MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO UNIVERSITY SATELLITE SEMINAR SERIES, THE: CREATING PRIME-TIME COMEDY: FRASIER {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in this series of seminars conducted by the Museum of Television & Radio. Held at the Museum of Television & Radio in Los Angeles and moderated by Los Angeles Museum vice president and director Steven A. Bell, this seminar examines "Frasier," one of the most successful spin-off series of all time. The show follows Frasier Crane, one of "Cheers's" most popular characters, back to his hometown of Seattle where he reunites with his father and his brother, and counsels callers as a radio talk-show psychiatrist. The seminar panel includes executive producers and creators Peter Casey and David Lee, executive producer Christopher Lloyd, and actors Kelsey Grammer and David Hyde Pierce, who play brothers Frasier and Niles Crane. (Panelist biographies immediately follow this summary.)
First, a brief highlight reel of "Frasier" is shown, followed by questions from Bell to the panel on the following subjects: the wariness regarding "Frasier's" status as a spin-off from a successful show; how the ensemble cast was assembled; methods for keeping the show fresh; Pierce's relationships with his real siblings; and how the character of Frasier differs on "Frasier" from the way he was on "Cheers." The panel then takes questions from universities across the country -- including Emporia State University, the University of Georgia, Boston University, and the University of Texas, among others -- where students view the seminar live via satellite and discuss the following topics: the level of improvisation in the actors' physical comedy; the verisimilitude of Frasier's radio show; the events of a typical day producing the show; the grounding of the characters in recognizable human foibles; the "punching up" process on scripts; whether there is a gay subtext to the show; the collaborative writing process for the show; the relative unimportance of Seattle as the show's setting; Grammer's input regarding the character of Frasier; charges that "Frasier" has a target audience that excludes minorities; the show's surprising popularity, considering its sophistication; censorship issues and network interference; the casting of Eddie, the Cranes' dog; the origin of the segment titles that divide scenes on the show; director David Lee's visual style, which he attributes to James Burrows; whether Grammer and Pierce feel type-cast when acting in different projects; the importance of the show's live studio audience; favorite episodes of the panel; the core of the relationship between Martin Crane and his sons Frasier and Niles; whether Frasier will seek therapy; the show's guest star policy; the contribution of casting director Jeff Greenberg; trends indicating the future of situation comedies; the similarities between performing in live theater and performing for a studio audience; whether the character of Maris will ever physically appear on the show; the origin of the show's theme song; Grammer's role as "Sideshow Bob" on "The Simpsons"; whether the show has considered a live broadcast; and whether the show is used as a forum for political messages.
Biographies Kelsey Grammer has won two Emmy Awards and been nominated six times for his portrayal of Dr. Frasier Crane on three different television series: "Cheers," "Wings," and "Frasier." Grammer began his acting career at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and went on to appear around the country, including on and off Broadway, in numerous plays, both contemporary and classic. He also appeared in a number of daytime dramas, including "Another World," "One Life to Live," and "Guiding Light," and has guest starred in many series, including "Kate and Allie," "The Tracey Ullman Show," and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." His television miniseries and movies include "Kennedy," "Washington," "Beyond Suspicion," and "Silent Witness." Grammer's company, Grammnet Productions, produced the special "A Salute to Jack Benny" in 1995, and in 1997 launched NBC's new comedy, "Fired Up," starring Sharon Lawrence.
David Hyde Pierce has been awarded an Emmy and been nominated four times for his portrayal of Dr. Niles Crane on Frasier. A graduate of Yale University, Pierce landed his first professional acting job in "Beyond Therapy" on Broadway and went on to appear in numerous plays off Broadway and in regional theater. Between 1983 and 1985 he worked in various productions at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis before returning to New York to appear in "Hamlet" with the New York Shakespeare Festival and on Broadway in "The Heidi Chronicles." He has starred in the NBC series "The Powers That Be" and guest starred in "Crime Story" and "Spenser: For Hire." He has had roles in many feature films, including "The Fisher King," "Crossing Delancey," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "Nixon."
David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee are the creators and executive producers of Frasier. AngellÕs career in television began in 1977 when he sold his first script to the producers of "Annie Flynn," then in 1982 sold another script for "Archie BunkerÕs Place." In 1983 he became a staff writer for "Cheers" and in 1984 won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Lee, a former actor, and Casey began their writing partnership in 1975 and sold their first script to "The Jeffersons" in 1978. They joined the staff of that series in 1979 and, during their six-year tenure, served as writers, story editors, and, finally, producers. In 1985, they joined "Cheers" and, along with Angell, served as supervising producers and writers. Together with the other producers of "Cheers," they won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1989. That same year the three formed Grub Street Productions, through which they created and produced the long-running comedy "Wings" (1990-97), as well as "Frasier" (1993-present). Among them, they have been nominated for over thirty Emmy Awards and have received sixteen, including two for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series (Lee), one for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, and four for Outstanding Comedy Series for "Frasier."
Christopher Lloyd has served as executive producer for "Frasier" since its inception in 1993. He began his television career working on the first four seasons of "The Golden Girls," which received two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series during his tenure. Lloyd went on to produce two seasons of "Down Home" starring Judith Ivey, then joined Wings as a producer, where he began his affiliation with Grub Street Productions and David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee.
Details
- NETWORK: Paley
- DATE: October 8, 1997 5:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:27:56
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:50529
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Steven A. Bell … Moderator
- Peter Casey … Panelist
- David Lee … Panelist
- Christopher Lloyd … Panelist
- David Hyde Pierce … Panelist
- Kelsey Grammer … Panelist
- James Burrows
- Jeff Greenberg