serve as its host, with performances delivered primarily by an ensemble of players, much the way comedian Drew Carey presided over his improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? on ABC. It was just last Thursday that Dr. Frasier Crane bid a final "Goodnight Seattle" to end the celebrated 11-year run of Frasier on NBC. Grammer's character, introduced on Cheers in 1984, tied the record for the longest-running role portrayed by a single actor in prime time, first set in 1975 by James Arness as Matt Dillon on the CBS western Gunsmoke. At one point, Grammer clinched a reported salary of $1.6 million per episode in a renewal deal that for a time made him the highest-paid sitcom star on television.

05-21-2004, 02:59 PM	#3
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	I'd love to see some more range from him. Sure, we all love Frasier...but he needs to take care of his carreer as an actor and avoid being type-cast like most TV stars are...or maybe it's a little too late for that. Yet for his own sake, I think he needs to remind the world that Kelsey and Frasier are different people - or are they....?
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

05-20-2004, 10:53 AM	#2
Ria Producerintraining Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2003 Location: Across the river from my fave bar! Posts: 466	I take it this means a spinoff is out . . . for this year anyway. Interesting choice of project. Shakespearian thespian, to Cheers/Frasier, to sketch comedy. . . .

05-22-2004, 10:33 AM	#4
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	After 20 years of playing Frasier Crane, I think it is a little too late not to be type cast.

05-23-2004, 12:50 PM	#6
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Kelsey Grammer IS Frasier Crane. There's no way around it, and he obviously isnt afraid of being typecasted. He loves the character, and wants to reprise him again. Then again.... maybe he just loves the money but who doesnt?!