LOS ANGELES, April 25 (UPI) -- Fans of Bob Hope will see new material from the legendary entertainer for the first time in years next week, when NBC runs an hour-long special consisting mostly of out-takes and bloopers from his TV specials over the past 50 years.
Emmy-winning "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer will host "Bob Hope's Funniest Out-takes" on April 30, the same night that "Frasier" features appearances by Grammer's former co-stars on "Cheers" -- Rhea Pearlman, George Wendt and John Ratzenberger.
It's part of the network's NBC 75th anniversary celebration, but it's also a case of rolling out the heavy artillery for the start of the May sweeps -- when networks go all out for big ratings so they can charge the maximum possible advertising rates.
Grammer will also be one of the hosts of "NBC's 75th Anniversary Special," a three-hour special scheduled for May 5. The special will feature retrospective highlights of the network's TV legacy, embodied -- for Grammer's money -- by Bob Hope.
"All throughout my childhood," said Grammer, "the most important TV event in our household each year was the Bob Hope Christmas special."
The out-take special was produced by Hope's daughter Linda Hope, who thinks her father probably holds the record for longevity by any performer at any network. Hope began with NBC Radio in the 1930s, and then appeared on NBC TV until the mid-'90s.
Serious Hope fans like his movies as much as any of the radio and TV work, and Grammer is no exception.
"I love the movies," said Grammer, "but in terms of his contribution to American culture, that is defined by television. Bob Hope is one of the greatest Americans of the century. That was made crystal clear by how TV covered his contributions overseas, and his unabashed patriotism."
"A lot of young people fairly recently have told him they love the road pictures," said Linda Hope, referring to "The Road to Morocco," "The Road to Hong Kong" and others in the series of comedies that Hope made with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. "I think the younger audience that didn't see him in TV -- and certainly didn't see him in his prime in TV -- still have the chance to see him in his prime in the replay of the road pictures."
At 98, Hope is one of the longest-living show business legends in history. His daughter said he is looking forward to turning 99 on May 29.
"He's hoping he has enough breath to blow out the candles," she said -- in an echo of his trademark sense of humor.
Linda Hope said her father stays at home most of the time, but likes to go for occasional car rides and "hold a putter every now and then" -- although he can no longer play his beloved game of golf.
"Like all of us, he has his good days and his bad days," she said. "He's in pretty good shape for 99."
And he has always wanted to live past 100.
"The idea of being 100 is something really appeals to him," said Linda Hope. "He wanted to beat George Burns, I think."
Burns died in March 1996, less than two months after his 100th birthday.
Fans will have to settle for old clips of Hope on the special. He is not up to making a live appearance.
"No, he regretfully will not be able to be there," said his daughter.
