Latest news with #JohnBelushi
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
George Wendt, a.k.a. Norm From ‘Cheers,' Is Dead at 76
George Wendt, who earned six consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his role as the bearish, beer-quaffing Everyman Norm Peterson on the enduring sitcom 'Cheers,' died on Tuesday morning at home in Studio City, Calif. He was 76. His death was confirmed by his manager, Geoff Cheddy, who did not specify a cause. Over more than four decades, Mr. Wendt racked up about 170 film and television credits. But he was best known for 'Cheers.' He appeared on every episode of the sitcom during its 11-year run on NBC, which began in 1982. His streak of Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series began in 1984. Mr. Wendt, a native of the South Side of Chicago, started his entertainment career in inglorious fashion, sweeping the floors at the Second City, the famed improvisational comedy club in his hometown that helped launched the careers of generations of stars, including John Belushi, Mike Myers, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. In 1974, he became part of the Second City's touring production and resident company. 'I had no acting experience in my background,' he said in a 2013 interview with The Democrat and Chronicle newspaper of Rochester, N.Y., 'but something just clicked.' He remained with the company until 1980. With his easy charm and lunch-pail demeanor, Mr. Wendt headed for Hollywood to appear in the pilot for an NBC show called 'Nothing but Comedy․'He later popped up on popular television shows like 'Taxi,' 'Alice' and 'Hart to Hart' before becoming one of America's favorite barflies on 'Cheers.' He later said that his pronounced girth was key to the role, making Norm the relatable guy that viewers would feel like sidling up next to at their neighborhood bar. 'One nice thing about being fat for a living is that you don't worry about losing weight or dieting,' Mr. Wendt once said. 'I don't know how much I'd have to lose before it was noticeable. Anyhow, if I lost 100 pounds people would say, 'Oh, no, not another fat comedian wanting to be a leading man!'' While the Norm character felt natural to who he was, he said, there were definitely differences between fiction and reality. 'The Norm you see in 'Cheers' has been years in the making,' he said. 'I have some characteristics in common with him besides our fondness for beer. But I think I'm a lot happier than Norm.' He added: 'I was a beer drinker long before 'Cheers.' When I put a couple of six packs on top of my grocery shopping cart, people are pleased. I tell 'em I'm taking them home to rehearse.' A complete obituary will be published soon.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Today in Chicago History: John Belushi's death shocks the city
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 5, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 75 degrees (1983) Low temperature: 0 degrees (1978) Precipitation: 0.99 inches (1946) Snowfall: 9.2 inches (2013) 1962: The Robert Taylor Homes — then one of the largest public housing projects in the United States — opened and its first family moved in. The development had 28 high-rises with more than 4,230 units. But the complex soon caved under devastating poverty and violence. In the end, the Robert Taylor high-rises failed a congressional 'viability test,' which found it was cheaper to house residents elsewhere than to maintain the crumbling high-rise slums. Demolition of the buildings began in May 1997. 1982: John Belushi was found dead at the Chateau Marmont, a Los Angeles hotel. A coroner's report later concluded Belushi died of 'acute cocaine and heroin intoxication.' Cathy Evelyn Smith was sentenced to three years in prison in 1986 for injecting Belushi with a fatal dose of cocaine and heroin. She was released in 1988. 1997: Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Remembering the Go-Go White Sox Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
The Independent
02-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘They framed Nixon:' Bill Murray reveals outrage over Bob Woodward's book during Joe Rogan interview
Legendary actor Bill Murray sat down for an interview with controversial podcaster Joe Rogan over the weekend during which he revealed his outrage over Bob Woodward's book about John Belushi. The book in question, Wired: The Short Life & Fast Times of John Belushi, was released back in 1984, and was roundly criticized upon its release by among others, Dan Akroyd, John Landis and Belushi's widow, Judith Pisano. Murray, 74, it turns out, felt similar. 'So when I read Wired by whatshisname, Bob Woodward, about John Belushi, I read like five pages of Wired and I went, 'Oh my God, they framed Nixon.' If he did this to Belushi, what he did to Nixon is probably soiled for me too.' The Groundhog Day star went on to say that he was approached by Woodward to be interviewed for the book but refused, saying it 'smelled funny.' The book was released just two years after Belushi's untimely death. At the height of his fame, thanks to his appearances on Saturday Night Live as well as hit movies Animal House and The Blues Brothers, Belushi died of a drug overdose after taking a heroin and cocaine cocktail known as a 'speedball.' He was 33 years old. It was reported that around the time of his death, Belushi was spending $2,500 on drugs. Murray also said in the interview that he believed that John Belushi was the most famous person to ever come from Wheaton, Illinois, and that Woodward was the third. Chicago Bears legend Harold 'Red' Grange was named as the second. He spoke of Belushi's generosity in convincing so many of his fellow comedians from Illinois to come and join him in New York, allowing them to sleep on his couch for extended periods. Murray also credited Belushi with launching a blue revival which in turn led to the emergence of the House of Blue franchise concert venues. The Golden Globe went on to say: 'Woodward does other things, I've seen him on TV and be smart and everything but, you know, he's going to have to answer for that, you don't get away with that, you don't get a free pass. Not with my friend.' Murray's appearance came just after Tesla CEO Elon Musk's interview on Rogan's hugely popular show. During that appearance, Musk made wild accusations about Jeffrey Epstein's infamous client list, which Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi said would be released this week. 'Known Epstein clients who are obviously extremely powerful – powerful politically and very wealthy – are Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Reid Hoffman,' Musk alleged. 'And some others, too. But those three.'
Washington Post
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
The best ‘SNL' sports sketches over its 50-year history
With 'Saturday Night Live' celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, we thought it would be an opportune time to go back and look at some of the best SNL sketches that drew from the world of sports. Season 3, Episode 6 (1977) SNL plumbed the depths of John Belushi's real-life persona for laughs on numerous occasions in its early years ('The Thing That Wouldn't Leave,' a second-season cold open that made light of his drug use and notorious unreliability), but the most remembered probably is the commercial parody that had stumpy-bodied Belushi performing Olympian feats, all thanks to little chocolate donuts (and perhaps the lit cigarette in his hand). Belushi actually had an athletic background. In high school, he was co-captain of his high school football team at Wheaton Central High School in Illinois. Season 3, Episode 6 (1977) SNL plumbed the depths of John Belushi's real-life persona for laughs on numerous occasions in its early years ('The Thing That Wouldn't Leave,' a second-season cold open that made light of his drug use and notorious unreliability), but the most remembered probably is the commercial parody that had stumpy-bodied Belushi performing Olympian feats, all thanks to little chocolate donuts (and perhaps the lit cigarette in his hand). Belushi actually had an athletic background. In high school, he was co-captain of his high school football team at Wheaton Central High School in Illinois. Season 10, Episode 1 (1984) SNL brought in a cast of ringers for its 10th season and employed two of them — Christopher Guest and Martin Short — to great effect almost immediately with a first-episode mockumentary about two men who hope to become America's first great male synchronized swimming team. The fact that men's synchronized swimming is not a thing and that one of them cannot swim is only of minor importance. Season 10, Episode 1 (1984) SNL brought in a cast of ringers for its 10th season and employed two of them — Christopher Guest and Martin Short — to great effect almost immediately with a first-episode mockumentary about two men who hope to become America's first great male synchronized swimming team. The fact that men's synchronized swimming is not a thing and that one of them cannot swim is only of minor importance. Numerous episodes, premiered 1991 This loving salute to the North Inland dialect and Mike Ditka eventually would get beaten into the ground from overuse, but it's hard to underestimate just how much of a cultural phenomenon these sketches were in the early 1990s, toward the tail end of the Chicago Bears' most recent string of success and at the start of Michael Jordan's championship run with the Chicago Bulls. Numerous episodes, premiered 1991 This loving salute to the North Inland dialect and Mike Ditka eventually would get beaten into the ground from overuse, but it's hard to underestimate just how much of a cultural phenomenon these sketches were in the early 1990s, toward the tail end of the Chicago Bears' most recent string of success and at the start of Michael Jordan's championship run with the Chicago Bulls. Season 19, Episode 15 (1994) You can't have a Nancy Kerrigan-hosted show and not have a figure skating sketch. But casting the surprisingly graceful Chris Farley as her winded partner was a pretty great idea. This sketch aired on the heels of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, which took place only two years after the previous Winter Games in Albertville, France (the IOC attempted to raise the Winter Olympics' visibility by moving it away from the years when Summer Olympics took place). And just as in 1994, SNL also had a figure skating sketch in 1992 when Jason Priestley hosted. It also has its charms: Season 19, Episode 15 (1994) You can't have a Nancy Kerrigan-hosted show and not have a figure skating sketch. But casting the surprisingly graceful Chris Farley as her winded partner was a pretty great idea. This sketch aired on the heels of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics, which took place only two years after the previous Winter Games in Albertville, France (the IOC attempted to raise the Winter Olympics' visibility by moving it away from the years when Summer Olympics took place). And just as in 1994, SNL also had a figure skating sketch in 1992 when Jason Priestley hosted. It also has its charms: Season 24, Episode 15 (1999) Tim Meadows portrays ESPN's Stuart Scott as someone with 'BOO-YAH' on the brain, but Ray Romano's increasingly daffy and convoluted non-sequitors are the highlights in this spoof of a 'SportsCenter' franchise that had become overrun by catchphrases. 'Sweet sassy molassy,' indeed. Season 24, Episode 15 (1999) Tim Meadows portrays ESPN's Stuart Scott as someone with 'BOO-YAH' on the brain, but Ray Romano's increasingly daffy and convoluted non-sequitors are the highlights in this spoof of a 'SportsCenter' franchise that had become overrun by catchphrases. 'Sweet sassy molassy,' indeed. Season 32, Episode 16 (2007) Peyton Manning was only weeks removed from his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLI when he hosted 'SNL,' and this sketch — about how Manning expects greatness from his teammates, even if they happened to be young kids — helped establish the goofball bona fides that have served him so well in his post-football career. Season 32, Episode 16 (2007) Peyton Manning was only weeks removed from his MVP performance in Super Bowl XLI when he hosted 'SNL,' and this sketch — about how Manning expects greatness from his teammates, even if they happened to be young kids — helped establish the goofball bona fides that have served him so well in his post-football career. Season 38, Episode 17 (2013) Riffing on the news that former Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice had been caught on video abusing his players, we get Melissa McCarthy as Sheila Kelly, the world's worst women's basketball coach. Season 38, Episode 17 (2013) Riffing on the news that former Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice had been caught on video abusing his players, we get Melissa McCarthy as Sheila Kelly, the world's worst women's basketball coach. Season 38, Episode 18 (2013) The theme song to NBC's 1990s NBA coverage gets the origin story we never knew we needed, with Jason Sudeikis and Tim Robinson playing composer John Tesh and his brother, Dave, whose poetry inspired lyrics that for some reason didn't stick. Season 38, Episode 18 (2013) The theme song to NBC's 1990s NBA coverage gets the origin story we never knew we needed, with Jason Sudeikis and Tim Robinson playing composer John Tesh and his brother, Dave, whose poetry inspired lyrics that for some reason didn't stick. Season 43, Episode 6 (2017) 'Let's do that hockey.' Chance the Rapper is an increasingly cold New York Knicks reporter, pressed into double duty covering a sport he clearly knows nothing about. Season 43, Episode 6 (2017) 'Let's do that hockey.' Chance the Rapper is an increasingly cold New York Knicks reporter, pressed into double duty covering a sport he clearly knows nothing about. Various episodes Ball thankfully has been forgotten, but Thompson's portrayal of the boastful family scion still lingers. Thompson has an arsenal of sports impersonations — David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, etc. — but Ball is his best work. Various episodes Ball thankfully has been forgotten, but Thompson's portrayal of the boastful family scion still lingers. Thompson has an arsenal of sports impersonations — David Ortiz, Charles Barkley, etc. — but Ball is his best work.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
At 50, 'Saturday Night Live' celebrates its past as a comedy icon — and wonders about its future
NEW YORK (AP) — Tune into the Oct. 11, 1975 premiere episode of 'Saturday Night Live' — then without 'live' in its name — and you may be instantly surprised at some of the bones of the show that are still intact today. There's the cold open skit, featuring cast members John Belushi and Michael O'Donoghue. At its end, Chevy Chase gingerly walks by the prone bodies of the two actors, playing dead, for the very first call of 'Live from New York, it's Saturday night!' NBC is rebroadcasting that episode Saturday, part of a feast of 50th anniversary programming that includes a three-hour special on Sunday reuniting dozens of past cast members and friends and a homecoming concert from Radio City Music Hall being livestreamed Friday night on Peacock. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The original cast surely would have mocked the display of showbiz excess, much like the actors in last year's fictional backstage depiction of opening night in the movie 'Saturday Night' couldn't hide their disgust at Hollywood legend Milton Berle. Not ready for prime time? Hardly Back then, they were known as the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. Success has long since made a mockery of that name. Among viewers under age 50, the late-night show is more popular than anything NBC airs in so-called prime time, and that doesn't even reflect the way many people experience it now, through highlight clips online. 'Saturday Night Live' is the engine of comedy, minting generations of stars from Belushi to Bill Murray to Eddie Murphy to Adam Sandler to Will Ferrell to Amy Poehler to Kristen Wiig to Kate McKinnon to Bowen Yang. It launched movie franchises too numerous to mention, and NBC's late-night comedy lineup of Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers traces its lineage to 'SNL.' It's still the first place people turn when they want to make comedic sense of current affairs. At its center, then and now, is the inscrutable figure of Lorne Michaels, the executive producer who was 30 during that first season and turned 80 last fall — on a show night, naturally. Michaels left 'SNL' for five years and, upon his return in 1985, hit upon the formula that guaranteed its continued relevance. He recognized, as author Susan Morrison writes in the biography 'Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live,' due to be released Tuesday, that 'just about every person who has ever watched SNL believes that its funniest years were the ones when they were in high school.' That means constantly moving forward, always adding new blood, even being ruthless about it. That means trusting young writers to keep the cultural references relevant, and invent new ones. That means booking musical acts that Michaels and his good friend, singer Paul Simon, probably haven't heard of but his people tell him are on the cutting edge. It's not perfect. It never was. 'The history of the show reads like an EKG,' said James Andrew Miller, co-author with Tom Shales of the 2002 book, 'Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live.' 'There are fantastic years, there are growing years, there are years to make you carsick, there are years to make you wonder if it should still be going on.' Substitute the word 'shows' for 'years' in that quote, and it still makes sense. Creating viral moments before 'viral' was a thing 'Saturday Night Live' is often — usually — wildly uneven. But it produced viral moments before the internet existed. Garrett Morris' news for the hard of hearing, Murphy's irascible Gumby, 'Lazy Sunday,' the cowbell sketch, Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin: The memories alone produce laughs. The duds, the ideas that never took off or hosts who couldn't rise to the challenge fade away. Or maybe they're the price of genius. It can be easy to lose sight of how hard this actually is, said Bill Carter, veteran chronicler of television comedy and author of 'The Late Shift: Letterman, Leno, and the Network Battle for the Night.' A 90-minute program is written from scratch every week, sets are constructed in a New York office building, hosts of various degrees of talent accommodated. Ready or not, the show must go on Saturday at 11:30 p.m. The clock is unforgiving. 'It's a different creative enterprise, every show,' Carter said. 'That's why it is good and bad, but it's also why it's exciting ... 'Live,' that is the essential feature of the show. You know when you are watching that it is actually happening in New York City right now.' Only so much polish is possible. Someone may flub a line, or get the giggles. Sinéad O'Connor may rip up a picture of the pope, or Ashlee Simpson's lip-sync might fail. 'Saturday Night Live' has leaned more into its history in recent years. Alumni make frequent reappearances, and spotting unbilled cameos has become sport. The Five-Timers Club of guest hosts, while a joke, treads the line of smugness. It may seem like a franchise with no foreseeable conclusion, and is even built for that. Michaels will have more to say about that than anyone. The backstage boss is also the longest-running on-screen character; his appearance as a straight man to then-New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on the first show after the Sept. 11 attacks is one of 'SNL's' most poignant moments. 'Can we be funny?' Michaels asked. Replied Giuliani: 'Why start now?' How long will Lorne Michaels stay with the show? Observers say Michaels has stepped back a bit, relying more on the capable team that he's built. There's no indication that his eye for spotting talent has diminished. Those who have seen it say that his most fearsome skill — making a series of instant decisions between the show's dress rehearsal and performance, shortening or lengthening skits, moving and changing them to produce the broadcast viewers see — is flourishing. The years leading up to the 50th anniversary have been filled with speculation that this will be when he steps down, talk he's even fueled himself in the past. But he hasn't discussed it, or even given interviews surrounding the festivities. The subject is the focus of 'After Lorne,' a new piece in New York magazine, where author Reeves Wiedeman describes Michaels as a man of mystery, sometimes an intimidating force, to those around the show. Whoever replaces him — names like Fey, Meyers and Colin Jost have been mentioned — would likely face crushing pressure. At a time when broadcast television is fading, NBC would be sorely tempted to cut costs around the program in a way they haven't with Michaels in charge, Miller said. If the 50th anniversary were to trigger his exit, Carter said that likely would be known by now. 'It's his life,' he said. 'Why would you walk away from your life if you don't have to? This was a special, unique thing that he created, and if you enjoy doing it, which I think he still does and can do it, I don't see any reason he should leave.' Someday, that time will come. In the meantime, enjoy the show. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
