Bah! Humbug! Grammer Plays Scrooge - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 11-24-2004, 09:49 AM

http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D86I8KD01.html

Bah! Humbug! Grammer Plays Scrooge

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kelsey Grammer had to practice scowling in front of a mirror to appear convincing as Ebenezer Scrooge.

"I'm so prone to just opening up my face - I have a very open, available face and Scrooge is so closed off," says the actor best known as Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC comedy classics "Cheers" and "Frasier."

Sitting in his office on the Paramount lot, where for two decades he played the neurotically needy psychiatrist, Grammer briefly illustrates the mean, scrunched visage required for Scrooge, Charles Dickens' famous miser in "A Christmas Carol."

Then he immediately snaps back to himself, laughing, eyes wide, head thrown slightly back in his natural effusive manner.

It was Grammer's wife, Camille, who told him to keep his face "constricted." He knew he had to follow her advice to avoid his "own sense of compassion bleeding through" prematurely before Scrooge becomes a nicer person.

"What I enjoyed most about Kelsey was the relish with which he attacks his work," says Arthur Allan Seidelman, who directed this musical version of the seasonal classic airing 9 p.m. EST Sunday on NBC.

The two-hour movie is based on the Madison Square Garden stage production, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens.

Also showcasing their musical talents are other TV stars: Jason Alexander (of "Seinfeld" and now "Listen Up") is Scrooge's business partner, Marley, one of several ghosts who pay a visit to the miser on Christmas Eve; Jane Krakowski (from "Ally McBeal") floats in as the luminous Ghost of Christmas Past; Jesse L. Martin (Detective Green on "Law & Order)" is the highly theatrical Ghost of Christmas Present; Jennifer Love Hewitt ("Party of Five") plays Scrooge's lost love, Emily.

Additionally, Geraldine Chaplin is the foreboding Ghost of Christmas Future, who leads Scrooge to his own grave - at which no one mourns.

When first approached about the project some four years ago, Grammer was lukewarm about tackling the classic part played by so many others on stage and screen since Dickens penned his self-described "ghostly little book" in 1843.

But with his 20-year stint as Frasier Crane coming to a close earlier this year, he reconsidered.

Grammer says his favorite version of the Scrooge tale is the highly comedic 1962 cartoon "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol," starring the nearsighted bumbler voiced by Jim Backus.

Seidelman's favorite is the 1951 British film version starring Alastair Sim. More recently, George C. Scott played Scrooge in a 1984 TV movie and Patrick Stewart took a turn in 1999.

Both star and director believe the newest adaptation reveals the good heart that still beats within the cold curmudgeon, even at his flintiest moments.

"You really get under the skin, you really see the hurt and the pain and the horrible circumstances of his earlier life that caused his heart to close," says Seidelman.

"I don't know if Dickens would herald the story as his greatest achievement, but it turned out to be," says Grammer. "It's the most simply human story that he wrote. It's about the power of love."

Grammer, 49, says his own natural tendency as "a vocal guy" keeps his singing voice fresh. An early voice teacher had hopes he might become an opera singer, but Grammer felt otherwise.

"I thought I don't quite have all the notes that those guys have. I don't have the discipline and it's so specifically focused that I thought to myself, 'I am always going to be a better actor than I am a singer.'"

He was in a workshop production of the musical "Sunday in the Park with George" when he read for the guest role of Crane in "Cheers."

"It was a fairly utility role to break apart Sam and Diane, but I thought I could breathe some life into it. I got a couple of extra laughs that they weren't expecting. I think writers in television delight when they have a gift of an actor's imagination on top of their own. They go, 'My goodness that's something I hadn't thought of.'"

Brian Damage · 11-24-2004, 11:25 AM

The NY Daily News was a little unkind in their review. They only gave it a *1/2.

spunkygirl · 11-24-2004, 02:36 PM

Can't wait to see it

Petrie Malone · 11-26-2004, 11:47 AM

I'm looking forward to watching this. It will be good to see Kelsey on TV again. The music should be good too... I've heard of the composer and lyricist before. They both write good musical theatre music!

barwars · 11-28-2004, 09:45 AM

I have to record this while I watch Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal.

It starts at 9, right?

Chambers · 11-28-2004, 12:07 PM

Oh dear. TV conflict. Maybe I'll watch the ending.

Moondance · 11-28-2004, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
Oh dear. TV conflict. Maybe I'll watch the ending.

I saw that it will be on during "Desperate Housewives" - I was thinking about watching DH, but then I saw it was on at 9p and I want to watch KELSEY GRAMMER, yeah man!

spunkygirl · 11-28-2004, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
I have to record this while I watch Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal.

It starts at 9, right?

I want to watch it, I think they should have put it on last night, up against DH is a bad time to air it.

I'm gonna be recording DH and the BMW marathon

Brian Damage · 11-28-2004, 11:40 PM

I love Kelsey Grammer and all, but I hate this movie. Grammer is just not believable as Scrooge and the music is pretty lame. I like the original Carol musical with Albert Finney better.

Chambers · 11-28-2004, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian Damage
I love Kelsey Grammer and all, but I hate this movie. Grammer is just not believable as Scrooge and the music is pretty lame. I like the original Carol musical with Albert Finney better.

Yeah...I watched 5 minutes of it...and had to change the channel. The singing was hard to take.

Brian Damage · 11-28-2004, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chambers
Yeah...I watched 5 minutes of it...and had to change the channel. The singing was hard to take.

me too!

Pavan · 11-28-2004, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lola Dane
I want to watch it, I think they should have put it on last night, up against DH is a bad time to air it.

I'm gonna be recording DH and the BMW marathon

NBC will tank tonight with this movie. Facing DH and the Peter Falk/Katey Sagal movie will kill this movie. DH will probably outscore all the other 9pm shows combined, again.

spunkygirl · 11-28-2004, 11:59 PM

I guess it's a good thing I missed it then

Brian Damage · 11-29-2004, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lola Dane
I guess it's a good thing I missed it then

It was....just plain awful.

MistyDoll · 11-29-2004, 10:38 AM

I watched it lastnight and thought it was a fairly good adaptation of the Dickens Classic!
Kelsey's Scrooge was entertaining and his singing was up to par with the rest of the cast! Jane Krawkowski was simply Stunning as Ghost of Christmas Past and her flying scene with Scrooge looked right out of Peter Pan!
Jessie L. Martin is also very likeable as Ghost of Christm,as Present and has a really good singing voice! Overall, I really enjoyed it and wouldn't mind watching it again!

11-24-2004, 09:49 AM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Bah! Humbug! Grammer Plays Scrooge http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D86I8KD01.html Bah! Humbug! Grammer Plays Scrooge LOS ANGELES (AP) - Kelsey Grammer had to practice scowling in front of a mirror to appear convincing as Ebenezer Scrooge. "I'm so prone to just opening up my face - I have a very open, available face and Scrooge is so closed off," says the actor best known as Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC comedy classics "Cheers" and "Frasier." Sitting in his office on the Paramount lot, where for two decades he played the neurotically needy psychiatrist, Grammer briefly illustrates the mean, scrunched visage required for Scrooge, Charles Dickens' famous miser in "A Christmas Carol." Then he immediately snaps back to himself, laughing, eyes wide, head thrown slightly back in his natural effusive manner. It was Grammer's wife, Camille, who told him to keep his face "constricted." He knew he had to follow her advice to avoid his "own sense of compassion bleeding through" prematurely before Scrooge becomes a nicer person. "What I enjoyed most about Kelsey was the relish with which he attacks his work," says Arthur Allan Seidelman, who directed this musical version of the seasonal classic airing 9 p.m. EST Sunday on NBC. The two-hour movie is based on the Madison Square Garden stage production, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Also showcasing their musical talents are other TV stars: Jason Alexander (of "Seinfeld" and now "Listen Up") is Scrooge's business partner, Marley, one of several ghosts who pay a visit to the miser on Christmas Eve; Jane Krakowski (from "Ally McBeal") floats in as the luminous Ghost of Christmas Past; Jesse L. Martin (Detective Green on "Law & Order)" is the highly theatrical Ghost of Christmas Present; Jennifer Love Hewitt ("Party of Five") plays Scrooge's lost love, Emily. Additionally, Geraldine Chaplin is the foreboding Ghost of Christmas Future, who leads Scrooge to his own grave - at which no one mourns. When first approached about the project some four years ago, Grammer was lukewarm about tackling the classic part played by so many others on stage and screen since Dickens penned his self-described "ghostly little book" in 1843. But with his 20-year stint as Frasier Crane coming to a close earlier this year, he reconsidered. Grammer says his favorite version of the Scrooge tale is the highly comedic 1962 cartoon "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol," starring the nearsighted bumbler voiced by Jim Backus. Seidelman's favorite is the 1951 British film version starring Alastair Sim. More recently, George C. Scott played Scrooge in a 1984 TV movie and Patrick Stewart took a turn in 1999. Both star and director believe the newest adaptation reveals the good heart that still beats within the cold curmudgeon, even at his flintiest moments. "You really get under the skin, you really see the hurt and the pain and the horrible circumstances of his earlier life that caused his heart to close," says Seidelman. "I don't know if Dickens would herald the story as his greatest achievement, but it turned out to be," says Grammer. "It's the most simply human story that he wrote. It's about the power of love." Grammer, 49, says his own natural tendency as "a vocal guy" keeps his singing voice fresh. An early voice teacher had hopes he might become an opera singer, but Grammer felt otherwise. "I thought I don't quite have all the notes that those guys have. I don't have the discipline and it's so specifically focused that I thought to myself, 'I am always going to be a better actor than I am a singer.'" He was in a workshop production of the musical "Sunday in the Park with George" when he read for the guest role of Crane in "Cheers." "It was a fairly utility role to break apart Sam and Diane, but I thought I could breathe some life into it. I got a couple of extra laughs that they weren't expecting. I think writers in television delight when they have a gift of an actor's imagination on top of their own. They go, 'My goodness that's something I hadn't thought of.'"

11-24-2004, 11:25 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	The NY Daily News was a little unkind in their review. They only gave it a *1/2.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

11-26-2004, 11:47 AM	#4
Petrie Malone Former Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 20, 2003 Location: PIB Posts: 510	I'm looking forward to watching this. It will be good to see Kelsey on TV again. The music should be good too... I've heard of the composer and lyricist before. They both write good musical theatre music!
	__________________ Proud member (not a lurker) of PIB message boards!

11-28-2004, 12:07 PM	#6
Chambers The Crane Trinity Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 27, 2004 Location: Where everybody knows a Crane. Posts: 5,427	Oh dear. TV conflict. Maybe I'll watch the ending.
	__________________ Member of the "God, Lilith is so ing cool" Fan Club Where everybody knows your tossed salads and scrambled eggs. FREEDOM OF THOUGHT blank

11-24-2004, 02:36 PM	#3
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Can't wait to see it

11-28-2004, 09:45 AM	#5
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	I have to record this while I watch Desperate Housewives and Boston Legal. It starts at 9, right?

11-28-2004, 11:40 PM	#9
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	I love Kelsey Grammer and all, but I hate this movie. Grammer is just not believable as Scrooge and the music is pretty lame. I like the original Carol musical with Albert Finney better.

11-28-2004, 11:59 PM	#13
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I guess it's a good thing I missed it then

11-29-2004, 10:38 AM	#15
MistyDoll JohnRitter:1948-2003 Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 08, 2003 Location: Jack's Bistro Posts: 288	I watched it lastnight and thought it was a fairly good adaptation of the Dickens Classic! Kelsey's Scrooge was entertaining and his singing was up to par with the rest of the cast! Jane Krawkowski was simply Stunning as Ghost of Christmas Past and her flying scene with Scrooge looked right out of Peter Pan! Jessie L. Martin is also very likeable as Ghost of Christm,as Present and has a really good singing voice! Overall, I really enjoyed it and wouldn't mind watching it again!