Kelsey Grammer, Twitter & Online TV

Kelsey Grammer has been in the news lately for several reasons. The Emmy winning actor was nominated for a Tony award for his role as "George" in "La Cage aux Folles" currently on Broadway. Grammer has also faced the wrath of the US media after the breakup of his marriage. Now Kelsey Grammer is making news in an online network way, becoming a major player for a new concept in online TV.

I discovered TODHD.com in the usual way, browsing through my Twitter feed. I saw a conversational tweet from @Kelsey_Grammer stating he was on break from "La Cage Aux Folles", and inviting people to the show. I answered by tweeting back something trivial and said to have a good show. To my complete surprise I got a simple tweet back, "Thanks!". A celebrity not only read my silly tweet, but took the time to respond (even in the simplest manner).

Of course I followed Grammer on Twitter and saw him telling people to go to his website at KelseyLive.com to join his "Follow Back" group so he would return the favor. This is very interactive for a celebrity of his caliber.

After visiting KelseyLive.com I got the full low down on what's happening with online TV and entertainment.

Kelsey Grammer has joined forces with Bill Zucker, Corbin Bleu, Ron Bard and other celebrities on a new online entertainment site. The idea behind TODHD.com is to make entertainment interactive with a live audience via webcam broadcasts and live chat time with celebrities. The site also links your Twitter and FaceBook account and includes chat rooms, groups and blogs you can build yourself.

You can also watch scheduled TV programs on any of the over 70 channels now available, including the majors (ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX). Each channel has a home page and a chat window so you can talk and watch with friends and meet new ones. Call it a one stop shop for all your entertainment needs, at least that's what the owners of TODHD.com are attempting to build.

Kelsey Grammer has undoubtedly been the biggest draw for the new online TV site. Not only can you go to the site and watch reruns of "Frasier" and "Cheers", you can also chat with Kelsey Grammer. The star has taken to chatting with friends and fans on a regular basis.

Is it really him? After reading some of the most eloquently worded tweets and messages posted it appears to be the real McCoy, or Grammer as it were. It's definitely him during live online chat sessions and broadcasts. Call it a new realm of reality TV.

So what effect will this new era of online entertainment mean to traditional television? With advertisers spending more on Internet ads, the future of television is in limbo. YouTube.com contributed the first major blow to network television. Now social media sites banning with online television and major celebrities may be the final assault.

Sources:
Impulse Magazine: EXCLUSIVE: Hours after Kelsey Grammer's Divorce Announcement TODHD announced The TOD'nite Show is Coming to Late Night with Kelsey Grammer

PDF: The Future of a Medium Once Known as Television