Kelsey Grammer Talks Broadway, Gay Marriage and Being an R-Word
Kelsey Grammer, best known for his role as fussbudget Frasier Crane on 'Frasier,' is thinking outside of the box (and the closet) in his latest role. Grammer has returned to his "first love," the stage, in the Broadway revival of 'La Cage Aux Folles.' The musical, which spawned the hit film 'The Birdcage,' centers on the lives of Georges, portrayed by Grammer, the owner of a drag club on the French Riviera, and his high-maintenance partner, Albin, played by Englishman Douglas Hodge.
The show, full of fun, folly and drag queens, has gotten Grammer to open up about his views on gay marriage, his past addictions and why Hollywood thinks "Republican" is a four-letter word.
You must be exhausted.
Uh, yeah. It's my first love, so I'm adjusting back to it. I rather like the schedule. We're having a wonderful time doing the show. It's a great bunch of people -- I would go into battle with any one of these guys. I like meeting friends after the show and then sleeping in. And it's great being back in New York -- I really get a charge out of it.
This show is very pro-gay marriage.
I think its pro-love. I think its pro-everybody, honestly. I have a funny thing about marriage. I think that marriage is the providence of the church. I think it's a religious rite. I don't understand the civil angle on marriage at all. So am I pro-my friends who love each other getting married? Yes -- gay, straight or otherwise. I don't have an issue about it. Somebody obviously thought it would be fun to tax marriage one day, so they made it a government thing.
'Frasier' was a very gay show. To a lot of people, Frasier and Niles seemed like a gay couple.
We always described it as the recessive gay gene of the 'Frasier' show.
I think some people may have even thought you were gay.
That's fine. My motto in life is to keep them guessing.
So your wife Camille signed up for the new 'Housewives' series?
I can't discuss that.
Really? So it must be true!
[Laughs] You know better than to ask me that. I can neither confirm nor deny.
Your daughter Spencer is doing a lot of work with the show 'Greek.'
Yes, she's done very well. I'm very proud.
You're a Republican. What's easier in Hollywood -- being a Republican or a cocaine addict?
Yes, I am a Republican. And gosh, I don't think you can lose your job because you're addicted to cocaine.
Can you lose your job because you're a Republican?
I think you can. It can affect your livelihood. Drug use in Hollywood does not affect your livelihood. I clearly am in the minority, as a Republican. It's fine. There are some principles and issues for me that are worth claiming rather than pretending I'm something that I'm not.
Do you, Chuck Norris and Arnold Schwarzenegger get together and commiserate?
[Laughs] No! It's not really like that. I have a lovely life. I have certain political views about small government and that's where I live. At the heart of my beliefs about being a Republican is the idea that the individual is America's greatest national treasure.
Sounds like a stump speech to me. Could we see Senator Grammer?
It's been in the back of my mind for some time to possibly volunteer my services to the country at some point. We'll see... there are a lot of things to consider.
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Showstoppers on Broadway
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, from left, Norm Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Matthew Scott and Euan Morton are shown in a scene from the Roundabout Theatre Company production of "Sondheim on Sondheim," now playing at Broadway's Studio 54 in New York. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine)
AP
Boneau/Bryan-Brown
Snapshots From Broadway
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, from left, Norm Lewis, Vanessa Williams, Matthew Scott and Euan Morton are shown in a scene from the Roundabout Theatre Company production of "Sondheim on Sondheim," now playing at Broadway's Studio 54 in New York. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine)
Snapshots From Broadway
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Barbara Cook, left, and Vanessa Williams are shown in a scene from the Roundabout Theatre Company production of "Sondheim on Sondheim," now playing at Broadway's Studio 54 in New York. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine)
Snapshots From Broadway
In this theater publicity image released by Boneau/Bryan-Brown, from left, Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat, Matthew Scott, Erin Mackey,Barbara Cook, Euan Morton, Norm Lewis and Leslie Kritzer are shown in a scene from the Roundabout Theatre Company production of "Sondheim on Sondheim," now playing at Broadway's Studio 54 in New York. (AP Photo/Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Richard Termine)
Snapshots From Broadway
In this theater publicity image released by Jeffrey Richards Associates, from left, James Spader, David Alan Grier and Richard Thomas are shown in a scene from David Mamet's "Race," playing at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Richards Associates, Robert J. Saferstein)
Snapshots From Broadway
FILE - In this April 20, 2010 file photo, Marian Seldes arrives at the opening night performance of the Broadway musical "American Idiot" in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, file)
Snapshots From Broadway
NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Leslie Jordan attends the Off-Broadway opening night of "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" at The Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leslie Jordan
Snapshots From Broadway
NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Leslie Jordan attends the Off-Broadway opening night of "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" at The Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Leslie Jordan
Snapshots From Broadway
NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Vanessa Ray attends the Off-Broadway opening night of "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" at The Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vanessa Ray
Snapshots From Broadway
NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Jay Manuel attends the Off-Broadway opening night of "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" at The Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Manuel
Snapshots From Broadway
NEW YORK - APRIL 19: Cynthia Nixon attends the Off-Broadway opening night of "My Trip Down The Pink Carpet" at The Midtown Theater on April 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Alli Harvey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Cynthia Nixon
Snapshots From Broadway
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The more I see of this guy, the more I suspect that Frasier wasn't an act.
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The political bias of the writer is so obvious -- especially the cocaine/republican question. Whoever she is, she's no journalist.
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I think the cocaine question was most appropriate. I think people need to be reminded of it. Why blast that you're gay but keep cocaine addiction in the closet?
I adore Kelsey Grammer. He is the most talented and brilliant actor to ever exist. "Frasier" was a masterpiece at best and I wish him the top of the world in the future. I just wish that he would do more "Frasier" stuff, but I realize that everything has it's time.
Kelsey..you are the man. Break a leg.
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I applaud Mr. Grammer for standing up for his beliefs in a town where not going with the flow can have unpleasant repercussions. The fact that he still works, and fairly frequently, is a testament to his talent.
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What town are you speaking of, Washington or L.A.?
I adored Grammer's character on Frasier, but if recent news reports of Grammer heading the ultra-right wing "Right Network" are correct, one has to wonder what their Taliban-like agenda will think of his current stage role.
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Unlike you , conservatives will see it for what it is a "role". It must be Terrible having to live your life in that little box of yours. Your username says it all (co-pilot). Forever the follower and never a Leader. So much pain , it must have been rough always being picked LAST if picked at all.
Taliban-like?????
Ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, that's FUNNY!!
You're very FUNNY!
Thanks for the laugh, chump!
Frazier was one of the best shows ever. Cast, writers, the whole works. Only reason Kelsey has not made it on TV anymore is because of the lousy writers and story lines. I still watch every re run available and never get tired of the humor. Good luck on Broadway, and I am sure he will be a hit. Wonderful actor.
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Liberals that post on here always sound so uneducated...LOL
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Bravo to Kelsey. We need more Republicans and Democrats like him, i.e., those intelligent and open-minded enough to consider viewpoints different from their own. As a liberal, I'd probably differ from him on most issues, but I believe it's both polite and prudent to listen to and consider "the other side." Unfortunately politeness and prudence are in short supply these days, especially in Hollywood.
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Guess it goes to show that some Libs dont actually bother watching anything other that the kool aide mix on MSNBC and CNN.If you did then you would be hearing the views of the many republicains that are not against gay marriage or ultra conservative. I was a lifelong Dem. untill last election now Im a Independent. I was never a Liberal. My husband is a Republicain, but not a conservative right winger. Could it be that the majority of Americans have alowed the media and goverment to label you into a group (like high school kids) then keep us going after each other like abunch of jackles while the politicans do what they do best.(both parties) SCREWW us over!
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we is too edumacated, if it wuznt for us edumacated folk obama woodnt be in the office, you write wingers make me laufh.
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GOOD ONE!!!!! LOVE IT!!!!
Not to be too hard on Mr. Grammer, but I am always chagrined by people like him who call themselves Republicans and say it's because they prize individualism. That is NOT what the current Republican party is about. In some cases, it's for the denial of individual rights...including gay marriage, which Grammer supposedly approves of. The 20th century Republican ideal and the 21st century reality are not the same. I used to be a Republican.
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Dude that is the major diffrence between repubs and dems... Repubs DONT believe in hand outs and big govt... Dems or liberals want everything run through the govt and use taxes to pay for it. Like Dennis Miller said Govt trys to get as many people as possabile suckered into their prgrams so they keep voting for them and they can stay in power
BONBON? THE ONLY INTELLIGENT LIBERALS ARE THOSE MAKING A LIVING BEING WRONG!
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I'd vote for him.
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Go get 'em, Kelsey. The Democrats scare the h... out of me. Obama talks out of both sides of his mouth. One minute he says he's a Muslim (on several occasions) and he professes to be a Christian when he wants the vote. Can't make up his mind, eh? Where is all this "Open Policy" he professed when he was running for office. Congress working their little games behind closed doors. Someday Allen West will win the Congressional seat Florida and it will be all over. Kelsey couldn't be more correct. I love your idea of the "Right Network". As I said, go get 'em.....
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