It’s the role that made everyone know his name. For nearly 40 years,Kelsey Grammer’s portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane has been celebrated and beloved by fans around the world. Originally a reoccurring role on the NBC mega-hitCheers, the character was only meant to last a few episodes. Instead, he went on to become a series regular for the remainder of the show’s 11-season run before spinning off into his own series,Frasier, for an additional 11 years.All these years later, Grammer even returned to the role in aFrasierrevival on Paramount+.However, the multi-series run, the awards, and the all-around success that follows the good, yet pompous doctor, almost belonged to beloved starJohn Lithgow, until disinterest and a particularly silent audition changed the trajectory of both the character and the star that brought him to life.
Dr. Frasier Crane, a celebrated radio talk show host, moves back to his hometown of Seattle after years of living in Boston. He lives with his father, Martin, a retired cop, and is frequently visited by his brother, Niles, and their eccentric housekeeper, Daphne. Each episode delves into Frasier’s attempts to juggle his career, love life, and the often chaotic, but always loving, relationships with his family and friends.
‘Cheers’ Success Paved the Way for ‘Frasier'
The success ofFrasier’s parent series,Cheers, cannot be understated. The series finale still ranks among themost watched of all time. Audiences were drawn in by the relatable setting, lovable characters, and, most of all, by the will-they-won’t-they romance of bar owner Sam Malone, portrayed byTed Danson, and an aspiring writer in the role of waitress, Diane Chambers played byShelley Long. During the show’s third season, a new character was thrown into their romantic mix, a psychiatrist by the name of Dr. Frasier Crane.Producers approached Frasier as a character that would bring a new dynamic to the relationship between the series' leads.Written as Diane’s intellectual significance, Frasier began as an antagonist of sorts for Sam. Fans would not have to worry long, though. According toCheerswriterKen Levine’sBlog, Frasier was only going to hang around for six out of the season’s 25 episodes. Already, producers had the perfect man in mind for the short arc.
While creating the character of Frasier Crane, the producers ofCheershad their sights set on belovedTerms of Endearmentstar, John Lithgow. Therole had been written specifically for the famed character actor. However, there was one problem. According to an interview withThe Guardian, Lithgow was not interested. He would later recall that he thought the role was beneath him and did not particularly care for the character in general. Lithgow was also a big name, thus such a job was not needed at the time. The same could not be said for another actor across the country, struggling to find a break.
Mandy Patinkin Suggested Kelsey Grammer for Frasier
A Julliard graduate, Kelsey Grammer spent his early years working on the stage.Not long after leaving school, he interned at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, before making his Broadway debut in a 1981 production ofMacbeth. Poor press for his first big stage outing caused Grammer to depart the production early. He would return to the stage the following year in a major revival ofOthellothat starredJames Earl JonesandChristopher Plummer. While the production proved more successful, sharing the bill with the two major stars did not provide Grammer with the break for which he was looking. It was a pace at which he continued for the next year, taking roles at the Public Theatre and joining a demo recording ofStephen Sondheim’sSunday in the Park with George. The latter would provide a reunion with former Julliard cohortMandy Patinkinand set the stage for Grammer’s long-sought-after success.
What the Hell Does ‘Frasier’s Theme Song Even Mean?
Tossed salad and scrambled eggs?! Huh?
Patinkin, no stranger to multimedia stardom, suggested Grammer to the New York-based casting agent tasked withfilling the role of Frasier. Though a short arc, a role on a hit show such asCheerscould be exactly the break Grammer had been after. There was another problem, though.When Grammer auditioned for the show in front of a group of 20 people, nobody laughed.The room throughout his reading was void of any reaction.In an article fromGQ, Kelsey Grammer recalled thinking: “I’m done. I blew this completely.” He further remembered thanking everyone before leaving with, “I’m going to go and see if I can get some laughs out on the street.” Grammer needn’t worry, though. Shortly after the audition, producers sent him a bottle of champagne with a note that read “Welcome toCheers.” Per GQ, Grammer’s costar and series love interest Shelley Long remembered reading with Grammer and another actor up for the part, but to her, it was no contest, claiming, “It was so obviously Kelsey.”
Viewers agreed with Long. Grammer’s portrayal of Frasier garnered a strong audience response. While the character may have been written as Sam’s foe,Frasier soon became one of the most popular characterson the show. As time went on, the character became increasingly tailored to Grammer.The actor’s Julliard training and Shakespearean history crafted the character’s refined, often arrogant manner, while Grammer’s humble success up to that point and down-to-earth nature helped influence the more relatable and likable elements. These elements coupled with the public praise for Grammer changed the character completely from what had been written for Lithgow and paved the way for the Frasier that audiences know and continue to love today.
The ‘Cheers’ Spinoff ‘Frasier’ Was a Huge Success
Producers knew they had success with Kelsey Grammer, and by the end of his debut season ofCheers, he was promoted to series regular, a role he would maintain for the remaining eight seasons of the show’s run. He even outlasted love interest Diane Chambers whenShelley Long exitedCheersafter the Season 5 finale. Frasier would get a new love interest in Dr. Lilith Sternin, portrayed by another Broadway star turned to television,Bebe Neuwirth. The characters would eventually marry (and divorce) and have a son, Fredrick. Even afterCheersended its 11-season run in May 1993, Grammer was not done with Dr. Frasier Crane. The following fall,Frasierdebuted on NBC. Thespin-off won a record-breaking 37 Primetime Emmy Awards, four of which were rewarded to Grammerfor his performance. The series ended its run in May 2004.
Why ‘Cheers’ Has Aged Better Than Other ’80s Sitcoms
It’s been a while since the place where everybody knows your name opened its doors.
Nearly 20 years after Frasier wished Seattle goodnight, Kelsey Grammer returned for Paramount Plus’Frasierreboot in 2023. The new series finds Frasier back where it all began in Boston. Grammer’s refined and relatable approach to Frasier not only changed the fate of the character but defined record-breaking success that may have been missed had producers not taken a chance on the newcomer.Both Grammer and Frasier Crane have come a long way from their humble beginnings, andboth hope to keep audiences entertainedwith tossed salads and scrambled eggs for some time to come.
