Frasier Character Could Return

[EdwardKnoxII]

http://entertainment.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=158144

 

Frasier Character Could Return

May 11, 5:55 PM EST

 

By David Bauder

AP Television

 

Kelsey Grammer isn't shutting the door on the idea of bringing back his long-running character, Frasier Crane, on another television series.

 

Grammer said he had discussed the idea with Paramount, the company that produces "Frasier," but there have been no definite plans.

 

"It may be a possibility at some point," Grammer told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I'm not closed to the possibility. It would have to be really good."

 

Grammer said he'd like some time off from the character, holding off any possible return until "when the television landscape is appropriately bleak."

 

The 11-year run of the NBC comedy ends with Thursday's finale.

 

Including his stint on "Cheers," Grammer has portrayed the pompous psychiatrist for a full 20 years on network television.

 

That ties James Arness of "Gunsmoke" for the longest stretch an actor has played a single character in prime time.

 

A Paramount executive declined to comment Tuesday on the possibility of the character returning in some fashion.

 

"The idea of him going on with the character is totally plausible," said actor David Hyde Pierce, who has played Frasier's brother, Niles. "I don't feel at the end of the series that he'd exhausted all he could do with the character. I think it's a great idea."

 

Pierce said no one has asked him about continuing and — given the way the series ends on Thursday — he's not sure whether another series would have room for him.

 

"Frasier" gets a one-hour send-off on Thursday, one week after some 52 million people watched the last episode of "Friends" on NBC.

 

Ratings for "Frasier," a five-time Emmy winner for best comedy, have faded over the past few years but improved recently with the approach of the finale.

[Guest El Satanico]

NBC being unoriginal bastids with their sitcoms...I'm shocked and amazed...really I am.

[Ripper]

Oh come on. He has been playing the same character for 20 years now. I mean, if that won;t get you typecast i don't know WHAT will.

[Downhome]

I have no problem with this. I like the character, and I hate to see it die off.

[Guest El Satanico]

The character needs to die off after around twenty years of being on TV. Why even end Frasier if they want the character to return. They could've just had Frasier move away from Seattle at the end of the finale and start a new show next season.

 

Maybe Frasier Crane will live in the same building as Joey.

[Downhome]

I would rather Frasier stay on TV for years and years over yet another reality show making it's way onto the small screen.

 

In this day and age in TV, a great character on a sitcom is pretty rare, so I'll be ok with him sticking around for as long as possible.

[Guest thebigjig]

oh come on... Grammer was typecast as Frasier by the 8th season of Cheers

 

I have no problem with this, and infact, I think its a great idea. I would rather see Kelsey's face on my tv than the constant barrage of ridiculous reality tv series that are PLAGUING television

[Mole]

I can't see NBC bringing the character back. The show didn't do that well in the ratings the past 2-3 seasons and saw a slight increase this season.(Due to Christopher Loyd coming back as a writer.)

 

Plus the season finale didn't break any records and wasn't that much higher than American Idol for the week. Fraiser recieved an 14.6 and Idol had a 13.4.

 

Then again, I never liked Fraiser.

[Guest El Satanico]

A 14.6 for a sitcom will be welcomed with wide open arms by post Friends NBC.