Did Kelsey Grammer Actually Dismiss Two Infants from Frasier?

Look, I, like an entire generation of '90s kids, love Kelsey Grammer as Frasier Crane. Across four decades, the actor has demonstrated a remarkable talent for playing a character who is at once warm and affable yet also insufferably pompous. Grammer has never once missed a step playing Dr. Crane, even in the neither remarkable yet disappointing "Frasier" revival series currently streaming on Paramount+. From his debut in "Cheers" to his current streaming-age exploits, Frasier has been a delight to watch as portrayed by Grammer.

But the actor's tenure as the beloved psychiatrist hasn't been without some questionable moments. Take, for instance, the time he became so frustrated by his "Frasier" co-star that he lightly chastised him for being "silly" and garnering "so much attention." At first, his comments seemed like a tongue-in-cheek ribbing from the sitcom star, but then his 1995 memoir came out and the tone took a more serious turn. "The only difficulty I have is when people start believing he's an actor," wrote Grammer of his colleague. "Acting to me is a craft, not a reflex. It takes years to master, and though it does have its rewards, the reward I seek is not a hot dog." Who is Grammer getting so upset about? A dog.

Moose the dog portrayed Eddie in the classic sitcom, alongside his son, Enzo, but it seems he wasn't exactly the top pick for Kelsey Grammer. One might assume that Grammer was joking, trying to infuse a bit of humor from his celebrated sitcom days. However, his memoir paints a different picture, as he elaborates, "Moose performs tricks; I learn my lines, deliver my dialogue, and even move about. Yet, I don’t require a trainer off-camera, flailing their arms and brandishing a piece of meat, to figure out where to direct my gaze."

The history of dodgy Grammer quotes continued with his not-so-modest contention that his character alone was the key to the success of "Frasier" — a patently "silly" thing to say considering the original series had one of the finest ensembles yet assembled for the small screen. Now, further evidence in favor of Grammer's own "silliness" might well have emerged, though much like with his dog hissy fit, it remains unclear just how serious the man is.

If you wondered whether Kelsey Grammer could turn his ire from dogs to that other group actors are warned against working with — children — he absolutely can ... I think. Speaking to the LA Times, Grammer and Jack Cutmore-Scott (who plays Dr. Crane's son Freddy on the "Frasier" reboot) discussed child actors used on the original sitcom. The writer asks Cutmore-Scott, "Other people played Freddy in 'Frasier.' Did you give much thought into how to incorporate those performances into your part?" But instead of the Freddy actor replying, we get yet another inscrutable interjection from Grammer, who appears to go off on a tangent about firing children from his sitcom. "There were a few. I fired one," said the star, adding:

"I asked one child, 'Are you feeling tired?' He replied, 'No.' I suggested, 'I think you should take a nap.' To which he responded, 'No, I don’t need a nap.' I then said, 'Regardless, you’re going to take a break because I'm not convinced this is the right path for you.' I couldn't help but feel that this kid might struggle."

It's hard to tell from a written interview, but it's not entirely clear that Grammer is kidding here. If not, which Freddy actor did he fire? Was he really that upset about a child doing what children do and refusing to take a nap? It would seem ridiculous if true, right? Well, not only is this the man who agreed to put together an airborne casino heist in "Money Plane," the film the Daily Beast called "the dumbest movie of 2020," but wait until you hear what else he did.

Did Frasier actually let go of a child for skipping a nap? Before diving into Kelsey Grammer's remarks on the matter, he surprised us further by revealing to the LA Times that he also let go of two young actresses who portrayed Roz's (Peri Gilpin) daughter, Alice, on the series. "I did fire a couple of babies once," Grammer admitted. "For Roz's child, we had twins, but they just wouldn't cooperate. So I told them, 'Go enjoy your new career as babies.'"

Now, I'm sure working with kids can be as difficult as they say, especially babies. It's also not as if Hollywood is renowned for its grace and sensitivity to actors. But would you really openly admit to firing two little babies when you weren't even asked about it? It has to be a joke ... right? Meanwhile, Alice is played by Grammer's own daughter, Greer, on the "Frasier" revival series, and if I were her I'd be a tad worried about being unceremoniously discharged if babies aren't off the table.

While none of this diminishes Grammer's remarkable performances, it's likely that any devoted "Frasier" enthusiast and admirer of his career would be curious about the real story behind it all. Unfortunately, it appears this is yet another instance of the actor's public comments that will leave us wanting more clarity — perhaps not as vexing as having your canine co-star referred to as an "actor," but still quite frustrating.