'Cheers' in Kelsey Grammer's Unauthorised Biography - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Miss DiPesto · 09-29-2004, 11:02 AM

I have recently read Kelsey Grammer's unauthorised biography and there is of course a lot of discussion about Cheers. I know a lot of you guys know a lot about the show and maybe have read this book but I thought there was some interesting back stage incidents/off set relationships brought up and just thought I would see what you guys thought or let people who have not read the book see a little of what was mentioned -

When Kelsey joined the show Shelley Long really did not like the character of Frasier and with the clout she had on the set she got some of his lines cut. One day after a reading she told the writers she thought Diane would not date someone like Frasier and an exit should be written for the character. Everyone was stunned but Kelsey refused to let her push him out of the show and he became part of the inner circle of the cast, bonded in their mutual dislike for Shelley.

When Kelsey was addicted to drugs and alcohol a lot of the cast - Rhea, Kirstie, George and Ted - tried to hold an intervention for him and Kirstie spoke for him in court to try and save him from jail. Kirstie and Woody visited him in jail several times too. Kelsey seems to have been very popular and the cast really tried to help a lot during his drug addciction

Kelsey and Bebe are credited with tranfusing new blood into Cheers but their off screen relationship deteriorated and perhaps played a part in Bebe's decision to leave the show. Bebe was frustrated with Kelsey and hated having to do every scene with him. Apparently Bebe was never one of the inner circle and there was suggestions she saw herself more as a serious actress. Also she just was not that fond of Kelsey one writer said 'You don't see Bebe running to the jailhouse to see Kelsey'. Bebe did show a lot of compassion but when Kelsey went downhill - arriving late and sometimes drunk - she just lost patience. Bebe was worried she was going to end up in a clash with Kelsey if she stayed much longer and when she decided to leave she 'kept telling herself she only has a few more episodes left and to keep it together'.

Apparently the women on the show (writers/extras) felt very uncomfortable on the show and said they often felt like pieces of meat. The male cast members would pay curvy models to come down to the set and would ask the extras questions about their underwear and the guys basically acted like teenagers on set.

Woody was the one actor/character who got the nod from producers and the network to be the main spin-off from Cheers but he was not interested and wanted to continue his movie career.

When 'Frasier' started it was a success from the start and Bebe came back to do an episode. It says they were hardly buddies but Kelsey said at the time that he still sees Ted, Woody and George. He says he still speaks to Kirstie but "Shelley left so long ago...." When Shelley's sitcom Good Advice was in the bottom ten in the ratings while Frasier was in the top ten, Kelsey gathered the Frasier cast together and offered a toast to Shelley and the 'continued success of her show'

To be honest, I think most of it is kind of trashy but I thought maybe some people might wanna know a few insights if they didn't already.

Brian Damage · 09-29-2004, 11:09 AM

That's some interesting stuff, I never knew Woody was considered for a spinoff. I would've loved to see that happen.

ThirteenInchEscape · 09-29-2004, 11:13 AM

"Back in Hanover", right barwars

and Frasier is exactly the type of peson you could expect Diane to date, especially hot he acted in the earlier episodes.

Chambers · 09-29-2004, 01:43 PM

sooo....both Shelley and Bebe felt like outcasts....

I had read somewhere else about how the guys acted on set..I just had no idea how much of a boy's club it really was.

barwars · 09-29-2004, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ThirteenInchEscape
"Back in Hanover", right barwars

and Frasier is exactly the type of peson you could expect Diane to date, especially hot he acted in the earlier episodes.

Yes

and

Yes

I actually liked Frasier with Diane. (but he was funnier with Lilith)

BUSH-2004!!! · 09-29-2004, 02:36 PM

That's some very interesting stuff. If you can and feel like it please post some more. Thanks.

ChambersVsMalone · 09-30-2004, 01:09 AM

Thanks for taking the time to share all that with us, I found it really interesting.

I think it's too bad that things like that went on behind the scenes (especially when you have the recent Friends cast which was apparently so different) but I suppose it happens too often. It's nice to know that the whole cast was there for Kelsey through his problems, though. But I do always feel bad for Bebe and Shelley, it seems they both felt like outcasts and I would have hated working in an enviroment like that, it's such a shame. Then again, who really knows the story from all sides.

Anyway, thanks for sharing!

09-29-2004, 11:02 AM	#1
Miss DiPesto Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 19, 2004 Location: UK Posts: 13	'Cheers' in Kelsey Grammer's Unauthorised Biography I have recently read Kelsey Grammer's unauthorised biography and there is of course a lot of discussion about Cheers. I know a lot of you guys know a lot about the show and maybe have read this book but I thought there was some interesting back stage incidents/off set relationships brought up and just thought I would see what you guys thought or let people who have not read the book see a little of what was mentioned - When Kelsey joined the show Shelley Long really did not like the character of Frasier and with the clout she had on the set she got some of his lines cut. One day after a reading she told the writers she thought Diane would not date someone like Frasier and an exit should be written for the character. Everyone was stunned but Kelsey refused to let her push him out of the show and he became part of the inner circle of the cast, bonded in their mutual dislike for Shelley. When Kelsey was addicted to drugs and alcohol a lot of the cast - Rhea, Kirstie, George and Ted - tried to hold an intervention for him and Kirstie spoke for him in court to try and save him from jail. Kirstie and Woody visited him in jail several times too. Kelsey seems to have been very popular and the cast really tried to help a lot during his drug addciction Kelsey and Bebe are credited with tranfusing new blood into Cheers but their off screen relationship deteriorated and perhaps played a part in Bebe's decision to leave the show. Bebe was frustrated with Kelsey and hated having to do every scene with him. Apparently Bebe was never one of the inner circle and there was suggestions she saw herself more as a serious actress. Also she just was not that fond of Kelsey one writer said 'You don't see Bebe running to the jailhouse to see Kelsey'. Bebe did show a lot of compassion but when Kelsey went downhill - arriving late and sometimes drunk - she just lost patience. Bebe was worried she was going to end up in a clash with Kelsey if she stayed much longer and when she decided to leave she 'kept telling herself she only has a few more episodes left and to keep it together'. Apparently the women on the show (writers/extras) felt very uncomfortable on the show and said they often felt like pieces of meat. The male cast members would pay curvy models to come down to the set and would ask the extras questions about their underwear and the guys basically acted like teenagers on set. Woody was the one actor/character who got the nod from producers and the network to be the main spin-off from Cheers but he was not interested and wanted to continue his movie career. When 'Frasier' started it was a success from the start and Bebe came back to do an episode. It says they were hardly buddies but Kelsey said at the time that he still sees Ted, Woody and George. He says he still speaks to Kirstie but "Shelley left so long ago...." When Shelley's sitcom Good Advice was in the bottom ten in the ratings while Frasier was in the top ten, Kelsey gathered the Frasier cast together and offered a toast to Shelley and the 'continued success of her show' To be honest, I think most of it is kind of trashy but I thought maybe some people might wanna know a few insights if they didn't already.

09-29-2004, 11:13 AM	#3
ThirteenInchEscape Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 21, 2004 Location: Palouse, Washington Posts: 1,218	"Back in Hanover", right barwars and Frasier is exactly the type of peson you could expect Diane to date, especially hot he acted in the earlier episodes.
	__________________ *Member of the "God Lilith is so ing Cool" Fanclub* Freedom of Thought

09-29-2004, 01:43 PM	#4
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	sooo....both Shelley and Bebe felt like outcasts.... I had read somewhere else about how the guys acted on set..I just had no idea how much of a boy's club it really was.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

09-29-2004, 11:09 AM	#2
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	That's some interesting stuff, I never knew Woody was considered for a spinoff. I would've loved to see that happen.

09-29-2004, 02:36 PM	#6
BUSH-2004!!! RUDY IS NEXT IN 08!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2004 Location: Anywhere where there are no lefties!!! Posts: 91	That's some very interesting stuff. If you can and feel like it please post some more. Thanks.

09-30-2004, 01:09 AM	#7
ChambersVsMalone Cheers! Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2004 Posts: 125	Thanks for taking the time to share all that with us, I found it really interesting. I think it's too bad that things like that went on behind the scenes (especially when you have the recent Friends cast which was apparently so different) but I suppose it happens too often. It's nice to know that the whole cast was there for Kelsey through his problems, though. But I do always feel bad for Bebe and Shelley, it seems they both felt like outcasts and I would have hated working in an enviroment like that, it's such a shame. Then again, who really knows the story from all sides. Anyway, thanks for sharing!