How and why was Kelsey Grammar on TNG?

[Mr. Scott]

What was the story behind Kelsey Grammar doing a cameo on TNG?

It was such a minor role, wouldn't Grammar cost a lot of money? Or was Grammar a Trekkie (sorry Trekkers.)? The episode didn't really need someone of Grammar's caliber. Towards the end of "Frasier", Grammar commanded one million dollars an episode. Was Frasier under the umbrella of Paramount?

TNG wasted Bebe Neuwirth too, in my opinion. I always thought Bebe was a beautiful and talented actress, but her role in her episode was something, again, that any nobody actor could do.

It seems that there were so many A listers who digged Trek so much, and would do a cut in salary to play a role. I know Robin Williams wanted to play a role but wasn't available, which was a tragedy. Would of made a great shapeshifter.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

I don't know the answer to your question but I thought Bebe Neuwirth's role was terrific and not at all a waste. And in fact, "First Contact" is one of my favorite episodes, in part thanks to her.

I remember hoping Season 7 would have a lot of guest appearances seeing as how there are more than a few actors who loved Star Trek. I was disappointed that there weren't.

 

[Scout101]

Pretty sure that the story was that Grammar was a big Trek fan, and wanted to do it. Wasn't a big payday, or a large part, just was a fan and thought it would be cool to be on the show, even as a cameo. Same reason you get people like Jason Alexander from Seinfeld doing Voyager episodes, etc.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

So can we settle this once and for all: Was that Grammer (as Captain Bateson) or Michael Dorn (as Worf) who we hear say "Acknowledged" in ST:FC? It's after we hear Admiral Hayes say "Defiant and Bozeman, fall back..."

I always thought it was Worf.

 

[TheSeeker]

^I always thought it sounded like Worf too.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

So did I. And while Kelsey Grammer might have been willing to do an onscreen role in "Cause and Effect", I doubted that he would have gone to the trouble just to do ONE WORD of dialogue. Worf was already in the film anyway, so that's why I thought that line was his.

 

[Alrik]

IIRC K.G. did Cause and Effect for Scale because he was a huge Trek fan and just wanted to be in an episode. Not much different from Mic Fleetwood playing a holographic Klingon. They just wanted to be a part of Trek.

Several different sources point to him doing that single word of dialog for F.C. for the same reason. I haven't been able to find proof one way or the other, but it wouldn't be too far of a stretch. K.G. has been doing voice work for years. Just look at Sideshow Bob on the Simpsons.

 

[Dukhat]

I don't know the answer to your question but I thought Bebe Neuwirth's role was terrific and not at all a waste. And in fact, "First Contact" is one of my favorite episodes, in part thanks to her.

If you liked her that's cool; however, I don't really agree. She basically played some no-name horny nerd-alien who appears out of nowhere and wants to jump Riker's bones, and her screen time was about two minutes, at best. It felt like her scene was just shoehorned in, and was unnecessary to the rest of the plot. As the above poster said, a complete waste of her talents.

Although Kelsey Grammer had even less screen time than Bebe Neuwirth, at least he was a dignified Starfleet captain who didn't act like a complete idiot.

IIRC K.G. did Cause and Effect for Scale because he was a huge Trek fan and just wanted to be in an episode. Not much different from Mic Fleetwood playing a holographic Klingon. They just wanted to be a part of Trek.

Fleetwood played an Antedean in the first season. John Tesh played the holographic Klingon.

 

[OmahaStar]

Fleetwood played an Antedean in the first season. John Tesh played the holographic Klingon.

If you're going to correct someone, you should be right. It was the *second* season.

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Manhunt_(episode)

In case you're curious.

 

[Dukhat]

Fleetwood played an Antedean in the first season. John Tesh played the holographic Klingon.

If you're going to correct someone, you should be right. It was the *second* season.

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Manhunt_(episode)

In case you're curious.

No, I wasn't curious. But thanks anyway.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

If you liked her that's cool; however, I don't really agree. She basically played some no-name horny nerd-alien who appears out of nowhere and wants to jump Riker's bones, and her screen time was about two minutes, at best.

It was all about comic timing and delivery; Neuwirth has it. Lots of folks don't.

"There are no small parts, only small actors."

 

[indolover]

I don't know the answer to your question but I thought Bebe Neuwirth's role was terrific and not at all a waste. And in fact, "First Contact" is one of my favorite episodes, in part thanks to her.

If you liked her that's cool; however, I don't really agree. She basically played some no-name horny nerd-alien who appears out of nowhere and wants to jump Riker's bones, and her screen time was about two minutes, at best. It felt like her scene was just shoehorned in, and was unnecessary to the rest of the plot. As the above poster said, a complete waste of her talents.

Although Kelsey Grammer had even less screen time than Bebe Neuwirth, at least he was a dignified Starfleet captain who didn't act like a complete idiot.

IIRC K.G. did Cause and Effect for Scale because he was a huge Trek fan and just wanted to be in an episode. Not much different from Mic Fleetwood playing a holographic Klingon. They just wanted to be a part of Trek.

Fleetwood played an Antedean in the first season. John Tesh played the holographic Klingon.

It served the plot since it was a take on the "I made love to an alien" thing.

 

[Alrik]

IIRC K.G. did Cause and Effect for Scale because he was a huge Trek fan and just wanted to be in an episode. Not much different from Mic Fleetwood playing a holographic Klingon. They just wanted to be a part of Trek.

Fleetwood played an Antedean in the first season. John Tesh played the holographic Klingon.

My bad. That's what I get for posting when I'm pressed for time. But by pointing that out, it lends more credit to my point. Some very well known people are big fans of Trek and were happy to take a small or even unidentifiable part just to be a part of Star Trek.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^ So true. That Antedean role could have been played by anyone. I know if i were given the chance (whether i was a famous actor or not) I would have done any role just to be able to do something in the Trek universe. Heh, and i'd do it for free!

 

[ndcarlin]

Surprised noone else noted this, but Bateson's first officer was originally going to be Saavik, played by Kirstie Allie in a nod to Cheers. They probably didn't want her taking up the whole bridge shot though.

 

[A beaker full of death]

So did I. And while Kelsey Grammer might have been willing to do an onscreen role in "Cause and Effect", I doubted that he would have gone to the trouble just to do ONE WORD of dialogue.

But he did.

Surprised noone else noted this, but Bateson's first officer was originally going to be Saavik, played by Kirstie Allie in a nod to Cheers.

Yup.

They probably didn't want her taking up the whole bridge shot though.

Dude.

 

[ndcarlin]

That was ST II Kirstie Alley. She'd sorta supersized by TNG times.

 

[T'Girl]

^^^ Originally Kristie Alley was going to play the USS Bozeman, but there were scheduling problems.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

So did I. And while Kelsey Grammer might have been willing to do an onscreen role in "Cause and Effect", I doubted that he would have gone to the trouble just to do ONE WORD of dialogue.

But he did.

Surprised noone else noted this, but Bateson's first officer was originally going to be Saavik, played by Kirstie Allie in a nod to Cheers.

Yup.

They probably didn't want her taking up the whole bridge shot though.

Dude.

Whoa
Jenny Craig could never get her to look like that again.

That was ST II Kirstie Alley. She'd sorta supersized by TNG times.

^^^ Originally Kristie Alley was going to play the USS Bozeman, but there were scheduling problems.

Also the Two sets were close together, Kelsey Grammar was a fan of the show, and the two casts used to pull practical jokes on each other.

(Robin Williams was doing "Hook" so the role of Berlinghoff Rasmussen Matthew Frewer, in A matter of Time)

 

[Vanyel]

Didn't Kristie Alley get noticeably large only after Cheers ended? She did look to be gaining weight during Cheers' run, but nothing that would have been to obvious at the time Cause and Effect was shooting.