Latest news with #MakingtheGrade
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
George Wendt's 1-Word Audition For 'Cheers' Was So Norm
'Cheers' star George Wendtdied on Tuesday but left behind a great story about how he got cast as lovable barfly Norm. In a 2024 podcast with castmates Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, Wendt said his agent called him about an audition for 'this Cheers,' sparking a sitcom-worthy exchange. The agent reminded Wendt he wasn't available because of another commitment (the ill-fated 'Making the Grade'), 'but they want you to come in anyway,' the agent said. 'It's really small, though.' This is how the rest of the conversation went, according to Wendt. 'How small?' he asked. 'Well, it's really just one line,' the agent replied. 'Hmm. OK.' 'Actually, you know, it's one word.' 'Oh really?' 'You know, come to think of it, it's one syllable.' 'But what's the syllable?' 'Beer.' Producers, however, nixed the bit, which involved an exchange with Shelley Long's character, Diane Chambers. They had Wendt read for a character called George, who morphed into Norm. Norm, of course, became known for his unquenchable thirst for brew in the show's run from 1982 to 1993. Fast-forward to 11:20 for Wendt's casting anecdote: George Wendt, Who Played Legendary Barfly On 'Cheers,' Dies At 76 Kelsey Grammer Reveals Depth Of 30-Year Feud With Ted Danson Ted Danson Says The Quaintest Thing After Sex, According To Mary Steenburgen
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
George Wendt reunited with ‘Cheers' co-stars Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson before his death
George Wendt celebrated 'Cheers' in his final public appearance before his death. The actor appeared on his former co-stars Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson's podcast, 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name,' in Aug. 2024, nine months before he died at age 76. During the episode, Wendt recalled how he landed the role of Norm Peterson on the beloved sitcom. Advertisement 11 Ted Danson, John Ratzenberger, George Wendt, Woody Harrelson in 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection 'My agent called and said, 'You know, honey, they want you to do this 'Cheers,'' said Wendt. 'Now you're not available,' because I had this other show ['Making the Grade'] at Paramount for CBS. Then they go, 'But they want you to come in anyway, and it's really small, though.' I go, 'Oh, okay.'' 11 George Wendt on Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson's podcast. TeamCoco/YouTube Advertisement 11 Ted Danson on the podcast in August 2024. TeamCoco/YouTube 11 Woody Harrelson chatting with his 'Cheers' co-stars. TeamCoco/YouTube Wendt explained that he initially auditioned to just say one word in the pilot episode. But the casting team wanted more from him and he ultimately secured the role of Norm after another audition. 'I read it and then they decided they were going to try to make it work out where I could do both shows, and then the other show got canceled,' Wendt shared. Advertisement 11 George Wendt at the 2016 Chiller Theater Expo in New Jersey. WireImage 'Cheers' aired on NBC from 1982 to 1993. The cast also included Danson, 77, as Sam Malone, Harrelson, 63, as Woody Boyd, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Nicholas Colasanto as Coach Ernie Pantusso, Rhea Perlman as Carla Tortelli, and more. Wendt became a fan favorite, scoring six Emmy nominations for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as Norm. Advertisement 11 George Wendt poses for a portrait in 1983. Getty Images 11 The cast of 'Cheers' during an episode in 1988. NBCUniversal via Getty Images 11 George Wendt, Ted Danson in 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Two months before his podcast appearance, Wendt participated in a comedy sketch at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City, Missouri alongside his real-life nephew, 'Ted Lasso' actor Jason Sudeikis. 11 George Wendt performs onstage during 2024 Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. Getty Images Wendt also attended the 75th annual Primetime Emmy Awards in January 2024 for an iconic 'Cheers' reunion that also featured Danson, Perlman, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger. At a pre-Emmy party, Wendt was seen with a cane and getting help walking from Sudeikis, 49. 11 John Ratzenberger and George Wendt at the Emmy Awards in January 2024. REUTERS Advertisement The Post confirmed that Wendt died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Tuesday morning. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the family rep's told The Post in a statement. 'He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.' 11 George Wendt at Sirius XM Annual Celebrity Fantasy Football Draft in 2012. Getty Images for Sirius XM Radio Danson said in a statement to The Post that he was 'devastated' over Wendt's death. Advertisement 'It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie,' the 'Good Place' actor said. Perlman, for her part, told The Post: 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him.'
West Australian
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Beloved Cheers star George Wendt dead at 76
Actor George Wendt, who once played the ever-loyal Norm on Cheers, died Tuesday morning at his home at the age of 76, his family confirmed in a statement through his publicist. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement said. 'He will be missed forever.' WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cheers star George Wendt dead at 76. Wendt was one of TV's most recognizable faces after appearing in more than 260 episodes of the popular Boston bar-set sitcom. His character, Norm, was a jovial beer lover who sat at the same stool at the bar, which shared the same name as the show. Norm was a dedicated patron of the bar 'where everybody knows your name', proving the adage true when the bar would call out 'Norm!' when he walked in. A Chicago native, Wendt's career began at The Second City comedy theater. He joined the improvisational group after dropping out of the University of Notre Dame with 0.0 grade-point average, according to his Second City biography . Wendt returned to higher education to study economics, however, from Rockhurst College in Kasnsas City, Missouri. He revisited some of his favorite old haunts with the Kansas City Star in 2016. 'I remember going to see Second City (in Chicago) when I was in college,' Wendt told the paper. 'It looked for all the world like a bunch of young men and women goofing off onstage, and I was pretty sure they got paid. So I thought, wow, if I could do that.' Comedy may run in the family as Wendt's nephew is Ted Lasso creator Jason Sudeikis. Sudeikis was also a member of The Second City before joining the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live. A representative for Sudeikis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wendt's death. Wendt was cast in guest starring roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s on shows such as Hart to Hart and Making the Grade. But it was in 1982 when Wendt got his big break with the role of Norm Peterson on Cheers. The long-running Cheers, which aired from 1982 to 1993, also starred Ted Danson, Rhea Pearlman, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long and Kelsey Grammar. Wendt was nominated for six Emmys during his tenure on Cheers , though he never took home the winged statuette. Following the end of the show, Wendt had a short-lived series called the The George Wendt Show where he played a mechanic with a radio show. The actor also starred in several movies throughout his career and made even small moments stand out, such as the 1994 film version of The Little Rascals. Wendt played a man selling lumber when the mischievous children were trying to rebuild their clubhouse.
Perth Now
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Beloved Cheers star dead at 76
Actor George Wendt, who once played the ever-loyal Norm on Cheers, died Tuesday morning at his home at the age of 76, his family confirmed in a statement through his publicist. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement said. 'He will be missed forever.' WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Cheers star George Wendt dead at 76. Wendt was one of TV's most recognizable faces after appearing in more than 260 episodes of the popular Boston bar-set sitcom. His character, Norm, was a jovial beer lover who sat at the same stool at the bar, which shared the same name as the show. Norm was a dedicated patron of the bar 'where everybody knows your name', proving the adage true when the bar would call out 'Norm!' when he walked in. A Chicago native, Wendt's career began at The Second City comedy theater. He joined the improvisational group after dropping out of the University of Notre Dame with 0.0 grade-point average, according to his Second City biography. Wendt returned to higher education to study economics, however, from Rockhurst College in Kasnsas City, Missouri. He revisited some of his favorite old haunts with the Kansas City Star in 2016. 'I remember going to see Second City (in Chicago) when I was in college,' Wendt told the paper. 'It looked for all the world like a bunch of young men and women goofing off onstage, and I was pretty sure they got paid. So I thought, wow, if I could do that.' George Wendt has died after a long career in film and television including his iconic role as Norm Peterson on popular sitcom Cheers. Credit: Ira Mark Gostin / AP Comedy may run in the family as Wendt's nephew is Ted Lasso creator Jason Sudeikis. Sudeikis was also a member of The Second City before joining the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live. A representative for Sudeikis did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wendt's death. Wendt was cast in guest starring roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s on shows such as Hart to Hart and Making the Grade. But it was in 1982 when Wendt got his big break with the role of Norm Peterson on Cheers. The long-running Cheers, which aired from 1982 to 1993, also starred Ted Danson, Rhea Pearlman, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long and Kelsey Grammar. Wendt was nominated for six Emmys during his tenure on Cheers, though he never took home the winged statuette. Following the end of the show, Wendt had a short-lived series called the The George Wendt Show where he played a mechanic with a radio show. The actor also starred in several movies throughout his career and made even small moments stand out, such as the 1994 film version of The Little Rascals. Wendt played a man selling lumber when the mischievous children were trying to rebuild their clubhouse.
NBC News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
George Wendt, who played Norm in 'Cheers,' dies at age 76
Actor George Wendt, who once played the ever-loyal Norm on "Cheers," died Tuesday morning at his home at the age of 76, his family confirmed in a statement through his publicist. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the statement said. "He will be missed forever." Wendt was one of TV's most recognizable faces after appearing in more than 260 episodes of the popular Boston bar-set sitcom. His character, Norm, was a jovial beer lover who sat at the same stool at the bar, which shared the same name as the show. Norm was a dedicated patron of the bar 'where everybody knows your name,' proving the adage true when the bar would call out 'Norm!' when he walked in. A Chicago native, Wendt's career began at The Second City comedy theater. He joined the improvisational group after dropping out of the University of Notre Dame with 0.0 grade-point average, according to his Second City biography. He was cast in guest starring roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s on shows such as "Hart to Hart" and "Making the Grade." But it was in 1982 when Wendt got his big break with the role of Norm Peterson on "Cheers." The long-running "Cheers," which aired from 1982 to 1993, also starred Ted Danson, Rhea Pearlman, Woody Harrelson, Kirstie Alley, Shelley Long and Kelsey Grammar. Following the end of the show, Wendt had a short-lived series called the "The George Wendt Show" where he played a mechanic with a radio show. The actor also starred in several movies throughout his career and made even small moments stand out, such as the 1994 film version of "The Little Rascals." Wendt played a man selling lumber when the mischievous children were trying to rebuild their clubhouse.
