La Cage Star Kelsey Grammer Starts (Another) Right-wing TV Network

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 2:33pm

I Am What I Am- and what Kelsey am is a "pro-America, pro-business, pro-military" conservative.

"There's wrong, and there's right: Right Network, all that's right with the world," Grammer says in a video clip on the network's Web site....
"RightNetwork will be the perfect platform to entertain, inform and Connect with the American majority about what's right in the world."





Fox Too Left WIng For You? Updated On: 4/19/10 at 02:33 PM

[Piper3500]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 2:37pm

What will the OWN (ugh!) network try to show?

[broadwayboy101]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 2:41pm

...and he's in La Cage, of all shows?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 2:51pm

I find this a really fascinating juxtaposition and almost irreconcilable, but a really smart guy once told me "people are complicated."

Kelsey Grammer is an intelligent man. He has participated in some very high quality comedy programming over the years that was predicated on the notion of a certain level of erudition and sophistication. And then he'll make these political choices, like being in that American Carol movie (which seemed to be based more on point of view than comic worthiness) and alligning with this new network and I wonder what impact that has on the rest of his life?

In its publicity materials this "Right Network" takes that Palinesque "anti-elite" tone, saying it doesn't care what people on the coasts think about its themes because it's targeting "America," as if the coasts (perceived to be completely separate entities) are not part of the country. And yet, its voice, and the star of this gay musical on the coast, is Kelsey Grammer. The man attended prep school and Julliard.

This dualism fascinates me. He embodies the very thing the network says it isn't.

What's going ON in that brain of Kelsey Grammer's?

Updated On: 4/19/10 at 02:51 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 2:56pm

it reminds me of the 1984 Republican convention when the Reagan Bush ticket celebrated it's victory by playing "The Best Of Times."

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 3:00pm

He has also said many times that he wants to run for office, as a Republican.

All his opponents will have to do is pull out the press reels and production photos of his stint in La Cage Aux Folles to put an end to that. Particularly when he assumes the role of Albin- imagine the fuss when the teabaggers see pictures of him in drag!!

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 3:08pm

He seems to think he's a Republican, but he is quite obviously a libertarian. I think his general support of gay rights/appearance in La Cage would cement this. I guess he sticks with the mainstream camp closest to his beliefs?
Updated On: 4/19/10 at 03:08 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 3:16pm

One of the consistent themes of the far right is defining 'them' for the masses. 'Them' would be the person, or people, or entity that is responsible for the decline of society in general, and all the woes of the individual. In the Reagan era, it was big government, then it became racial in the early 90s with Buchanan, then it became immigrants, now it seems to be big government again, along with 'elites'.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 3:40pm

But like so many people who hold up these ideals as the "right" ones (or Right™ Network ones), Kelsey Grammer's reality has not historically come close to what he's pitching in that capacity. Again, I am puzzled by the contradictions.

Some personal life highlights regarding Mr. Grammer's significant others from his bio on Yahoo:

Camille Donatacci
Born in 1968; posed for Playboy at least 15 times; became engaged in fall 1996; married Aug. 2, 1997 in a Catholic ceremony

Tammi Alexander
Posed for Playboy ; engaged to be married in March 1994; separated in June 1996, after allegations of an affair with an underage babysitter surfaced

Barrie Buckner
Had affair with Grammer while he was living with Cerlette Lamme; mother of Grammer's daughter, Greer

Cerlette Lamme
Performed with the Ice Capades; met in 1985; together for seven years, separating in 1992; sued Grammer for libel over comments in his book

Leigh-Anne Csuhany
Born c. 1970; married Sept. 11, 1992; Grammer filed for an annulment of their marriage in June 1993, after she allegedly menaced him with a kitchen knife; sought custody of their unborn child; she attempted suicide and had to have an abortion

Doreen Alderman
Met while she was performing on Broadway in "42nd Street"; married from 1982-1990; mother of Grammer's daughter, Spencer

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 3:49pm

And our conservative "Family Values" President Ronald Reagan was the only one ever to be divorced and his wife was pregnant when he married her. Pro-American Pro-Business Pro-military Pro-hypocrisy.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:04pm

The battle for the Republican party is being waged between libertarian conservatives and social conservatives.

The libertarian conservatives want to take the Republican party away from Sarah Palin and the tea-partiers with the misspelled signs--and they don't want it to go to Ron Paul, whom they view as a kook.

So for Republicans like Kelsey Grammer, being pro-gay(-marriage) is the new chic.

They want a Republican party that can stand for American exceptionalism, a strong military, small government, low tax rates, pro-business without being pro-bailouts--probably even pro-guns--but at the same time have the government stay out of America's bedrooms. Gay marriage becomes the easiest part of the Gay Agenda for them to support, because, ultimately, it helps to "stabilize" society, one of the cornerstones of conservative thought since Edmund Burke.

So, in a way, this channel would be to the LEFT of Fox News, not the right, since Fox News panders to the social conservatives who are anti-abortion, anti-feminist, anti-open-immigration and anti-gay.

This divide between the social conservatives and the libertarian conservatives is the Democrats' best hope.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:10pm

It's easy enough for me to fall into the trap of turning most of these folks into good or bad cartoon characters but Kelsey Grammer strikes me as an different beast who exists in a permanent gray area I'd like to wrap my mind around.

His most famous character started out as a foil in a working class bar mocked for being the very "elite" Sarah Palin is always invoking. By the time he was spun off into his own show, his brother and father were played by gay actors.

His own past is filled with living in sin and procreation out of wedlock. Now he's in La Cage.

I'd love to know if he just compartmentalizes everything.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:17pm

"One of the consistent themes of the far right is defining 'them' for the masses."

Beware you don't fall into the same trap you accuse others of falling into. As someone else here said, people are complicated. How boring a world would it be if every single person in a given field had exactly the same political beliefs?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:30pm

Both what you said and what the post you're quoting are true.

That is definitely a consistent theme of the far right.

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:32pm

And the far left. It is, in fact, a danger in all political discourse of any kind.

[jacobp]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:36pm

I do not know Kelsey Grammar but I think he represents the Moderate Conservative. I believe based on articles I've read that he thinks things through and judges them or gives his honest opinions in a very thoughtful way. Look I realize there is a huge political divide but I think he has a very rational head on his shoulders. I think he is much more even keeled than a lot of Republican and Democratic leaders today in the sense that he uses his brain. Now that doesn't mean you have to agree with him but his views aren't based on bias or prejudice but based on his rational thinking. I think that is very admirable and while there is a stigma that Republicans are against the Gays we must look at California and NY the biggest Blue States in the Country not even they could pass Gay Marriage which I find ridiculous. This is not a Republican Democrat issue it is a Prejudice and Misinformation issue.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:37pm

Which part? Defining the opposition as dofferent from you in significant ways or defining the opposition while engaging in the very behaviors that you demonize as the opposition's behaviors?

[MCfan2]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:45pm

"A good, thoughtful discussion here - - something you'd never seen from the right discussing a left-leaning person who, say, worked for FOX or was otherwise out of his element, as I would assume Grammer is in Hollywood and on Broadway."

With all due respect, Sabrina2, did you even read what you wrote? You're coming across like this: "At least I'M not a demonizer like THOSE demonizers!"

Again I say, this trap is a very easy one to fall into.

And if you had ever participated in a right-wing conversation about a left-wing actor -- as I've done, quite a few times -- you would know that your perception is quite mistaken.

[jacobp]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:46pm

Well I don't think he is "demonizing" by any means. See the problem with politics today is everyone is ONE WAY or the HIGH WAY. Both parties are so narrow minded in their line of thinking and I like and respect the fact that Kelsey Grammar goes (pardon the pun) both ways. Very soon you will not be able to succeed in politics unless you embrace both sides while still maintaining your position. The best thing everyone can do is pick and choose from all sides and not lock yourself into one line of belief. Thats not to say you can't be Republican or Democrat but you should look at all sides and agree with some things and disagree with others it will make you much more balanced.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 4:52pm

But when you become a right-wing spokesman...

That's the point, Sabrina. I doubt he considers himself "a right-wing spokesman" at all.

As way of example: I am a Reform Jewish who attends a LGBT synagogue. I don't consider myself in any way a spokesperson for Hasidic Jews who dress in 19-century Polish garb or Orthodox Jews who won't allow a woman to read aloud from the Torah at services. I support the right of the State of Israel to exist but I am not a spokesperson for right-wing Israelis who want to annihilate Arabs.

If you were to define me as a spokesperson for those groups, I would look at you as if you were crazy. I'm no more a spokesperson for the Hasidim than I am for the Amish.

So the way YOU define Kelsey as a "right-wing spokesman" is probably something he would laugh at. I'm guessing he would describe himself as a "conservative" or a "libertarian" but probably not as a "right-winger."

The question then becomes: Whose definition is true? Yours, of him, or his, of himself?

And, yes, Namo, I think is very talented at compartmentalizing.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 5:00pm

The problem PJ, is quotes attributed to Grammer vis a vis the Right Network ("There's Right and there's wrong: the Right Network, all that's right with the world") literally makes the man a spokesperson.

Updated On: 4/19/10 at 05:00 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 5:18pm

True dat.

Although he would probably say that what he means by "the Right" and what we mean by "Right Wing" are not the same thing.

What we call "the Left" is something principled and decent, while what they mean by "Left Wing" is something loony and dangerous.

Just because we use the same words doesn't mean they mean the same thing to us.

Updated On: 4/19/10 at 05:18 PM

[finebydesign]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 5:19pm

Should be interesting. If I remember right he had scores of women. Like many of his contemporaries he spent decades abusing hard drugs and alcohol. He was also a dear dear friend to Chris Reeves who fought up to his death for stem cell research. Which the right (as we know) was/is strongly against. I wouldn't give a fig about these people's personal lives if they didn't try to control mine. Oh and he's also in several unions.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 5:22pm

"Grown man tickle fights....That's DEFINITELY not right."

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/19/10 at 5:26pm

"If I remember right he had scores of women."

Do you have short term memory loss?