The beloved television star returns as a news anchor

For nine years Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane on the long-running sitcom Cheers, then he continues with that character on his own series Frasier, from 1984 - 1993. And his character, Frasier Crane made several cameo appearances on other shows throughout the years. Now, after a long period away from weekly TV, Grammer returns in another sitcom alongside Patricia Heaton. Back to You is the story of two news anchors who years earlier had a fling and now they are thrown back together, but there is a little something more to their history than a simple relationship.

After a very long time playing Frasier Crane, is it weird to be playing somebody else, and after that long-playing radio broadcast character, is it weird still playing a broadcast character?

Kelsey Grammar: Well, I like to think that based upon my knowledge of most television newscasting now, it has nothing do with the news anyway. (Laughter.) So I'm very happy to just be another performer pretending to be a performer. (Laughter.) The radio analogy, though, is -- I mean, frankly, Frasier was trying to be a psychiatrist that happened to be on the air. So it's a little different there. Although Frasier was equally self-obsessed, he was trying to do the world some good. This fellow is trying to do himself some good, and I think what makes him funny is that he has a kind of arrogance and a comfort in his own ego. It's different. In terms of being interested in playing another character, I'm an actor. That's what we do. Frasier, I played him as long as I did only because he remained interesting to play. This guy has a whole new set of difficulties that are equally interesting.

How is it being back on TV?

Kelsey Grammar: I am thrilled to be back doing something I'm good at. I like this. I've also been thrilled to be a father and a husband. The last few years I've had a wonderful time. Life deals us different challenges. This is a new one. What would be wrong with doing three of the greatest television shows in history?

Kelsey, you had also been doing a lot of producing lately. For a while, it looked like that was where your attention would be directed. Did you get tired of it?

Kelsey Grammar: No, the company is still actively developing, and I'll probably direct some things. I got a couple of film scripts I'm thinking about directing now. When the time is free, we'll probably devote some attention to that. Medium is still on the air. Girlfriends and The Game are still doing pretty well. We missed the cut on a couple of shows this year, but I'm still very interested in pursuing that.

Is there any particular anchor you're basing your character on?

Kelsey Grammar: Particular anchor, no, I never would. If I'm playing a historical figure, I might actually take some lessons from that actual person, but no. I mean whatever I tend to be playing is created from kind of an amalgam of experience and imagination.

And what is your feeling about anchors today?

Kelsey Grammar: I really have no feeling. I took this part not because he's a news anchor, but because he was a guy who was going through something that -- he was living through something that would take him to a different place than where he started. It's a story. I'm good at storytelling. That's what I do and so that's why I'm there.

Back to You premiers Wednesday September 19 on FOX at 8 PM ET/PT.

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