KELSEY BEGS SHELLEY TO SAVE FRASIER!
Figures reunion with Diane would be ratings bonanza
SITCOM legend Kelsey Grammer is pulling out all the stops to clinch a second season of his Frasier reboot on Paramount+ by trying to lure former Cheers star Shelley Long for a guest role — but insiders insist his appeals are falling on deaf ears!
“Kelsey believes a reunion between Shelley Long’s Cheers character Diane Chambers would be golden, excite interest and bring closure for his character, too,” spills an insider. “Kelsey’s reached out a few times, only to be rebuffed. Shelley’s pushing everyone away these days and doesn’t take most calls.”
The 74-year-old funnygal was one of the breakout stars of the saloon sitcom, playing a snooty barmaid who had a romance with Kelsey’s Frasier Crane after her bust-up with Ted Danson’s barkeep Sam Malone.
But as GLOBE has reported, sources dish the actress has been reclusive and grumpy in recent years.
Insiders snitch she wanted no part of the Cheers reunion at the recent Emmys and was pictured looking miserable while out and about in L.A. the very next day.
“She doesn’t spend her time hating on people, but obviously doesn’t consider them her friends, either,” blabs the insider. “People want to bring her back into the fold, especially Kelsey, who was very disappointed she didn’t come to the reunion. He thinks she’d be great in his reboot.”
Shelley made three appearances in the original Frasier show, a Cheers spinoff that ran from 1993 to 2004.
“The key to Frasier for me was that he loved Diane with his whole heart,” says Kelsey, 68, adding he “would like to see Diane come back.”
Dishes a spy, “He’s not going to take it badly if he can’t get her on the show, but he’s not giving up either!”