Kelsey Grammer’s guest appearance onStar Trek: The Next Generationwas because of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Jonathan Frakes. Grammer is beloved as Dr. Frasier Crane, a character he portrayed onCheersfrom 1984 to 1993,Frasierfrom 1993-2004, and theFrasierrevival on Paramount+, which began in 2023 and enters its second season. However, Kelsey Grammer also made a memorablecameo inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 5’s “Cause and Effect.”
At the conclusion ofStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 5, episode 18, “Cause and Effect,“Kelsey Grammer appears as Captain Morgan Bateson, the commander of the USS Bozeman. “Cause and Effect” centers on a causality loop in the Typhon Expanse that trapped the USS Enterprise-D in the 24th century. The Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), continually collides with the USS Bozeman, a 23rd-century starship also caught in the time loop. After the Enterprise crew devised a way to free their ship, Captain Bateson contacted Captain Picard, revealingKelsey Grammer in a Starfleet Captain’s uniform.
Jonathan Frakes & Captain Kirk To Convinced Kelsey Grammer To Guest Star On TNG
“That Was The One That Hooked Me”
In an interview withCinemaBlendaboutFrasierseason 2, Kelsey Grammer was asked about his guest appearance onStar Trek: The Next Generation, which took place while Kelsey was still playing Dr. Frasier Crane onCheers. Grammer revealed that it was Jonathan Frakes, the director ofTNG’s “Cause and Effect” episode, who invited him to guest star. Grammer was uncertain untilFrakes"hooked” him that his character, Captain Bateson, was a contemporary of Captain Kirk. Grammer explains:
“But the thing that turned me on, Jonathan Frakes was a buddy. He called one day, I was at Cheers, and he said, ‘Will you come over and do a show for us?’ And I said, ‘Well, I don’t know, what’s the deal?’ He says, ‘Well, he’s a contemporary of Captain Kirk’s.’ That was the one that hooked me. So I got to wear the same uniform they wore in the original Star Trek, and that made me really happy.”
In theStar Trektimeline, Captain Morgan Bateson and the USS Bozeman were caught in the Typhon Expanse’s time causality loop in 2278. This is after the events ofStar Trek: The Motion Picture, as Starfleet had transitioned to its famed ‘monster maroon’ uniforms, and 7 years before the events ofStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Therefore, it makes perfect sense thatCaptain Bateson would have known Captain Kirk.
Can Kelsey Grammer’s Captain Return To Star Trek?
Morgan Bateson made a second Star Trek cameo
According to Kelsey Grammer, he’s unaware of any interest fromStar Trekin reprising his role as Captain Morgan Bateson. Grammer toldCinemaBlend, “Not that I know of. He’s a very sought-after character at those conventions these days. I actually did end up doing one, and I have signed some autographs as Captain Morgan Bateson.“Part of the renewed interest in Bateson is because Morgan madeanother cameo appearance inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 3’s premiere.
Fans have Jonathan Frakes and Captain Kirk to thank for Kelsey Grammer’s Star Trek: The Next Generation cameo.
Although Kelsey Grammer didn’t return to voice the role, Captain Bateson was seen as part of a Starfleet security team who exoneratedStar Trek: Lower Decks' Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) from the charge of blowing up the Pakled planet. If Kelsey Grammer were to return as Captain Bateson, the most likely of theupcomingStar Trekshowswould beStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, barring another surprise appearance inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 5. But fans have Jonathan Frakes and Captain Kirk to thank for Kelsey Grammer’sStar Trek: The Next Generationcameo.
