Frasier’s Kelsey Grammer In Star Trek TNG Explained

Fraiser’s Kelsey Grammer made an appearance in a beloved episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as Captain Morgan Bateson, commander of the USS Bozeman. In TNG season 5, episode 18, “Cause and Effect,” Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D find themselves stuck in a time loop. “Cause and Effect” opens with a particularly memorable scene as the Enterprise explodes before the opening credits even roll. What follows is a classic science fiction plot, as the timeline resets each time the Enterprise explodes.

As the Enterprise-D studies a spacial anomaly, a Federation ship suddenly comes through it. Unable to avoid a collision, the other ship crashes into the Enterprise, causing a catastrophic explosion and resetting the time loop. Before long, the Enterprise crew members begin to suspect that something is amiss, and they work to figure out how to stop the loop. With the help of Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and his positronic brain, the Enterprise is able to avoid the collision and explosion. The other Federation ship, the USS Bozeman, then hails the Enterprise and realizes they have been trapped in the time loop for over 90 years.

Kelsey Grammer Cameo In Star Trek: TNG Explained

Kelsey Grammer played Dr. Frasier Crane on Cheers and Frasier.

Captain Morgan Bateson, and Kelsey Grammer, only appear briefly at the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Cause and Effect,” but the character lived on in the Star Trek universe. After emerging from the time loop, Bateson greets Captain Picard, remarking that he has never seen a Federation starship like the Enterprise-D. Captain Picard then has to inform Bateson that 90 years have passed without his knowledge. Although Bateson does not make any more appearances in TNG, he does appear in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3, episode 1, “Grounded,” as part of the team that helps prove Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) did not destroy the Pakled homeworld.

Kelsey Grammer is, of course, best known for portraying psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in Cheers and Frasier, for which he has won multiple awards, including four Emmys. Originally only meant to appear in a few episodes, Grammer’s performance proved to be so popular that his role was expanded, and he eventually earned his own self-titled spin-off show. Grammar has appeared in many television shows and films over the years, including both live-action roles such as Beast in X-Men: The Last Stand, and voice-over performances like Sideshow Bob on The Simpsons.

Kelsey Grammer Has A Patrick Stewart Star Trek & X-Men Connection

Kelsey Grammer plays Beast in the X-Men movies alongside Patrick Stewart’s Professor X.

Kelsey Grammer may be best known for his roles in Cheers and Frasier, but he also appeared in another major science fiction franchise with Patrick Stewart. In 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand and 2014’s X-Men: Days of Future Past, Grammer plays Dr. Hank McCoy, aka Beast, alongside Stewart’s Professor X Charles Xavier, AKA Professor Charles Xavier. The character of Beast made his comic book debut in 1963 as one of the original X-Men, and he has been one of the most important and popular members of the X-Men ever since. In The Last Stand, Beast works in the government as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs, but he resigns his post to stand with the X-Men against Magneto (Ian McKellen) and the Brotherhood of Mutants.

The make-up and prosthetics for Beast required around three hours in the make-up chair to make Grammer look like the furry, blue superhero. X-Men: The Last Stand was not particularly well-received compared to the previous two X-Men films. Grammer only appears briefly as Beast in X-Men: Days of Future Past in an uncredited cameo. In Days of Future Past after the X-Men movies rebooted with Nicholas Hoult playing the younger Beast. Even with all of the credits throughout his impressive and lengthy career, Kelsey Grammer’s brief role on Star Trek: The Next Generation has left a fondly-remembered mark on the franchise.