Not all films’ box office wins are directly affected by when they are released, but there’s obviously a reason why studios behind upcoming horror movies tend to target October debuts, or why religious movies are usually released around Easter or Christmas. Something tells me Angel Studios’ execs were keenly aware of how big Young Washington could be with an Independence Day weekend release, as the historical drama fared even better than the initial expectations for the final box office totals.

What’s more, Young Washington’s big financial win sparked director Jon Erwin to hit up social media with huge news about what’s happening next at the studio, which we’ll get into lower down. First, we’re focusing on the huge turnout in theatrical screenings, complete with surprising demographic data for the 2026 movie release.

Young Washington Crushed Its Live-Action Competition At The Box Office

Young Washington tells the oft-bypassed story of George Washington’s early days in the U.S. military, with actor William Franklyn-Miller taking on the role of the United States’ first President, though several years before that leadership achievement was reached. Along with I Can Only Imagine helmer and Wonder Project CCO Jon Erwin behind the camera, the film also boasts a solid cast including Ben Kingsley, Mary-Louise Parker, Andy Serkis and Kelsey Grammer.

The cast and subject matter were definitely enough to draw moviegoers into theaters throughout the high-temperature July 4 weekend, with Young Washington rising up to become not only the biggest live-action debut for the holiday, but also Angel Studio’s most impressive live-action opening weekend, racking up $20.8 million and besting the industry’s $15 million projections. (It was only bested by the 2025 animated release David, which brought in $22 million in its first weekend.)

Contrast that with Angel Studio’s biggest hit to date, the 2023 trafficking thriller Sound of Freedom, which earned $19.6 million in its first three days of release. Of course, that film ended up doubling that amount over its next three days for an impressive six-day total of $41.6 million. Whether or not this pre-POTUS story will top that is unknown, but I'm sure getting recommendations from Chris Pratt can't hurt.

According to Deadline, the impressive $20.8 million haul was without higher-priced ticket prices for premium larger-format screens, and the bulk of that total (67%) was earned largely from regions in the middle of the country, as well as the South. Perhaps surprisingly, the most successful location showing Young Washington was a megaplex in Utah, where consumers spent more than $111,000 on tickets. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a huge part of that crowd (47%) was also 55 years of age and older.

Young Washington's Director Is Already Confirming A Sequel Is Happening

It looks like Angel and Wonder Project were already set to enjoy box office spoils going into Young Washington's first weekend, as Jon Erwin didn't even wait for the weekend numbers to surface before taking to Instagram to share some big news with all the people who went out to see it: a sequel is already in the works, and it's being touted as going even bigger, with a pretty specific time setting locked in. Here's what the filmmaker had to say when talking about all the screenings that took place before the official release:

Given how hectic and scaled-up the battle scenes are in Young Washington, it's assumed that the 1776-focused feature will go even harder on the size and scope, as well as the effects. Can't hate on big battle scenes that cast real human extras instead of digital fill-ins.

In Angel's press announcement celebrating Young Washington's box office victory, Erwin shares his own positive thoughts and hopes for the future, which has me wondering if the two studios will collaborate on future features centering on other historical icons. Here's how he put it:

If any new projects get announced in the coming weeks that are focusing entirely on Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, or Abraham Lincoln, I'm just going to assume Angel and Wonder Project are involved until proven otherwise. But we still have George Washington's later years to look forward to on the big screen, so the others can wait.

Young Washington is now playing in theaters around the country.

While Young Washington probably won’t be breaking any box office records when it’s released this weekend as part of the 2026 movie schedule, I think it’s flown under the radar for most people. There are some reasons, I believe, for that, which I’ll get into, but I’m still excited to see it, even if I’m admittedly a little wary of the production. There are two reasons, as a matter of fact, that have me excited, and one I’m nervous about how good the movie will be.

A Time In Washington’s Life That Isn’t Well Known And A Stellar Cast

What I’m most excited about is the time period that Young Washington is covering. While there are countless movies and TV shows about Washington’s time as the General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, and probably just as many about his time as the first President of the United States. Americans are also incredibly well-versed in the early life of George Washington, at least the cherry-tree story (which likely is more fable than fact).

However, there aren’t very many representations of Washington at the beginning of his army service. This historical film covers that, specifically his time as second-in-command of the Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War in the 1750s. Long before he would command the Continental Army against the British in the Revolution, he fought in the British army, famously making his bones on the (then) Western Frontier during the French and Indian War. This is a time period that is often glossed over, and I could be wrong, but I don’t remember a movie about this time.

The other reason I’m excited for the movie is the stellar cast. Washington is played by a newcomer whom I’m unfamiliar with, William Franklyn-Miller, but much of the cast is very well known. Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington, is played by Mary-Louise Parker. Robert Dinwiddie, the Brit running Virginia at the time, is played by Ben Kingsley. Andy Serkis is British General Edward Braddock, who was Washington’s superior, and Kelsey Grammer is playing Lord Fairfax, a prominent Virginian at the time. It all adds up to a pretty spectacular cast.

This Could Feel Like An Old TV Movie

I can’t say I’m without some doubt here. I’m specifically talking about the production company and the budget. The movie is produced by Angel Studios, which is a company that has, for the most part, concentrated on movies and TV shows with heavy Christian overtones. Angel’s best-known movie is 2023’s controversial Sound of Freedom, which was heavily criticized for its accuracy and the way it presented the true story of Tim Ballard.

That isn’t what I have an issue with, because not all of the company’s movies are heavy-handed, and I think faith-based stories can be as inspiring as anything else, if done well. What concerns me more (and something I’ve seen in early reviews) is the production quality. I couldn’t find a reliable report on Young Washington’s budget, but at least one review indicated that the CGI wasn’t exactly Avengers-level. I worry that this movie might be aspiring to something it is not. Still, overall, the early reviews have been mostly positive, so I’m excited to see it.

The Hunting Party's return in the 2026 TV schedule meant an influx of serial killers in primetime. Season 2 got off to a gruesome start with a Eric McCormack as a murderer, the leading lady getting kidnapped, and a surprisingly scary swarm of bunnies. Now, four episodes into the second season, Frasier's Kelsey Grammer is on the way to play a killer, described by star Melissa Roxburgh as "charming." But I didn't know Grammer from Frasier back in the '90s. To me, he was the lovable Vlad from 1997's Anastasia, so his murderous appearance on The Hunting Party should be an interesting experience!

The drama has been hyping Kelsey Grammer's arrival since the Season 2 trailer, less than a year after the cancellation of the Frasier revival on Paramount+. The trailer was enough to prove to me that Grammer's character was going to be consistent with the first season (now available streaming on Peacock) of The Hunting Party, but definitely not with Vlad, a comedic noble-turned-conman who takes the lost princess Anastasia under his wing in one of my all-time favorite princess movies that would later inspire a Broadway musical.

I'm pretty confident that his character on The Hunting Party won't be bursting into any rousing songs for erstwhile royals, but Melissa Roxburgh spoke with CinemaBlend about one way that Grammer's serial killer will be similar to the one played by another sitcom vet in the Season 2 premiere. She said:

The trailer for Grammer's episode previews that he's playing Noah Cyrus, a "narcissistic psychopath" who appears to be a cult leader. It will be the first episode after the break for NBC to switch over to the 2026 Winter Olympics. When I noted to Melissa Roxburgh that Grammer has quite a soothing voice, she responded:

While viewers will have to wait until late February to get a good look at how Noah Cyrus uses his charm to commit his crimes, the trailer is enough to justify why NBC has been hyping Kelsey Grammer's guest appearance all season. Take a look:

Vlad would never do that to Anastasia! In all seriousness, The Hunting Party has already packed in sone notable guest stars in Season 2, starting with Eric McCormack in the premiere. Niecy Nash followed in a later episode to play a detective, and Elizabeth Gillies played a rare female serial killer in the last episode before the break.

Tune in to NBC on Thursday, February 26 at 10 p.m. ET to catch Kelsey Grammer's version of The Hunting Party and see exactly why Melissa Roxburgh described the "narcissistic psychopath" from the trailer as "charming" as a killer. In the meantime, you can always revisit earlier episodes with a Peacock subscription. Per Deadline, the first season will arrive on Netflix as well on February 15.

On the other hand, less murder-filled hand: if you're looking for some lighter fare with musical numbers, a lovely romance, and a happy ending, let me direct you to the wonderful Anastasia! The movie boasts a voice cast including Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, and of course Kelsey Grammer. While not a Disney movie, you can find it streaming now with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps the public on their toes, thanks to new content arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature a huge cast of characters, including entire teams of superheroes. That includes stars of the X-Men movies like Kelsey Grammer, who described shooting the blockbuster in a way that would confuse even his genius character Beast.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is extremely limited, but folks who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order are excited for new character pairings. In an interview with ScreenRant, Grammer described shooting his role in the project, offering:

Yeah, that's pretty confusing. The Avengers: Doomsday cast announcement revealed just how many characters will appear, including multiple teams of superheroes. Fans are wondering how these crossovers will go down, and it sounds like even Grammer himself might not actually know. Because in addition to actors he actually filmed with, Beast will seemingly be interacting with others that weren't on set at the same time. Sounds like The Russo Brothers have another massive puzzle coming with the next two Avengers movies.

The Frasier star returned to the role of Beast in The Marvels' credits scene, where Monica Rambeau wakes up seemingly in another dimension... one where the X-Men exist. It was a shock, and beyond that cameo Grammer is expected to have a meaty role in Doomsday. Later in the same interview he described the MCU as:

Fans are curious to see how the X-Men factor into the story, especially since we're seeing so many familiar faces reprising their roles. In addition to Grammer, we'll also see the return of Patrick Stewart's Professor X, Ian McKellen's Magneto, James Marsden's Cyclops, Alan Cumming's Nightcrawler, Rebecca Romijn's Mystique, and Channing Tatum's Gambit. While the latter only just debuted in Deadpool & Wolverine, he'll finally get to become a full member of the team. But how many of these characters survive their encounter with Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom remains to be seen.

There have been some peaks and valleys in the MCU in recent years, so the pressure is on for The Russo Brothers to deliver and help breathe new life into the shared universe. The cast is a huge boon, especially with mutants involved.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18th of next year as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully we get information about how Kelsey Grammer and the X-Men will factor into the action sooner rather than later.

Next year is set to be a huge one for upcoming Marvel movies with the release of both Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday on the horizon. The latter is packed with so many MCU stars that the studio did a five-hour livestream just to announce the cast. Now, Kelsey Grammer (a.k.a. Beast) is the latest actor to be asked about the super secret project, and he actually gave us something.

Kelsey Grammer is set to reprise his X-Men role alongside Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Alan Cumming, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden in Doomsday, and we can’t wait. Here’s what went down when Entertainment Tonight asked him about the movie:

• Kelsey Grammer: "To come back as Beast -- I don't know how much I'm allowed to talk about -- but it was fun to interact with people I hadn't acted with before."
• Interviewer: "Who were you most geeked out to interact with?"
• Kelsey Grammer: "You know, Thor. I'm a big fan of Robert Downey Jr. I love him."
• Interviewer: "You get to share a scene?"
• Kelsey Grammer: "It's sort of sharing a scene. I can't, I don't wanna go too far. And I really had a great time with the new guy from Fantastic Four."
• Interviewer: "Pedro Pascal?"
• Kelsey Grammer: "Pedro, yeah, yeah...wonderful guy. I really, really enjoyed hanging out with him. And we worked together...some."
• Interviewer: "You shared a scene in some capacity?"
• Kelsey Grammer: "Yes."

From the sounds of it, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast is going to be right there with the main heroes of the Avengers! The actor was cautious in the interview, but seemed to indicate he got to work directly with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom and Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic. It’s great to hear the X-Men actor is intermingling with the other corners of the MCU as opposed to just sticking with the mutants.

As a fan, I can particularly see Beast and Mr. Fantastic sharing a scene together because they are both brilliant scientists. I wonder if they’ll have to put their heads together to figure out a way to defeat Downey’s Doctor Doom?

Kelsey Grammer first joined the MCU officially during the end credits scene of The Marvels, where Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau meets Beast in an alternate universe to hers, seemingly confirming that the X-Men movies are canon, just in a parallel universe. We also know that the Fantastic Four live in a parallel universe to the main MCU universe, which should also be different from the one the OG X-Men live in.

The current Marvel saga we’re in is called The Multiverse Saga, so I imagine the characters from various universes will all need to work together to defeat Doctor Doom. During Fantastic Four: The First Steps’ Doomsday tease at the end of the movie, it was suggested that Doctor Doom is specifically after Reed Richards and Sue Storm's son, Franklin Richards, who is revealed to be packing some serious power even as an infant.

The Fantastic Four will likely be very involved in getting Franklin back, of course, but we’re so curious how all these Avengers will link up across the multiverse. The Avengers: Doomsday release is just 13 months away, considering it's coming out on December 18, 2026 – we’ll be theorizing a lot until then.

We’re less than two weeks away from seeing Nicholas Hoult play Lex Luthor in James Gunn’s Superman, but anyone familiar with the actor knows this isn’t his first time acting in the superhero genre. He previously starred as Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in the First Class-era X-Men movies from 2011 to 2019, succeeding Kelsey Grammer in the role. Grammer is now set to play Beast again in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday, and Hoult shared his thoughts about the return and if he was ever called about appearing in this or any of the other upcoming Marvel movies.

Nicholas Hoult’s Excited To See Kelsey Grammer And More In Avengers: Doomsday

Back in March, Marvel unveiled the Avengers: Doomsday cast with a livestream that showed off the names of the participating actors on director’s chairs. Among the lineup was Patrick Stewart as Professor X, Ian McKellen as Magneto, Rebecca Romijn as Mystique, Alan Cumming as Nightcrawler and James Marsden as Cylcops, along with Channing Tatum reprising Gambit following his debut in Deadpool & Wolverine. Nicholas Hoult shared his reaction to the cast reveal as follows:

The X-Men film series launched in 2000 and helped popularize the superhero movie genre in Hollywood alongside the Blade and Spider-Man movies. In 2006, Kelsey Grammer appeared as Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand, with the character being depicted as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs. He later cameoed in X-Men: Days of Future Past, but that was the extent of his involvement with the franchise when 20th Century Fox had the film rights. Hoult continued to EW:

Avengers: Doomsday marks Kelsey Grammer’s second appearance in the MCU, as he made a surprise cameo as Beast in The Marvels’ end-credits scene two years ago. However, this is a different Beast than the one he previously played, with this version being an entirely CGI creation who lives in the same universe as the Maria Rambeau variant who goes by Binary. It remains to be seen if the Beast in Doomsday will be that version or yet another doppelgänger.

Did Marvel Call Nicholas Hoult About Avengers: Doomsday?

So Beast fans can look forward to the blue-furred mutant jumping back into action at the end of next year, but has Nicholas Hoult ever had discussions with Marvel Studios about reprising the character. He gave a simple, one-word response:

It doesn’t get any more cut and dry than that. In fact, none of the First Class-era X-Men actors have returned to their roles since the main film series ended in 2019 with Dark Phoenix. If the multiverse still factors into MCU storytelling after The Multiverse Saga ends, then maybe there will come a day when that changes. For now though, Hoult has enough to keep him busy on the superhero front playing Lex Luthor, because I doubt Superman will be the only time we see him in the DC Universe.

Superman arrives in theaters on July 11, and then Supergirl will keep the theatrical side of the DCU going with a June 26, 2026. Avengers: Doomsday bows in theaters on December 18, 2026, and then Avengers: Secret Wars will close out The Multiverse Saga on December 17, 2027.

Some actors, no matter how long their career or how great their talent, will forever be first known for one iconic TV role. This isn't an indictment of their careers at all. In fact, in many ways, it tells the whole story. They were so good at one particular role that no matter what, that's what people will think of first. To be sure, these are some of the best actors of their generations ,and they deserve praise for all their roles, but especially these.

Kelsey Grammer - Frasier Crane

For a total of an amazing 20 years, Kelsey Grammer has played Frasier Crane. First on Cheers, then on its spinoff Frasier, and again in the reboot of Frasier in the 2020s. There may be no more obvious actor to include on this list.

Mariska Hargitay - Olivia Benson

Mariska Hargitay is Hollywood royalty as the daughter of Jayne Mansfield, and she's carved out on heck out her own career playing Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has played since the end of the 20th Century, more than 25 seasons in total. There is no other character in prime time history with a longer run than Hargitay's Benson. It's remarkable.

Jessica Walter - Lucille Bluth

The late Jessica Walter had an incredible career, but for many, she'll always be known for one of her final roles, Lucille Bluth on the cult classic Arrested Development. She was so hilarious and quotable that it's easy to see why this is the case.

Peter Falk - Columbo

Peter Falk completely embodied Detective Columbo on the show that carried that character's name. He defined a new kind of TV detective, a style that has been often imitated but never duplicated over the years since Columbo debuted. He was funny and wicked smart. A Holmesian-style detective who never found a dry cleaner.

Tom Selleck - Thomas Magnum

Tom Selleck was a hard one to include here. Thomas Magnum was one of two iconic roles, along with Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, that Selleck has played in his career. That's not to mention Jesse Stone, another fan-favorite. But in the end, it's all about Magnum P.I., one of the best shows ever.

Lauren Graham - Lorelai Gilmore

Lauren Graham is another tough one here, because Lorelai Gilmore is hardly her only big role on TV, but none of her other shows have been nearly as enduring as Gilmore Girls and that isn't likely to change in the future. It'll always be what her fans think of first.

Lucille Ball - Lucy Ricardo

Lucille Ball was a groundbreaking legend, and that is entirely due to her iconic character Lucy Ricardo on I Love Lucy. The list of what made the show, and the comedic actor, is so long, we could never fill it out here, but she also doesn't really need any explanation. She's the queen of early TV for very good reason, and that can never be taken away.

Peter Dinklage - Tyrion Lannister

Peter Dinklage might not like to hear this... or maybe he would... but Tyrion Lannister is such an amazing role, and Dinklage's performance is completely worthy of such an iconic literary and TV character. Game of Thrones took over the television watching audience completely, and Dinklage's Lannister was almost everyone's favorite. He's done great work all through his long career, but it will be impossible to top Tyrion.

Sean Hayes - Jack McFarland

Jack McFarland from Will & Grace is one of the most underappreciated characters in any sitcom in Hollywood history. Sean Hayes is fantastic in the role, and he'll have people saying "Just Jack!" forever.

Angela Lansbury - Jessica Fletcher

Angela Lansbury had a storied career that lasted decades, and every time she appeared on screen, she lit it up. Jessica Fletcher on Murder She Wrote was her crowning achievement. She's one of the best TV detectives of all time, even if there were way too many murders in Cabot Cove than there should have been.

Henry Winkler - The Fonz

Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli. Fonzie. The Fonz. A character of many names, and one iconic look. Henry Winkler has had a career that most actors can only dream of, but his role on Happy Days will always be what he is first known for. We should all be so cool.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - Buffy Summers

Sarah Michelle Gellar's role in the movie Cruel Intentions may be her most iconic movie role, but it doesn't eclipse her role as Buffy Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Not even close. It'll always be her most beloved role.

James Gandolfini - Tony Soprano

On one hand, it's a shame that James Gandolfini is on this list. His premature death will always have us asking "what if?" On the other hand, he is so freaking GREAT as Tony Soprano in The Sopranos, that its impossible not to include him here. Just watching him in anything else, or old interviews, you quickly realize that he completely disappeared into the gangster. It's remarkable.

Gillian Anderson - Dana Scully

Speaking from experience, I can say that many teenagers in the 1990s have a huge crush on Dana Scully on The X-Files. She was smart and capable, but with an air of mystery that really kept viewers guessing, in the best way.

William Shatner - Captain Kirk

Personally, I think William Shatner's best role was on Boston Legal. He was also amaing in TJ Hooker. However, even if he had 1000 legendary roles over his career, he would still be most remember for James T. Kirk in Str Trek. That's how iconic the role, and the show are.

Matthew Perry - Chandler Bing

It was a real tragedy when the world lost Matthew Perry in late 2023. He was a once-in-a-generation talent and, in many ways, was first among equals on Friends. He was in some other great projects, like The Whole Nine Yards and Fools Rush In, but let's be honest, he'll always be Chandler in our hearts.

Amy Poehler - Leslie Knope

Amy Poehler was a star on SNL and in a ton of great movies. However, she was absolutely born to play Leslie Knope on Parks & Rec. It's almost hard to believe she isn't actually Leslie in real life, and that's meant to be the most sincere of compliments.

Michael K. Williams - Omar Little

Of all the amazing characters and actors on The Wire, Omar and Michael K. Williams stand out above them all. He was one of the most honest and complex characters in TV history, and the late Williams, another actor we lost way too soon, will be forever remembered for his portrayal of the Baltimore stick-up man.

George Wendt - Norm Peterson

Cheers had an amazing ensemble of comedic actors, and as a kid, my favorite was always George Wendt and his character Norm. He was the most popular guy in the bar and the most popular with viewers. When Wendt died in 2025, everyone started sharing their favorite moments of his from the show, despite the show ending decades ago.

Mary Tyler Moore - Mary Richards

Mary Tyler Moore made it after all, and all on her own. Her titular show was the highlight of her long, incredible career, and it's a good thing the show was named after her, because she deserves to be remembered forever for it.

Caroll O'Connor - Archie Bunker

Caroll O'Connor's role as Archie Bunker became one of the most iconic and most important in television history. The groundbreaking sitcom, All In The Family, changed TV forever, and Bunker, with his bigotry and chauvinism, reinvented just how much a simple sitcom could say about society.

Rainn Wilson - Dwight Schrute

Of all the characters on The Office, Dwight, played by Rainn Wilson, was the one we all loved to hate the most. It must have been such a fun role for Wilson, because he never phoned it in, and he never let us down; we could count on him driving us nuts every week. I mean that in the very best way.

Wayne Knight - Newman

Wayne Knight has popped up in all kinds of roles in his career. We'll never forget him for his performance in the original Jurassic Park, for example, but it's Newman on Seinfeld that we'll always love him most for. He might not have been a main character, but that is testimony to just how good he was. He's as remembered as the "big four" despite playing a much more limited role. That takes a great actor and an even better performance, and he did over the entire run of the show.

Ian McShane - Al Swearengen

Al Swearengen from Deadwood is one of the best characters of the prestige era of TV. Ian McShane has had a long, distinguished career, and at the top of the list of his great performances is as the foul-mouthed, tavern-owning gangster in the HBO Western.

Danica McKellar - Winnie Cooper

Ask anyone in Gen X about Danica McKellar, and they might mention her Hallmark movies. They might also mention her wonderful guest turn on The West Wing. In the case of both of those, though, they will come after they fondly reminisce about watching her as Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years. They grew up with Winnie and Kevin (Fred Savage). It was her earliest role, but it remains her most iconic.

The TV world lost an icon Tuesday when George Wendt, 76, passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to family. The actor was best known for his role as Norm Peterson on Cheers, and following the sad news, many of Wendt’s former co-stars, like Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, were quick to pay tribute. Meanwhile, Kelsey Grammer didn't immediately share his thoughts. However, he has now opened up about Wendt’s death, including why he didn’t speak out immediately.

Kelsey Grammer, who joined the cast of Cheers in Season 3 as Frasier Crane before going on to star in another of the best sitcoms of all time in the spinoff Frasier, did not immediately pay tribute to George Wendt upon hearing about his death. As he told Deadline:

It was somewhat strange to hear such a restrained response from Kelsey Grammer. It also came as Rhea Perlman called George Wendt the “sweetest, kindest man I ever met” as she spoke of their time on set together, and Ted Danson reminisced on having a front-row seat to the performance of a man everyone wanted to grab a drink with.

After a couple of days to process the loss, however, Kelsey Grammer did speak more about his former co-star, saying on the Gayle King in the House radio show:

George Wendt reportedly died of natural causes, and one has to respect Kelsey Grammer being caught off-guard and not wanting to speak publicly right away. Despite not issuing a statement or paying tribute in the press, Grammer said he did reach out to Wendt’s family. The Frasier star continued:

George Wendt was one of just three actors to appear on every episode of Cheers during its 11-season run (along with Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman), so he’s undoubtedly one of the reasons the sitcom remains so rewatchable decades later. In fact, if you are looking for your next long binge, or if Wendt’s passing has you nostalgic for the place where everybody knows your name, Cheers is available to stream in full with a Paramount+ subscription.

It’s clear that George Wendt was extremely beloved by those around him, and our condolences continue to go out to his family, friends and everyone else affected by his death.

Following his supporting role in X-Men: The Last Stand and cameo in X-Men: Days of Future Past, it didn’t seem like we’d see Kelsey Grammer playing Beast again, particularly since Nicholas Hoult had taken over as the blue-furred mutant. Then along came The Marvels in 2023, which saw Grammer vocally reprising Beast, albeit one from a different universe. Now he’s among the many actors from Fox’s X-Men era who are set to return in next year’s Avengers: Doomsday. Ahead of the upcoming Marvel movie’s arrival, Grammer gave a detailed explanation for why he sees Beast as the “Martin Luther King of the mutants.”

Grammer discussed arguably the most famous of his genre characters while appearing on The Jamie Kern Lima Show. When the title host brought up how he’ll be back as Beast, a.k.a. Hank McCoy, in Doomsday, the Frasier actor explained why he enjoys playing the character so much as follows:

That’s actually a pretty fitting description of the character. Along with being one of the world’s foremost biochemists and knowledgeable in various other scientific and artistic fields, Beast has often been a political activist for mutants in the comics. He can throw down when necessary, but his priority will be to use his words and intellect to combat discrimination against mutantkind. Even in X-Men: The Last Stand, he started off being the United States’ Secretary of Mutant Affairs and was made ambassador to the United Nations by the end of the movie.

Now, how much we’ll see of these MLK Jr.-like traits on display in Avengers: Doomsday remains to be seen, but either way, Kelsey Grammer is looking forward to bringing Beast to life yet again, saying:

It hasn’t been clarified yet if the Beast Grammer is playing in Doomsday is the same one from The Marvels’ end-credits scene, who was allies with Binary, a.k.a. the variant of Monica Rambeau’s mother, Maria. What we do know is that on the X-Men side of things, he’ll be joined by Patrick Stewart’s Professor X, Ian McKellen’s Magneto, Rebecca Romijn’s Mystique, Alan Cumming’s Nightcrawler, James Marsden’s Cyclops and Channing Tatum’s Gambit. Given Grammer’s enthusiasm for Beast, hopefully he’ll also be able to reprise him in Avengers: Secret Wars.

Of course, the X-Men are just one of several Marvel teams being represented in Avengers: Doomsday, with the Fantastic Four and freshly-unveiled New Avengers joining Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in action. See them all cross paths starting on May 1, 2026.

If there’s a problem with the way Marvel’s multiverse works, it’s that you sometimes have to choose which incarnation of a character you’d like to see again. The 2025 movie schedule doesn’t seem to have that problem just yet, but with Kelsey Grammer returning as part of Avengers: Doomsday’s massive cast list, some might say that the real (Dr. Hank) McCoy has returned. And just as you’d suspect, the Frasier vet is someone that’s on Team Kelsey - but not without praise for Nicholas Hoult.

Kelsey Grammer Hasn’t Seen Nicholas Hoult’s Beast Performance

During an appearance on Literally with Rob Lowe podcast to discuss his latest memoir Karen: A Brother Remembers, Mr. Grammer admitted that he’d heard the buzz surrounding Hoult’s X-Men prequel performance as the hero also known as Beast. But he also revealed that he had his reasons for keeping that incarnation at a hairy arm’s distance:

As someone who loves both the Kelsey Grammer and Nicholas Hoult portrayals of Hank McCoy, I can totally see why the classic era Beast would employ such a strategy. But at the same time, I couldn’t help but get pretty pumped myself when that Doomsday announcement video revealed the OG was back once again.

To be fair though, those feelings were primed by The Marvels’ post-credits scene. And you may be surprised to know that particular moment was the catalyst for Grammer’s second reprise.

Apparently The Marvels’ Post-Credit Scene Was The Clincher For Kelsey Grammer’s Return

For as much as Marvel movie fans love to harp on The Marvels for their own special reasons, I’m amazed that this seemingly controversial entry was the spark that allowed Kelsey Grammer to go full Beast mode again. Further along in the interview, the Cheers alum described how his desire to play the part eventually saw him land this particular cameo; leading to this anecdote about how the MCU’s loyal fans put in a good word:

“Excited” kind of feels like an understatement, especially if you’re a fan of the Fox era X-Men movies. Though now that Kelsey Grammer has admitted that Marvels guest spot helped bring him into the MCU proper, there is the question of whether this eventually inspired the decision to bring back a lot of the stars that made those pictures (conveniently available to stream with a Disney+ subscription) into smashing successes.

One final amusing note that Mr. Grammer offered in his chat with Rob Lowe is the intense secrecy that surrounded The Marvels’ multiversal moment. And that veil of obscurity is still very much in play in the lead up to Avengers: Doomsday, as the Beast actor could only say the following about the next chapter:

You can keep your secrets Dr. McCoy, as Avengers: Doomsday won’t be in theaters until May 1, 2026; and we certainly wouldn’t want all of the secrets to be given away beforehand. In the meantime, don’t forget to catch Thunderbolts*, which is currently in theaters, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps - which hits theaters on July 25th.

The road to the X-Men’s future-past continues to take some interesting twists, and who knows what’ll happen next? Personally, I think we need a Grammer/Hoult team up at some point, specifically in my dream Avengers vs. X-Men movie to bridge the gap between Doomsday and Secret Wars. But baby steps, I suppose.

Today ended up being a big day for Avengers: Doomsday, one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming Marvel movies. Marvel Studios slowly unveiled the cast of Doomsday through showing the names of its actors on chairs, and it turns out that this movie will be a major platform for the X-Men to shine. Following the reveal of Kelsey Grammer reprising Beast, which follows his return to the role in The Marvels, more actors from the Fox-era of X-Men movies have been announced for Doomsday, including Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.

I was already pretty excited for Avengers: Doomsday, much of which is because I’m intrigued to see what’s done with Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom. However, hearing so many actors who’ve played mutant heroes and villains in the past will also show up has me even pumped about the 2026 flick. Here’s who we can expect to see in Doomsday X-Men-wise:

• Kelsey Grammer - Beast
• Patrick Stewart - Professor X
• Ian McKellan - Magneto
• Alan Cumming - Nightcrawler
• Rebecca Romijn - Mystique
• James Marsden - Cyclops
• Channing Tatum - Gambit

Some of these people already have MCY experience, like Patrick Stewart appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Channing Tatum finally getting to portray Gambit in Deadpool & Wolverine after the character’s solo movie was scrapped. Others, like Ian McKellen and James Marsden, haven’t played their characters in well over a decade, if not longer. Alan Cumming takes the prize for the longest gap in reprising his role, as he only ever played Nightcrawler, a.k.a. Kurt Wagner, in 2003’s X2: X-Men United.

Avengers: Doomsday may technically be spotlighting Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but with the amount of X-Men actors confirmed to appear, this might as well count partly as an X-Men movie, right? Still, it’s not surprising that so many of these heroes and villains will appear. The opening up of the Marvel multiverse has allowed for mutants from other realities to appear. Not only that, but mutants have also been introduced into the main MCU reality through Iman Vellani’s Ms. Marvel and Tenoch Huerta’s Namor, the latter of whom is also confirmed to appear in Doomsday.

Keep in mind that just because these actors are all returning for Avengers: Doomsday doesn’t mean they’ll be playing the same versions of their characters from the older X-Men movies. Just like how the Beast we saw in The Marvels was clearly not the same one from X-Men: The Last Stand, the Professor X, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Mystique and Cyclops appearing could be from other corners of the Marvel multiverse. Maybe they even all live in the same universe as the new Beast. I think it’s probably safe to say, though that the Gambit appearing in Doomsday will be the same one who debuted in Deadpool & Wolverine.

I’m looking forward to seeing how these X-Men characters fit into Avengers; Doomsday when it opens in theaters on May 1, 2026. Meanwhile, remember that you can use your Disney+ subscription to stream the X-Men movies and nearly the entirety of the MCU.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe usually keeps fans on their toes, thanks to the projects in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Fans are currently tuned in for information about upcoming Marvel movies, and the studio is currently in the midst of a Marvel live stream, which is full of chairs with actors' names on it. Kelsey Grammer's name was featured, seemingly confirming he'll be returning as Beast. And as a fan I'm so relieved that the narrative threads set up during The Marvels' credits scene are actually continuing on.

Fans who spent yeas watching the Marvel movies in order have seen a number of thrilling credits scenes introduce new characters... who haven't seen or heard from since. The Marvels was no exception, with Monica seemingly transported into an alternate universe which featured Kelsey Grammer's return as Beast. It seems like the studio has plans for him, thanks to Grammer being one of the many actors who was given a director's chair in this ongoing live stream.

Of course, there's been no official confirmation as to exactly when/how Grammer's Beast will pop back up. Most fans assume this means he'll have a role in Avengers: Doomsday, this technically hasn't been announced. So we're going to have to keep tuning in for more information.

Ever since the MCU's inception, fans have been waiting years for the X-Men to join in on the fun. Disney's acquisition of 20th Century Fox finally opened the doors for this to happen, and mutants have been slowly trickling into the shared universe. The end of The Marvels offered a connection between the X-Men and the Sacred Timeline, and now it seems that story is going to continue. And with Grammer seemingly reprising his role as Beast again, it would indicate that we'll get even closer to the beloved team of mutants assembling in live-action.

Kelsey Grammer debuted as Beast in The Last Stand, which was the third entry on Fox's X-Men franchise. He got to suit up and do some epic battle, and went through long hours of prosthetics to become the hairy blue mutant we all know and love. While he got a quick cameo in Days of Future Past, he hasn't gotten to really take center stage as his hulking X-Man. Hopefully we'll get to see him do just that in Avengers: Doomsday or whatever project that Marvel studios is currently teasing.

Grammer's return stands out among other recent MCU credits scene character reveals that have gone nowhere (so far). Harry Styles was introduced in Eternals, Charlize Theron had a cameo in Doctor Strange 2, and so on. Grammer's brief appearance in The Marvels pleased longtime fans, and it's a relief that this is one set up that's seemingly being followed through on.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Thunderbolts* on May 2nd as part of the 2025 movie release list. Of course, all eyes are on what's happening with Doomsday and Secret Wars.

For the last couple months, we haven’t heard the blues a’callin’ tossed salad and scrambled eggs. In January, Paramount+ cancelled the Frasier revival after just two seasons, reportedly because the show “could not break through in a major way.” As of right now, the new Frasier can still be streamed with a Paramount+ subscription, but it was also said at the time that CBS Studios planned to shop the show to other outlets. Now Frasier Crane himself, Kelsey Grammer, has shared why he’s “very positive” we’ll see Frasier Season 3 elsewhere at some point, and he also mentioned that it may include a long-awaited Cheers reunion.

Why Kelsey Grammer Believes Frasier Season 3 Will Happen

As Grammer, who previously starred in Cheers and the original Frasier (two of the best sitcoms of all time) sees it, there’s a “better home” for the Frasier revival, claiming that the powers-that-be at Paramount+ “didn’t really promote or spend much time on it.” As he elaborated in his interview with The New York Post:

Frasier premiered on Paramount+ on October 12, 2023, nearly two decades after its predecessor finished its 11-season run. Kelsey Grammer was accompanied by all-new faces in the main cast, but folks like Peri Gilpin, Bebe Neuwirth and Harriet Sansom Harris did reprise their roles from the original series in guest or recurring capacities. Ultimately, Frasier failed to get enough attention at Paramount+, but Grammer is confident will move somewhere where it’ll have a better platform to shine on. In his words:

Although CBS has been ruled out as a new home for Frasier, the other best streaming services are presumably viable options. Ideally we’ll learn in the next several months if a deal is worked out, because if 2025 concludes and there’s no news, that almost certainly won’t bode well. If Frasier does return, apparently Season 3 could see Kelsey Grammer being paired onscreen with someone he spent a lot of time with during the Cheers days.

Kelsey Grammer And Ted Danson Have Something Cooking

Back in October, Ted Danson, who played Sam Malone on Cheers, apologized to Grammer for the decades-old argument they had when the latter appeared on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, which Danson hosts with Woody Boyd actor Woody Harrelson. Grammer later clarified that it wasn’t a true argument, just Danson’s dissatisfaction with his work ethic when they were making Cheers. Regardless, these two are back to being good standing with one another, and now they’re talking about teaming up for a project. As Grammer put it:

Before Frasier Season 2 premiered, showrunners Chris Harris and Joe Cristali told me that had “a few toeholds into some stories” involving Cheers characters reuniting with Frasier Crane. Kelsey Grammer had also expressed specific interest in having Ted Danson and Shelley Long, who played Diane Chambers, return. In this latest interview, Grammer said “there’s certainly still some fields to be mined there” before something can be worked out before Frasier and Sam catch up, but he still sees the relationship between these characters as “relevant.”

Evidently Kelsey Grammer and Ted Danson will be working together again whether it’s for Frasier or not, but I certainly hope a Cheers crossover can be arranged if Season 3 happens. Just don’t expect them to go to the Cheers bar, as Grammer reminded us that director James Burrow has always said, “No, that bar doesn’t exist anymore.”

Before Kelsey Grammer starred as Dr. Frasier Crane on the aptly-titled Frasier for 11 seasons, he shined as the character for eight seasons on Cheers, with both those shows, as well as the Frasier revival, being available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription. While Cheers was one of the most popular TV shows of its day and still ranks as one of the best sitcoms of all time, that doesn’t mean everything was hunky dory behind the scenes. It turns out that Grammer had a feud going with Cheers co-star Ted Danson for 30 years that was specifically tied to the show.

Grammer and Danson had previously addressed how they hadn’t spoken to each other in 30 years due an argument, but the former elaborated on what specifically happened between them while being interviewed by The New York Post. Per the Frasier actor, it wasn’t so much an argument as Danson getting annoyed with how Grammer was conducting himself on set:

Ted Danson starred for the entirety of Cheers as lead character Sam Malone, a former baseball player who ran the same-named bar in Boston, Massachusetts. Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist, was a recurring character in Seasons 3 and 4, and then Kelsey Grammer was upgraded to the main cast in Season 5, a position he held until the show concluded in 1993. So he and Danson spent a lot of time together, but it got to a point where Grammer’s drinking became too much for Danson because of how it was affecting the shooting of Cheers week to week. Grammer continued:

Following Cheers’ conclusion, Ted Danson reprised Sam Malone in a 1995 episode of Frasier, but it wasn’t until last October that the two men had a proper reunion. At that time, Danson lamented missing out on “the last 30 years of Kelsey Grammer” and decided to “apologize” for how he “got stuck a little bit” with his co-star and recalled “a memory of getting angry” at him. Grammer took everything Danson had to say in stride and fondly remembered a moment when the fellow Cheers actor approached him when he turned 40 and said that meant he was “finally worth having a conversation with.”

It’s good to hear Kelsey Grammer and Ted Danson are on much better terms with one another these days. Unfortunately, because the Frasier revival was cancelled after two seasons, Sam and Frasier won’t be reuniting on our small screens unless CBS Studios finds the show another home.

Well, folks, Frasier has left the building… the Paramount+ building, that is. Halfway into January, and two months after the Kelsey Grammer-led revival finished its second season, it’s been reported that the streamer will not be bringing the sitcom back for Season 3. However, I’m hoping this doesn’t truly spell the end of the new Frasier, because if nothing else, I want the show to get at least one more season for a big reason: giving fans the long-discussed Cheers reunion.

Deadline shared the news of Frasier’s cancellation tonight, writing that the series “could not break through in a major way” on Paramount+, although the first two seasons will remain available for those with a Paramount+ subscription to stream. However, the outlet also mentioned that CBS Studios “remains committed to the series and plans to shop it to other outlets.” While CBS won’t be one of those places since there’s no space for Frasier on the channel and there’s already a “development slate set,” Prime Video and Hulu have been suggested as new homes, particularly because they both have the original Frasier.

While the Frasier revival doesn’t rank nearly as high for me as its predecessor, which ran on NBC from 1993 to 2004 and is considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, I have enjoyed it for what it was: telling the next chapter of Frasier Crane’s life back in his old Boston, Massachusetts stomping grounds. I also haven’t minded spending time with primarily new faces in the revival, though it has been nice to reunite with familiar ones along the way. This has ranged from Peri Gilpin’s Roz Doyle getting an expanded role in Season 2 following her guest appearance in the Season 1 finale, to when Frasier and his son Freddy returned to Seattle and spent time with KACL’s Bulldog and Gil.

But as I just mentioned, the new Frasier is set in Boston, the same city where Cheers, the TV show that introduced the world to Frasier Crane, took place. Now, it’d already been said numerous times that the revival would not revisit Cheers the bar, and I was ok with that. What wasn’t off the table was bringing back other Cheers alums. Kelsey Grammer expressed interest in having Ted Danson and Shelley Long respectively reprise Sam Malone and Diane Chambers, and Frasier showrunners Chris Harris and Joe Cristali told me they had “at least a few toeholds” into some Cheers-centric stories.

I never expected the Frasier revival to run anywhere near as long as the original Frasier, but it would be a mistake to end the show now without delivering the Cheers crossover that’s been teased. If you’re going to put Frasier Crane back in Boston, he should at least be able to spend time with some of the friends he made there in the ‘80s, especially if we’re talking about Sam and Diane. Even if the new Frasier only gets one more season, that’s fine so long as one episode delves back into the Cheers corner of this universe. It was clearly in the cards, so let’s deal them, so to speak.

If Frasier ends up on one of the other best streaming services, we’ll let you know. For now, use our 2025 TV schedule to see what small screen entertainment is arriving in the coming months.

Over 30 years after its 11-season run came to an end, Cheers is still considered to be one of the best sitcoms of all time. The TV show following the regulars at the title bar was anchored by Ted Danson’s Sam Malone, and in Season 3, Cheers introduced Kelsey Grammer’s Dr. Frasier Crane, who would go on to lead his own successful 11-season show and is now reprising his beloved character on the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive Frasier revival. However, just because Sam and Frasier were on friendly terms with each other on Cheers (most of that time) doesn’t mean that Danson and Grammer always were. In fact, the former recently apologized to the latter for an argument that happened decades ago.

Danson and Woody Harrelson, who played Woody Boyd on Cheers, host the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast together, and their latest episode saw them catching up with Grammer. During the trio’s conversation, Danson admitted that he “got stuck a little bit” with Grammer during the Cheers years, as he had “a memory of getting angry” at the Frasier actor once. After Grammer noted that he knew what Danson was talking about, The Good Place alum continued:

Ted Danson and Kelsey Grammer didn’t provide specific details about what prompted this argument, but all these years later, Danson felt it necessary to take responsibility for what he did. Considering that Danson reprised Sam Malone in an episode of the original Frasier, evidently whatever unfolded wasn’t bad enough that the two couldn’t at least work together post-Cheers, but was nonetheless bad enough that Danson felt he missed out on a lot of quality time with his former co-star. Still, it sounds like the two men have been on good terms for a while now, and Grammer had this to say after Danson apologized:

Hopefully Danson and Grammer being so cozy with each others bodes well for the chances of then collaborating on screen together. After all, the new Frasier is set in Boston, Massachusetts, and while it’s already been clarified that there are no plans to revisit the Cheers bar on the show, that doesn’t Frasier Crane can’t reunite with some people the days before he moved out to Seattle. Kelsey Grammer has specifically expressed interest in having Ted Danson and Shelly Long, who played Diane Chambers, come back, and since the Frasier showrunners told me they have “a few toeholds” into Cheers-related stories, maybe that’s something we can look forward to in a potential Season 3.

For now, you can revisit Cheers and the original Frasier, and keep up with the current Frasier, on Paramount+, with the latter releasing new episodes Thursdays on the 2024 TV schedule.

Warning: SPOILERS for the Frasier episode “The Squash Courtship of Freddy's Father” are ahead!

Anyone who watched the original Frasier will remember that Harriet Sansom Harris’ Bebe Glazer was a devious and unscrupulous woman. The woman resorted to all kinds of trickery and deception while working as Frasier Crane’s agent, both to his benefit and hers. Well, two decades later, nothing’s changed with her. In fact, while reuniting with Harris’ Bebe in the latest episode of the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive Frasier revival series, we also met her daughter Phoebe, played by Rachel Bloom, and it turns out that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The A-story of “The Squash Courtship of Freddy's Father,” which dropped today on the 2024 TV schedule, saw Kelsey Grammer’s character trying to ascertain if Phoebe was his daughter given that he and Bebe had a fling around the time Phoebe was born, and the younger woman also shared the same interests as him. Well, needless to say it was all a long con, which we’ll more about soon. However, having been fortunate enough to see this episode last month before the Frasier Season 2 junket, I was able to get Grammer and co-showrunner Joe Cristalli to open up about Bebe’s return and bringing Bloom, a Frasier “superfan,” aboard.

What Kelsey Grammer Said About The Latest Frasier Episode

As Kelsey Grammer shared when I asked him what it was like working with Harriet Sansom Harris again for the Frasier revival (one of the best Paramount+ shows), she and him go way back, long before the original Frasier days and even before he started playing Frasier Craine in Cheers. These two attended Juilliard together, and event in those days, Grammer could feel Harris giving off the Bebe vibes, telling me:

Then there was Rachel Bloom, who’s best known for co-creating and starring in the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and whose other notable credits include The School of Good and Evil and Reboot. Although Kelsey Grammer wasn’t nearly as certain about how Bloom would do on Frasier, he was ultimately impressed by her performance as Phoebe, saying:

Indeed she did. For most of the episode, Phoebe was emulating Frasier Crane to make it seem like she was his daughter in the midst of her joining her mother in figuring out the publishing plan for Frasier’s memoir. By the end of the episode, the jig was up, as Bebe had devised an elaborate ruse to convince Frasier to revive his talk show. Fortunately for Phoebe, she still impressed Frasier with her knowledge of his memoir and her plans for publishing it, so he requested she join his team. However, there was still one last surprise to deliver, but before I get to that…

What Joe Cristalli Said About The Latest Frasier Episode

When I spoke with Frasier showrunners Joe Cristalli and Chris Harris, the former told me about how they’d been planning for a long time to have Bebe Glazer come back, and they knew Rachel Bloom would be the perfect person to play Phoebe. In his words:

It probably would have been easy enough to find a way to fit Bebe and Phoebe into Frasier Season 1, but that batch of episodes was more sparing with its special appearances. Bebe Neuwirth reprised Lilith Sternin in the seventh episode, and Peri Gilpin came back as Roz Doyle in the Season 1 finale, which paved the way for her to recur in Season 2. But Chris Harris said this about why they decided to hold on Bebe and Phoebe until this current season:

It is indeed fortunate that Rachel Bloom was able to appear, because in the final moments of this Frasier episode before the credits started rolling, Phoebe’s true nature was revealed, and the actress nailed it. Once Frasier was gone, Phoebe started using her real voice, which sounds just like her mother’s, and these two are now playing an even longer game to get Fraiser back on TV. Here’s what Chris Harris had to say about this episode’s many twists and turns:

Like Frasier Season 1, Season 2 is comprised of just 10 episodes, so it’s doubtful we’ll see Bebe and Phoebe again in the latter half of this season unless they’re being saved as a surprise. However, if Paramount+ greenlights Frasier Season 3, then my fingers are crossed we get this duo back again to give the title character even more headaches. If that happens, we’ll let you know.

While Kelsey Grammer will always be best known for playing Frasier Crane in Cheers, the original Frasier spinoff and the Frasier revival accessible to people with a Paramount+ subscription, he also has some impressive genre credits to his name. The most notable of the bunch is arguably his portrayal of Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in X-Men: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Marvels, but Star Trek fans will also remember the time he cameoed in The Next Generation as Captain Morgan Bateson. While speaking with CinemaBlend about Frasier Season 2, which just premiered on the 2024 TV schedule, Grammer opened up about how Jonathan Frakes convinced him to appear on the Star Trek series that ran from 1987 to 1994.

After Grammer spent some time about his experience working on Frasier Season 2 (which sees him reuniting with his Back to You co-star Patricia Heaton) alongside Roz Doyle actress Peri Gilpin, I brought up his cameo as Morgan Bateson in The Next Generation Season 5 episode “Cause and Effect.” That was the first and only time we’ve seen the actor play this Star Trek character, and when I asked him if there had ever been any talks about him reprising Bateson in another show or project, he told me:

“Cause and Effect” followed the crew of the USS Enterprise-D getting caught in a time loop where they keep crashing into the USS Bozeman, a Federation ship that disappeared over 90 years ago. With each time loop, the Enterprise’s senior staff experience déjà vu, eventually learn about their predicament and figure out a way to prevent the ships from colliding, thus ending the loop. Kelsey Grammer’s Morgan Bateson appears at the very end of the episode, unaware that nearly a century has gone by, though the episode ends before we can see Jean-Luc Picard break the news to him.

This role afforded Kelsey Grammer the opportunity to wear the same kind of uniform that Captain James T. Kirk and other Starfleet officers wore in the era between The Wrath of Khan to the prologue of Generations, roughly. That was a big selling point for Grammer when Jonathan Frakes approached him, as he liked the idea that Morgan Bateson was colleagues with William Shatner’s character. Alas, no other opportunities came along for Grammer to reprise Bateson, although the character did make a silent cameo in the Star Trek: Lower Decks episode “Grounded” as the leader of the team that exonerated Carol Freeman, the captain of the USS Cerritos.

Revisit Grammer’s brief time in the Star Trek universe by streaming “Cause and Effect” on Paramount+, which you’ll also need if you want to keep up with the latest exploits of Dr. Frasier Crane. Next up on the Star Trek front is the fifth and final season of Lower Decks, which premieres its first two episodes on October 24.

Separately, Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton have long been established at sitcom heavyweights, with the former having played Frasier Crane in Cheers and the Frasier spinoff, and the latter having starred in Everybody Loves Raymond and The Middle. But these two have also worked together on two times before this year, and we’ll soon see them reunited for a third time soon on the 2024 TV schedule. Heaton will appear in the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive Frasier revival this season, and Grammer told CinemaBlend the “fantastic way” her coming aboard came together.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Grammer for the Frasier Season 2 junket, with Peri Gilpin, who’s returning as Roz Doyle following her appearance in the Season 1 finale, seated beside him. Given how far back Grammer goes back with Heaton, I asked him what it like getting to work with her again, as well as if this role had been envisioned specifically for her or if she went through the traditional casting process. He started off by saying:

There you have it! Thanks to a chance encounter with a Patricia Heaton lookalike, Kelsey Grammer realized the actual actress would be a great choice to play a new love interest for Frasier Crane on the Paramount+ series. He successfully pitched it to showrunners Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli, and since he and Heaton share the same manager, that was more than enough to arrange for her appearing in Frasier Season 2. In case you’re unfamiliar, Grammer and Heaton first worked together on Back to You, the Fox sitcom that only aired for one season from September 2007 to May 2008, making it one of the many shows hit hard by that era’s writers strike. Then in 2020, the two reunited for an episode of Heaton’s show Carol’s Second Act, which was also cancelled after one season.

But you know what they say, third time’s the charm! Patricia Heaton will play a bartender named Holly who’s officially described as "down-to-earth, unpretentious and openly mocking of overly-intellectual types" and "extraordinarily comfortable with both who and where she is in life." As Kelsey Grammer laid out below, sparks will fly between her and Frasier Crane, and he also briefly recollected how he and Heaton first met:

Patricia Heaton is just one of the many notable guest stars lined up in Frasier Season 2, with others including Yvette Nicole Brown, Amy Sedaris, Rachel Bloom and Kelsey Grammer’s own daughter Greer Grammer, who’s been cast as Roz’s daughter Alice. Additionally, we’ll see the return of original Frasier alums Dan Butler as Bob “Bulldog” Briscoe, Edward Hibbert as Gil Chesterton and Harriet Sansom Harris as Bebe Glazer.

The first two episodes of Frasier Season 2 will be released on Thursday, September 19, followed by a weekly rollout for the remaining eight. The original Frasier and its predecessor Cheers can also both be found on Paramount+.

Ever since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, and with it the film rights to the X-Men, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been seeing mutants into the Marvel multiverse. While Deadpool & Wolverine is obviously the most prominent example of this so far, another one of the big MCU X-Men references came in The Marvels’ end-credits scene, when Kelsey Grammer played Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, in the universe where Monica Rambeau ended up. But will we see this take on Beast again following his cameo in the 33rd of the Marvel movies in order?

Grammer addressed this while speaking to ComicBook about Frasier Season 2, which will premiere to Paramount+ subscription holders next Thursday, September 19. When Beast was brought up during the outlet’s conversation, namely if we’ll be seeing more of him in the MCU, the actor responded:

Although Nicholas Hoult has more appearances as Beast under his belt thanks to the “First Class” era of X-Men movies, it was Kelsey Grammer who originated the role in live action through 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand. He later cameoed towards the end of X-Men: Days of Future Past, with both those performances seeing him don makeup. The Marvels, on the other hand, realized its Beast through CGI, so only Grammer’s voice was heard. Regardless, Hank McCoy’s appearance was among the movie’s biggest surprises, and now Grammer has shared this has led to talks about the character potentially returning, though there’s not a concrete update just yet.

During the battle against Dar-Benn, Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau closed the jump point that the villain had opened to take Earth’s water for Hala and steal our sun’s energy to restore the one near the Kree homeworld. Monica was able to get the job done with Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan, but she was left stranded in another universe, one where Beast is active as an X-Men member. Additionally Monica met a variant of her mother, Maria Rambeau, who is the superhero Binary, but never had a daughter.

Assuming Marvel wants to bring back Monica for one of the upcoming Marvel movies, then it stands to reason when that time comes, Kelsey Grammer’s Beast will probably be alongside her. Avengers: Doomsday and/or Avengers: Secret Wars are the likeliest candidates, as those will be the culminating chapters in The Multiverse Saga. There’s also an X-Men reboot in the works, which I’m hoping will take one of the MCU’s 2027 release dates. However, assuming this is going to follow a brand-new team of X-Men, and if Beast is part of that lineup, then hopefully a new actor is cast as that version, and Grammer’s Beast can continue operating in his own reality.

We’ll, of course, let you know if/when it’s announced that Kelsey Grammer will return as Beast. Until then, stream The Marvels, and nearly all of the MCU’s other movies and TV shows, with your Disney+ subscription.

On a list of the best sci-fi shows, Star Trek: The Next Generation remains the gold standard. With 180 episodes, it was inevitable the series would bring in an outside famous face or two, especially with Patrick Stewart leading the ship. 

Before we dive in, I think readers will note the omission of one famous star everyone knows is in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Whoopi Goldberg. Her Guinan was a recurring character for several seasons, so she's been left off the list. With that out of the way, let's run down the list of the famous guest stars we loved in TNG. 

Stephen Hawking

When you have a holodeck, you can do a lot of things. For example, Data used it in "Descent" to see what would happen if Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Stephen Hawking played poker together. The synth found it "most illuminating," though I still question what he learned from doing it. 

Penny Johnson Jerald

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Orville fans know Penny Johnson Jerald well through her roles on those shows, but less may know she was also on The Next Generation. Those who watch "Homeward" will spot her if they look at the wife of Worf's human brother, Nikolai. 

Kirsten Dunst

Before she was a well-known actress starring as Mary Jane in Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst was in Star Trek: The Next Generation when she was still a child. Her Hedril helped Deanna understand the pain her mother felt over the death of her sister Kestra, who died tragically as a kid in "Dark Page." 

Leonard Nimoy

Leonard Nimoy actually rejected a chance to become a producer on Star Trek: The Next Generation, instead opting to appear as Spock in a handful of episodes. This was possible, partially, because Vulcans have long lifespans, but I can't also help but credit Nimoy's love for the character as a factor for reprising him as well. 

James Worthy

Athletes in Star Trek? It happens from time to time, and three-time NBA Champion James Worthy actually played a Klingon in "Gambit, Part II," and at six foot nine inches, he made for a particularly imposing figure. Those who go back to see his performance will note he's not hard to spot. 

Teri Hatcher

Well-loved actress Teri Hatcher has a role as B.G. Robinson in "The Outrageous Okona," but only barely. So many of her scenes were cut from the episode that she requested her name be removed from the credits. Fortunately, she went on to be so famous people know who she is just by the brief scene alone. 

James Cromwell

Star Trek fans love James Cromwell for his iconic role as Zefram Cochrane in First Contact, but he also played a couple of roles throughout The Next Generation. He was in heavy prosthetics playing Jaglom Shrek in "Birthright Part I and II," and was Nayrock in "The Hunted." Hey, when a great actor wants to work on your series, let him play whoever he wants. 

Ken Jenkins

Actor Ken Jenkins was around Hollywood before he appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Evolution" as Paul Stubbs, though more people might recognize him now rewatching. That's thanks in part to his character Dr. Bob Kelso on the comedy Scrubs, which was in network primetime for nearly a decade in the 2000s. 

Joe Piscopo

One of the most influential Saturday Night Live stars of all time, comedian Joe Piscopo, made an appearance in Season 2 during "The Outrageous Okona." This might not be a surprise to anyone who hasn't seen the episode, but he plays a stand-up comedian. Who would've guessed? 

Ashley Judd

I think out of every famous guest star from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Ashley Judd might be the easiest to spot. As Robin Lefler, she appeared in "Darmok" and "The Game," and even shared a kiss with Wil Wheaton's Wesley Crusher. There was a solid romance angle there, but sadly, she only had two episodes. 

Jonathan Del Arco

Jonathan Del Arco has been around Hollywood a lot in his career, but Star Trek fans may know him a little better than general audiences thanks to his playing Hugh the Borg. Hugh was the first Borg character to humanize the species in the franchise, and the character went on to play a notable role in the Picard spinoff decades later. 

Stephen Root

Iconic actor Stephen Root made for a great Klingon in the two-parter "Unification." As K'Vada, he made sure he made Picard and Data's time on his ship as uncomfortable as possible. He only honored his deal to help them infiltrate Romulus, which is totally on brand for the Klingon species. 

Michelle Phillips

Michelle Phillips initially rose to fame from her singing in The Mamas And The Papas but eventually transitioned into a successful acting career. As such, she ended up being one of the first major stars on Star Trek: The Next Generation, appearing in the Season 1 episode "We'll Always Have Paris" as Jenice Manheim. 

DeForest Kelley

Leonard Nimoy wasn't the only actor from the original Star Trek to appear in TNG, as DeForest Kelley also reprised his role as McCoy, though, he was an admiral at this point. Catch him in "Encounter At Farpoint," giving Data a hard time. 

Pamela Adlon

You may know Pamela Adlon from a lot of things. I, personally, like to note her voice work as Bobby Hill in the animated series King of the Hill, but she was on The Next Generation long before that. Find her in "Who Watches The Watchers" in which she's part of an alien species convinced that Picard is some immortal being with mystical powers. 

Paul Sorvino

Rest in peace to the late Paul Sorvino, known for Goodfellas, Law & Order, and of course, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Sorvino played Nikolai Rozhenko, the foster brother of Worf. Though he and his brother had their disagreements, Worf always made time for his brother, and there was a great respect between the two in their strengths. 

Matt Frewer

Actor Matt Frewer might not be a face readers immediately recognize, and they may not remember his role as Berlinghoff Rasmussen in "A Matter Of Time" immediately either. That said, if I were to talk about the bizarre character and series Max Headroom, would that ring any bells? That's Frewer's claim to fame, playing the eerie character who even was mentioned as an easter egg in the TNG episode "Conspiracy." 

Patti Yasutake

It wouldn't feel right not to highlight Patti Yasutake following her recent passing. Many Star Trek fans loved her recurring character, Nurse Ogawa, and her more recent work on Beef. While she was only in a handful of episodes, most Trekkies can remember her backing up Beverly Crusher, no matter the emergency. 

Thomas Kopache

Thomas Kopache holds the distinct honor of holding a role across all Rick Berman-era Star Trek shows and played not one, but two roles on The Next Generation. Check him out as a train engineer in "Emergence," and a Romulan scientist in "The Next Phase." 

John Tesh

Musician John Tesh, who NBA fans can thank for his famous song "Roundball Rock," was also in Star Trek. He played one of the Klingons created by the holodeck in "The Icarus Factor." Not a huge role by any means, but such a random appearance that I can't help but be tickled by. 

Kevin Peter Hall

Kevin Peter Hall, who had done character acting as the predator in Predator, was actually in contention for two of the starring roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation. While he ultimately lost out on the roles of Data and Geordi, he did end up appearing in the series via the episode "The Price" as the Caledonian Leyor. 

Ray Wise

Twin Peaks actor Ray Wise plays a key role in "Who Watches The Watchers," as Arturis. Arturis accidentally stumbles upon a Starfleet duck blind observing a planet, and when he is injured in the process, the crew does what it can to treat him. Arturis then returns to his people, claiming he was rescued by their gods. 

Famke Janssen

Famke Janssen had a big role as Kamala in the episode "The Perfect Mate," and it ultimately led to a larger one alongside series star Patrick Stewart. The former Star Trek co-stars would reunite on the cast of X-Men, as Janssen would pay Jean Grey alongside his Professor X. Wild to see them work together years later at much different points in their careers!

Majel Barrett

The wife of Gene Roddenberry, and the Nurse Chapel in the original Star Trek, Majel Barrett was also in TNG. While she missed out on being a part of TOS when her character was cut from the pilot, she was given the fairly meaty role of Lwaxana Troi, the mother of Deanna Troi. Anytime she popped up in this series it was a good time, and a lot of that is a credit to Barrett's skills as an actress. 

Mick Fleetwood

You would think if Star Trek landed the founding member of the iconic rock band Fleetwood Mac, it would want to broadcast his face in full view for the world to see. That wasn't the case, and if you didn't know, Mick Fleetwood was playing a fish man in the episode "Manhunt." Hilarious in hindsight, though given how cool the fish mask was, I don't blame him for being ok with wearing it. 

Christopher McDonald

Christopher McDonald is on our short list of requests for Happy Gilmore 2, and he's on this list because he appeared as a Starfleet Officer in the iconic episode "Yesterday's Enterprise." He served under Rachel Garrett, a character who has gained more relevance as of late thanks to her presence in Star Trek: Section 31.

Mark Lenard

Bringing Leonard Nimoy to Star Trek: The Next Generation was an amazing coup for the show, but to bring Mark Lenard to reprise his role as Sarek, Spock's father, was an underrated win. I don't think there's two men who did a better service for laying the framework for playing a Vulcan than those two, and the complicated father/son dynamic made for compelling television all throughout TNG. 

Terry O’Quinn

By the time he played a Rear Admiral in "The Pegasus," Terry O'Quinn was a well-established actor in Hollywood. That said, readers may most know him for the role he played of John Locke in Lost. His character, Erik Pressman in TNG, was far less sympathetic than John, but O'Quinn was fantastic in both roles. 

Kelsey Grammer

Dr. Frasier Crane himself, Kelsey Grammer, was a part of the Star Trek family for a short while. He was Morgan Bateson in "Cause and Effect." I'm always a little sad we didn't see more with the Captain of the USS Bozeman, and hope that if we get another TNG-era series, Grammer might reprise his role for a small adventure with other characters from the show. 

Bebe Neuwirth

If Star Trek manages to find out you're a Trekkie, chances are you'll be invited to be on a show. That exact thing happened to Bebe Neuwirth, who took time out of her schedule ahead of a Cheers rehearsal to be in "First Contact." It's a brief scene but memorable as she propositions Riker for sex, with the logic that it was always a dream to sleep with an alien. 

Diedrich Bader

Diedrich Bader had a background role in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Emissary," but his face is hard to miss. This is especially true if you're a fan of The Drew Carey Show, which admittedly has fewer fans now since the series hasn't found a home on streaming. I'll continue to cross my fingers that will happen, though, and enjoy this episode all the same. 

James Doohan

Star Trek actor James Doohan appeared in the episode "Relics," when Captain Montgomery Scott was found trapped in suspension in a ship's pattern buffer for 75 years. Fortunately, we've learned that being stuck in a transporter buffer is a relatively painless process, if not disorienting, to be gone for a period of time and not know it. This is, perhaps, one of my favorite TNG episodes of all time, and totally worth watching again for those who haven't seen it in a while.

A lot of celebrities have spoken out about trolling that has occurred since the age of the Internet, but there have been mean comments made about celebrities for far longer than keyboard warriors have existed. Recently a slew of comedic Hollywood actors got together to talk about their long and storied careers, and as it turns out, they all have one thing in common: Criticisms that have stuck with them throughout the years. Kelsey Grammer, Bowen Yang, Anthony Mackie shared the comments that really, truly have "sucked." 

Kelsey Grammer Was Told He Was ‘Fine’ In A Play. It Was Not So Great

While Kelsey Grammer is most known for roles in Cheers and Frasier (and the more recent Frasier revival you can stream with a Paramount Plus subscription), he’s been a dramatic actor a time or two as well. He once played Cassio in Othello, a role that’s a bit of a cautionary tale. He had scenes with Christopher Plummer and James Earl Jones – so it’s clear the cast was stacked. Unfortunately, it also meant he was not a standout as he relayed in THR’s comedic roundtable. 

This theatrical production was actually put on back in 1982, which means that for more than 40 years Grammer has held onto that criticism. It really kind of ties in with that old “sticks and stones” adage. But at least no one was taking pot shots at his personal appearance, which is what happened with Bowen Yang and Anthony Mackie. 

Bowen Yang Got Burned By A Personal Appearance Barb But It Not As Wild As Anthony Mackie’s

Bowen Yang's been a staple on one of the best sketch comedy shows, SNL, since 2018. While it's generally a good gig with A-list hosts and tons of responses to viral videos, the fan comments sometimes are not so great. In fact, many have randomly dealt with how the comedian looks. It's easy to take cheap shots, but the actor and funnyman says the one that really stuck with him was just so blunt and so specific that it has been burned into his brain. 

It's just such a weird comment I get why it's stuck with him, but honestly, compared to what Anthony Mackie was told it does seem Yang might have gotten off lightly. In fact, the Falcon and the Winter Soldier star says that someone actually compared him to a pool ball after he shaved his head earlier in his career. 

You can't make this up. The story is vivid and the insult is just so exacting that it's very clear why it would have stuck with Mackie over time. In fact, Mackie says he has not shaved his head in the time since he was given the critique. Obviously, the shaved head didn't impact his career, as he will be headlining Captain America: Brave New World when it hits theaters in 2025.

Honestly, racking my brain and thinking about Mackie's pre-Captain America performances, I feel like his hair was really short in 8 Mile, but I'm failing to pinpoint the role he's even mentioning here. So the good news is his shaved head didn't leave a lasting impression. These insults, however, definitely did. 

The Frasier revival is officially coming back for Season 2, and those who haven't checked out the series with a Paramount+ subscription are missing out. The comedy thrived in its inaugural season as one of the better television revivals made in recent memory, and it looks poised to prove that again in Season 2 with a returning cast and some fresh faces.

Does anyone else hear that? I believe the blues are calling, and now I'm really craving some tossed salad and scrambled eggs. For those that are confused, I'll quit trying to work the rest of the outro song into the intro and talk about who all we can expect to return and debut in Fraiser Season 2.

Which Stars Are Returning From Past Seasons?

Kelsey Grammer

It's probably no surprise here that after a successful return to television, Kelsey Grammer will continue to play the role of Dr. Frasier Crane in Season 2 of the revival. Another season with him in Boston means more chances for the Cheers cast to make an appearance, though we haven't received any definitive word of that happening just yet.

Jack Cutmore-Scott

Jack Cutmore-Scott will continue his role as Freddy Crane in Frasier and likely will still try to play the good son and friend between Frasier and Eve, which wasn't too easy in the first season. Of course, Crane men rarely back down from a challenge, so I would imagine he'll try just as hard to appease both as we roll into the new season.

Jess Salgueiro

Jess Salgueiro's Eve is back for Frasier, and I would love to see her continue to play matchmaker for Frasier and Freddy in the upcoming episodes. I believe that the original series was at its best when Frasier was embroiled in some romantic drama, and even more so when it didn't work out. Of course, there are other things that Eve brings to the table, and seeing her continue to grow as a character alongside John would be great.

Anders Keith

With Niles and Daphne out of the Frasier revival, the responsibility for carrying on the legacy of the characters rests squarely on the shoulders of actor Anders Keith. Fortunately, playing their son David Crane seemed simple enough for the actor, who will return again in the new season to display the best characteristics of his mother and father in Season 2.

Nicholas Lyndhurst

Frasier's old college classmate will return in Season 2 of the Paramount+ series, and I love it. I thought from the first I heard about Alan Cornwall in the series that he was a great sidekick to the character, particularly in a world where David Hyde Pierce will never return to play Niles. He killed it in the role, and I definitely think there's justification for the show using him more in the upcoming season.

Toks Olagundoye

Toks Olagundoye will return in Season 2, of course reprising her role as Olivia, the head of the psychology department at Harvard. Season 2 will see Olivia's sister Monica finally appear after hearing so much about her. I would expect to see that storyline play out and maybe even see her have more fun at trivia nights.

Peri Gilpin

Classic Frasier star Peri Gilpin shined as Roz on the original series, so it was great to see her appearance in the revival's Season 1 finale. It's been announced that she'll be back in a greater capacity in Season 2, though we don't know for sure how many episodes that means. We do know, however, that her daughter will be appearing in this season, so I would expect to see her in at least a couple of episodes.

Jimmy Dunn

Jimmy Dunn, who played Moose in Season 1 of the Frasier revival, will return as one of Freddy's firehouse buddies in Season 2. What's interesting about his return is that there seemed to be a budding romance between him and Olivia at the end of Season 1, so I'm eager to see if that develops further in the upcoming episodes.

Renee Pezzotta

Renee Pezzotta is back in Frasier, and while she didn't have a huge role in Season 1, she was always great for some laughs during the scenes with Freddy's firehouse buddies. Her working-class charm and jabs will spice up the new season and get a few chuckles from the audience as well.

Kevin Daniels

Kevin Daniels shined with his hilariously ironic nickname "Tiny," and he will continue to do so in Season 2 of Frasier. Having all the firehouse buddies is a must for the series, as they all portray the heart of Boston culture in a way that the title character tends to ignore. I can't wait to see what they all get into in this coming season.

Which Stars Are New For Season 2?

Patricia Heaton

Patricia Heaton can't stay away from sitcoms, and the former star of Everybody Loves Raymond will come into Season 2 of Frasier as Holly. Deadline reported that Holly is a bartender who loves to rib intellectuals, so of course, Frasier is going to be absolutely smitten by her. Whether the love interest will return his affections is another story, and once we'll likely see play out in Season 2. Heaton and Grammer previously worked together in the short-lived sitcom Back to You.

Yvette Nicole Brown

I smell another iconic Yvette Nicole Brown performance on the horizon, and can't wait to see her when she joins the Season 2 cast of Frasier. While it's just a guest-starring role, it sounds like it will be meaningful, as Variety reported that she's playing Monica, Olivia's older sister. Monica was referenced a lot in Season 1, but this will be our first time seeing her. Given Brown's comedic chops, I'm sure she won't disappoint.

Amy Sedaris

Amy Sedaris is showing up in Frasier Season 2 in the role of Dr. Doc Stathos. Variety said the doctor is a therapist who works with the fire department, and she's also a massive fan of Frasier. She was an avid watcher of his television show, so I would expect them to have a run-in where she's a super-fan and possibly become a thorn in the side of the title character. Then again, Frasier strikes me as the type of person who might indulge a super fan until he's in over his head without an exit. I guess we will see!

Greer Grammer

New to the Frasier revival in Season 2 is Kelsey Grammer's real-life daughter, Greer. While her father might've had a hand in her coming aboard the show, it's worth noting that Grammer has a pretty solid list of television and film appearances since 2010. In this series, she'll play Roz's daughter Alice, which could point to the fact that we'll be seeing more of Roz this season than the previous one. It also seems like she might play a love interest for Freddy, which will no doubt complicate things for him.

Season 2 of the Frasier revival is on the way, which means now is a good time to check out Season 1 over on Paramount+. CinemaBlend will continue to track updates on the series as it gets closer to releasing, and hopefully figure out what do to with the tossed salad and scrambled eggs in the interim.

If you have a Paramount+ subscription and enjoyed seeing Kelsey Grammer return as Frasier Crane last year, take comfort knowing that won’t be a one-off thing. In February, the Frasier revival was renewed for Season 2, and in May, it was announced that Peri Gilpin will have an expanded role as Roz Doyle following her guest appearance in the Season 1 finale. Now it’s been revealed that Roz’s daughter Alice will also appear during Season 2, and while it’s interesting to learn she’ll be played by someone close to Grammer, I’m more intrigued by the tease for how she’ll affect the life of Jack Cutmore-Scott’s Freddy, Frasier’s son.

Who Is Playing Alice In Frasier Season 2

Per a Variety profile covering Kelsey Grammer, Greer Grammer, the actor’s daughter from his relationship with hair and makeup stylist Barrie Buckner, will play Alice in Frasier Season 2. A former beauty queen, Greer made her acting debut in an episode of iCarly in 2010, and when it comes to TV, she’s best known for playing Lissa Miller in Awkward and April in The Middle. Film-wise, her credits include Life Partners, Roe V. Wade, Deadly Illusions (which she also produced) Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman and Burning at Both Ends. Greer isn’t the only one of Kelsey Grammer’s daughters who acts, as Spencer Grammer, born from his marriage to dance instructor Doreen Alderman, voices Summer Smith on Rick & Morty, among other credits.

Alice was born during Season 5 of the original Frasier from Roz’s fling with college student and Café Nervosa waiter Rick Garrett, who had only just turned 20 when Roz discovered she was pregnant. Not wanting to burden the young man, Roz decided to raise Alice by herself. Alice was played by Ashley Thomas in the final two seasons of the Cheers spinoff.

How Alice Will Fit Into Frasier Season 2

In addition to Variety mentioning that Alice’s appearance on Paramount+’s Frasier comes as Roz is “contemplating leaving Seattle,” which would explain why we’ll be seeing more of her, the publication also provided the official description of the adult Alice:

In the Frasier Season 1 finale, titled “Reindeer Games,” Roz mentioned to the title character that Alice had been dating the same guy for roughly four years. As original Frasier viewers will recall, that’s a sharp contrast to her mother going through many romantic partners. However, it appears that relationship is over, presumably because she and her ex didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship due to her move to Providence, Rhode Island. 

It’s hard to say if Alice is now eager to form something romantic with Freddy or is just looking forward to seeing him again as a friend, but I’m curious about what romantic plans of his she’ll complicate. Are Freddy and Eve finally thinking about dating each other, or does Alice’s arrival simply coincide with him dating another woman? Whatever the answer is, count on shenanigans and misunderstandings unfolding in typical Frasier fashion.

Frasier Season 2 doesn’t have a premiere date yet, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for that information and other updates. You can also occupy your time by looking over the other best Paramount+ shows or seeing what’s coming up on the 2024 TV schedule.

The initial shock hit us so hard, we didn’t really pay attention to what exactly was being said. At the end of the recent Marvel Studios movie The Marvels, Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) sacrificed herself to close a rift between universes. She left herself on the other side, and when she woke up, she ran into someone she believed to be her mother, Maria (Lashana Lynch)... and The Beast, a core member of the mutant team The X-Men! The excitement at seeing Beast on screen again was a lot. And, it was the Kelsey Grammer version of the mutant, an iteration we hadn’t seen since the 2006 film X-Men: The Last Stand. That was many moons ago, and in a continuity that occurred long before the MCU even existed. Now that we know Grammer is willing to return to the X-Men universe, I have a question about something that he said… and I think it can be answered in the upcoming Marvel Studios movie Deadpool & Wolverine. 

Let’s play out the scene. Monica wakes up in a hospital bed that’s in a lab. She sees her mom sitting by her bedside, only it becomes clear that this is not her mom. This is Binary, a hero in what clearly is another universe. And she’s a colleague (or teammate) of The Beast. We appear to be in the X-Mansion – hence, the X-Door spotted in the background. 

And on his way out of the lab, Beast says to Binary and Monica:

Which begs the question, “Which Charles is he talking about?” Back  when Kelsey Grammer was playing Beast as a member of an X-Men series, he had Sir Patrick Stewart as his Charles Xavier. And yes, Stewart returned to the role in the most recent Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though he was killed off by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in that movie, and has been dodgy about his future in the part. Then again, Binary was not a member of that team… at least, not when we were watching in 2006. 

The other option for a possible Charles in the universe that now contains Monica Rambeau is James McAvoy, the actor who played a younger Charles Xavier in multiple X-Men movies beginning with X-Men: First Class. Going with the younger McAvoy would allow Marvel Studios to maintain a consistent Xavier in what’s expected to be a live-action reboot of the franchise, capitalizing on the popularity of the team thanks to the return of the animated series X-Men ‘97. 

The line from Beast is very intentional. He didn’t have to mention Charles. As has been proven in the X-Men ‘97 series, Magneto also served as the team leader in the wake of Xavier’s death. Beast also could have mentioned “Scott,” implying that Cyclops had taken over as team leader of the X-Men, something that’s also common in the X-stories. 

Which leads me to conclude that since the character was mentioned, and we’re eventually going to have to find out where Monica was stranded, we’re going to get the answer in Deadpool & Wolverine. Though we don’t have an in-depth synopsis of the movie, the first trailer for the upcoming sequel made it clear that Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) was being recruited by the TVA for a mission. And there have been rumors about Deadpool encountering variants of all sorts of major characters in the movie, from the original Sabertooth (Tyler Mane) to a potential cameo by Henry Cavill (or even Daniel Radcliffe) as a Wolverine variant.

Which takes me to the third – and in my opinion, best – option. The “Charles” that Kelsey Grammer’s Beast refers to might be the NEW Charles Xavier that Marvel Studios plans to introduce to audience members. Given the fact that the MCU likely plans to introduce a new X-Men team and lean on these characters for the next 10 years at least, then relying on former Xavier actors isn’t wise. The name drop might be the seed that is planted for Marvel Studios to roll out the next iteration of Charles Xavier. Even though I do believe that legacy versions of these beloved characters will be a part of Avengers: Secret Wars… if and when that movie finally happens. 

We’ll know this answer soon enough, as Deadpool & Wolverine is arriving in theaters in July, and if we don’t get it then, I’m not sure the next time that we’ll be able to catch up with Monica, as the pending slate for the MCU involves street level stories (Daredevil: Born Again) or cosmic origin stories (The Fantastic Four) set in the 1960s. Things are getting interesting in the MCU. Let’s find out which Charles the new/old Beast was referencing!

SPOILERS are ahead for The Marvels, which is now streaming with a Disney+ subscription. 

During The Marvels’ end credit scene, the MCU did what it does best, and it dropped an awesome tease for what’s to come by bringing back a beloved actor as his X-Men character. That's right, Kelsey Grammer turned up as Beast to treat the wounds of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau when she accidentally fell into a parallel reality after saving everyone else. However, it turns out that even Parris didn’t know the big cameo was happening until it was on the big screen!

When asked about her interaction with Beast during The Marvels, Teyonah Parris shared the super next-level way Marvel kept the secret from her. In her words: 

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Parris revealed that when she filmed the special X-Men reveal, the actor she was playing against was an unassuming actor in a lab coat who definitely did not have bright blue skin and sideburns. Either Marvel Studios doesn’t trust Teyonah Parris and the crew of The Marvels, or well… they really wanted to keep this a secret. 

Over the years, there have been a lot of leaks in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so we get it, they wanted to keep the Beast reveal close to the vest! Teyonah Parris was completely fooled, and obviously, she didn’t get to work with Kelsey Grammer for the end credits scene. Hopefully, they’ll continue the storyline past the credits and Parris will get to be part of the introduction of the X-Men to the MCU!! 

Kelsey Grammer came back for The Marvels, after starring as Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and briefly in 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. Nicholas Hoult also memorably replaced him for the prequels in the same role. Following the recent cameo, Grammar has shared that he believes with a “certain amount of confidence” that he will return as Beast in another MCU movie. 

We don’t know what that will be right now, there is an X-Men movie reportedly quietly moving forward, and tons of upcoming Marvel movies on the way. What perhaps makes the most sense for Beast in the near future would be Deadpool 3, since another cameo could reunite Grammer with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine. Following quite a few end credits scenes lately in the MCU without any payoff, here’s hoping this one does lead to something exciting! 

Frasier arrived back on television in 2023, although not in a return to NBC with the same cast all reprising their roles. The reboot of the classic sitcom came to streaming for Paramount+ subscribers and brought Kelsey Grammer's Frasier Crane to Boston to rebuild his relationship with his son. The sitcom has finally been renewed for Season 2 after leaving fans hanging for a couple of months, and the leading man recently reflected on having more influence on the show this time around.

Kelsey Grammer and the Frasier cast attended SCAD TVfest for the Cheers alum to receive the Legend of Television Award. When I spoke with the honoree on the TVfest red carpet, I asked what it has been like for him to work as an executive producer right off the bat for the Paramount+ reboot, which was not the case for Frasier's original run on NBC. Grammer explained:

Kelsey Grammer is credited as an executive producer on the original Frasier from Season 6 until the end with Season 11, but he was involved as an EP in the reboot from the very early stages. After playing the character of Frasier Crane going back to Cheers in the '80s, who could disagree that "it's about time" for the actor to prove what he's capable of as an executive producer? After all, his Cheers role ranks on our list of great TV characters added after the first season for a reason!

Grammer also reunited with some former co-stars for the Paramount+ revival, with Bebe Neuwirth returning as Lilith and Peri Gilpin appearing as Roz in the Season 1 finale. It remains to be seen if they or other familiar faces will reprise their roles again now that Season 2 has been announced. David Hyde Pierce declined to return as Niles for Season 1, so fans may not want to get their hopes up too high for more of Frasier's brother than the snarky texts. For now, take a look at how the renewal news was announced on Instagram:

At the time of writing, Paramount+ has not announced when Season 2 could premiere, so we can only wait and see if it arrives before the end of the 2024 TV schedule. According to the streamer, Season 2 will once again film in front of a live studio audience, with Frasier continuing to face new challenges, create new relationships, and potentially fulfill some longstanding dreams.

For now, you can always revisit the first full season of the Frasier reboot with star/executive producer Kelsey Grammer streaming on Paramount+. For a blast further to the past, the streamer also offers every season of the original Frasier as well as all eleven seasons of Cheers.

With Taylor Swift about to hit the road again for her Eras Tour — while keeping fans guessing about the release of Reputation (Taylor’s Version) — and Travis Kelce headed back to another Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, these two are the very definition of a power couple. Swift and Kelce’s relationship has even caught the attention of David Letterman, who apparently has a pretty strong opinion about the pop star. Footage of the former late-night host ranting about her critics is recirculating, as he hilariously confused Kelce for Frasier star Kelsey Grammer.

David Letterman and his right-hand man Paul Shaffer did a segment on The Barbara Gaines Show in October 2023, in which the famed Late Show host raved to his former executive producer that we’ve never experienced anything like Taylor Swift in the history of pop culture. He then laid into the people criticizing the singer for supporting her boyfriend at NFL games, but he confused the Kansas City Chief with another famous Kelsey, making for a LOL-worthy clip. Letterman said: 

Now, it should be pointed out that Swifties absolutely love Travis Kelce, and some girl dads appreciate Taylor Swift for giving them something to connect with their daughters over. But amidst David Letterman’s diatribe against the pissed-off dads, Brads and Chads, he was clearly confusing the tight end with Cheers star Kelsey Grammer, who is twice the age of Swift and Kelce at 68. At that point in the video, someone corrects the My Next Guest Needs No Introduction host, and he continued his rant, saying: 

Perhaps if we were pronouncing Travis Kelce’s name correctly, David Letterman wouldn’t have so much of an issue, but his heart was in the right place, even if he still couldn’t get that name right. He also set up Paul Shaffer for his own A+ joke, as the musician quipped: 

David Letterman praised Taylor Swift for her impressive catalog of music that allows her to sell out stadiums worldwide for the three-plus-hour concerts on her Eras Tour, but pointed out that even more than that, people love her as a human being. Paul Shaffer used the huge tips Swift gives her truck drivers as an example of her generosity, and I love that these late-night veterans consider themselves proud Swifties.  

While the comic book genre is endlessly popular nowadays, there was a time when these projects were seen as major risks. The original X-Men trilogy was ahead of its time in that way, which came to an end with its ill-fated threequel The Last Stand. That movie featured the debut of Kelsey Grammer as Beast, a role he recently reprised. And after returning to Beast in The Marvels, Grammer recalls being replaced in his role following X-Men 3.

The Marvels’ credits scene shocked fans when Kelsey Grammer’s Beast was shown speaking with Monica Rambeau. Fans are already curious about whether he’ll appear in another upcoming Marvel movie, hopefully uniting the X-Men in the process. Grammer recently spoke to ET Online about the ups and down he’s had as Hank McCoy, saying:

Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. It sounds like Kelsey Grammer was fully expecting to return for X-Men: First Class when he heard rumblings of its development. But a new cast of actors was brought in, with Nicholas Hoult taking on the role of Beast. 

While Grammer only got to star as Beast in one movie, he has been brought back for a few cameos. He got to appear at the end of X-Men: Days of Future Past, revealing that Wolverine succeeded in changing the apocalyptic future. And now Grammer is back in the cameo game thanks to his sequence in The Marvels.

And it sounds like Kelsey Grammer has been pleased with the way the public reacted to his surprise role in the MCU. In the same interview with ET, he shared how its been seeing fans react to him being back in blue. In his words:

Let the great debate begin! While Kelsey Grammer was the OG live-action Beast, Nicholas Hoult spent four movies playing Hank McCoy. And rather than cameos, they were leading roles, which ended with Dark Phoenix. So Grammer’s going to need more screen time if he’s going to properly compete with his fellow actor.

Luckily for those moviegoers looking to make these comparisons, The Last Stand, as well as a bunch of other X-Men movies, can be streamed with a Disney+ subscription. Beast will presumably pop up again in the MCU, although Kevin Feige’s plans for the X-Men remain a mystery for the time being.

The Marvels is still in theaters now and the next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool 3 on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

As we continue living in the era of reboots, revivals, and spinoffs, the latest classic series to be given a second life is the sitcom Frasier, which is currently airing its first revival season on Paramount+. While most of the Frasier cast is new, Kelsey Grammer does return as the titular doctor, among a few other familar faces. Although the lead actor is busy with the new Frasier, he's also thinking about one of his other shows, Girlfriends, and it's potential to come back. 

The early ‘00s dramedy aired on UPN and then The CW from 2000 to 2008, running for eight seasons. Grammer served as an executive producer on the series, which starred Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones. Since it seems like more and more shows are getting a second chance at life, it’s always possible. Grammer expressed his interest in Girlfriends returning with Deadline, but he isn’t sure if it will actually happen:

Grammer also served as an executive producer on the dramedy sitcom The Game from 2006 to 2015. He later served as an EP on the revival in 2021 on Paramount+, and it ran for two seasons, with the streamer canceling it along with three other shows over the summer. 

Perhaps he could have more luck with Girlfriends if it were ever to be revived, however, it’s not a guarantee that the original cast would be on board. At least Grammer is already throwing his hat in the ring for Tracee Ellis Ross to reprise her role, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he wanted Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones in as well.

Since The Game was originally a spinoff of Girlfriends, it would only make sense for its predecessor to also be rebooted. Since Kelsey Grammer is on board, it’s possible that if more people show interest, it will happen. For now, it doesn’t seem like anything is in the works.

Meanwhile, Grammer has been quite busy with the Frasier revival. Premiering on October 12 for those with a Paramount+ subscription, the series follows the actor's titular character returning to Boston after the death of his father. Despite the series taking place there, a return to the Cheers bar is unlikely. Critics haven’t been holding back on their Frasier opinions either, but it’s definitely best to go in with an open mind because it could be different for everyone. At the very least, Grammer is booked and busy, and the revivals may not end with Frasier.

It's always unpredictable which shows could be rebooted or revived, so fans will just have to patiently wait and see if Girlfriends gets the same treatment. To stream Kelsey Grammer's show all you need is a Netflix subscription. Who knows? Maybe if it’s streamed enough, it will get the Suits treatment.

Ever since it was revealed that Paramount+’s Frasier revival would be set in Boston, there’s been speculation about whether the new show will ever show Dr. Frasier Crane revisiting Cheers, his old watering hole. While the new Frasier’s premiere episode did see Kelsey Grammer’s title character admitting he used to spend too much time “at a certain bar” back in the day, that’s been the extent of referencing the show that paved the way for the original Frasier spinoff. Now Grammer has shared his reasoning for why the Cheers bar won’t appear in the revival, and I have mixed feelings about this.

With just a few episodes left to go until the Frasier revival’s first season concludes, Grammer spoke with Variety about his work on the new show Paramount+ subscribers can easily stream. Interviewer Michael Scheider brought up how director James Burrows, who co-created Cheers, helmed many episodes of the original Frasier and returned to direct the revival’s first two episodes, believes that the new series should never show the Cheers bar again. Grammer agrees with this, saying:

I understand Kelsey Grammer’s point of view on this. Cheers, which ran from 1982 to 1993, remains one of the most popular television comedies after all this time. Between reruns still airing on conventional TV and the show being available to stream both on Paramount+ and with a Hulu subscription, people of all ages continue to enjoy the stories centered on characters like Sam Malone, Carla Tortelli and Norm Peterson. Grammer is correct that Cheers is a TV “national monument,” so I get why he’d be worried about tarnishing the show’s image if bringing back the Cheers bar on the new Frasier didn’t end up turning out well.

That being said, once again, Frasier Crane is living in Boston again! I get that it’s a big city and he doesn’t want to spend a lot of time at Cheers anymore, but are you telling me that he wouldn’t even stop by this place that used to mean a lot to him at least once? Grammer was on Cheers for nine of its 11 seasons, so that’s nine years of Frasier enjoying drinks and good company in that place. Even if Frasier believes he wasn’t his best self back in those days, I find it hard to believe that he wouldn’t at least peek his head in to see how the bar is changed.

Basically, I’m hoping that Kelsey Grammer and the other people behind Frasier change their minds and decide to include the Cheers bar at some point, even if it’s only for episode. That’s assuming, of course, that the new Frasier is renewed for another season. With just three episodes left to go until this first season is over, there hasn’t been any word one way or the other about the show’s future. If it continues, and if the Cheers bar does permanently stay off the table, then hopefully we can see Frasier Crane reunite with some of his Cheers cohorts at a different location.

New episodes of Frasier premiere on Thursdays, but if you’re looking for other small screen entertainment to view, find out what the rest of the year has to offer with our 2023 TV schedule, or get a head start on next year with the 2024 TV schedule.

Spoilers ahead for The Marvels.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is a behemoth force in the entertainment industry, thanks to its new movies and the shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. The most recent movie to hit theaters was Nia DaCosta’s The Marvels, which included some fascinating narrative threads to pull from in upcoming Marvel movies. Especially The Marvels’ post-credits scene, which featured Kelsey Grammer’s return as Beast. So after that brief appearance, will he play Hank McCoy again? Here’s what he said.

The credits scene of The Marvels saw Monica Rambeau waking up in an alternate universe, one that is seemingly occupied by the X-Men. This was thrilling, as fans have been not-so-patiently waiting for mutants to enter the fray since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its properties. With the movie out for a few weeks now, Kelsey Grammer broke his silence with The Wrap about becoming the blue X-Man. When asked if he’s return for another appearance, the Frasier actor said:

Well, that’s definitely exciting. It looks like Kelsey Grammer is ready for another appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Beast. While the studio’s plans are a mystery to the public, he seems pretty confident that he’ll be able to reprise his superhero role again sometime in the future. 

Kelsey Grammer’s comments are sure to please longtime fans of the superhero genre, including those who watched X-Men movies in theaters. While the finale of Ms. Marvel teased mutants, Beast's scene in The Marvels is the closest we got to finally seeing the X-Men in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. We’ll just have to see if the universes collide, and finally bring mutants to the main timeline of the shared universe.

Moviegoers who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have definitely felt the noticeable absence of fan favorite characters like the X-Men, and Fantastic Four. But the doors are finally open for those teams to get in on the fun, as well as Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool. Indeed, another beloved mutant will be on the big screen soon thanks to Hugh Jackman’s return to Wolverine in Ryan Reynolds’ forthcoming threequel.

Marvel studio has been keeping its cards close to the chest, with Kevin Feige occasionally teasing that the X-Men are indeed going to join the shared universe in a significant manner. While we wait, we’ve been treated to little tastes like Kelsey Grammer’s cameo in The Marvels and Professor X appearing in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. 

The Marvels is in theaters now, and Grammer’s previous appearances as Beast on Disney+. Be sure to check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

SPOILERS are ahead for The Marvels. 

It’s been over four years since Disney got the film rights back to Marvel’s X-Men, but only within the past year has the word “mutant” been mentioned. After Kamala Khan became the MCU’s first mutant in Ms. Marvel, the superhero’s big-screen debut in The Marvels included a major X-Men cameo during the Captain Marvel sequel’s end credits scene. Now the returning X-Men actor has opened up about what that means for their character’s future in the MCU. 

Following Kelsey Grammer returning to his most beloved character by leading the Frasier revival’s cast, the actor got back in blue to briefly play Beast during The Marvels. Now that the beast is out of the bag, Grammer said this about the reunion with his X-Men character: 

In an interview with The Wrap, Grammer shared his “confidence” about returning to the role following the X-Men tease at the end of The Marvels. The actor also said he was “very pleased” by the response his unexpected cameo has garnered since the movie’s release. Kelsey Grammer has apparently been receiving “a lot” of correspondence from others since The Marvels premiered to share their joy for him reprising Beast in the MCU. 

Kelsey Grammer played the role of Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy in 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and briefly returned for 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past. During The Marvels’ end credits scene, after Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau successfully repairs a rip in space and time, she gets lost in a parallel reality. When she wakes up, she is lying in front of her mother, Maria, who is a hero named Binary in this universe. Also in the room is Kelsey Grammer’s Beast, who explains where she is, mentions “Charles” (a.k.a. Professor X) and then leaves the room. 

The end credits scene has us more excited for the Multiverse Saga than we have been in a while. The MCU previously brought back Patrick Stewart’s Professor X before in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, even though that variant’s fate was a bummer, and is set to revive Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine in one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming Marvel movies, Deadpool 3.

Kelsey Grammer’s update on Beast's return certainly has us excited for more of him in the MCU. The actor has shown interest in reprising Hank McCoy for some time, and we’re so happy he’s found a place in Marvel’s current roster. 

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for The Marvels. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

Part of the fun of being a Marvel fan is knowing that the excitement in an MCU blockbuster doesn’t end when the credits start to roll. In fact, when the main story ends, there is an extra special kind of anticipation that builds. Stinger scenes have been a very special part of the franchise from the very beginning… and their latest doesn’t disappoint. While the film doesn’t have a post-credits scene, the brilliant mid-credits scene is more than thrilling enough to make up for that lacking.

So what happens in the Marvels end credits scene, who are the characters involved, and how does it potentially set up what’s in the future for the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Those are the answers that this guide is designed to answer, so let’s get things rolling with a quick recap of the events that go down.

What Happens In The Marvels Mid-Credits Scene

At the end of The Marvels, Monica Rambeau has to seemingly sacrifice herself in order to repair a potentially devastating rip in space and time, and Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel and Kamala Khan a.k.a. Ms. Marvel are devastated to lose their friend. She isn’t dead, however – which is the first thing that we discover when the blockbuster’s mid-credits sequence begins.

Monica wakes up in what appears to be an all-white hospital room, and on top of being amazed to be alive, she is stunned to realize that she is not alone. Sitting at her bedside is her supposedly dead mother, Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), who is wearing a superhero-esque uniform. She calls Maria, “Mom,” and cries as she explains that she missed her and is sorry, but the only reaction she gets is confusion. A person enters the room asking about their “mysterious visitor”… and it’s none other than Beast (Kelsey Grammer) from the X-Men.

Monica asks about where they are and what happened, by the furry, blue mutant explains that they were hoping that she would inform them – saying that she was found by Maria (whom he calls Binary). He theorizes (with spot-on accuracy) that Monica has traveled through a rip in space-time to a parallel reality that is not her own, but also says that would be impossible. When Monica starts freaking out, Beast calmly explains that her confusion is the first step on the road to knowledge, but Binary tells him that she is going to take over the case. He tells her that “Charles” (a.k.a. Professor X) wants an update and leaves the room, leaving Binary and Monica alone.

With Beast gone, Binary sternly asks, “Who are you,” and Monica can only reply, “Oh shit.”

Why Beast May Sound (But Not Look) Familiar

In the last 10 years, Beast has been primarily brought to life in the X-Men movies played by Nicholas Hoult – whose run as the character ran from 2011’s X-Men: First Class to 2019’s Dark Phoenix – but before the Favourite actor turned blue and fuzzy, it was Kelsey Grammer who played the first live-action version of the beloved mutant character. Beast wasn’t featured in either 2000’s X-Men or 2003’s X2: X-Men United (not counting the brief appearance of Steve Bacic as Dr. Hank McCoy), but Grammer was cast to play the cerulean hero for 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, and he reprised the role eight years later for an uncredited cameo at the end of 2014’s X-Men: Days Of Future Past (fun fact: The Marvels mid-credits scene uses a sample of composer John Ottman’s score from that film).

Kelsey Grammer is instantly recognizable from his voice, but comic book movie fans will notice that Beast doesn’t look quite the same in the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe adventure as he previously did. There’s a simple explanation for this: while Grammer previously wore special effects makeup to bring the hyper-strong/hyper-brilliant hero to life, this time around it appears that the character was rendered digitally. It’s unknown at this time if the Frasier star did his own performance capture work for The Marvels or if he only provided the voice (he is notably the only actor credited for the role).

As for the larger implications of Kelsey Grammer’s Beast cameo, that’s a whole other subject to dig into…

Is Monica Rambeau Now In The X-Men Universe From The X-Men Movies?

With the Marvels end credits scenes, speculation is sure to now erupt wondering if Monica Rambeau is specifically in the universe from the X-Men franchise, and that’s certainly a possibility… but we also don’t have nearly enough information to go on to know if that’s actually the case. One of the tricky things about the multiverse is that certain details can match up across multiple realities, but that doesn’t mean that all of those realities are the same.

Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness actually illustrates the situation quite well by featuring Patrick Stewart’s return as Charles Xavier, as Earth-838 in that blockbuster is most definitely not the X-Men franchise universe. The world in which Monica finds herself may have a Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast that sounds like Kelsey Grammer, but it could be different in an infinite number of other ways. Given that the character doesn’t appear in any of the X-Men movies, Maria Rambeau a.k.a. Binary’s presence could be interpreted as one of those differences... but it also may not be.

When will we get more answers on this front? It’s unknown for sure, but that time may be coming very soon. The upcoming Deadpool 3 is expected to be the first film that specifically addresses the existence of the X-Men universe in the same multiverse as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and part of that adventure may provide audiences with new information about Monica Rambeau’s situation. The movie is presently scheduled for release on July 26, 2024, but the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023 may end up forcing that to change because production was shut down during the summer. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more news on that front.

What Is Going On With Maria Rambeau a.k.a. Binary?

Let’s now dig into the presence of Maria Rambeau in the Marvels end credits scene, as there is plenty to unpack on that front as well. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Maria was the mother of Monica Rambeau, a friend of Carol Danvers, a pilot in the Air Force, and a founder/director of S.W.O.R.D., but she died from cancer while the world was dealing with the aftermath of Thanos’ notorious Gauntlet snap.

There are, however, an infinite number of Maria Rambeau’s in the multiverse, and we get to meet one in the Marvels mid-credits sequence.

In this new universe, Maria evidently never had Monica as a daughter, and while it’s unclear if she is a mutant herself, she is a powered individual who at the very least is friends with the X-Men. The designation Binary has origins in the pages of Marvel Comics, though that’s not a moniker that Maria ever took on: it was first a new name that Carol Danvers took on when she tapped into a white hole and got god-level powers, and later, it was the name of a Carol Danvers duplicate that the hero was able to create using cosmic energy.

As noted, it’s presently unclear when we’ll see follow-up to the major teases at the end of The Marvels, but for now, you can keep track of everything going on with the MCU via our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides.

Dr. Frasier Crane has reentered the building. Nearly 20 years ago, the original Frasier series concluded after 11 seasons, with that spinoff following after Kelsey Grammer’s nine seasons on Cheers. 20 years of playing the same character is an impressive feat, and now Grammer is back for another round with… well, Frasier, the revival that is streaming on Paramount+ rather than airing on broadcast television.

Two decades is a long time to pass between shows, and as you’ll see upon reading through our Frasier cast list, Kelsey Grammer’s fellow series regulars are all-new faces to the Frasier space. So now that the new Frasier is here, some of you may be asking a specific question: do I need to have seen the original to enjoy the revival? Well, as a longtime Frasier fan who was able to see the revival’s first five episodes early, I can answer that question: no, seeing the original Frasier is not required if you’re interested in watching this new show with your Paramount+ subscription.

Having said that, there are certain moments in the opening episodes that will definitely be more meaningful to longtime Frasier fans than people who are unfamiliar with the life of the man who hears the blues are calling tossed salad and scrambled eggs. But before we get to that, let’s go over why the new Frasier is so accessible to newcomers. And don’t worry, there aren’t any major spoilers ahead.

Why Newcomers Will Be Able To Enjoy The Frasier Revival

The big way the Frasier revival is able to stand out from its predecessor is because of a change of scenery. The original Frasier saw its title character moving back to his hometown of Seattle, Washington following his time in Boston, Massachusetts on Cheers, and by the end of the spinoff, Frasier decided to move to Chicago to reunite with Laura Linney’s Charlotte. Without getting into specifics, Frasier did indeed spend a long time in Chicago, but the revival starts with him moving back to Boston.

Granted, we can’t classify Boston as a “new” environment since that’s where Cheers took place, but outside of an indirect reference to that parent series, it may as well be somewhere brand-new. That’s not to say deeper Cheers ties couldn’t be established later, but as far as the revival’s connection to the original Frasier is concerned, the former taking place on the other side of the United States obviously helps a lot with it standing out from its predecessor, as well as the aforementioned new cast members.

Now to be clear, new actors surrounding Kelsey Grammer does not mean that all their characters are brand-new to the Frasier space. Jack Cutmore-Scott is playing Freddy Crane, Frasier’s son who was born in Cheers Season 8 and chiefly played by Trevor Einhorn during the original Frasier show. Also, David Crane, i.e. Niles and Daphne’s son, was born in the Frasier series finale, and now we see him as a college student played by Anders Keith. However, one doesn’t need to have seen the original Frasier in order to like these characters, and when it comes to Nicholas Lyndhurst’s Alan Cornwall, Jess Salgueiro’s Eve and Toks Olagundoye’s Olivia, every viewer is getting to know them at the same time.

Why Being Familiar With The Original Frasier Enhances Watching The Revival

So when it comes to following along with each episode’s story and its leading characters, Frasier newcomers will be just fine. However, it goes without saying that seeing the original Frasier enhances the experience of watching the revival. For one thing, being familiar with Frasier having lived far away from Freddy when his son was growing up, and how that led to a complicated dynamic between them in various episodes of the original show, gives one a better understanding of why things are strained between the two of them when the revival starts out. Seeing the original show will also give one a better appreciation of Anders Keith’s performance as David, as he does a remarkable job of channeling the same mannerisms and physical humor David Hyde Pierce brought to the role of Niles.

To hone in on a more specific example though, the first episode of the Frasier revival pays tribute to actor John Mahoney, who passed away in 2018 and starred as Martin Crane, Frasier and Niles’ father, throughout the entirety of the original show. I won’t share any specific details about this tribute, but if you’re a longtime Frasier fan, then hopefully it’ll tug at your emotional strings just as much as it did for me. For someone who’s entering this world for the first time, they might find this moment nice and touching enough, but it won’t hit them as hard.

Additionally, the Frasier revival is bringing back Bebe Neuwirth’s Lilith Sternin, Freddy’s mother and Frasier’s ex-wife, and Peri Gilpin’s Roz Doyle, Frasier’s longtime friend and former producer for his KACL radio show in Seattle, as recurring/guest characters. So naturally having seen what Frasier’s relationships were like with these women back in the day will it all the more delightful when he’s paired back with them again. That said, they’re the only other actors from the original Frasier who will be back alongside Kelsey Grammer this season, so newcomers don’t need to be concerned about other reunions. Should the show return for Season 2, though, showrunner Joe Cristalli told Variety he’s interested in bringing back more Frasier and Cheers characters.

So if you’re on Paramount+ and are looking for a new comedy to watch, don’t let any unfamiliarity with the original Frasier steer you away from watching the revival. Having said that, I recommend that either after seeing a few episodes of this new show, or perhaps after the seasons has ended, you go back and watch the original. You’re in for 11 seasons of stellar comedy that still holds up almost three decades after it arrived. Once that’s out of the way, feel free to go back even further and watch an even younger Frasier Crane over the course of Cheers’ 11 seasons.

While you’re on the streaming service, be sure to look through the best Paramount+ shows available to watch now. Otherwise, keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more Frasier coverage as we progress through this final stretch of the 2023 TV schedule.

Kelsey Grammer has apparently been talking about a revival of the popular ‘90s series Frasier for a while now, and what better time than now to bring back the successful Cheers spinoff? A whole new audience will be introduced to the uptight psychiatrist, who has shifted locations to Boston from Seattle for the Paramount+ series, when the 10-episode first season hits the streaming service. Critics have had the opportunity to screen the first five episodes of Frasier, and they’re not holding back in their assessment of the revival.

David Hyde Pierce will not be returning as Niles Crane, Frasier’s younger brother, and John Mahoney, who starred in the original series as their father Martin, died in 2018. Instead, joining Kelsey Grammer in the Frasier revival’s cast will be Jack Cutmore-Scott as Frasier’s son Freddy Crane and Anders Keith as his nephew David. Let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with CinemaBlend's Adam Holmes, who writes that the new series isn't as funny as the original, but it's an easy introduction for those unfamiliar with the OG story. He says:

Jackson McHenry of Vulture says the revival hasn’t yet found its own groove. The new characters so far are “disappointingly generic” and may need time to get running at full speed. McHenry continues: 

Judy Berman of Time says the Frasier revival feels like it was ordered by television executives in need of a nostalgia-driven hit, because it’s hard to believe anyone else would be interested in the continuation of an 11-season show that’s missing all but one of its original cast members. Berman writes: 

Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone calls the series “an unfunny, uninspired dud,” saying that instead of good writing, the reboot centers around whatever built-in affection we already have for Kelsey Grammer’s title character. Even then, it ignores some pretty big aspects of the Frasier Crane that we know so well, the critic says, writing: 

LaToya Ferguson of The Wrap says this series is Frasier in name only, lacking the farce and charm that drew its audience in decades ago. The fact that Kelsey Grammer falls into the familiar cadence of his character only highlights that those around him aren’t in rhythm with him. In Ferguson’s words: 

Kristen Baldwin of EW grades the first five episodes a C+, agreeing with the above assessment that revival fails to capture the lightning in a bottle that was the original Frasier, and the new cast suffers in comparison to the actors who chose not to return. The critic continues: 

Longtime Frasier fans will likely want to check out the first two episodes of the new series when they drop Thursday, October 12, for those with a Paramount+ subscription, but these reviews make it sound like expectations should be tempered. Also be sure to check out some of Paramount+’s best original shows, and keep up to date with all of the upcoming premieres with our 2023 TV schedule. 

Recently I was out having a pint with some of my buddies, and as much as I enjoy their company, I kept thinking about which Cheers character with whom I would rather be at the bar. Like any neighborhood watering hole, Cheers was frequented by an array of different people and personalities, and since I spent a lot of time in my youth obsessing over the show, and the city of Boston, I thought “Why not rank the Cheers characters in the order I’d most like to sit down at a bar with”? So here we go. 

11. Rebecca

This is a tough choice here. I absolutely adore Rebecca Howe and the beloved, late Kirstie Alley’s portrayal of her is fantastic. I know at the time fans were upset about the change in the show after Diane left, but I don’t think the show missed a beat by adding Rebecca. That said, I’m not sure I’d ever want to have a drink with her. In her finest moments, she was a strong, confident boss who navigated the pressures of having a corporate overlord watching the bar’s every choice, but in her lowest moments, she could be an emotional wreck. I’ve tipped back a few in my day with people like that and I’d be very nervous that after a couple of drinks, she’d break down. I’d rather be out with someone having a good time. 

10. Fraiser

Dr. Fraiser Crane, brilliantly played by Kelsey Grammer was a staple on NBC for two decades, first on Cheers and then its spinoff, Fraiser (which is being revived on Paramount+). Grammer won all kinds of awards for playing the character on both shows, which he richly deserved. Let’s be honest here though, it might be a bit of a bore to hang out with Frasier for some drinks. His pompous nature would likely get very grating. On the positive side, whenever someone on the show had a problem, he was happy to provide free counseling, so maybe if times were tough, he’d be the perfect bar mate. On the other hand, sometimes the last thing I wanted was to get unsolicited advice from a guy at a bar, which was another of Frasier’s less endearing qualities.

9. Lilith

Frasier’s wife on Cheers, Dr. Lilith Crane (Bebe Neuwirth), has a lot of the same qualities as Frasier. She’s sort of annoying, she’s a snob (maybe a bigger one than he is) and she’s uptight. She’s also incredibly witty and snarky, which are two qualities I love in a drinking buddy. It would be a lot easier to get past the snobbery after a couple of glasses of wine and Lilith started relaxing and letting her tight bun of hair down. I think she’d be very funny to hang out with once her guard qa down, and a little liquid courage would go a long way there. There’s just something about her wry wit underneath her icy, robotic outer shell that seems like it would be a lot of fun to experience. I can't wait to see how she shows up in the new Frasier series. 

8. Woody

Ok, so what do you do with Woody? I don’t mean where do I put him on this list, I literally mean what do you do with him? Woody, played by Woody Harrelson in a role he wasn’t interested in at first, is easily the most lovable character on Cheers. He’s a country-bumpkin in the best sense of the term. He’s honest, he’s forthright, and he’s kind. He’s often accidentally funny, but who wants to drink with someone they are laughing at rather than with? Not me. I have nothing against Woody at all, so there are good reasons to avoid having a tipple with the man, but I worry I would spend a lot of my time bored and looking at my phone as Woody rambles on about how terrible French Lick, Indiana is compared to his hometown of Hanover, IN. While I’m here for trashing talking Larry Bird, that’s probably where my interests end, right?

7. Evan Drake

Over its 11 seasons, Cheers had a lot of guest stars, and for the most part, this list would get pretty out of control if I thought about all of them. However, one who I would love to have a drink with is Rebecca’s boss, Evan Drake. Mr. Drake, played by the always cool Tom Skerritt, is everything you want in a drinking buddy. He’s funny and he goes with the flow, no matter how nuts it gets. He navigates Rebecca’s overzealous crush on him well and seems to have a good time with all the shenanigans the Cheers regulars commit. He even hired Norm to paint his apartment. Plus, being as rich as he is, I’d count on him paying for the really good stuff on the top shelf. 

6. Diane

Diane Chambers (Shelley Long) gets a bum rap from the other Cheers characters. As was too often common in that era, the smart person is the subject of ridicule rather than praise. She’d be fascinating to have a drink with. Who doesn’t want to sit around with someone and talk late into the night about all the great books of history, and Diane has a vast knowledge of them all. Plus, we have a lot in common. We’re both writers, we both attended Boston University and we both left Boston to start our careers, so we’d certainly have plenty of fodder to keep the conversation going! 

5. Coach

Now we’re getting to the nitty gritty, the Cheers characters who really seem like they’d most fun to drink with. For pure hilarity and fun, you have to think Ernie "Coach" Pantusso, played by Nicholas Colasanto in a role that could’ve gone to Sid Caesar, if you can believe it, would be at the top. Sure, he’s kind of an idiot, like Woody, but Coach lived a whole more life than Woody ever did. He’s a former baseball coach, hence the nickname. He also served in the Navy during the Vietnam War. There would be all kinds of cool stories to share over a beer, assuming he remembers them all. Even if he forgot half of each story, he’d still be a blast to hang out with at the bar. 

4. Cliff

Cliff Claven, played by Pixar superstar John Ratzenberger, might not seem like a top choice here, but let me explain. Ask any of my friends, like the ones I was hanging with recently, and they’ll tell you I have the same knack for peppering in useless trivia into all my conversations. I say, “You know,” as often as Cliff does. I’ve long secretly dreamt of being on Jeopardy! and I love going to pub trivia nights at my local watering hole. Just imagine walking into your local dive for trivia with a former Jeopardy! almost champion who knows more useless facts than anyone you’ve ever met. We’d be unstoppable, which would mean free pitchers all night as the winners of every round! 

3. Carla

Carla Tortelli (Rhea Perlman) on Cheers is everything I look for in a dive bar waitress. Most importantly, she’s snarky as hell. I have to admit, after a couple of beers, I can get pretty cynical and snarky, and I love someone who can match witty barbs thrown at other people. It’s not my best trait, but it’s one I share with Carla. I can totally see myself sitting on a patio in front of a bar on a busy street in Boston’s Back Bay throwing shade on everyone walking by with Carla. It would be one of those nights that I would laugh so hard it would hurt, especially because Carla wouldn’t even crack a smile as she wisecracked her way to last call. 

2. Sam

This one gets a little weird because fans of the show will note that Sam Malone (Ted Danson) is a recovering alcoholic, so maybe having a drink isn’t the best idea. Well, I disagree. We might not end up getting whacky on the sauce together, but that wouldn’t stop me from having a great time hanging out with a former Red Sox pitcher with friends like Kevin McHale and Wade Boggs! I also really need to know exactly what happened with his sailboat that he bought with the money he got for selling Cheers when it ran aground between Seasons 5 and 6. I’ll still have a whisky, he’ll have club soda, or whatever. 

1. Norm

Could there be anyone else at the top of the list of Cheers characters you’d want to have a drink with other than Norm Peterson? He's the every man, the salt of the earth, the guy that everyone is so happy to see when he darkens the door of Cheers that they all yell his name. Just like it says in the theme song, I want to go where everyone knows my name, just like Norm. George Wendt’s portrayal of Norm is just perfect. He’s happy-go-lucky when he needs to be and he’s the quippiest part of the gang of regulars. He’s loyal to his friends, especially Cliff, and he’s the one who everyone in the bar would choose to have a drink with, so who am I to disagree?

In my imaginary world where I don’t leave Boston after college, I think of myself walking down those stairs and feeling “home” with all the regulars at Cheers. The characters on Cheers feel, like so many of our favorite TV characters, like my buddies. It’s so good to know that even now, all these years later, those buddies are still everyone’s friends, and the show’s enduring appeal is due in large part to how great they are.  

Are you ready for Kelsey Grammer’s dulcet tones within Frasier’s theme song to once again serve as the earworm carrying you through the rest of your morning, afternoon, and/or evening? It’s happening anyway, as Paramount+ has revealed not only our first looks at the upcoming revival’s new cast members, but also the premiere date and a newly recorded version of the classic-if-polarizing track that opens and closes each ep. But before we get to that, let’s celebrate the fact that this show is finally set for a confirmed debut, and that even those without the streaming service will get a sneak peek.

When Will The Frasier Revival Premiere?

Nearly 20 years after the initial spinoff first bowed out on NBC, Frasier will make its long-awaited return on Thursday, October 12, for those with Paramount+ subscriptions. Since just one half-hour obviously isn't enough for someone as astute as Frasier Crane, the first two episodes will be available to stream on the day of premiere. 

For those who may not have signed on for the platform and were waiting specifically to see how Frasier looked before joining the fun — which is mighty specific, but no doubt applies to someone out there — those same two episodes will get a linear TV debut on Tuesday, October 17, at 9:15 p.m. ET. The airings will follow an extended episode of Big Brother, thus the wonky timing. Due to strike-related issues, CBS will be airing the first season of Yellowstone as part of its fall schedule, so perhaps those execs are growing more comfortable with sharing programming in such ways.

First Looks At Frasier's New Cast Members

From the jump, the Frasier revival was facing an uphill climb following O.G. star John Mahoney's death in 2018, since his patriarch Martin was such a constant highlight during the original run. As well, the revival won't boast the titular character's brother Niles, with David Hyde Pierce opting out of returning as the fan-favorite sibling. But let's take a look at who we WILL be seeing Grammer share the screen with.

Here we have Deception and Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life vet Jack Cutmore-Scott as offspring Freddy Crane, who's sitting comfortably next to his fully upright father. Symbolism, people!A

Another look at both Frasier and Freddy within the former's giant apartment (which is now in Boston after a setting switch), with a first look at Anders Keith as David, the son of Niles and Daphne. 

The new cast member in the shot above is Tiny Pretty Things' Jess Salgueiro, who is noted as playing Eve, Freddy's roommate. Just a roommate? We'll see.

Finally, we have a shot of Frasier having a cold one with colleagues instead of family. Fatal Attraction's Toks Olagundoye will star as Olivia, the big boss woman at the Ivy League university's psyche department where Frasier works. Meanwhile, Only Fools and Horses vet Nicholas Lyndhurst will portray the titular character's old college friend Alan, who is now a fellow professor.

Considering the revival is set in Boston now, this really, really, really should have been the Cheers bar, even if none of that classic sitcom's stars were involved. And even if it was just a set and not the actual location. But maybe those callback and connections will come down the line.

Kelsey Grammer's New Recording Of Frasier's Theme

It's not everyday a TV show's theme song is performed by the very star at the heart of the series, especially since theme songs are largely vocal-free these days. But fans can check out Kelsey Grammer's re-recorded take on Frasier's "Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs."

The song, as those in the know are aware, is a reference to the mixed-up and jumbled nature of Frasier Crane's radio callers. And they'll be calling again on October 12 (and on October 17 for CBS viewers), so get your psychiatrist couch ready.

It's been a long time since the original Frasier went off the air and audiences lost their favorite talk show therapist and Seattle socialite, Dr. Frasier Crane. Now, in 2023, Frasier is on its way back for anyone with a Paramount+ subscription, and there's a good deal of interest in the next chapter of Crane's life. There are also those wanting to know who is involved and how much of the original cast may return. 

For those looking for a cast list for the Frasier revival, you've come to the right place. This is an updated breakdown of who is involved in this exciting project, who they're playing and where audiences might recognize each cast member from. Let's dive in and see who will be joining Dr. Frasier Crane in trying to find out what to do with that "tossed salad and scrambled eggs."

Kelsey Grammer

It wouldn't be called Frasier without the title character himself, so, of course, Kelsey Grammer will reprise one of his most notable roles as Dr. Frasier Crane. Fans will pick up on Frasier's life in Boston and and how things are going for him in the present. Suffice it to say a lot has changed since Frasier left Seattle, and he will have to face that in his shifting dynamic with both his own son and nephew. 

Kelsey Grammer wasn't just the star of Frasier; he's had an impressive career in both television and film. He's appeared in everything from the X-Men franchise to Modern Family, though it's hard to find a credit he's more known for than Frasier and the series where the character got his start, Cheers. Perhaps now, with the backdrop of Boston, we'll see some of Frasier's former friends make an appearance.

Nicholas Lyndhurst

English actor Nicholas Lyndhurst has joined the cast of Frasier in the role of Alan Cornwall, an old college buddy of Frasier's. Cornwall is now a professor at a university, and while he's an intellectual match for his college pal, he's also described as "British, boozy, and larger than life.” Cornwall is also said to be an underachiever, but perhaps with some guidance from Frasier, he can live up to his full potential. 

Nicholas Lyndhurst might not be a familiar name to most American viewers, but he's been a staple of British television since his days as a child actor. Lyndhurst rose to prominence in the sitcom Only Fools And Horses as Rodney Trotter. Lyndhurst comes into Frasier with a body of consistent work and roles in television from the mid-1970s to the present, so it'll be exciting to see what he brings to the table. 

Jack Cutmore-Scott

Jack Cutmore-Scott was also confirmed as a part of the Frasier revival and in a role that should be of great interest to fans. The actor will portray Freddy Crane, the son of Frasier Crane. Freddy, who was saw a handful of times in the original series, is described as a mix of both his father and grandfather. Freddy dropped out of college to become a fireman years ago. Freddy and Frasier will reunite in the revival in an effort to "repair old wounds."

Before joining Frasier, Jack Cutmore-Scott was the lead in a couple of short-lived television shows. He played Cameron and Jonathan Black in the ABC series Deception, and the title character in Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life. His film credits include Tenet and Kingsman: The Secret Service, so he has some big experience heading into this streaming series. 

Anders Keith

Anders Keith will come into the story to play the son of Daphne and Niles (seen above) and is described as a mix of the two characters. The 19-year-old is a freshman in college and will apparently spend some time with his uncle Frasier whilst attending to his studies. 

This will be the first major role for Anders Keith, who is a recent graduate of Julliard. Keith's role will be one of great importance for channeling Niles, as David Hyde Pierce has already signaled he's not interested in returning for Frasier. Pierce can always change his mind in the future, but for now, Keith will be shouldered with giving audiences a performance reminiscent of his fictional father. 

Jess Salgueiro

Canadian actress Jess Salgueiro will come into Frasier as Freddy's roommate Eve. Eve's character, reported by Deadline, is said to be full of energy and a spontaneous soul who can connect to both Fraisier and Freddy. Apparently that will be integral as the two men look to resolve their past issues and reconcile in their relationship.

Letterkenny fans might know Jess Salgueiro as Mary-Anne, or those that watch The Expanse may remember her as Chandra. She also has her incredibly brief, but notable role as Robin in The Boys. Frasier should be another stepping stone in her already impressive career, and I'm excited to see what she'll bring to this role that sounds very Daphne-esque. 

Toks Olagundoye

Toks Olagundoye will play Olivia, the head of the psychiatry department at the same university where Alan works. She presents a strong front, but is struggling internally based on a Deadline description. Olivia and Alan are at odds because he resents her being his superior, but apparently both characters are fond of Frasier and hope to use him to their own ends. 

Nigerian-born Toks Olagundoye is known for many roles across television, like The Neighbors, The Rookie and Netflix's Arcane. She's done a good deal of live-action and voice acting throughout her career, so Frasier is just one more notch in the belt for an already impressive run on television. 

Bebe Neuwirth

Bebe Neuwirth will return to Frasier to play the iconic role of Dr. Frasier Crane's ex-wife Lilith in a guest starring capacity. THR reported that Frasier will reunite with his ex at Freddy's birthday party, and that she also is in Boston in the revival series. No doubt this could lead to a rekindling of feelings, but given Frasier's complicated relationship with her, who knows how this may turn out. 

The actress was one of the first actors from the original series to sign on for Frasier, outside of Kelsey Grammer. Neuwirth was also Lilith on Cheers, so one could see this as a positive sign that more past stars of the series may sign on before too long. 

Peri Gilpin

Peri Gilpin will return to Frasier as a guest star and reprise her beloved role as Roz. Roz served as Frasier's producer and friend during the original series, but her role in the upcoming series hasn't been revealed. Frasier and Roz have a lot of history, though, so I expect her return should bring back memories from the good old days. 

What About The People From Frasier And Cheers?

Many are interested in learning if other members of the cast from Frasier and Cheers will appear. As of this writing, we don't have a ton of answers on who all will appear, though with the show set in Boston, it does seem like the show will have an opportunity to bring in former Cheers stars like Ted Danson rather easily. No castings have been announced just yet, but we'll keep an eye peeled for updates on that front. 

While the Frasier revival doesn't have a specific premiere date set yet, given that it's now filming, a late 2023 or early 2024 drop on Paramount+ sounds plausible. Check out the service in the meantime for a gaggle of television shows, new and old, that are worth checking out. 

When Paramount+ subscribers reunite with Frasier Crane in the near future, it won’t be in his Seattle digs from the original show, nor will it be in Chicago, where Kelsey Grammer’s character was heading in Frasier’s series finale. Instead, the Frasier revival will take place in Boston, which is where we met the character back in the Cheers days. Now Grammer has revealed why the new Frasier will be set in his old East Coast stomping grounds, as well as whether the Cheers bar itself will factor into the revival.

While stopping by TODAY to talk about his new movie Jesus Revolution, Kelsey Grammer discussed the Frasier revival with hosts Hood Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager, starting with the reasoning for why Frasier Crane has moved back to Boston. When the hosts mentioned that the Frasier revival is coming up, the actor responded: 

It was revealed at the beginning of February that the Frasier revival will take place in Boston, only rather than return to the Massachusetts city mainly to reconnect with his son Freddy, who will be played by Jack Cutmore-Scott, we now know that he’s back there to establish himself as a writer. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be going well when the show kicks off, so we’ll have to wait and see over the course of these 10 episodes whether his professional luck changes at all. 

For those who haven’t been following along with the Frasier’s revival development, David Hyde Pierce will not reprise Frasier’s brother Niles, and Jane Reeves and Peri Gilpin are not on deck to return as Daphne and Roz either. Instead, this new show sees Frasier Crane largely surrounded by new faces, and while talking about the possibility of seeing Niles and Daphne make guest appearances someday, Kelsey Grammer shared another reason for why Frasier decided to set himself back up in Boston:

As for whether the Cheers bar will play into the Frasier revival, Kelsey Grammer stated that “there is mention of a certain bar.” When asked if it was still open, he first joked about it being closed, then said someone recently told him that “they were there,” so he guesses “it may still be happening.” This isn’t exactly clear-cut, but it sounds like although we won’t be visiting Cheers initially in the revival, it’s possible we may stop by the bar towards the end of the season or, if the new Frasier is renewed, in Season 2. If Cheers is indeed still open, it’d be nice to see how people like Ted Danson’s Sam Malone and Rhea Perlman’s Carla Tortelli are doing these days.

The Frasier revival’s main cast also includes Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan Cornwall, Frasier’s old college buddy and a university professor; Anders Keith as David, Niles and Daphne’s son who was born in the original show’s series finale; Jess Salgueiro as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; and Toys Olagundoye as Olivia, head of the psych department at the same Ivy League university where Alan works. Joe Cristalli & Chris Harris are writing the show, and James Burrows, who directed multiple Cheers episodes, was tapped to helm the first two episodes. 

Paramount+ hasn’t set a premiere date for the new Frasier yet, but because the show is currently shooting, dropping in late 2023 or early 2024 seems likely. Find out what shows are currently airing or do have set premiere dates with our 2023 TV schedule, and keep your eyes peeled here for more updates on how the revival is coming along.

Pretty soon, Paramount+ subscribers will be hearing the blues are calling tossed salad and scrambled eggs again. In early 2021, a Frasier revival was greenlit by the streaming service, and by October 2022, it scored a 10-episode season. Now a key piece of information has been revealed that would make it easier for Kelsey Grammer to take part in crossovers with Ted Danson and other folks from Cheers, the show that introduced Frasier Crane to the world.

As part of the official announcement that the Frasier revival is beginning production this week, it was mentioned that the new show, which is being shot in front of a live studio audience in Los Angeles, will see Frasier Crane returning to Boston, Massachusetts, i.e. where Cheers was set. To be clear, no other Cheers actors have been unveiled for the new Frasier, but now that the renowned psychotherapist and radio show host is back in his old stomping grounds, one would imagine it’s only a matter of time before he runs into a familiar face or stops by the bar, right? Alas, since the original Frasier’s series finale saw the title character going to Chicago to be with Laura Linney’s Charlotte, it would seem that things didn’t work out between the two of them.

Like Frasier, Cheers lasted for 11 seasons, airing from 1982 and 1993, and earning 28 Primetime Emmy Awards from 117 nominations total, among other accolades. Three months after Cheers ended, the original Frasier spun out of it, taking Kelsey Grammer’s character back to his hometown of Seattle, Washington to reunite with his father Martin and brother Niles, played respectively by the late John Mahoney and David Hyde Pierce, and meet the likes of Peri Gilpin’s Roz Doyle and Jane Leeves’ Daphne Moon. Bebe Neuwirth, who played Fraiser’s ex-wife Lilith, continued to recur on Frasier following her time on Cheers, and aside from Kirstie Alley (who recently passed away), all of the other surviving main cast members from Cheers made guest appearances on Frasier.

For now, aside from Kelsey Grammer, the Frasier revival is comprised entirely of new people, though one of them is playing an established Frasier character. In Boston, Frasier Crane will reconnect with his son Freddy, who was primarily played by Trevor Einhorn in the first show and is now being brought to life by Jack Cutmore-Scott. The new show is also taking a page from the Night Court revival’s book by including Anders Keith’s David Crane, Niles and Daphne’s son who was born in the original Frasier's series finale. Since David Hyde Pierce has said he has no interest in reprising Niles, and there’s been no word about Leeves’ involvement, we’ll have to learn through David what his parents are up to these days.

The Frasier revival’s cast also includes Jess Salguerio as Eve, Freddy’s roommate; Nicholas Lyndhurst as Alan, Frasier’s old college buddy who’s now a university professor; and Toks Olagundoye as Olivia, Alan’s colleague and head of the university psychology department. James Burrows, who co-created Cheers and directed multiple episodes of the original Frasier over its first four seasons, is helming the revival’s first two episodes. Writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli are leading the charge on the revival, and executive producing with Kelsey Grammer, Tom Russo and Jordan McMahon.

There’s no timetable yet on when Frasier will premiere on Paramount+, though with cameras now rolling, a late 2023 or early 2024 drop seems like a reasonable bet. Should it end up being the former, we’ll add Frasier to our 2023 TV schedule, so stay tuned for that information and more updates on the sitcom’s progress.

After nearly 20 years, the blues are once again a-callin’ tossed salad and scrambled eggs. A 10-episode Frasier revival is coming to Paramount+, with Kelsey Grammer returning to the title role he originated in Cheers. However, rather than Grammer being accompanied by David Hyde Pierce, Peri Gilpin and Jane Reeves like in the original show (John Mahoney passed in 2018), Frasier Crane will be surrounded by new faces this time around. Now we know who the first two of these faces will be. One of them is someone Grammer has worked with in the past, and the other is a recasting of a familiar character.

First up, Nicholas Lyndhurst, who previously co-starred with Kelsey Grammer in the English National Opera’s production of Man of La Mancha at the London Coliseum, is the first new actor to come aboard the Frasier revival. As had previously been revealed, the show will see Frasier Crane living in a new city “with new challenges to face, new relationships to forge, and an old dream or two to finally fulfill.” Variety reports that Lyndhurst will play Alan Cornwall, Frasier’s “old college buddy” who’s now a university professor. Described as "British, boozy and larger than life,” as well as having “an intellect on par with Frasier’s,” but not applying himself as much, Alan “mischievous streak” could be just the thing to spice up his friend’s life. Simultaneously, Frasier’s “thoughtful guidance” might help Alan finally find some direction in his life.

Then in a separate Variety report, it was revealed Jack Cutmore-Scott will star in the Frasier revival as Freddy Crane, Frasier’s son. As an adult, Freddy is “a nuanced combination of his father and grandfather” who dropped out of college years back to become a fireman, but now “recent troubles have left him with no one to turn to in his life.” As a result, Freddy will reunite with his father, giving them the chance to “repair old wounds.” After being played by twins Christopher and Kevin Graves as an infant on Cheers, Freddy Crane was originally played on the spinoff by Luke Tarsitano, but then Trevor Einhorn went on to play him for the majority of the original Frasier’s run.

Frasier gives Nicholas Lyndhurst the opportunity to make a splash on American TV, as he’s chiefly known for UK shows like Butterflies, The Piglet Files, Goodnight Sweetheart, After You’ve Gone and New Tricks. It sounds like Lyndhurst’s Alan Cornwall will be occupying a similar position to the one David Hyde Pierce filled as Niles Crane in the original show, although Alan sounds like more of a loose cannon and nowhere near uptight as Niles. As for Jack Cutmore-Scott, known from movies and TV shows like Kingsman: The Secret Service, Tenet and Deception, his Freddy sounds like he’ll be filling the same kind of void Martin Crane did back in the day, in that he and his father are opposites in many ways, but they’re able to come back together.

Now that Nicholas Lyndhurst and Jack Cutmore-Scott has been announced for Paramount+’s Frasier revival, hopefully that means the rest of the show’s main cast members will be unveiled in the coming weeks/months before production begins. In addition to reprising Frasier Crane, Kelsey Grammer is executive producing the revival alongside writers Chris Harris and Joe Cristalli. As for whether any of the other original Frasier actors could stop by for guest spots, Grammer said in late November 2022 that David Hyde Pierce will not be doing so because “he wasn't really interested in repeating the performance of Niles,” but there’s no word yet on whether or not Peri Gilpin and Jane Reeves will follow suit.

While we wait for more updates about the Frasier revival, you can stream its predecessor with either a Paramount+ subscription or Hulu subscription. Learn what shows are coming out this year by scanning through our 2023 TV schedule.

Kirstie Alley’s career in TV and film started over 40 years ago, even before her breakout role in the NBC sitcom Cheers, and, over the decades, she shared the screen with a number of notable actors and actresses. Known for series like Veronica's Closet and movies like Look Who’s Talking, she was beloved by her former co-stars, as evidenced by their outpouring of love following Alley’s death on December 5 at age 71. Many people, including John Travolta, Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, took time to pay tribute and send their condolences.

Kirstie Alley’s children issued a statement on social media to inform the world of their mother’s death, and many actors who had worked with her over the years took to their own accounts with memories of the actress. John Travolta called their friendship “one of the most special relationships he ever had,” as they starred in three Look Who’s Talking films together: 

But before she was Mikey’s mom Mollie in that trilogy, she was Rebecca Howe, the bar manager at the establishment where everybody knows your name. The late actress joined the all-star cast in 1987, earning an Emmy Award and two additional nominations for the role. Co-star Ted Danson (a.k.a. Cheers bartender Sam Malone) spoke to Deadline about a lovely memory from their time together, saying: 

Rhea Perlman, who played Carla Tortelli on the NBC sitcom and later appeared on Kirstie Alley’s TV Land sitcom Kirstie, also mourned the loss of her friend, who she said she connected with “almost instantly” after Alley joined the Cheers cast in Season 6. Perlman told Deadline: 

Kelsey Grammer preferred to keep his thoughts close to the vest, but said, per Deadline, of his Cheers colleague:  

Actors from Kirstie Alley’s other projects also spoke out following news of her passing, including Scream Queens’ Jamie Lee Curtis. Alley appeared on Season 2 of the Fox slasher comedy, and Curtis remembered her as a “beautiful mama bear”: 

In addition to acting, the Drop Dead Gorgeous star was known for the work she did as a spokesperson for campaigns involving Jenny Craig and Pier One. Fellow Jenny Craig mouthpiece Valerie Bertinelli reacted to the sad news: 

Kirstie Alley’s final film appearance was in 2015’s Accidental Love. Later in her life, she appeared on the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother, where she was runner-up in 2018 and, earlier this year, she appeared on Season 7 of The Masked Singer, hiding her identity under the Baby Mammoth costume. Her death after a short battle with cancer is heartbreaking for so many, and our condolences go out to all of her family, friends and fans. 

When Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier Crane moved back to Seattle, Washington following the conclusion of Cheers for the Frasier spinoff (a show packed with behind-the-scenes facts), it introduced audiences to the character’s father, John Mahoney’s Martin, and brother, David Tye Pierce’s Niles. Sadly, Mahoney passed in 2018 at the age of 77, but with a Frasier revival coming exclusively to Paramount+ subscribers, there was the opportunity to see Frasier and Niles reunited. Alas, that won’t be happening, and Grammer has explained why.

It’s safe to say that Niles Crane is David Hyde Pierce’s most famous role, with the actor having won four Primetime Emmy Awards during his time on Frasier and been nominated seven other times. And yet, according to Kelsey Grammer, Pierce wasn’t willing to reprise the character nearly 20 years after Frasier went off the air. In Grammer’s words: 

Kelsey Grammer shared this update while speaking with People about where things currently stand with the Frasier revival, also mentioning that rehearsals will begin in February. We already knew that the revival would see Frasier Crane living in a new city and surrounded by new faces, so it was to be expected that David Hyde Pierce wasn’t going to be a series regular. However, per Grammer’s update, even Niles making a guest appearance isn’t on the table anymore, as Pierce has moved on from Niles. Maybe he’ll change his mind if the Frasier revival goes for multiple seasons, but for now, don’t expect to see Fraiser and Niles engaging in witty repartee and enjoying glasses of sherry together like in the old days.

This ended up working out for Kelsey Grammer, who welcomed having Frasier Crane not simply rehashing the past with this revival, calling his character the “brave little soldier that continues on in life, finding new challenges and a new love and new people and a new city and stuff like that.” In addition to reiterating that this revival will “honor the fact that John Mahoney died and that Martin is no longer with us,” it will also acknowledge Niles being absent, as well as Peri Gilpin’s Roz Doyle and Jane Leeves’ Daphne Moon. Grammer continued:

The Frasier revival was officially greenlit at Paramount+ back in February 2021, and last month, it was revealed that the show scored a 10-episode order. Specific plot details remain under wraps, but we’ll keep you apprised on the project’s progress as more news comes in. Look through our 2022 TV schedule to see what programming is left to debut this year.

Before cinematic universes became commonplace, the X-Men movies were breaking ground in theaters. That franchise came to an end with Dark Phoenix, and moviegoers are expecting mutants to finally join the MCU in the next few years. So would X-Men 3’s Kelsey Grammer return to the role of Beast? Here’s the latest.

Beast is an OG member of the X-Men in the comics, and has been adapted for the small and silver screens a few times. Kelsey Grammer brought the blue guy to life in X-Men 3, but hasn’t returned to the role recently. So would the Frasier icon be down to clown? Here’s what he recently said,

Well, there you have it. Kelsey Grammer seems interesting playing Beast again, if Marvel Studios ever comes calling. After all, he only got to really play Hank McCoy in one project. Although he did have a brief cameo in the happy ending of X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Kelsey Grammer’s comments to NJ.com is sure to delight comic book fans who would love to see Beast return to the big screen. While Nicholas Hoult played a younger version of Hank in the last four X-Men movies, it’s currently unclear if/how Marvel Studios is going to approach mutants. A new cast could be assembled, or maybe one of the previous two teams will return to the big screen.

The prospect of the X-Men hitting the MCU came when Disney acquired 20th Century Fox and its properties years ago. But Kevin Feige and company have been keeping their cards close to the chest regarding when/how the beloved team of heroes will return to the big screen. Hopefully Beast is included in the line-up, whenever mutants finally do join the massive franchise.

While Kelsey Grammer was the OG live-action Beast, actor Nicholas Hoult spent the last decade playing Hank McCoy in four different movies starting with X-Men: First Class. As such, he might be more likely to be joining the MCU if the studio employs some alums. Still, it would be awesome to see Kelsey Grammer playing the blue guy again.

It’s been years since Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, so the fandom is getting antsy regarding if/when characters like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool will finally join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Some fans are theorizing that Scarlet Witch might help to bring mutants into the universe, but that remains to be seen.

The next installment in the MCU is Spider-Man: No Way Home on December 17th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

For anyone wishing that they could hear the blues a-callin’ again, apparently, Kelsey Grammer has been working to make that happen with a revival of his smash hit NBC sitcom reportedly in development. However, at the moment, there is no telling when a Frasier revival will see the light from the Seattle skyline having already been put on pause due to Covid-19 and with no confirmation that the rest of the main Frasier cast is officially returning to their iconic roles. That being said, what have these beloved performers been up to lately?

It started as a simple spin-off from NBC’s long-running, Boston-set hit comedy Cheers following the titular bar’s psychiatrist patron adopting a new broadcasting career in Seattle. What Frasier would become is one of the network’s most popular and acclaimed successes of the 1990s, lasting an impressive total of 11 seasons that, consecutively, never failed to win an Emmy for something. Many of those awards were given to the cast for their stellar portrayals of the sitcom’s winning characters.

There are still plenty of other notable credits from the main cast’s filmography and beyond to honor them for, even recently. In case you need a refresher on what the stars of, arguably, television’s greatest spin-off (or, perhaps more agreeably, the funniest) have been up to since the 2004 finale, we hope you are listening. Before they (potentially) return to their defining roles, the following is a quick reference to what else most memorable actors from Frasier are best known for, starting with the versatile talent behind its titular character.

Kelsey Grammer (Frasier Crane)

Before his final curtain call as Dr. Frasier Crane, Kelsey Grammer already had a decent run in film, such as voicing The Prospector in Toy Story 2, and as a behind-the-scenes presence in television, like UPN’s Girlfriends or NBC’s crime thriller Medium. He has also executive produced many of his own series, including his many sitcom returns, award-winning political drama Boss, the animated IMDb TV original You’re Not a Monster, and Frasier as well.

Of course, Kelsey Grammer’s later movie career has not gone unnoticed with him popping up in big franchises like Transformers and The Expendables and an upcoming feature-length sequel to Netflix’s animated Trollhunters series. Until his Frasier revival becomes a reality, he continues to make memorable big screen and small screen appearances (voicing The Simpsons’ Sideshow Bob) and, even at 65, I don’t think anyone would mind seeing him playing Beast in another X-Men installment.

Jane Leeves (Daphne Moon)

Before playing Frasier’s live-in housekeeper, English actress Jane Leeves made her uncredited feature-film debut in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life and had a more prominent appearance in 1985’s To Live and Die in L.A. - both of which exhibited her dancing skills. She also made an impression on British TV, such as on The Benny Hill Show, before recurring roles on Murphy Brown and Seinfeld earned her pre-Frasier acclaim in the States.

Post-Frasier, the 60-year-old actress has found further success as a therapist on Desperate Housewives, one of the central characters of TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland, and, currently, on the Fox medical drama The Resident as a regular. Jane Leeves has has also lent her unmistakable voice to many animated projects for Disney, like James and the Giant Peach in 1996, the hit Disney Channel series Phineas and Ferb, and most recently on Mickey and the Roadster Racers as the Queen of England.

David Hyde Pierce (Niles Crane)

You may also recognize David Hyde Pierce’s voice from Disney projects (A Bug’s Life and Treasure Planet, specifically) and elsewhere (Abe Sapien in the first Hellboy film, which he went uncredited for out of respect for Doug Jones’s physical portrayal). Yet, most audiences should surely know his face from his multi-Emmy-winning role as Frasier Crane’s fellow psychiatrist brother and Daphne’s eventual husband, Niles.

More recently, the Tony-winning actor exceeded expectations in the 2010 dark comedy The Perfect Host, played disapproving father of gay rights activist Cleve Jones (despite being gay in real life) in the 2017 miniseries When We Rise, and reprised his Wet Hot American Summer role in Netflix’s prequel and sequel series to the 2001 cult comedy film. David Hyde Pierce will next appear in the thriller The Georgetown Project (expected to release in 2021) and will play Julia Child’s husband, Paul, in an HBO Max series based on the celebrity chef’s life.

Peri Gilpin (Roz Doyle)

Fun fact about Peri Gilpin: she played a reporter named Holly Matheson on the final season of Cheers, just months before she was cast as Frasier’s radio producer, Roz Doyle - a role originally given to Lisa Kudrow before Friends came up. She would go on to reunite with some of her Frasier co-stars through an appearance on the Kelsey Grammer-produced Medium and guest starring on Hot in Cleveland with Jane Leeves.

Additionally, the 59-year-old Texan later played the mother of young gymnast on Make It or Break It, a school principal on Craig Robinson’s short-lived Mr. Robinson, earned recurring roles on CBS procedurals CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Scorpion, among other TV guest appearances of a large variety. In 2020, Peri Gilpin starred in a low-budget drama about college hazing called Rushed and 2021 will reportedly see her play opposite The Boys’ Aya Cash and Midsommar’s William Jackson Harper in the comedy We Broke Up.

Dan Butler (Bulldog Briscoe)

While never inducted into the main cast, Dan Butler was a distinguished presence on all 11 seasons of Frasier as fellow radio personality Bob Briscoe, who earned the nickname “Bulldog” for his shameless womanizing ways and political incorrectness. At the same time, the actor and acclaimed playwright appeared in several films (like Will Smith’s Enemy of the State), made guest appearances on series like Star Trek: Voyager and King of the Hill, and lent his voice to Nickelodeon’s Hey Arnold! for, arguably, his other best known role as teacher Mr. Simmons.

These days, Dan Butler keeps busy in many of the same ways he did while on Frasier (but without a steady a recurring role like he had with Bulldog), having since earned small parts on shows like Supernatural and Banshee, movies like Crazy Stupid Love and Chu and Blossom, and a starring role on the Stephen King-inspired miniseries The Mist. He appeared in the fact-based romantic drama All My Life in 2020 and has a role in Ana de Armas’ Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde, which is now in post-production.

Tom McGowan (Kenny Daly)

Frasier’s other most prominent non-series regular was Tom McGowan, who first appeared in Season 5 as Kenny Daly - who manages the station that broadcasts Frasier’s show while exhibiting personality traits that would readily earn him a guest spot. He had previously appeared in major motion pictures like The Last of the Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis and The Birdcage with Robin Williams, landed another lasting recurring spot on Everybody Loves Raymond, and, coincidentally, appeared alongside future Frasier co-stars in 1992’s Captain Ron (with Dan Butler) and Sleepless in Seattle (with David Hyde Pierce) in 1993.

After Frasier, the now 61-year-old would also cross paths with Jane Leeves on Hot in Cleveland and Kelsey Grammer’s daughter, Spencer, on Greek in his many following guest appearances. More recently, Tom McGowan played Rose Leslie’s onscreen uncle on The Good Fight and was featured in the Hallmark Channel’s 2020 Christmas movie lineup with One Royal Holiday.

Bebe Neuwirth (Dr. Lilith Sternin)

We first met psychiatrist Lilith Sternin on Season 4 of Cheers while on a disastrous date with Frasier Crane that eventually resulted in a disastrous marriage. After earning two Emmys for the role, Bebe Neuwirth would reprise the character (now Frasier’s ex-wife and mother of his estranged son) in 12 episodes of the spin-off.

Afterward, the now 62-year-old actress led a spin-off of her own - the short-lived Law & Order: Trial by Jury - which you could say led to her recurring roles as a judge on The Good Wife, a lawyer on Blue Bloods, and starring role as a law student turned White House Chief of Staff on Madam Secretary. More recently, Bebe Neuwirth appeared in Jumanji: The Next Level as her character from the 1995 original and guest starred on The Flight Attendant for HBO Max, on which she will also appear opposite her onscreen ex-brother-in-law, David Hyde Pierce, for its Julia Child bio-series.

John Mahoney (Martin Crane)

Bebe Neuwirth’s onscreen ex-father-in-law, John Mahoney, also appeared on Cheers before he was cast in the entirely different role of Frasier and Niles’ father, Martin - for which he earned two Emmy nominations. The actor, originally born in England in 1940, was previously best known for the historical baseball film Eight Men Out and the iconic 1989 rom-com Say Anything - both of which starred John Cusack.

John Mahoney followed Frasier by, once again, playing Kelsey Grammer’s father on The Simpsons as Sideshow Bob’s dad, crossing paths with Jane Leeves as Betty White’s boyfriend on Hot in Cleveland, and even returning to Broadway in 2007’s revival of Prelude to a Kiss. His final acting credit, Polish drama Mariette in Ecstasy, was filmed in 1995, but released in 2019 - a year after his passing due to brain disease and lung cancer, at the age of 77.

Moose (Eddie)

A retrospective on the cast of Frasier would feel incomplete with mentioning Moose. The Jack Russell Terrier played Martin Crane’s dog, Eddie, and was famously mentioned in Kelsey Grammer’s acceptance speech at the 1994 Emmys despite the actor’s genuine dislike of the furry “diva” behind the scenes.

Moose was otherwise known from the title role of the family film My Dog Skip, which he also appeared in with his own son, Enzo, as the same character in 2000. That same year, Enzo who was actually cast as Eddie on Frasier when his father passed at the age of 16.

What do you think? Despite Kelsey Grammer receiving top billing, was Moose the real star of Frasier? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on the potential future of this beloved sitcom, as well as even more inside looks at actors from your favorite movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

Modern Family wrapped its 11-season run earlier this year, but co-creator Chris Lloyd wasted no time in lining up his next major TV project with ABC that has already received a series order. This time around, Lloyd will be writing a new multi-camera sitcom starring Alec Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer in the leading roles. Talk about star power!

ABC has given a straight-to-series order to the currently untitled comedy, which is being executive produced by Chris Lloyd, Vali Chandrasekaran, and 20th Television (formerly 20th Century Fox Television before being bought by Disney). According to Deadline, the comedy will follow the story of three men who used to be roommates and became estranged. The trio rekindle their friendship decades later in a bid to finally do things the way they’ve always dreamed.

The new series is being planned for the 2021-2022 TV season, which means that it will probably be ready to premiere in the fall of next year. It’s unclear how many episodes the first season will have, but if it is indeed a fall show then my guess is that it’ll have the standard 22-episode season order. There’s no word yet on who is being cast to fill the role of the third roommate.

While he has historically been a movie actor, Alec Baldwin is no stranger to television and most famously played Jack Donaghy on the sitcom 30 Rock alongside Tina Fey. He has also guest starred on Will and Grace. Most recently, Baldwin has played President Donald Trump on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. It was a role he took on ahead of the 2016 presidential election and has since reprised several times over the last four years. Upon hearing that Joe Biden would be the next president of the United States, Baldwin stated that he was “overjoyed” to be losing his SNL gig.

As for Kelsey Grammer, the actor is most notable for his role as Dr. Frasier Crane. Grammer originated the famous character on NBC’s Cheers and reprised his role in the spinoff series Frasier, which then went on to air for eleven seasons before being cancelled in 2004. Grammer has also appeared in a plethora of movies like X-Men: The Last Stand and has voiced the character of Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons since 1990.

In addition, Kelsey Grammer appeared in three episodes of 30 Rock alongside Alec Baldwin. So, you could call their new ABC sitcom a reunion of sorts. It’ll surely be interesting to watch the actors playing characters with huge egos and I’m positive that they’ll be butting heads a lot throughout the new show.

The untitled sitcom does not yet have a premiere date scheduled, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend for updates. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2020 fall TV schedule and our 2021 winter and spring premiere guide for more options.

A spin-off series to a hit TV show can prove to be a bit of a gamble, with some attempts (i.e. All in the Family inspiring The Jeffersons) more successful than others (i.e. NBC following up Friends with Joey). Fortunately, Frasier would secure itself as part of the latter category, lasting an astounding 11 seasons, during which it earned a once unprecedented record of Emmy nominations, and inspiring a forthcoming reboot. There are actually quite a few behind the scenes facts only make the beloved sitcom even more fascinating.

For instance, some fans may not have realized the vast distinctions between Kelsey Grammer’s role as psychiatrist Frasier Crane on Cheers and who the character became when his own show debuted on NBC in 1993, particularly in regard to his backstory. In fact, the inconsistencies go further than that as some series regulars had shared the stage with Grammer on the Boston bar-set sitcom before appearing on Frasier as entirely different people.

Maybe this seems a bit confusing, but I am sure I got you pegged with curiosity about which cast members I am referring to. Learn all about that and more of what what went on behind the scenes of Frasier with these 11 lesser-known details that will have you hearing the blues a-calling again.

Frasier’s Theme Song Came From Instruction To Avoid Specific References To Psychiatry

Speaking of "hearing the blues a-calling," ever wonder what the deal was with the lyrics to the theme song, performed by star Kelsey Grammer? A listener of the "Hollywood and Levine" podcast, hosted by former Frasier writer Ken Levine (not to be confused with the creator of the BioShock games), wondered the same thing. Levine reached out to the tune's composer, Bruce Miller, who explained its origin on the writer's blog in 2012:

So, as it turns out, the ear worm of a theme actually has more to do with the show than we may have realized. Either way, one thing it will always remind folks of is Frasier's title sequence depicting a crude drawing of the Seattle skyline, which could have been the Rocky Mountains had the setting not changed.

An Anti-Gay Law In Denver Convinced The Creators To Set The Show In Seattle Instead

To avoid to associating Frasier with Cheers' Boston-setting, creators David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee wanted to set the series in a whole different part of the country, originally settling on Denver, Colorado. However, as Lee explained to Vanity Fair's oral history, the state had "passed this egregious anti-gay amendment." He adds that they "couldn’t in good conscience base the show there," and decided that Seattle, Washington, better reflected the progressive ideals they were looking for.

John Mahoney Was Only 15 Years Older Than Kelsey Grammer

British-born actor John Mahoney, who passed away in 2018 at the age of 77, was best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Martin Crane on Frasier, but what few fans may have realized is that the he and his onscreen son, Kelsey Grammer, were only 15 years apart. The difference is actually not so different from their characters' implied ages, as Martin turned 65 in Season 5 and Frasier is labeled a 41-year-old in the first season, meaning he would have been born when Martin was 19 or 20. However, that does not explain how a man of astonishing resemblance to Martin could have made a prior appearance on Cheers.

Frasier Stars John Mahoney And Peri Gilpin Previously Played Different Characters On Cheers

Despite its sharp wit, Frasier is actually notorious for a few narrative inconsistencies from the series it spun-off of, particularly Frasier's claim on Cheers that his late father was a research scientist, despite showing up as a living retired cop on his show. Frasier holding a grudge against his dad was the explanation provided in an episode featuring Ted Danson as Sam Malone, but does not clear up how John Mahoney is seen as an entirely different character on Cheers in its final year. In fact, Peri Gilpin made an appearance in the same season prior to her casting as Roz, which is an intriguing story on its own, too.

Lisa Kudrow Was Originally Cast as Roz Doyle In Frasier

Up against Peri Gilpin for the role of Frasier Crane's radio producer Roz Doyle was Lisa Kudrow, who actually did get the part until the writers began to question if the otherwise "brilliant" comedic actress was the right fit for the character during early rehearsals. The offer was transferred back to Gilpin, who recalled to Vanity Fair how Kudrow called to congratulate her friend soon after losing the Frasier role to her. Yet, I would say we can all agree that it worked out for the best as it is hard to imagine anyone else playing Phoebe Buffay on Friends, and to Emmy-winning fame, mind you.

Frasier Was Originally An Only Child Until The Discovery Of David Hyde Pierce

Speaking of perfect casting, not only was David Hyde Pierce the first and only choice to play Frasier's brother, and fellow psychologist, Niles Crane, the character never even existed before he was cast. In fact Frasier was depicted as an only child on Cheers and the spin-off creators intended to keep it that way, but all that changed in one moment as David Lee explained to Vanity Fair:

Yet another last minute decision led to one of the most essential ingredients to Frasier's success. Not to mention, without Niles Crane, we would have never gotten one of the series' funniest running gags.

Frasier’s Writers Did Consider Casting Maris Crane Before Deciding To Keep Her Unseen

Niles Crane's first wife, Maris, had a decidedly important role on Frasier despite existing almost purely through conversation, at least to the audience's perspective. The character's offscreen presence was not always meant to last, but was set up as, per David Lee's description to Yahoo, "a fast one on the audience," convincing them she would remain unseen "like Norm’s wife, Vera, in Cheers" until she made a surprise reveal. Ultimately, that reveal never materialized because, as Lee added, "Two or three episodes in, she was already so bizarre, she was uncastable."

Daphne Was Given An Overeating Disorder on Frasier To Hide Jane Leeves’ Pregnancy

Of course, Frasier fans can be thankful to have seen Niles Crane find happiness with his brother's maid, Daphne Moon, played by English actress Jane Leeves, who actually became pregnant during the show's eighth season. This explains why her character suffered from an overeating disorder, resulting in subsequent weight gain, at the time. Fun fact: Daphne would eventually visit a weight loss spa and claim to lose "9 pounds and 12 ounces," which is how much her daughter, Isabella, weighed at birth.

Celebrities Requested To Make Voice Cameos As Frasier’s Call-In Guests

A fun game you can play while watching Frasier is to guess the celebrities voicing Frasier's patients, who have included former Tonight Show host Jay Leno, Superman actor Christopher Reeve, and even rock star Eddie Van Halen, to name just a few. Securing these A-list cameos became a much easier feat over time, as casting director Jeff Greenberg revealed to The Chicago Tribute in 1995, claiming that the likes of Sharon Stone and Halle Berry, among others, would reach out him for a voice spot as the series became more successful.

Kelsey Grammer Memorized Lines Just Moments Before Shooting Frasier Scenes

The multiple awards that Kelsey Grammer won as the title character of Frasier, among other roles, must be proof that his "requisite disrespect for the craft" of acting is a success, despite it being "insanity" to David Hyde Pierce and others. According to a profile for Us Weekly (via MaryEllenMark.com), the method requires Grammer to rehearse only once and have his lines just barely memorized before shooting, giving him "a slightly wide-eyed kind of energy" in the moment by raising the stakes of his ability to recall the dialogue, as he claims. It may sound a bit overbearing to the average performer, but apparently the real "diva" on set was the dog.

Moose, The Dog Who Played Eddie On Frasier, Was Later Replaced By His Own Son

Kelsey Grammer once thanked Moose, who starred as Eddie the dog on Frasier, in his acceptance speech at the 1994 Emmys, but later claimed to The Enterprise that John Mahoney, who played the Jack Russell Terrrier's owner, hated him in real life. Well, he would only have to act alongside the "diva" until 2000 when Eddie was recast with Enzo, who was actually Moose's own son, in the role until the series 2004 finale.

Did this list of Frasier trivia pique your fancy, or do you think it stinks and is total BS? If so, we wish you good mental health and hope you let us know more of what you think in the comments, as well as check back for additional information and updates on the future of the sharp sitcom, and even more insider looks at your favorite movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

The hope of a Frasier revival is still alive and well, and while there hasn't been an official green-light on the project, Kelsey Grammer emerged on the late-night circuit to share there is progress being made. Grammer gave an update on how discussions are progressing so far, and how the show's potential revival would differ from other NBC sitcom revivals.

Kelsey Grammer explained that this revival would differ from Frasier, and called it more like the third act of the character's life. That means there's a chance this revival could be more like the transition from Cheers to Frasier, with Dr. Crane entering a completely new stage of his life with different trials and tribulations. Grammer mentioned the revival would include some of the original cast, and that they'd each be in different places in life as well.

For example, each character may have been impacted by the death Frasier's father Martin (played by John Mahoney), but Kelsey Grammer hinted at even bigger changes than that. It looks like Seattle may no longer be the place where they'll be singing about tossed salad and scrambled eggs, and Frasier Crane may undergo some radical life changes in the Midwest.

Frasier is out of the radio game, as Kelsey Grammer quickly brushed off the notion that the character will be getting back into that during his interview on The Late Late Show With James Corden. As for what's next, it's safe to say Frasier Crane wouldn't take just any job, and would probably prefer some position held in deep regard by high society types. He'd never change so much he wouldn't appreciate the finer things, right?

Keep in mind, Kelsey Grammer did not guarantee the Frasier revival is happening, but merely stated he's talking to writers. That said, Grammer hasn't always been down for a revival of his classic NBC series in the past, so perhaps the fact that he's entertaining ideas should be encouraging that something may go into production in the future. If nothing else, they could have the revival on The Good Place and bring all the characters on there!

Television lovers can currently get their Frasier fix on Netflix and Hulu. Subscribers can indulge in a binging spree, or head on over to our midseason premiere guide and see what new shows are headed to television in 2019.

Arrow has tapped Kelsey Grammer for what may be the perfect role for the superhero drama's 150th episode, but how he fits into the action definitely qualifies as unexpected. Here is what you need to know.

Arrow's 150th episode will feature a "documentary" as the central thrust of the action. According to the official synopsis for the episode, a camera crew will descend on Star City to conduct interviews for their doc. As anyone who has watched their share of documentaries knows, many have a narrator. This is where Kelsey Grammer comes in, per TVLine.

The man with the velvety pipes will lend his vocals as the narrator of this sure-to-be enrapturing documentary. It is aptly titled The Hood and the Rise of Vigilantism. Kelsey Grammer should have a lot of explosive things to narrate. The synopsis teases that Oliver and the team will go on the record to discuss their vigilante pasts for the doc.

That could take a while to delve into, and how candid Oliver Queen and the team get will be undoubtedly interesting to discover. By casting Kelsey Grammer, Arrow also lends an air of credibility to this documentary. All of which begs the question: how real will this doc feel?

In other words, will it be filmed like it is a part of a regular Arrow episode (i.e., the same camera filter, etc.)? Or will it be shot like a genuine documentary replete with all that entails? The latter option would be quite exciting. However, it would be difficult to make that congruent with a regular Arrow episode.

This is not a regular episode though! It is the 150th episode! That said, it sounds as though the installment will not feature the documentary as its sole plot, and that aspect that makes the ability to swerve from a real-style doc to a regular episode of Arrow difficult.

The official plot synopsis mentions Oliver dealing with William's return from boarding school and the rise of a new threat. While the documentary could cover that, it seems unlikely. Skipping from regular action and back to a documentary, styled like a real doc, could be a bit disconcerting.

It would be so cool if Arrow or any other superhero show shot an entire documentary episode with a real-doc approach. Arrow could be approached and explored with real-world implications that could breathe a sense of reality into everything. Sort of like found footage does for certain movies.

Having Kelsey Grammer take part in Arrow is beyond exciting. Popularly known by TV fans for his role as Frasier Crane, he stole the show in last year's Netflix dramedy Like Father. So, having Grammer on-board is an awesome development.

However, it goes down, it is a fun concept that should be entertaining for fans. Arrow returns Monday, January 21 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW. The 150th episode of Arrow airs February 4 at the same time and place. The superhero drama is among many shows returning in the midseason.