We've Cracked the Casting Code: Unveiling the Untold Story Behind Kelsey Grammer's Cheers Journey

Summary

Cheers co-creator and director James Burrows reflects on Kelsey Grammer's audition tape for Frasier Crane and how it was the smile that caught their attention.

The director noticed not Grammer's physical appearance, but the expression depicted on his face.

Eventually, Kelsey Grammer portrayed the character of Frasier Crane for a remarkable 9 seasons on Cheers and an impressive 11 seasons on Frasier.

James Burrows, the co-creator and director of Cheers, looked back on Kelsey Grammer's audition for the beloved character Frasier Crane. Grammer portrayed the erudite psychiatrist for over 200 episodes, first appearing in season 3 of Cheers. After Cheers concluded its run after 11 seasons, Frasier's story continued in the spinoff sitcom of the same name, which was a massive success for another 11 seasons. Now, the show is set for a revival season on Paramount+.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Burrows, who is helming several episodes of the Frasier reboot, discussed Grammer's original audition tape for Cheers. Burrows revealed that when Grammer's face appeared onscreen, laughter ensued. The amusement, as Burrows explained, had nothing to do with Grammer's appearance, but rather the expression on his face. Below is Burrows' full quote:

His face came on and we started laughing. Was it the big hair? No! It was just Kelsey. He had this smile on his face – and we loved it.

Frasier Wasn't Ever Supposed to Be A Major Cheers Character

What makes Grammer's enduring success portraying Frasier Crane truly surprising is that the character was never meant to have such a lengthy run. Initially introduced in the third season of Cheers, Frasier was only intended to appear in about four episodes. However, he quickly became a love interest for the show's main character, Diane Chambers (Shelley Long), leading to an expanded role as a series regular in seasons 3 and 4. Eventually, Frasier became an integral part of the main cast in the fifth season.

The show's popularity made him one of the most beloved characters in Cheers, leading to the creation of the Frasier spinoff. While spinoffs featuring a single character from a popular ensemble may not always succeed, the two-season Friends spinoff Joey in 2004 serves as an example. However, Frasier defied the odds by becoming equally popular to Cheers, thanks to the addition of a new ensemble that perfectly complemented Grammer's comedic style.

James Burrows' insights into the Cheers audition tape of the star shed light on why he was able to forge a successful career portraying Frasier Crane. Instantaneously, he had the power to captivate not only seasoned comedy professionals but also the audience. This remarkable skill has propelled Frasier to the status of a near-mythical figure in the realm of sitcoms, with few equals.