Grammer happy to be back on TV with Back to You

[Brian Damage]

Kelsey Grammer is undaunted to be playing someone other than neurotic psychiatrist Frasier Crane.

The former Frasier and Cheers star will play a local TV news anchor in the new sitcom Back to You, co-starring Patricia Heaton as a rival newscaster.

“I like to think that, based on my knowledge of most television newscasting today, it has nothing to do with the news anyway,” Grammer said. “So I’m very happy to be just another performer pretending to be a performer.”

What makes his new character funny is that — like Frasier — he has a certain arrogance and comfort, however misplaced, in his abilities, Grammer said earlier this week at the summer meeting of the Television Critics Association.

“In terms of being interested in playing another character, I’m an actor,” Grammer said. “That’s what we do.”

Grammer played Frasier as long as he did, he says, only because the neurotic doc remained interesting to play.

“I’m thrilled to be back doing something I’m good at,” Grammer continued. “I like this. I’m also thrilled to be a father and a husband. The last few years, I’ve had a wonderful time. Life deals us different challenges. This is a new one. What would be wrong with doing three of the greatest television shows in history?”

For her part, Heaton is anxious — in an upbeat way — about her return to TV sitcoms after her long run in Everybody Loves Raymond.

“I didn’t realize Kelsey was actually in it until we finished shooting the pilot,” she said. “It’s usually all about me when I’m working. No, I’m kidding.”

“Atta girl,” Grammer said.

“Joy is a great word, when you’re talking about acting and you find a great part,” Heaton continued. “When we did the pilot, we were together for eight days, more or less, and it was a joy just to come in and laugh and create and find bits. It’s a great gig to have. I mean, Kelsey has children. I have kids. We are young enough to keep working, and someday that is going to stop, I guess.

“Until then, as an actor, if you find a project you love, why would you say no?”

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