Kelsey Grammer to Lead NBC's Developing EMT Drama Pops
Kelsey Grammer is set to star in and executive produce a new NBC drama called Pops, which is in development. The series, written by Danny Weiss, centers on a man who starts a late-life career in emergency care with much younger colleagues. It draws from the real-life story of Ed Levien, a Maryland man who volunteered as an EMT in his 60s and retired at 76.
Kelsey Grammer, 71, is attached to star in and executive produce Pops, an NBC drama now in development. The project reunites him with the network two decades after Frasier concluded. Danny Weiss, a veteran writer-producer on Chicago Med, is penning the series.
Grammer's character is a man who leaves a long successful career for emergency medicine, working alongside responders much younger than him. The show draws on Ed Levien, a Maryland volunteer EMT who began in his 60s after advertising work, earned the nickname "Pops," served 12 years, and retired at 76.
The project may resonate with older adults contemplating late-career shifts, especially those drawn to public service. It could also raise visibility for volunteer EMTs and emergency responders, whose work often goes underappreciated. If the series reaches a broad network audience, it might encourage more intergenerational workplace stories and prompt viewers to reconsider assumptions about age and capability. NBC may benefit from Grammer's familiar appeal, though the show's actual social effect would depend on execution and reach.