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Back to Tube: Kelsey Grammer Rules ABC's Empire
Kelsey Grammer by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Barely two weeks after Fox gave Back to You the bad news (and just days after Kelsey Grammer told us he was at a loss for what's next), the Emmy-winning comedy vet has joined the ABC pilot Roman's Empire.
Per the Reporter, the single-camera comedy concerns a young guy who after getting dumped by his girlfriend, cannot seem to break free from her wealthy family, the Prettys. Lording over the clan is its overbearing patriarch, Roman (played by Grammer). — MWM
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May 24, 2008 1:42 PM
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I'm happy for him, but the concept of the show sounds weird. Maybe we'll find out more soon.
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May 24, 2008 7:40 PM
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Kelsey,
I love you, but you might want to take a break from tv. Go on a cruise.
Dange
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May 24, 2008 7:47 PM
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Dange, don't blame Kelsey Grammer. These network bosses don't know their heads from their tails. Look at how they dropped Women's Murder Club. And CBS, look at how they dropped Shark, Moonlight, Close to Home some time ago, and many others. They don't know what shows to keep, and they keep dropping great shows with great actors. Long time they used to keep the shows a little longer, but now it seems they're not giving the shows much life.
I can tell you this, I'm done watching new shows that they premiere, all of the network shows, with the exceptions of shows from USA, which I love, and even Lifetime, which at least gives their shows some chance, I am not watching any new shows. I give the shows a year, and if they're still on after that, I will get the DVD, watch the first season and then continue with the new season, but other than that, I'm done. I'm glad for Kelsey getting a new show, because I think he's such a talented and prolific actor, but I wouldn't unpack my bags and put my family photo in my trailer, Kelsey, cause these network people have no loyalty to fans and what they want, and they therefore have no loyalty to the actors either who have invested their time and often physical strength into these roles. 'Nuff said.
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May 24, 2008 11:11 PM
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Wow that was fast for Kelsey. I liked "Back to you" with Patricia Heaton. Fox didn't give it much of a chance but I thought that it would do well after "til Death" with Brad Garrett. I guess you just never know with us caddy viewer. I hope he can capture the greatness of Cheers and Frasier....both marvelous shows.
CBS sure didn't give "Cane" much confidence either and the acting with Jimmy Smits was terrific.
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May 25, 2008 1:05 AM
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OK, I'm sorry if this seems rude, but I have to comment on some of the things that have been said.
"Look at how they dropped Women's Murder Club. And CBS, look at how they dropped Shark, Moonlight, Close to Home some time ago, and many others."
There is not a single show on that list that should have been kept.
Shark and Close to Home each limped by for two seasons -- plenty of time to prove they had no future.
Women's Murder Club and Moonlight inexplicably had their rabid fans -- but not enough to justify keeping them on the air, given their overall ratings.
There are plenty of examples of good shows that were cancelled too soon -- but these aren't shows that deserve such status.
Not only were they not particularly good, but they also weren't cancelled too soon.
"They don't know what shows to keep, and they keep dropping great shows with great actors."
No, they keep dropping underperforming mediocre shows with adequate (at best) actors.
Network television is a business -- although many people seem to think that they are running a charity.
If making money is the goal, no network is going to keep mundane, forgettable fluff with sinking ratings and absolutely no cool buzz -- and being on CBS virtually guarantees no cool buzz.
It's as simple as that.
"Long time they used to keep the shows a little longer, but now it seems they're not giving the shows much life."
Two of those shows had two seasons!!!
The other two were given ample opportunity to show potential -- and it just wasn't there.
How long is a network supposed to indulge a handful of rabid fans?
Every show has its supporters -- even lousy ones. But obviously every show can't be kept on the air.
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May 25, 2008 2:11 AM
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"'Back to you'...Fox didn't give it much of a chance but I thought that it would do well after 'til Death'"
I liked Back to You, but I have to be honest -- FOX gave it a fair shot to succeed. They aired over a dozen episodes and promoted it heavily.
Its renewal was borderline, and FOX opted not to take a chance on another season. (Not surprising -- I'm sure it wasn't a cheap show to produce, given the two stars' presumably hefty salaries.)
That show wasn't a good fit for FOX, and it certainly wasn't a good fit for Til Death, one of the most grating, lowbrow comedies of the last 10 years.
"CBS sure didn't give "Cane" much confidence either and the acting with Jimmy Smits was terrific."
Cane was one of the Fall 2007 shows I was most looking forward to, but it just didn't live up the interesting premise and great cast.
No matter how much I wanted it to be good, it just wasn't. And it wasn't getting any better.
Sometimes that happens. We have to accept it.
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May 25, 2008 2:50 AM
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I love a good Chappy Quiddick post (or two). (Sorry..."good" and "Chappy Quiddick post" is redundant, I suppose. 
From what I've read about the British version of this series, it's being compared--for better or worse--to Arrested Development. Some people think it's a cheap imitation, others think it's an homage. Either way, it will be interesting to see whether this makes it to the light of day.
I am encouraged to see Grammer choose a single-camera comedy this go-round. That should illicit a more subtle performance from him. I've grown so weary of his blustery out-Lithgowing-Lithgow performances from Frasier and Back To You, I used to look forward to his Sideshow Bob appearances for something a little more low-key. 
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May 25, 2008 10:04 AM
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At least Medium and The Game still seem to be going strong. It impresses me that Kelsey Grammer got behind both of those shows which are totally unlike anything he would star in.
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May 25, 2008 10:07 AM
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Good point, rachw0. I am surprised by how happy I was to hear Medium would be back for another season. This past season was its best, and Allison and Joe have become my favorite couple on television! (I have to give The Game a chance. It always seems to be on at times when my recorders are in overdrive!)
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May 25, 2008 10:14 AM
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All of this controversy of which shows are and are no longer on the air, and nobody has mentioned the most important aspect of the new show. What is it supposed to be, a comedic version of "Dirty Sexy Money"?
A man who can't break free of his former girlfriend's wealthy family... Hello!! Nick George of DSM.
The family is the "Prettys"... as opposed to the Darlings. (And by the way: the 'Prettys'? Really??)
The overbearing family patriarch... who else but Tripp Darling.
Seems ABC isn't satisfied to 'borrow' story ideas from OTHER networks; now they're stealing ideas from their OWN SHOWS.
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May 25, 2008 1:23 PM
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That would be a plausible theory, Jena, except that the British version of Roman's Empire was on the air before Dirty Sexy Money (RE premiered in April of 2007 in the UK), so who can say which one came first...or whether they were both conceived independently?
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May 25, 2008 1:42 PM
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Personally, I don't think that any show that premiered in the fall of 2007 was given a fair shake, after the writers' strike. So much continuity was lost. And, compared to some of the dreck that's still out there after a few seasons, I don't understand not giving at least some of them more time. Back to You and Women's Murder Club both deserved more time, in my opinion. I also thought Shark was a great show. We all have our likes and dislikes (I hate 'Til Death) so I'm not going to dump on anyone who disagrees with me. Opinions are just that - opinions.
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May 25, 2008 3:00 PM
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Is ABC also buying the rights to Back to You...It is funny that the new boss on the show, imitates the ABC Affiliate style in San Francisco. Kinda looks like he is being fired on BTY, and now hired by ABC????????
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May 25, 2008 4:03 PM
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Kelsey Grammar playing pompous, privileged, and self-absorbed? GREAT!! The first few times around....... At least give us a chance to miss you......well, you don't have to wait that long...But please, try something new!
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May 25, 2008 5:15 PM
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