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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Loretta Swit holds this Emmy record that may never be broken
Emmy-winning actress Loretta Swit, best known for her iconic portrayal of Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H's 11 seasons, passed away on May 30 at the age of 87. Beyond her unforgettable role on the hit series, Swit leaves behind an incredible legacy, including an Emmy record that may never be broken. From 1974 to 1983, Swit earned 10 consecutive Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Series nominations for playing "Hot Lips" — the most consecutive bids ever in this category. This incredible streak also ties Swit with Rhea Perlman for the most nominations in the category overall. However, Swit's achievement stands out because all 10 of her nominations were consecutive, while Perlman's 10 nods for playing Carla Tortelli in Cheers were not; Perlman missed a nomination in 1992 before earning her 10th in 1993. More from GoldDerby Directors open up about identity, risk and emotional storytelling at Disney's FYC fest 'M*A*S*H' star Loretta Swit dies at 87, and more of today's top stories 'Maybe Happy Ending' star Darren Criss on his Tony nomination for playing a robot: 'Getting to do this is the true win' Swit's first of two wins came on her seventh try, but unfortunately she wasn't there to accept it. Due to a writers strike, the actress didn't attend the ceremony. Fortunately, she won again two years later and was finally able to accept an Emmy publicly. "I've been an actress for 15 years, and I've never been on a stage so unprepared in my entire life," Swit told the audience. "This is so wonderful because the last time it happened, I didn't have a chance to come and thank all of the people who were responsible." After acknowledging her fellow cast members, Swit closed by saying, "I'm overwhelmed. Thank you very much." Loretta Swit was one of only four cast members from M*A*S*H to appear in all 11 seasons — from 1972 to 1983 — alongside Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher. Over the course of the series, she appeared in 239 episodes, making her the second most-featured actor on the show, behind Alda. While Swit holds the comedy record for most consecutive Emmy nominations among women, she was surpassed by David Hyde Pierce, who earned 11 consecutive Best Comedy Supporting Actor nominations for Frasier from 1994 to 2004. However, the overall record belongs to Angela Lansbury, who racked up an unparalleled 12 consecutive nominations for Best Drama Actress from 1985 to 1996 for her iconic role as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote. Best of GoldDerby 'I cried a lot': Rob Delaney on the heart and humor in FX's 'Dying for Sex' — and Neighbor Guy's kick in the 'zone' TV directors roundtable: 'American Primeval,' 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,' 'Paradise' 'Paradise' directors John Requa and Glenn Ficarra on the 'chaos' of crafting 'the world coming to an end' Click here to read the full article.
CBC
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Norm! Cheers star George Wendt dead at 76
George Wendt, the actor known for his portrayal of beer-loving Norm Peterson on the hit NBC sitcom Cheers, has died at the age of 76. Wendt's family confirmed the news of his death, saying he died peacefully in his sleep at home early Tuesday morning. "George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever," read a statement to CBC News from a family representative, which noted that his loved ones have requested privacy. The statement did not provide a cause of death. Wendt was nominated for six consecutive supporting actor Emmys for his performance as Norm Peterson — who famously elicited a cry of "Norm!" every time the character walked into the fictitious Boston pub. Cheers was one of NBC's most popular shows during its run between 1982 to 1993. Where everybody knew his name The series, centred on lovable losers who work and patronize a Boston bar, starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago's renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knew his name, didn't 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 in an oral history of Cheers published in 2012. Cheers premiered on Sept. 30, 1982. Though its first season garnered low ratings, NBC president Brandon Tartikoff championed the show, and it was then nominated for an Emmy for best comedy series. Some 80 million people would tune in to watch the show's series finale 11 years later. Wendt became a fan favourite in and outside the bar and his wisecracks always landed. When bartender Coach asked, "How's a beer sound, Norm?" he would respond "I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in." While the beer the cast drank on set was nonalcoholic, Wendt and other Cheers actors admitted they were tipsy on May 20, 1993, when they watched the show's final episode then appeared together on The Tonight Show in a live broadcast from the Bull and Finch Pub in Boston, the bar that inspired the series. ″We had been drinking heavily for two hours but nobody thought to feed us," Wendt told the Beaver County Times of Pennsylvania in 2009. "We were nowhere near as cute as we thought we were." After Cheers, Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom The George Wendt Show and had guest spots on TV shows like Ghost Whisperer, Harry's Law and Portlandia. He was also part of a brotherhood of Chicago everymen who gathered over sausage and beers and adored "Da Bears" on Saturday Night Live. From barstool to stage Wendt also found steady work on stage, slipping on Edna Turnblad's housecoat in Broadway's Hairspray, based on the 1988 John Waters movie of the same name, beginning in 2007. He reprised the role in a production of Hairspray at the Charlottetown Festival in Prince Edward Island in 2010. "If I'm told to sing. I will do so. And if I'm told to move in a way that somewhat resembles dancing, I will also do so," CBC News reported him saying at a news conference in Charlottetown at the time. "I'm really, really thrilled to be a part of this wonderful piece again and get back in the dress and high heels," he said. "I really look forward to coming here and feeling like an islander rather than just a tourist coming in for a couple of days. I get to live here and be here for a couple of months. I sort of sense the anxiety in the local shellfish population." WATCH | George Wendt brings his Hairspray performance to P.E.I.: Wendt on Charlottetown stage 15 years ago Duration 4:42 He was in the Tony Award-winning play Art in New York and London, 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 The Odd Couple, Never Too Late, Funnyman and played Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. He would reprise that role at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, in Waterloo, Ont., in 2017. "I can relate to so many of Willy's problems, and everyone can. That's why these plays — the really great plays — endure, because they're so relatable," he told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo's Morning Edition that year. Wendt once said working in theatre was a better fit for him than television. "A, it's by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television," Wendt said describing his move into theatre to the Kansas City Star of in 2011. "I overstayed my welcome. But theater suits me." Wendt had an affinity for playing Santa Claus, donning the famous red outfit in the stage musical version of 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 the role 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, then Notre Dame, where he rarely went to class and was eventually kicked out. He transferred to Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated, majoring in economics. He found a home at Second City in both the improv troupe's touring company and the main stage. "I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish," he told The Associated Press. "If you're trying to showboat or step outside, it doesn't always work. There are certain performers who almost specialize in doing that, and they do it really well. But that's not my approach."
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
Irish Times
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
George Wendt: 11 of the best Norm Peterson quotes
From the first episode of Cheers to the very last, a decade later, George Wendt's teddy bear barfly Norm Peterson was a fully formed sitcom dream. Like Howard Borden before him and Cosmo Kramer after him, his entrance alone was a highlight in every episode – and Wendt, who has died aged 76 , appeared in all 275 episodes of Cheers, a feat matched by only Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman. Every single time he opened the door, perpetually sweaty and tie always askew, the bar gave a huge cheer – 'NOOOORM!' – as he trudged to his favourite stool for that first beer. Every weary walk to his seat came with a zinger. (The very first: 'Norm! Whattya know?' 'Not enough.') Though Norm was in every episode of Cheers, it is hard to identify a singular moment that made him a great sitcom character. Instead, the affection we felt was accumulative: for his world-weariness, his insistence on awful food, the loathing and love he felt for his unseen wife Vera – and of course, the simple pleasure he took in having a cold one with friends. (Which led to a bar tab so big by the final episode that Sam threatened to send it to Nasa to calculate.) While we got to see only a little of Norm beyond the bar, so many of his best lines conveyed the great and ordinary tragedy that was his life: the unseen bad days at work, the unseen bad nights at home. 'How's life treating you Norm?' would be greeted with: 'Like it caught me in bed with its wife', 'Like I just ran over its dog' or 'Like a baby treats a diaper.' Once, when asked how he's feeling, he responded: 'I'm on top of the world . . . it's a dismal spot in Greenland somewhere.' READ MORE 'I have a hard time talking about Norm,' Wendt said in a 1989 interview. 'It's like he's too close to me, but I don't think he's changed over the years. They moved him from being an accountant to [a] painter and decorator, but that was basically for some storylines. He's still the same Norm. I think he's the toughest to write for because he's not really anything. He's just funny.' But no man ever walked into a bar quite like Wendt. 11 of the best Norm one-liners 1. Snow Job (season 2, episode 18) Coach: 'What's shakin', Norm?' Norm: 'All four cheeks and a couple of chins.' 2. No Help Wanted (season 2, episode 14 ) Coach: 'Can I draw you a beer, Norm?' Norm: 'No, I know what they look like. Just pour me one.' 3. The Executive's Executioner (season 3, episode 21) Sam: 'What'll you have, Normie?' Norm: 'Well, I'm in a gambling mood, Sammy. I'll take a glass of whatever comes out of that tap.' Sam: 'Looks like beer, Norm.' Norm: 'Call me Mister Lucky!' 4. The Heart Is a Lonely Snipe Hunter (season 3, episode 14) Sam: 'What's new, Normie?' Norm: 'Terrorists, Sam. They've taken over my stomach. They're demanding beer.' 5. The Belles of St Cletes (season three, episode 24) Sam: 'Norm! What brings you in at this time of day?' Norm: 'Same thing that always does.' Sam: 'A bit early for a beer, isn't it? Norm: 'So, float a cornflake in it.' 6. The Peterson Principle (season 4, episode 18) Sam: 'Hey – what's happening, Norm?" Norm: 'It's a dog-eat-dog world, Sammy, and I'm wearing Milk Bone underwear.' 7. Diane's Nightmare (season 4, episode 5) Norm (Coming in from the rain): 'Evening, everybody!' Everybody: 'Norm!' Sam: 'Still pouring, Norm?' Norm: 'That's funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.' 8. Strange Bedfellows, Part 3 (season 4, episode 26) Woody: 'How's it going, Mr Peterson?' Norm: 'Poor.' Woody: 'I'm sorry to hear that.' Norm: 'No, I mean pour.' 9. Let Sleeping Drakes Lie (season 6, episode 18) Woody: 'Can I pour you a beer, Mr Peterson?' Norm: 'A little early isn't it, Woody?' Woody: 'For a beer?' Norm: 'No, for stupid questions.' 10. Bar Wars III: The Return of Tecumseh (season 8, episode 21) Sam: 'What are you up to, Norm?' Norm: 'My ideal weight if I were 11 feet tall.' 11. The King of Beers (season 11, episode 3) Norm: 'Boy meets beer. Boy drinks beer. Boy meets another beer. In this performance, the role of the boy will be played by Norm Peterson.' – Guardian
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kelsey Grammer leads tributes to Cheers co-star George Wendt
Kelsey Grammer has led tributes to George Wendt. The 70-year-old actor admitted he "liked" his late 'Cheers' co-star - who played bar regular Norm Peterson in the show - "a lot", following the news that George has passed away aged 76. Kelsey said in a statement to "I believe mourning is a private matter. "But I liked George a lot. He was beloved by millions." Kelsey portrayed psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC sitcom, and he reprised the role for spin-off series 'Frasier', which ran from 1993 to 2004, before returning in 2023. Ted Danson, who played Cheers bartender Sam Malone, admitted he was "devastated" to hear of George's death. He told PEOPLE: "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." Rhea Perlman, who portrayed waitress Carla Tortelli, has praised the late star as the "sweetest, kindest man I ever met", and admitted she will "miss him more than words can say". She added: "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." George's publicist confirmed the news of his passing on Tuesday (20.05.25) - describing him in a statement as "a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him". The late star had spoken candidly about the impact of the show on his life. He said in a past interview: "I was lucky to be part of something that became such a beloved part of people's lives." George was nominated for six consecutive Emmys for his portrayal of Norm, appearing in every episode until the series ended in May 1993.
