Since 1991 (and primarily within the last 10 years), a total of six TV performers have earned recognition from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for reprising roles that had brought them Golden Globe nominations at least a decade earlier. With this and his own stellar HFPA track record in mind, Kelsey Grammer – the two-time Best TV Comedy Actor-winning star of “Frasier” – can more than reasonably be expected to join said prestigious club by scoring his ninth bid in the category (and first in 22 years) for the Paramount Plus revival of his beloved NBC sitcom. What’s more, he might actually make history as the first actor involved in such a situation to pull off a comeback victory.
Grammer collected his first eight Golden Globe nominations for “Frasier” between 1994 and 2002 and emerged triumphant in both 1996 and 2001. After saying goodbye to Dr. Frasier Crane 19 years ago, he is now set to lead a long-awaited continuation of the character’s story beginning October 12. The streaming series’ plot will focus on a septuagenarian version of the fastidious psychiatrist reconnecting with his adult son, Frederick (Jack Cutmore-Scott), in Boston (the setting of “Frasier’s” parent series, “Cheers”) after having spent many years apart from him in Seattle.
The two male actors who will have preceded Grammer in earning HFPA recognition for both the original and revived editions of their comedy series are Jason Bateman (“Arrested Development,” 2005; 2014) and Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace,” 2000-2004; 2018). Bateman succeeded on his first bid but lost on his second, while McCormack went home empty handed in every case. Also worthy of honorable mention is Matt LeBlanc, who received two comedy lead mentions for “Friends” in 2003 and 2004 and then one for the spinoff “Joey” in 2005.
The general club to which Bateman and McCormack belong was founded by Peter Falk, who picked up his seventh drama lead nomination for “Columbo” in 1991 after having received his first six between 1972 and 1978. The only other male member of the group is Kyle MacLachlan, whose two bids for “Twin Peaks” came 27 years apart (1991-2018) and in different categories (Best Drama Actor and Best TV Movie/Limited Series Actor).
Rounding out this roster are comedic female leads Candice Bergen (“Murphy Brown,” 1989-1996; 2019) and Debra Messing (“Will & Grace,” 2000-2005; 2019). Bergen won for her initial series in 1989 and 1992, as did Falk in 1973 and MacLachlan in 1991. Also included on the honorary list of original and spinoff nominees are Valerie Harper (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” 1973-1974; “Rhoda,” 1975-1976), Ed Asner (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” 1972-1976; “Lou Grant,” 1978-1982) and Polly Holliday (“Alice,” 1979-1980; “Flo,” 1981). Grammer is missing from that list because, although his first “Frasier” stint clearly pleased HFPA voters, his earlier “Cheers” work went completely overlooked.
Grammer has a total of three Golden Globes under his belt, the last of which came in 2012 for his performance on the Starz drama series “Boss.” Along with David Duchovny (“The X-Files”; “Californication”), he is one of only two male TV actors who has been honored by the HFPA as both a dramatic and comedic lead. If his new “Frasier” portrayal gains enough support, he will rank behind only Alan Alda (“M*A*S*H”) as the Best Comedy Actor category’s second most-nominated individual (for a single role) and be on track to trail Alda and stand beside Michael J. Fox (“Spin City”) and Alec Baldwin (“30 Rock”) on the corresponding winners list.
PREDICT the 2024 Golden Globe nominations through December 11
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