STORK STATS
Actor/producer Grammer, 61, and his wife Kayte, 35, are expecting their third child, soon to be joining four-year-old daughter Faith and twoyear-old son Kelsey Jr. Grammer also has four children from three previous marriages: Spencer, 32; Greer, 24; Mason
Q Are you an easy sell when it comes to animated movies?
A Oh, yes. I always do kids movies and I always have. They called and said, ‘We have this new animated movie about storks,’ and I just said, “Yes.”
Q Where did you find that distinctive boss voice?
A It’s my homage to (actor) Rip Torn. I did a film with him years ago called Down Periscope and I had such fun with him. He’s a rough and tough old-school guy.
Q Are you ever concerned that one of your voices will sound like Sideshow Bob or Stinky Pete?
A I’m pretty confident in my vocal ability to present a new character each time.
Q What do you think of your Storks boss?
A He’s proof that power corrupts. But I like my boss. He knows who he is.
Q Is it difficult to create a character in a recording studio?
A It’s really more of a game you play. You aren’t really in charge of the performance, but you have to embody it.
Q What’s one of your favourite scenes from Storks?
A The don’t-wake-up-the-baby sequence while they are trying to kidnap the baby. I thought that was brilliant.
Q Does it ring true? A Absolutely, it does. As a parent, you are always thinking, “This baby cannot wake up.” I understand completely.
Q How are things personally and professionally these days?
A Things are very good in my life in every phase of my life. I am engaged and happy. Q What’s your secret? A I am doing fewer things and devoting less of my time to my career.
Q But you still seem to be active with your production company. True?
A When I was doing the show Boss, I found I was really invested in it because I developed it.
Q What do you think of the new TV landscape?
A Cable has definitely brought new life
to comedies and dramas. It’s probably the best thing to happen to television.
Q Is it easier or more difficult to get something made?
A I still have to keep agitating people’s imagination. It’s like saying, “Hey, I’m over here.”
Q Are you aware your sitcom Frasier might be more popular now in reruns than when it aired?
A Yes, I have 12-year-olds telling me it’s their favourite show all the time.
Q Why do you think Frasier has aged so well?
A We quite consciously decided we weren’t going to do anything pop-culture based, so the episodes can luxuriate in an eternal audience.
Q Would you be prepared to update the series?
A We can’t duplicate it. I’m very happy to have it where it is. Q What about a reunion of some kind? A There might be some callback to it. Q Is that a Frasier tease? A (smiles) It is. But that’s all I’m saying.
★★ ★ out of 5 Starring the voices of: Andy Samberg, Katie Crown, Stephen Kramer Glickman, Kelsey Grammer
Directed by: Nicholas Stoller, Doug Sweetland
Duration: 89 minutes