‘Frasier’ reboot will bring Kelsey Grammer back to the Emmys
Kelsey Grammer and “Frasier” owned TV when the original comedy show aired from 1993 to 2004. Now, Grammer has made a triumphant return as Frasier Crane in the Paramount+ reboot. This new series follows Frasier’s “third act” as he moves to Boston after the death of his father and the end of his 20-year relationship with Charlotte. Frasier takes up a position at Harvard University and tries to foster a better relationship with his son, firefighter Frederick. The reboot has gone down well with fans, chiefly due to Grammer’s continually iconic turn as Frasier. This is the role that the actor was made for and he inhabits Frasier with ease. Critics have flocked to praise Grammer’s performance once again.
Robert Lloyd (LA Times) observed: “Grammer, for his part, looks remarkably unchanged from the character as remembered… He does have the advantage of playing someone who was something of an old man even when Frasier still had hair — more hair, anyway — and is still very much the Dr. Crane you hold in your head: This is not one of those revivals whose very existence will force you to consider your own passing life and impending mortality. And Grammer is so completely Frasier — a deceptively unsentimental character in a basically sentimental show — that the new edition, for all its innovations, wraps itself comfortably around him.”
Esther Zuckerman (GQ) opined: “If there’s one thing Kelsey Grammer is still pretty great at, it’s playing Frasier Crane… the new series is just proof that Frasier Crane is almost a foolproof character—even if you put him in jeans. He’s a man who clings onto what he considers excellent taste even when the world may roll his eyes or he has to debase himself with the so-called commoners, and Grammer slides right back into that affected accent, cooing over sherry and houndstooth. Spending time in his presence is like having an old pal reappear in your life and offer you a fine scotch.”
Ross McIndoe (Slant Magazine) explained: “With Grammer’s return to his beloved role, it’s a pleasure to find that while much has been taken from ‘Frasier,’ including its iconic Seattle setting and most of its supporting cast, the series can still deliver a distinct brand of wry humor… That’s largely thanks to Frasier himself, a role that still fits Grammer like a glove. All of the old mannerisms are still there: the sly smirk with which he tosses droll one-liners, the petted lip when someone sends one back, the furious glare when confronted with a crime against fashion or furnishing.”
As a result — and as to be expected — Grammer is right in the mix for a Best Comedy Actor nomination. Our current predicted nominees in this category are Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”), Martin Short (“Only Murders in the Building”), Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Steve Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”), and Theo James (“The Gentlemen”). However, rule out Grammer at your peril — this is a performer Emmy voters love.
He has five Emmy wins in 17 nominations. Here’s the full breakdown. He was nominated for Best Comedy Supporting Actor in 1988 and 1990 for “Cheers” before securing a Best Comedy Actor bid in 1992 for “Wings.” He then amassed 10 Best Comedy Actor nominations for “Frasier” — in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2004. He won in 1994, 1995, 1998, and 2004. He was also nominated for Best Comedy Series for “Frasier” in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Plus, he won Best Voice-Over Performance in 2006 for “The Simpsons.”
This Emmy record speaks for itself. Only “Cheers” and “M*A*S*H” earned more Best Comedy Actor nominations (with 11) than the 10 “Frasier” managed while Ted Danson, with 14 bids, is the only individual with more bids in this category than Grammer’s 10 (Alan Alda also garnered 10 bids). Plus, Grammer holds the joint record for most victories in this category with four — the same number as Michael J. Fox, Carroll O’Connor, and Jim Parsons. And “Frasier” holds the joint record for most wins in this category, too, along with “All in the Family” and “The Big Bang Theory.” Grammer was nominated for 10 out of the 11 “Frasier” seasons.
This proves that Emmy voters absolutely adore Grammer, “Frasier,” and the character Frasier Crane. This is an iconic character they have rewarded more times than any other — they love him. And they’ve nominated him almost every chance they’ve got. Meanwhile, Grammer is a comedy acting legend and a Best Comedy Actor veteran. When a performer, show, and character have such a towering combined Emmy history, it’s impossible to ignore. Why would Emmy voters not nominate him again as Frasier this year?
The fact that he has gone 18 years without an Emmy nomination shouldn’t matter, either. Lots of performers have been nominated for Best Comedy Actor after lengthy spells on the sidelines. Danson was nominated here in 2018 for “The Good Place,” which came eight years after his previous bid in 2010. He had amassed 12 Emmy bids before his 2018 comeback. Eugene Levy picked up a total of eight Emmy bids in the 1980s before going 36 years without another Emmy nomination. That finally came in 2019 when he was nominated for both Best Comedy Actor and Best Comedy Series for “Schitt’s Creek.” Jeffrey Tambor won Best Comedy Actor for “Transparent” in 2015. His last nomination before that came in 2005. He had clocked up six nominations prior to that “Transparent” win.
This shows that if you’re a respected performer with a good Emmys history behind you, you can return to the Emmys lineup 10, 20, or even 30 years after your last nomination. Grammer fits right in here.
Emmy voters don’t just enjoy an actor comeback, however. They like a character comeback, too. “Curb Your Enthusiasm” stopped in 2011 after eight seasons before making a return in 2017. This return followed another Emmy nomination for David, who picked up a Best Comedy Actor bid in 2018. Voters loved David’s fictionalized version of himself, the same way they love Frasier. Grammer’s return as this beloved character could end in Emmy recognition just as it did for Larry David and, uh, Larry David.
Grammer is also a legend, plain and simple. Emmy voters are quick to nominate legends in this category, including Short (“Only Murders in the Building”), Martin (“Only Murders in the Building”), Michael Douglas (“The Kominsky Method”), David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and Tony Shalhoub (“Monk”).
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