Kelsey Grammer Movies
For better or worse, leading actor Kelsey Grammer's name will probably forever be associated with the pompous, garrulous, and self-absorbed but lovable psychiatrist Frasier Crane, a character Grammer has played on television since he first appeared on the NBC sitcom Cheers, in 1984, as a love interest for Shelley Long. Though Frasier was not intended to become a series regular, Grammer's performance of the blowhard neurotic charmed audiences and he remained with Cheers through its 1993 demise. At the beginning of the 1993-1994 television season, Grammer's character was resurrected in his own show and moved from Boston to Seattle, where he became a radio psychologist and faced a whole slew of folks just waiting to poke metaphorical pins in his hot air balloon. Thanks to excellent performances and top-notch writing, Frasier became as big a hit as its predecessor. Grammer won three Emmy awards and has been nominated for an unprecedented seven more (twice for Cheers, once for his guest appearance on a 1992 episode of Wings, four times for Frasier).Born on St. Thomas, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Grammer knew extreme tragedy in youth. Following the shooting death of his father when he was a boy, he was raised in New Jersey and then Florida, by his mother and grandfather. His grandfather died before Grammer became a teen. When he was 20, his sister was abducted and violently murdered. Five years later, he lost two half brothers in a diving accident. As a young man, Grammer found comfort in Shakespeare; with his acting debut in a high school production of The Little Foxes came an interest in pursuing drama as a career. He enrolled in Juilliard, but dropped out after two years to work at San Diego's Old Globe Theater, where he gained three years' invaluable experience performing in Shakespearean and classical dramas; afterward, Grammer performed in productions across the country. He eventually made it to Broadway, where he appeared in various productions, including Othello.
Prior to playing Frasier, Grammer appeared occasionally on television and had regular roles in three soap operas, including One Life to Live. He continues to occasionally guest star on other series. Fans of the animated satire The Simpsons will recognize his periodic voice characterization as the venomous Sideshow Bob. Miniseries and telemovies in which he has appeared include London Suite and Beyond Suspicion. Grammer made his feature film debut with a small role in Top of the Hill (1989) and had his first starring role in the much-panned comedy Down Periscope (1996). In addition to his Emmy kudos, Grammer has received an American Comedy Award, two Golden Globes, and a People's Choice Award. In 1995, he published his autobiography So Far. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Fox's Back to You was a tailor-made vehicle for two sitcom favorites, Frasier's Kelly Grammer and Everybody Loves Raymond's Patricia Heaton. Grammer was cast as vainglorious TV news anchor Chuck Darling, who after publicly humiliating himself with an internet tirade lost his job with a prestigious big-market station, and found himself right back where he started at Pittsburgh's WURG-TV. While Chuck had been away from Pittsburgh, his former co-anchor Kelly Carr (Heaton) had become a star and "news diva" in her own right. Now Chuck and Kelly were forcibly teamed again by the WURG management, and neither was happy over the arrangement. Much of the series' humor arose from the backstage squabbling between these two giant egos, which often focused on Chuck's reputation as a womanizer and Kelly's habit of playing "Ms. Know-It-All". Like most sitcoms of this nature, Back to You boasted a large supporting ensemble: Josh Gad as neurotic news director Ryan Church, Fred Willard as dunderhead sports anchor Marsh McGinley, Ayda Field as well-endowed weatherperson Montana Stevens, Ty Burrell as accident-prone field reporter Gary Crezyewski (pronounced Kre-Shoov-Ski), and Laura Marano as Kelly's 10-year-old daughter Gracie. Originally titled Action News, Back to You made its network bow on September 19, 2007. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, (more)
- 2006
One of two football-themed series of the 2006-2007 TV season (the other was Friday Night Lights, CW's The Game was a spinoff of the old WB network's long-running Girlfriends. Tia Mowry starred as Melanie Barnett, a Johns Hopkins med student who transferred to a smaller college in San Diego, California, the better to be near her football-player boyfriend Derwin Davis (Pooch Hall), a member of the "San Diego Sabers." Though not technically a "football wife", Melanie soon became an honorary member of that hardy sorority, quickly learning the ins and outs of NFL protocol and intrigue. Refreshingly, she refused to be merely Derwin's "arm ornament", remaining her own person with her own ambitions and dealing with the other football players on her level rather than theirs. Melanie's best friend was Tasha Mack (Wendy Raquel Robinson, the single mother and self-appointed business manager of her irresponsible quarterback son Malick Wright (Hosea Chanchez). Also on deck were interracial couple Kelly and Jason Pitts (Brittany Daniel, Coby Bell); as the white "trophy wife" of a black player, Kelly spent much of her time overcoming the prejudice of certain other Sabers and coping with her cheapskate (and possibly unfaithful) husband. Getting off to a rocky start with an unsatisfactory pilot film which had to be completely scrapped, The Game finally debuted on October 1, 2006. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Lost's Jorje Garcia stars alongside Nathan Stevens and Cameron Richardson in this comedy about a rebellious high school sophomore whose life crumbles into chaos after his best friend is accused of murder. The year is 1976, and high school sophomore Jay Skibness is perfectly content to hang out with good friends, listen to good music, and smoke good reefer. But when Jay's best friend is linked to the murder of a kid from a rival clique, the laid back teen finds his conscience in direct conflict with his sense of character. His best friend consumed by guilt, Jay gradually begins forms a bond with free spirited beauty Wendy. Wendy sees Jay as dangerous, and as the two grow closer Jay quickly realizes that both his loyalties and lifestyle are rapidly shifting. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nathan Stevens, Cameron Richardson, (more)
- 2004
Bidding goodbye to Charlotte as she prepares to take a train to an out-of-town convention, Frasier is heartbroken when she reveals her intention to break off their relationship and return to Chicago. Events take an unexpected turn as Charlotte repeatedly misses her train at a succession of stations. Ultimately, the couple ends up in the remote farmhouse of a strange but likeable family who is preparing for their mother's wake -- with "mom" still very much in attendance. And back in Seattle, a case of mistaken identity involving a striptease artist and a physical therapist wreaks havoc on the lives of Niles (David Hyde Pierce), Martin (John Mahoney), and Daphne (Jane Leeves). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
In flashback, a terrified Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) tells Niles (David Hyde Pierce) that he may have committed a crime. It all begins when Roz (Peri Gilpin) fields a call from a listener who suffers from kleptomania. The ensuing chain of events leads to Frasier's elderly neighbor, Opal (Estelle Parsons), a purloined box, and a truly surprising surprise party. Bernadette Birkit, the wife of Kelsey Grammer's former Cheers co-star George Wendt, appears as Janelle, while another well-known performer delivers the series' very last "guest" phone call. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
This episode marks the return of Frasier's first wife (even before Lilith!), children's entertainer Nanny G, a role played by Emma Thompson on Cheers, and Dina Waters in an earlier Frasier but herein essayed by Laurie Metcalf of Roseanne fame. Having arranged for Roz (Peri Gilpin) and her daughter Alice (Ashley Thomas) to get tickets for one of Nanny G's sold-out concerts, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) tags along, wondering if he will be able to romantically reconnect with his former wife. The results are surprising -- and not a little unsettling. Meanwhile, Niles (David Hyde Pierce) comes to grief trying to conceal an expensive purchase from his frugal spouse Daphne (Jane Leeves). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Felicity Huffman makes her first series appearance as Julia Wilcox, KACL's new financial analyst. The abrasive, condescending Julia rubs everyone the wrong way, but Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) -- who can be pretty abrasive and condescending himself -- believes she's merely insecure. He extends the hand of friendship, only to have the nasty Julia nearly bite it off. Thus spruned, Frasier expresses his outrage to everyone -- which merely confirms their belief that he had a crush on Julia. The situation culminates with threats of a harrassment suit and a remarkable revelation. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Felicity Huffman, Dan Butler, (more)
- 2003
When Niles (David Hyde Pierce) partners up with someone other than Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) for their club's squash tournament, Frasier teams with Chelsea Gray (Jeanne Tripplehorn), a sexy phys-ed teacher. At the end of the tournament, Martin is delighted that at last one of his sons has won a trophy -- but the other son, Niles, is not. As for Chelsea, Frasier wonders if his lifelong terror of P.E. instructors will ruin his chances at romance. This is the classic episode in which actor Bob Hoskins repeatedly materializes on the shoulders of guest star Jeanne Tripplehorn. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bob Hoskins, Jeanne Tripplehorn, (more)
- 2003
Worried over financial difficulties, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) heads to his favorite hangout, the Café Nervosa, only to have his teeth set on edge by a bizarre folksinger named Ben (Elvis Costello!). Vowing never to return to the café until Ben is fired -- and dragging Niles (David Hyde Pierce) along with him -- Frasier seeks out another out-of-the-way spot he can call his own. In the process he spots his co-worker Julia (Felicity Huffman) in a passionate embrace with his accountant Avery McManus (John Hannah) -- who happens to be married. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elvis Costello, Felicity Huffman, (more)
- 2003
Roz (Peri Gilpin) cannot help but be amazed how much Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has in common with his late mother's research assistant Leland Barton (David Ogden Stiers). Can it possibly be that Leland and not Martin (John Mahoney) is Frasier's father? Roz investigates and gets some unsettling information from Martin that seems to confirm her suspicions. But as things turn out, Leland has a different surprise for everyone. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David Ogden Stiers, Linden Chiles, (more)
- 2003
Though she has decided to leave Seattle for a better job out of town, Roz (Peri Gilpin) begins having second thoughts about bidding farewell to Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) -- especially since he is drawing ever closer to the mercurial Julia Wilcox (Felicity Huffman). This state of affairs leads to two different showdowns, while a third is in the offing as Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) square off against Daphne's meddlesome mother (Millicent Martin). This was the final episode of Frasier's tenth season. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Felicity Huffman, Millicent Martin, (more)
Barbie of Swan Lake is the third direct-to video computer-animated feature starring a CGI Barbie, following Barbie in the Nutcracker and Barbie as Rapunzel. In this loose adaptation of the Tchaikovsky ballet, Barbie appears as Odette, a young girl who follows a unicorn into a forest. Kelsey Grammer voices the evil wizard Rothbart, the London Symphony Orchestra provides the music and the New York City Ballet is responsible for the choreography. Recommended for kids ages three to eight. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelly Sheridan, Kelsey Grammer, (more)
- 2003
Established in 1905 for the encouragement and nurturing of young talent, the New York-based conservatory Juilliard has boasted such stellar alumni as Kevin Kline, Wynton Marsalis, Robin Williams, Christopher Reeve, Christine Baranski, Laura Linney, and Kelsey Grammer -- not to mention such distinguished instructors as Walter Damrosch and John Houseman. Produced in conjunction with a book about the celebrated conservatory, this two-hour TV documentary focuses on four contemporary Juilliard students: Jeffrey Carlson (acting), Abdur-Rahim Jackson (dance), Elizabeth Morgan (piano), and Sarah Wolfson (voice). In fine PBS tradition, the footage of the chosen foursome studying, practicing, succeeding, and sometimes falling short of their goals is counterbalanced with interviews of famous Juilliard grads (as well as some current celebrities who were unceremoniously invited to leave the conservatory). Juilliard was originally telecast as an episode of PBS' American Masters anthology. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
Introduced as a component of other cable cartoon series, the animated Gary the Rat graduated to solo, half-hour status on June 26, 2003. Kelsey Grammer provided the voice of the titular Gary Andrews, a slimy, amoral Manhattan attorney who in fine Kafkaesque fashion awoke one morning to find himself transformed into a six-foot rat. As Gary tried his best to carry on a normal life in rodent form, Truman Pinksdale, a disgruntled tenant in Gary's expensive apartment building, hired psycho exterminator Johnny Bugz to destroy our hero. Gary the Rat originally premiered as part of "The Strip," a two-hour block of adult cartoon series seen on TNN after its conversion into a macho, male-oriented cable service, Spike TV. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Kelsey Grammer, Robb Cullen, (more)
- 2003
Maris' murder case has made celebrities out of Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves), and they are luxuriating in the attention and special perks lavished upon him. Seething with jealousy, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) hopes to shift media attention back to himself by winning not one but two SeaBee awards. It is during the award ceremony that the long-suffering Roz (Peri Gilpin) finally gets even with her hyper-judgemental, all-too-perfect sister, Denise (Suzanne Cryer). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
In the first episode of a two-part story, the never-seen but omnipresent Maris comes back into the life of her ex-husband Niles (David Hyde Pierce) -- but only to get some free advice on how to handle her current lover, a libidinous Latino with a violent temper. The "fun" really begins when Niles resorts to subterfuge to prevent Maris from confronting the pregnant Daphne (Jane Leeves), who has been experiencing some rather spectacular mood swings. In the end, it is poor Frasier (Kelsey Grammer), already skittish about returning to private practice, who tries to come to Niles and Maris' rescue -- and nearly gets killed in the process. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
To prove to Niles (David Hyde Pierce) that he doesn't deliberately go out of his way to sabotage his own romances, Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) vows to regain the affections of Julia (Felicity Huffman). As the man said, "love is blind", and Frasier remains sublimely oblivious to Julia's innumerable faults. All this changes, however, when Julia shoots off her big mouth at the party where Daphne (Jane Leeves) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) had planned to make their big annoucement about Daphne's pregnancy. This episode originally aired the same night as Frasier's 11th-season opener, "No Sex Please, We're Skittish." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
News flash! Both Crane brothers are nervous Nellies this week. Niles is getting more anxious than ever about his impending fatherhood, while Frasier worries that after years of radio work he is no longer qualified for private practice. The brothers' spirits are given a lift when they are reacquainted with their childhood babysitter, Ronee Lawrence (Wendie Malick in her first series appearance), who has matured from a sexy teenager to a voluptuous, sharp-witted lounge singer. But as Frasier and Niles vie for Ronee's attentions, they find they have an unexpected romantic rival -- their own father, Martin (John Mahoney). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2003
The 11th and final season of Cheers begins as Roz (Peri Gilpin) returns to Seattle radio station KACL claiming that she is unhappy with her new job. Before long, however, it has become obvious that she has come back in hopes that Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) has given up his new girlfriend, the beautiful but terminally tactless Julia (Felicity Huffman). Before this situation comes to a head during a tumultuous dinner date, our attentions have been briefly deflected to the efforts by Niles (David Hyde Pierce) and Daphne (Jane Leeves) to start a family. As Niles nervously considers experimenting with a "performance-enhancing" drug, Daphne prepares to spring a surprise on everyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Although it was common knowledge in the industry that the eleventh season of Frasier would be its last, NBC did not make a formal declaration of the series' cancellation until late December of 2003. The decision had largely been made by star Kelsey Grammer, who had been playing the role of psychiatrist Frasier Crane for nearly 20 years (counting the character's previous tenure on Cheers) and felt it was time to move on. Truth to tell, the series had been declining in viewereship and quality over the past few seasons, but season eleven made up for its recent shortcomings with some of the best Frasier episodes ever.
The first installment picked up where season 12 left off, with Frasier's former producer Roz (Peri Gilpin) returning to radio station KACL, ostensibly because she didn't like her new job but actually because she hoped that Frasier would dump his latest amour, the beautiful but tactless Julia Wilcox (Felicity Huffman). This he did, only to enter into another bumpy relationship with Charlotte (Laura Linney), the owner of a failing matchmaking service. Whether Frasier and Charlotte would remain together or whether she would cut things off and return to Chicago was a major source of comic suspense throughout the season. Elsewhere on the romantic front Frasier's recently married brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), was anxious to start a family with his cheerful cockney bride Daphne (Jane Leeves), who was still employed as part-time caregiver for Frasier and Niles' ex-policeman dad, Martin (John Mahoney). Inevitably Daphne became pregnant, a plot development cooked up to accommodate the real-life pregnancy of actress Jane Leeves. This being a sitcom, the nine-month gestation was fraught with anxiety, not least of which involved Niles' former wife Maris, who though still an unseen presence managed to raise a ruckus by killing her hot-blooded lover Esteban. In fact, ex-wives dictated several Frasier scenarios during Season Eleven, with Frasier having memorable confrontations with both his first wife, children's entertainer Nanny G (here played by Laurie Metcalf), and his second spouse, domineering psychiatrist Lilith Sternin (who else but Bebe Neuwirth?). Also appearing was the issue of the Frasier- Lilith marriage, their son Frederick, played this time around by Trevor Einhorn. The most surprising amorous development during this season, sixtysomething Martin Crane fell in love with sexy lounge singer Ronee Lawrence (Wendie Malick), who as a teenager had been Frasier and Niles' babysitter! Ultimately, Martin proposed to the much-younger Ronee, setting a wedding date for July -- which thanks to a last-minute snafu had to be bumped up to May, coincidentally just in time for the birth of Daphne's baby. Frasier's final episode, the 60-minute "Goodnight, Seattle," may well enter the annals of TV history as the series finale to end all series finales. It took some doing, but this episode managed to incorporate virtually every "Last Show" cliché known to man, setting each one of them on its ear with a clever and unexpected twist: The chaotic wedding where everything that could go wrong does go wrong, the heroine going into labor at the wrong time in the wrong place, the leading man facing a profound change of job and location, and a "will they or won't they?" romantic entanglement -- all wrapped into a neat and hilarious package and topped off with a surprise ending. Just as in its glory days, Frasier bade farewell to its fans by garnering a whole new crop of Emmy awards, including honors for series regulars Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce and guest star Laura Linney, as well as statuettes for Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series, Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing, and Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The first installment picked up where season 12 left off, with Frasier's former producer Roz (Peri Gilpin) returning to radio station KACL, ostensibly because she didn't like her new job but actually because she hoped that Frasier would dump his latest amour, the beautiful but tactless Julia Wilcox (Felicity Huffman). This he did, only to enter into another bumpy relationship with Charlotte (Laura Linney), the owner of a failing matchmaking service. Whether Frasier and Charlotte would remain together or whether she would cut things off and return to Chicago was a major source of comic suspense throughout the season. Elsewhere on the romantic front Frasier's recently married brother, Niles (David Hyde Pierce), was anxious to start a family with his cheerful cockney bride Daphne (Jane Leeves), who was still employed as part-time caregiver for Frasier and Niles' ex-policeman dad, Martin (John Mahoney). Inevitably Daphne became pregnant, a plot development cooked up to accommodate the real-life pregnancy of actress Jane Leeves. This being a sitcom, the nine-month gestation was fraught with anxiety, not least of which involved Niles' former wife Maris, who though still an unseen presence managed to raise a ruckus by killing her hot-blooded lover Esteban. In fact, ex-wives dictated several Frasier scenarios during Season Eleven, with Frasier having memorable confrontations with both his first wife, children's entertainer Nanny G (here played by Laurie Metcalf), and his second spouse, domineering psychiatrist Lilith Sternin (who else but Bebe Neuwirth?). Also appearing was the issue of the Frasier- Lilith marriage, their son Frederick, played this time around by Trevor Einhorn. The most surprising amorous development during this season, sixtysomething Martin Crane fell in love with sexy lounge singer Ronee Lawrence (Wendie Malick), who as a teenager had been Frasier and Niles' babysitter! Ultimately, Martin proposed to the much-younger Ronee, setting a wedding date for July -- which thanks to a last-minute snafu had to be bumped up to May, coincidentally just in time for the birth of Daphne's baby. Frasier's final episode, the 60-minute "Goodnight, Seattle," may well enter the annals of TV history as the series finale to end all series finales. It took some doing, but this episode managed to incorporate virtually every "Last Show" cliché known to man, setting each one of them on its ear with a clever and unexpected twist: The chaotic wedding where everything that could go wrong does go wrong, the heroine going into labor at the wrong time in the wrong place, the leading man facing a profound change of job and location, and a "will they or won't they?" romantic entanglement -- all wrapped into a neat and hilarious package and topped off with a surprise ending. Just as in its glory days, Frasier bade farewell to its fans by garnering a whole new crop of Emmy awards, including honors for series regulars Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce and guest star Laura Linney, as well as statuettes for Outstanding Art Direction for a Multi-Camera Series, Outstanding Multi-Camera Picture Editing, and Outstanding Multi-Camera Sound Mixing. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 2002
Frasier (Kelsey Grammer) and Niles (David Hyde Pierce) embark upon a sentimental journey as they visit their childhood home. But amidst all the nostalgia, the Crane boys unearth a few clues to what may have been a murder. Suddenly, Frasier and Niles forget all about their own past as they try to "reconstruct" what they think is the Crime of the Century -- assuming that any such crime occurred in any century. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ashley Thomas, Cameron Bowen, (more)
