Latest news with #JohnRatzenberger
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
There Will Never Be Another Norm Peterson, Because There Are Few Norms
CHEERS — "Cliff's Rocky Moment" Episode 16 — Air Date 01/26/1984 — Pictured: (l-r) John Ratzenberger ... More as Cliff Clavin, George Wendt as Norm Peterson (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) Who was Norm Peterson? You're aging yourself if you know the answer to the question. More realistically, you aged yourself by clicking on an opinion piece with 'Norm Peterson' in the title. About what's been written so far, rest assured that none of it is meant to tell readers about a show that they already knew and loved (again, you clicked on a piece about a fictional individual), and none of it is meant to rehash Norm's many great lines. Others have and will do all this much better. Instead, the purpose of this opinion piece is to make a case that Norm doesn't solely resonate with older readers because of the years when Cheers aired. The speculation is that only older people could and did get Norm in the way that young people simply could not. To see why, think again about Norm's character. The bar where everyone knows his name is his refuge from the day-to-day drudgery of his job as an accountant. Some will say Cheers was a refuge from Vera (the wife we never saw) too, but for 'The Peterson Principle,' the episode in which Norm defended Vera's honor. Norm loved Vera, but not his job. He wasn't a Formula 1 driver, an executive for the Red Sox, or a professor in a city filled with them, Norm was an accountant. He was in a job about which he wasn't passionate. Which is no insight. At the same time, it's not unreasonable to point out that a younger watcher of Cheers wouldn't get Norm in the way that people got him from 1982-93. That's because Hollywood, however imperfect, is a mirror. Which requires a brief digression. Likely more than a few who knew and loved Cheers either read The Great Santini, or saw the film. One reason it resonated is that readers and moviegoers understood Robert Duvall's character. Either they had fathers like him, their fathers had fathers like him, or perhaps both. Fast forward to the present, and while it's no reach to say that young people would really enjoy the novel or film, they wouldn't know Bull Meacham. There's no context. Fathers are nice, and getting nicer by the day. The view here is that the kindness of fathers today is not unrelated to the likelihood that young people today wouldn't get Norm. What they wouldn't get about Norm is his lack of passion for his job. Again, Norm came to Cheers to get away from a job that was work. The view here is that Norm made sense as a character in the '90s, and by extension made sense to viewers, exactly because he didn't like his work. Norm wouldn't make sense today because as I wrote in my 2018 book The End of Work, the nature of work has changed so much, and is set to rapidly change even more. See AI. Precisely because it will render so much of today's work redundant, AI will free exponentially more from work that has to be done in favor of work that people can't not do. There's a huge difference, and the view here is that the misery of past work explains difficult fathers of the past in much the same way that rapidly improving work explains the much easier fathers of today. Which is a comment that there will never be another Norm Peterson not just because George Wendt played him so perfectly. More optimistically, there will never be another Norm because the Norms of the past are more likely to be found happily working than escaping it at the bar.
Geek Tyrant
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
CHEERS Cast Pays Loving Tribute to George Wendt - 'It Was Impossible Not to Like Him' — GeekTyrant
By now, fans are still reeling from the news that George Wendt, the man who made Norm Peterson a household name, has passed away at 76. For fans of Cheers , it's a punch to the gut, and for those who knew him best, it's a deeply personal loss. The tributes from his Cheers castmates paint a portrait of a man who was just as warm, funny, and beloved off-screen as he was on. Ted Danson, who played bartender Sam Malone throughout the series, said: 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us. I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.' John Ratzenberger, who sat beside Wendt at the bar as the ever-opinionated mailman Cliff Clavin, remembered the real bond they shared: 'For 11 years on Cheers, we shared a stage, a lot of laughs and a front-row seat to one of television's most beloved friendships. George brought Norm to life with a subtle brilliance — the kind that made it look easy. That was his gift. 'He was a true craftsman — humble, hilarious and full of heart. What you saw on screen was exactly who he was off screen with impeccable comedic timing and a deep loyalty to those he loved. 'I'll miss our conversations and the quiet moments of friendship that meant the most. My thoughts are with his wife Bernadette, their children, and everyone who loved him.' Rhea Perlman, who played Carla Tortelli, recalled her frequent scenes next to Norm's favorite barstool: 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him. As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. 'I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn't hurt. What a guy! I'll miss him more than words can say.' NBC, the network that aired Cheers for over a decade, also shared a heartfelt message: 'Watching him walk through that door and head to his barstool, America couldn't wait to say hi to Norm every Thursday night. 'George Wendt was an essential part of the genius of Cheers and he will be missed by the millions who loved him. Norm was all of us. A regular guy who finished his hardworking day wanting to be surrounded by friends and a frosty beverage. We're proud to raise a glass and toast a true comedy legend.' Even outside the Cheers family, Wendt left a lasting impression. Actress Melissa Joan Hart, who worked with him on Sabrina the Teenage Witch , shared on Instagram: 'Heaven just got a little funnier with George Wendt. It was a thrill to work beside him on Sabrina the Teenage Witch for a handful of episodes. 'I was a big Cheers fan and knew I was among one of the best when he was on set. He was warm, professional and kind and our cast and crew were gifted with his presence every time. Rest in peace!' George Wendt appeared in all 273 episodes of Cheers , earning six straight Emmy nominations along the way. But more than that, he was the beating heart of a show that made people feel seen and welcome. In a world full of complicated characters, Norm was just a simple guy who wanted a cold beer, a little conversation, and a seat at a bar where everybody knew his name. Source: Variety
Glasgow Times
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Cheers star George Wendt dies aged 76
Wendt's family said he died early on Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' The family requested privacy. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The cast of Cheers John Ratzenberger, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley and Ted Danson with Boston Red Sox player Wade Boggs, centre, who appeared in an episode (Ira Mark Gostin/AP) The series was centred on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in Frasier and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, did not have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word'. The word was 'beer'. I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer'. 'So I went in, and they said, 'it's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ. After Cheers, Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom, The George Wendt Show, and had guest spots on TV shows including The Ghost Whisperer, Harry's Law and Portlandia. In 2023, he competed on The Masked Singer. He was part of a brotherhood of Chicago Everymen who gathered over sausage and beers and adored 'Da Bears' on Saturday Night Live. He found steady work onstage: Wendt slipped on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's Hairspray beginning in 2007, and was in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London. He starred in the national tour of 12 Angry Men and appeared in a production of David Mamet's Lakeboat. He also starred in regional productions of Death of a Salesman, The Odd Couple, Never Too Late and Funnyman. 'A, it's by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television,' Wendt told the Kansas City Star in 2011. 'I overstayed my welcome. But theatre suits me.' Wendt had an affinity for playing Santa Claus, donning the famous red outfit in the stage musical Elf on Broadway in 2017, the TV movie Santa Baby with Jenny McCarthy in 2006 and in the doggie Disney video Santa Buddies in 2009. He also played Father Christmas for TV specials by Larry the Cable Guy and Stephen Colbert. 'I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in,' the actor joked to the Associated Press in his Broadway dressing room. George Wendt reunited with the Cheers cast during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024 (Chris Pizzello/AP) Born in Chicago, Wendt attended Campion High School, a Catholic boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then Notre Dame, where he rarely went to class and was asked to leave. He transferred to Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated, after majoring in economics. He found a home at Second City in both the touring company and the mainstage. 'I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish,' he told the AP. 'If you're trying to showboat or step outside, it doesn't always work. There are certain performers who almost specialise in doing that, and they do it really well. But that's not my approach.' He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on Cheers, his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew. 'From his early days with The Second City to his iconic role as Norm on Cheers, George Wendt's work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humour to one of television's most beloved roles,' National Comedy Centre executive director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.
The Journal
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
'Doting family man' George Wendt, who played Norm in Cheers, dies aged 76
GEORGE WENDT, WHO who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy Cheers and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in Art, Hairspray and Elf, has died. He was 76. Wendt's family said he died early on Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' The family requested privacy. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. Advertisement The cast of Cheers John Ratzenberger, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley and Ted Danson with Boston Red Sox player Wade Boggs, centre, who appeared in an episode. AP AP The series was centred on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in Frasier and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, did not have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word'. The word was 'beer'. I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer'. 'So I went in, and they said, 'it's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ.
Western Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Cheers star George Wendt dies aged 76
Wendt's family said he died early on Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family said in a statement. 'He will be missed forever.' The family requested privacy. Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on Cheers that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89. The cast of Cheers John Ratzenberger, Rhea Perlman, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley and Ted Danson with Boston Red Sox player Wade Boggs, centre, who appeared in an episode (Ira Mark Gostin/AP) The series was centred on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in Frasier and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, did not have high hopes when he auditioned for Cheers. 'My agent said, 'It's a small role, honey. It's one line. Actually, it's one word'. The word was 'beer'. I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of 'the guy who looked like he wanted a beer'. 'So I went in, and they said, 'it's too small a role. Why don't you read this other one?' And it was a guy who never left the bar,' Wendt told GQ. After Cheers, Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom, The George Wendt Show, and had guest spots on TV shows including The Ghost Whisperer, Harry's Law and Portlandia. He was part of a brotherhood of Chicago Everymen who gathered over sausage and beers and adored 'Da Bears' on Saturday Night Live. He found steady work onstage: Wendt slipped on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's Hairspray beginning in 2007, and was in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London. I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in George Wendt He starred in the national tour of 12 Angry Men and appeared in a production of David Mamet's Lakeboat. He also starred in regional productions of Death of a Salesman, The Odd Couple, Never Too Late and Funnyman. 'A, it's by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television,' Wendt told the Kansas City Star in 2011. 'I overstayed my welcome. But theatre suits me.' Wendt had an affinity for playing Santa Claus, donning the famous red outfit in the stage musical Elf on Broadway in 2017, the TV movie Santa Baby with Jenny McCarthy in 2006 and in the doggie Disney video Santa Buddies in 2009. He also played Father Christmas for TV specials by Larry the Cable Guy and Stephen Colbert. 'I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in,' the actor joked to the Associated Press in his Broadway dressing room. Born in Chicago, Wendt attended Campion High School, a Catholic boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then Notre Dame, where he rarely went to class and was asked to leave. He transferred to Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated, after majoring in economics. He found a home at Second City in both the touring company and the mainstage. 'I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish,' he told the AP. 'If you're trying to showboat or step outside, it doesn't always work. There are certain performers who almost specialise in doing that, and they do it really well. But that's not my approach.' He is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm's never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on Cheers.
