Paramount
Notable actor Kelsey Grammer is currently basking in the success of the “Frasier” revival, an acclaimed series that has been streaming on Paramount+ since October 2023. The original “Frasier,” a popular spin-off from “Cheers,” featured Grammer in the lead role as a radio psychologist whose fastidious nature and refined tastes often led to a series of humorous mishaps. This original series spanned 11 successful seasons with 264 episodes, cementing its place as one of the most successful sitcoms of its time.
However, a closer look at Grammer’s career reveals a mixed bag of successes and failures. His film appearances are plentiful, but unfortunately, they are often in unsuccessful films. From his role as Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast in numerous “X-Men” films to his appearance in a variety of strange, low-budget movies, Grammer’s filmography is diverse. He also had a notable role in Andrew Lawrence’s “Money Plane,” and has starred in several low-budget Christmas movies, including “Mr. St. Nick,” a musical version of “A Christmas Carol,” and “Father Christmas is Back.”
Interestingly, “Father Christmas is Back,” a Netflix movie released in 2021, barely made a ripple in the industry and has a meager audience score of 12 on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite this, a sequel titled “Christmas in Paradise” was released in 2022, a film so obscure that it doesn’t even have a mention on Grammer’s Wikipedia page. Furthermore, “Paradise” holds a low rating of 3.6 on IMDb and stars Elizabeth Hurley as Grammer’s on-screen daughter.
In an amusing twist, the creators of the “Frasier” revival seem to have included subtle nods to Grammer’s less successful Christmas films in their own series. The season 2 finale, fittingly titled “Father Christmas,” seems to reference Grammer’s less successful holiday films.
The latest episode of Frasier subtly mocks the poorly received Christmas movies Grammer has been involved in
Netflix
The episode “Father Christmas” revolves around Allan (Nicholas Lyndhurst), a character estranged from his daughter and granddaughter. Frasier (Grammer) and his friends hatch a plan to reunite Allan with his family for Christmas. The episode title is a playful nod to the nickname for Santa Claus and also hints at the episode’s focus on fatherhood. Fans of the show have noticed that the new “Frasier” series seems to be setting up a potential love story between Frasier’s son Freddy (Jack Cutmore-Scott) and a character named Alice, played by Grammer’s real-life daughter, Greer Grammer.
The episode title may also be a tongue-in-cheek reference to “Father Christmas is Back,” in which Grammer plays James Christmas, the father of four adult daughters. Despite the family’s constant squabbling and general unpleasantness, it is revealed that one of the daughters has been in contact with their estranged father, leading to a series of comedic events.
In the sequel “Christmas in Paradise,” Grammer’s character James Christmas escapes to a tropical island where he meets Billy Ray Cyrus playing himself. Three of his daughters from the first film journey to the island to bring him back home for Christmas. This film, along with “The 12 Days of Christmas Eve,” another of Grammer’s Christmas movies, shouldn’t be confused with the well-known “Groundhog Day.”
Grammer’s recent Christmas movies aren’t often discussed
Netflix
Grammer’s consistent employment in the industry, despite the poor reviews of his Christmas films, is admirable. It seems that the creators of “Frasier” wanted to humorously highlight Grammer’s tendency to accept quick Christmas gigs, reminding viewers of a part of Grammer’s recent career that isn’t frequently discussed.
Since the release of “Christmas in Paradise” and “The 12 Days of Christmas Eve,” Grammer has been involved in numerous other projects. He reprised his role as Sideshow Bob in a recent episode of “The Simpsons” and a holiday special titled “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” He also appeared in the Christian film “Jesus Revolution,” the Marvel Cinematic Universe film “The Marvels,” and two low-budget thrillers, “Wanted Man” and “Murder Company.” Grammer’s approach to his acting career seems to be pragmatic, accepting work as it comes, be it high-profile roles or weekend gigs.
While critics may view Grammer’s recent Christmas movies as a low point in his career, Grammer himself may see them as just another step in a career that spans back to 1977. He may not feel the need to defend these movies, as he is currently back on “Frasier.”
FAQs
Q: When did Kelsey Grammer’s career start?
A: Kelsey Grammer’s career began in 1977 when he first started appearing on stage.
Q: What are some notable roles of Kelsey Grammer?
A: Kelsey Grammer is known for his roles in “Frasier,” “Cheers,” and the “X-Men” series where he played Dr. Hank McCoy/Beast.
Q: What are some of Kelsey Grammer’s poorly received Christmas movies?
A: Some of Kelsey Grammer’s less successful Christmas movies include “Father Christmas is Back,” “Christmas in Paradise,” and “The 12 Days of Christmas Eve.”
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
