Emmy-winning actor Kelsey Grammer is preparing for a major return to NBC. He has signed on to headline and executive produce a new medical drama titled Pops. The project is currently in development at the network. This marks a homecoming for Grammer, whose iconic sitcom Frasier aired on NBC for 11 seasons.
Danny Weiss wrote and executive produced the series. Weiss is a former writer and producer for Chicago Med. Pops centers on an older professional who finds himself aged out of a successful career. In desperate need of a fresh start, the main character leaps into the chaotic and demanding world of emergency medicine. He works alongside first responders who are half his age.
The True Story Behind Pops
The premise of the upcoming drama draws direct inspiration from the real-life journey of Maryland resident Ed Levien. After concluding a successful career in advertising, Levien decided to embark on an unexpected path. He became a volunteer emergency medical technician in his 60s.
Levien worked alongside much younger colleagues who affectionately nicknamed him “Pops.” He spent 12 dedicated years serving as an EMT before officially retiring in the fall of 2025 at the age of 76. Levien is closely tied to the television adaptation, serving as an executive producer alongside Grammer, Weiss, and Jordan McMahon.
Production and Industry Parallels
Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, is producing the series. Industry observers have drawn thematic parallels between Pops and other successful network dramas. These shows center on mature career changers, such as ABC’s long-running hit The Rookie, which stars Nathan Fillion as an older police academy entrant, and CBS’s Carol’s Second Act starring Patricia Heaton.
For Danny Weiss, the transition to Pops builds upon extensive medical television experience. Weiss spent 10 seasons on NBC’s Chicago Med, advancing from staff writer to co-executive producer. He also worked as an in-house medical researcher for four seasons on Fox’s House, M.D.
Grammer’s Deep Ties to NBC
The series reunites Grammer with the network where he defined a massive portion of his legendary television career. Playing psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane across Cheers, Frasier, and guest appearances on Wings and 30 Rock, Grammer became an NBC fixture for over two decades. He recently reprised the character for a two-season revival on Paramount+, which concluded in early 2025.
While globally celebrated for his comedy, Grammer has regularly taken on dramatic television roles. These include headlining Starz’s political drama Boss and Amazon’s The Last Tycoon. On the film side, he is slated to reprise his role as Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy, also known as Beast, in the upcoming feature film Avengers: Doomsday.
As Pops moves through development, it joins a slate of high-profile projects at NBC. This coincides with reports that his former Frasier co-star, David Hyde Pierce, is also attached to an as-yet-untitled multi-camera comedy project in development at the network.
