An impressive list of luminaries have signed on to NBC's "Frasier" in what's become the hottest bit part in Hollywood, including not just actors but also athletes, musicians, cartoonists and clothing designers.
Problem callers have included actors Linda Hamilton, Joe Mantegna, Jeff Daniels, Carl Reiner, James Spader, Lily Tomlin, Macaulay Culkin, cartoonist Garry Trudeau, menswear designer Tommy Hilfiger and country-music star Reba McEntire. Even Super Bowl-bound 49ers quarterback Steve Young has provided his voice for an upcoming show.
Unlike "The Simpsons" on Fox Television-where famous folk like Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor get their fair share of publicity before the show airs-"Frasier" producers prefer to stay mum about the celebs on the other end of the line. The voice-over actors are credited, but only at the end of the show when their names are listed with other cast members.
"We tend to shy away from people whose voices are recognizable," said Jeff Greenberg, "Frasier's" casting director. "We tend not to like people who are known as voice-over spokespeople because you hear their voice on the radio all the time, and it takes the fun out of it."
The virtual anonymity iAn impressive list of luminaries have signed on to NBC's "Frasier" in what's become the hottest bit part in Hollywood, including not just actors but also athletes, musicians, cartoonists and clothing designers.
Problem callers have included actors Linda Hamilton, Joe Mantegna, Jeff Daniels, Carl Reiner, James Spader, Lily Tomlin, Macaulay Culkin, cartoonist Garry Trudeau, menswear designer Tommy Hilfiger and country-music star Reba McEntire. Even Super Bowl-bound 49ers quarterback Steve Young has provided his voice for an upcoming show.
Unlike "The Simpsons" on Fox Television-where famous folk like Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor get their fair share of publicity before the show airs-"Frasier" producers prefer to stay mum about the celebs on the other end of the line. The voice-over actors are credited, but only at the end of the show when their names are listed with other cast members.
"We tend to shy away from people whose voices are recognizable," said Jeff Greenberg, "Frasier's" casting director. "We tend not to like people who are known as voice-over spokespeople because you hear their voice on the radio all the time, and it takes the fun out of it."
The virtual anonymity in the roles doesn't seem to dissuade actors from taking the bit parts-though it was rather difficult finding voices at first.
Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen was one of those celebrities who agreed to do the show early on as a favor to Grammer. Van Halen played a guy named Hank who couldn't hear Frasier because his radio was on too loud.
"We're friends, and I said sure. It was as simple as that," Van Halen said.n the roles doesn't seem to dissuade actors from taking the bit parts-though it was rather difficult finding voices at first.
Rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen was one of those celebrities who agreed to do the show early on as a favor to Grammer. Van Halen played a guy named Hank who couldn't hear Frasier because his radio was on too loud.
"We're friends, and I said sure. It was as simple as that," Van Halen said.