Recast Frasier... could any other actors do as well?

[Wezzo]

my mother pointed out that when she was born (in 1961) no one knew who Mel Gibson was. I'm not sure how old he is; had he actually been born in 1961?

He had, but he was only 5. IMDb

[DHP]

I've wondered if any other television actors could ever replace the beloved cast of Frasier and the show have had the huge success it did... or was this the freak example of the perfect casting of an ensemble.

For myself, I just can't see anyone portraying Niles or Martin any better than David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney... with Jane Leeves and Kelsey Grammar right up there as well.

I don't think Frasier is a freak example of perfect ensemble casting. Check out The West Wing, The Lord of the Rings or Band of Brothers for three other examples of ensemble casts that are perfect. There are many others too. Frasier isn't quite as much an ensemble piece as the others though, as it more often than not has Frasier taking a more prominent place than the other characters. Daphne, and Roz especially, are often criminally underused. In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

[Bee Gees Fan]

He had, but he was only 5. IMDb

Ah, a 1956 baby!

[Amber]

In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

Makes sense after all, it is called "Frasier, and he was always intended to be a main character, which the other's being more "second main"

If LOTR had been named "Frodo," undoubtably the filmmakers would have given him an even picture part even in the book had been the exact same.

[Stratman]

I've wondered if any other television actors could ever replace the beloved cast of Frasier and the show have had the huge success it did... or was this the freak example of the perfect casting of an ensemble.

For myself, I just can't see anyone portraying Niles or Martin any better than David Hyde Pierce and John Mahoney... with Jane Leeves and Kelsey Grammar right up there as well.

I don't think Frasier is a freak example of perfect ensemble casting. Check out The West Wing, The Lord of the Rings or Band of Brothers for three other examples of ensemble casts that are perfect. There are many others too. Frasier isn't quite as much an ensemble piece as the others though, as it more often than not has Frasier taking a more prominent place than the other characters. Daphne, and Roz especially, are often criminally underused. In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

NewsRadio and Battlestar Galactica are two more great examples of pitch perfect casting.

[Janey]

He had, but he was only 5. IMDb

Ah, a 1956 baby!

Wow, I thought he was older than that!

[Wezzo]

I don't actually think he's aged that much over the past ten or so years, but he did look quite old for his age back then..

[Mr Blue Sky]

My name is very similar to his, actually. Michelle Gibson.

Hehe, you've kept THIS quiet!

You have a very similar name to your idols, the Brothers Gibb!

[Bee Gees Fan]

My name is very similar to his, actually. Michelle Gibson.

Hehe, you've kept THIS quiet!

You have a very similar name to your idols, the Brothers Gibb!

You all knew I was a star really!

I'm proud to say that I am similiarly named to the very nice Bee Gees. In fact, my initials are the same as Maurice's. Well - technically they aren't. See, Michelle is my second name. My first name is Stephanie, but I've always been called Michelle. Nobody calls me Stephanie, except the people who work at the library, because I haven't bothered to tell them that everyone calls me Michelle. They're far too used to calling me Stephanie now, anyway.

[Mr Blue Sky]

My name is very similar to his, actually. Michelle Gibson.

Hehe, you've kept THIS quiet!

You have a very similar name to your idols, the Brothers Gibb!

You all knew I was a star really!

I'm proud to say that I am similiarly named to the very nice Bee Gees. In fact, my initials are the same as Maurice's. Well - technically they aren't. See, Michelle is my second name. My first name is Stephanie, but I've always been called Michelle. Nobody calls me Stephanie, except the people who work at the library, because I haven't bothered to tell them that everyone calls me Michelle. They're far too used to calling me Stephanie now, anyway.

How do your parents feel about you using your middle name? Surely, they named you Stephanie because they liked that name. When did you decide to use your middle name rather than your forename?

[Stratman]

My name is very similar to his, actually. Michelle Gibson.

Hehe, you've kept THIS quiet!

You have a very similar name to your idols, the Brothers Gibb!

You all knew I was a star really!

I'm proud to say that I am similiarly named to the very nice Bee Gees. In fact, my initials are the same as Maurice's. Well - technically they aren't. See, Michelle is my second name. My first name is Stephanie, but I've always been called Michelle. Nobody calls me Stephanie, except the people who work at the library, because I haven't bothered to tell them that everyone calls me Michelle. They're far too used to calling me Stephanie now, anyway.

How do your parents feel about you using your middle name? Surely, they named you Stephanie because they liked that name. When did you decide to use your middle name rather than your forename?

She's giving them a kind of middle finger.

[Mr Blue Sky]

My name is very similar to his, actually. Michelle Gibson.

Hehe, you've kept THIS quiet!

You have a very similar name to your idols, the Brothers Gibb!

You all knew I was a star really!

I'm proud to say that I am similiarly named to the very nice Bee Gees. In fact, my initials are the same as Maurice's. Well - technically they aren't. See, Michelle is my second name. My first name is Stephanie, but I've always been called Michelle. Nobody calls me Stephanie, except the people who work at the library, because I haven't bothered to tell them that everyone calls me Michelle. They're far too used to calling me Stephanie now, anyway.

How do your parents feel about you using your middle name? Surely, they named you Stephanie because they liked that name. When did you decide to use your middle name rather than your forename?

She's giving them a kind of middle finger.

I like that - Middle name = middle finger.

Incidentally I knew a lad who did exactly the same thing BGF so you're not alone.

[Stratman]

I've always wanted to be called Steven Weatherby. Call me crazy if you want, but I prefer Steven.

[Mr Blue Sky]

I've always wanted to be called Steven Weatherby. Call me crazy if you want, but I prefer Steven.

I always wanted to be called 'Han'.

[Stratman]

[StiffUpperLip]

Rachel Weisz as Daphne - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001838/
John Hannah as Niles - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001314/

BTW "The Mummy" is also an example for good casting.

[StiffUpperLip]

As for Mel Gibson, I've heard he was drunk when he said those things, so he may not have meant what he said.

And I always thought that alcohol is loosing your toung so you say things you normally keep for yourself.

[Stratman]

Marina Sirtis as Daphne

[RDWRER]

In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

Makes sense after all, it is called "Frasier, and he was always intended to be a main character, which the other's being more "second main"

For me, Niles was always the *star* of the show. For every snappy quip that was written for Frazier, Niles had two or three... and again, for me, I think Hyde Pierce delivered them as well or better than Grammar.

I do agree upthread that Leeves and Gilpin were sadly underused.

[Stratman]

In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

Makes sense after all, it is called "Frasier, and he was always intended to be a main character, which the other's being more "second main"

For me, Niles was always the *star* of the show. For every snappy quip that was written for Frazier, Niles had two or three... and again, for me, I think Hyde Pierce delivered them as well or better than Grammar.

He didn't deliver them, he said them, the writers delivered them. Grammar, for me, was far more accomplished at finding comedy in straight lines then David, which is why I consider him the true comedic talent of the show.

[Frasier]

In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

Makes sense after all, it is called "Frasier, and he was always intended to be a main character, which the other's being more "second main"

For me, Niles was always the *star* of the show. For every snappy quip that was written for Frazier, Niles had two or three... and again, for me, I think Hyde Pierce delivered them as well or better than Grammar.

He didn't deliver them, he said them, the writers delivered them. Grammar, for me, was far more accomplished at finding comedy in straight lines then David, which is why I consider him the true comedic talent of the show.

What do you mean by "Comedy in straight lines"?

[Stratman]

In the three listed above, there isn't an obvious character who gets the limelight, as everyone gets pretty much equal attention. Moreso than Frasier in my opinion anyway.

Makes sense after all, it is called "Frasier, and he was always intended to be a main character, which the other's being more "second main"

For me, Niles was always the *star* of the show. For every snappy quip that was written for Frazier, Niles had two or three... and again, for me, I think Hyde Pierce delivered them as well or better than Grammar.

He didn't deliver them, he said them, the writers delivered them. Grammar, for me, was far more accomplished at finding comedy in straight lines then David, which is why I consider him the true comedic talent of the show.

What do you mean by "Comedy in straight lines"?

Lines that weren't intenionally funny.

[Frasier]

Ah I see! Yeah I agree with that.

[Paul B]

Frasier yelling "NILES!!!" in Something Borrowed, Someone Blue comes to mind. I can't think about that line without smiling.

[Stratman]

Ah I see! Yeah I agree with that.

Kelsey, along with John Lithgow, Phil Hartman and Michael Richards were the kings of turning straight lines into comedy gold.