Fans ofFrasierwere thrilled to see Kelsey Grammer return to the iconic role in a new series, also titledFrasier. He returns to his roots, moves to Boston to be with his son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott), and teaches psychology at Harvard. This comedy-drama boasts almost all-new characters, each of which makes a great addition to the series, but many of Grammer’s previous castmates return in cameo roles.
Kelsey Grammer initially playedFrasierin the seriesCheers, earning a spin-off in 1993, which followed him as he moved from Boston to Seattle to host a talk radio show. This is not the first role that Grammer has reprised after many years, recently re-joining the X-Men as Beast in an end credit scene ofThe Marvels. Peri Gilpin briefly returned as Roz at the end ofFrasierseason 1, and will also be returning inFrasierseason 2, which premieres September 19, exclusively on Paramount+.
Frasier: 10 Biggest Differences Between The Revival Show & The Original
Frasier came back last year with a revival series on Paramount+, and the reboot does a lot of things differently than the classic original show.
Screen Rantinterviewed Kelsey Grammer and Peri Gilpin to talkall thingsFrasierseason 2. Grammer admits he never thought he would return toFrasier, while Gilpin says she always thought she would. Grammer confesses which other character he would love to see return, while he and Gilpin explain what it is like to film in front of a live audience.
Kelsey Grammer & Peri Gilpin Love Filming In Front Of A Live Audience
“It’s the greatest job in Hollywood, honestly. It’s always for the audience.”
Screen Rant: What is it like for you to perform in front of a live audience?
Kelsey Grammer: Well, that’s the juice. I mean, that’s why you do it. It’s the greatest job in Hollywood, honestly. It’s always for the audience. It isn’t art unless there’s a set of eyes looking at it, that aren’t involved. And we get that immediate feedback. It’s the roar, the grease paint, the smell of the crowd thing. It’s instant, and it’s so exciting to do that. It’s the perfect combination of camera work with live theater. That’s what I think drives all the people who have made their living in sitcom. I think that’s what drives them crazy because it’s the only place that really feels right. It’s such a great medium.
Peri Gilpin: Well, you work up to it. The whole goal is to make it presentable to an audience. Something that they can enjoy and take part in by responding, especially with comedy. When you do comedy in single camera, no one can respond. You really don’t know what works and what doesn’t, but there you get the immediate reaction - or not. But that’s why you’re doing that. They’re like the final character. They’re so happy that they’re there, and you may’t wait to show them, and you can’t wait to do the scene for them. It’s the goal.
Kelsey Grammer: Yeah, it is. It’s all for them. It’s all for them.
Kelsey Grammer Never Thought He Would Return To Frasier Before The Reboot
“I abandoned it. I was happy to. I went on and did some really fun and interesting things.”
Screen Rant: WhenFrasierended, did you ever think you would return to this role?
Kelsey Grammer: I did not think so. I remember having a chat with Jeff Zucker at the end of the 11th season, and he said, “What do you think? You think you could do a couple more?” And I said, “Yeah, we can do a couple more.” I could because he’s as interesting as life is itself. Unless you’re bored with life, you don’t really get bored with playing a character. I suppose if the character was just in a procedural drama, you might get bored and say, no, thanks. I don’t want to do that anymore. But Frasier has a lot of notes, and he plays a lot of notes. He plays from funny to sad, to tragic, to comedic. He touches them all, and it’s always about love. So how could you get bored of that in life? I mean, that is life. That’s what we’re here for. To carve out our niche in the world of love. To build Eden. To make our garden.
Anyway, I had said to Jeff, “Yes, we could.” And then Paramount let all the writers go anyway, and so it just didn’t happen at that time. So I abandoned it. I was happy to. I went on and did some really fun things and really interesting things. A lot of theater and a couple of film roles that were kind of fun and caught on a little bit. And when Roseanne started her show again, which is now what, seven or eight years ago, isn’t it? There was such a great response. And I thought, that’s a contemporary of ours. And it’s a format that I, of course, love and people seemed ready to respond to it again. We started talking seriously about doing Frasier and found some willing ears, some not so willing, and then finally forced it down their throats.
Roz Is Peri Gilpin’s Favorite Character She Has Ever Played
“I always weirdly thought I might play Roz again.”
Screen Rant: What has it been like for you, Peri, to revisit Roz?
Peri Gilpin: Fantastic.It’s so fun. It’s a dream. I always sort of weirdly thought I might play Roz again. I don’t know why. And it feels so good to revisit that character. It’s my favorite character I’ve ever played. I love all the things about her and I love playing her at this age and finding out what’s going on in her life now. It’s so fun.
Kelsey Grammer Has A Few Characters He Would Love To See Return
“We’ve targeted a couple. It’s probably not very wise of me to say them, but there’s a couple of really quirky ones, even.”
Screen Rant: Do you think there will be other characters and friends from the past returning?
Kelsey Grammer: Yeah, we’ve targeted a couple. It’s probably not very wise for me to say them, but there’s a couple of really quirky ones, even. I could probably say this. I just thought of this yesterday. I was at a place in New Jersey called Crystal Springs, that very few people know is the connection for the character Kirby. Kirby was Jean Smart’s son on the show. And he dated a girl who Niles and Frasier thought might be the heiress to the Mulvihill Wine Cellar. The Mulvihill Wine Cellar actually exists at Crystal Springs, so I think I may take Christopher Lloyd and the writers to a dinner there and attempt to figure out a way to make the Mulvihill Wine Cellar a thing on the show. I don’t know. It’s just something that came in my head, which won’t destroy anybody’s ideas of what the show should be.
I called Chris when I was there, when I actually went there. I called Christopher Lloyd and I said, “Why is it we talked about the Mulvihill Wine Cellar?” Because it is one of the greatest wine cellars in the world. It’s unbelievable. It’s an amazing story. David Lloyd, his dad, used to write for Carson. It’s one hour outside of Manhattan. Chris said, “I think my dad went there.” It was special 50 years ago. It’s really special now. It’s an amazing place. They have everything you can imagine. Every wine from anywhere in the world. I’ve never seen a place like it. The next time you’re in New York, go on out and check it out.
More About Frasier Season 2
The series follows Frasier Crane (Kelsey Grammer) in the next chapter of his life after he returns to Boston to face new challenges, forge new relationships and – with hope – finally fulfill an old dream or two.
Check out our other interviews with the cast and creatives ofFrasierseason 2:
Frasier
Cast
Follow Frasier Crane in the next chapter of his life as he returns to Boston, Mass., with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.
