RIP George Wendt | Syracusefan.com

RIP George Wendt

Norm_Peterson_Cheers_Motion_Picture.png
 
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Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart) on Threads

Heaven just got a little funnier with #GeorgeWendt. It was a thrill to work beside him on #SabrinatheTeenageWitch 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...
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Last episode aired 32 years ago today

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80s Deennice (@80s.deennice) on Threads

‘Cheers’ aired its final episode titled “One for the Road” 32 years ago today on May 20, 1993 🍻 In this final scene, Sam has returned to the bar after saying goodbye to Diane for good and Norm offers one last bit of wisdom. As the night ends, someone knocks on the door and Sam says “Sorry...
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orange79 said:
No one could deliver a throwaway line like George Wendt:

Sam: "How's it going Mr. Peterson?"

Norm: "It's a dog-eat-dog world, Sammy, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear."


RIP View attachment 252289
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I knew I liked you orange79! This is my favorite Norm reply to Sam, hands down. I have a book of various quotes for (or from) various times in my life that I started in Medical school in 1989. This made that book as a “For Laughs” quote, that was sometimes a little too on the nose as well. Loved Cheers, and if we’re going to throw favorite memories, I’ll toss in the Thanksgiving episode as an all-time (all sit coms included) fave. Mr. Wendt, Norm, …wherever you are…
Cheers
 
MSOrange said:
Last episode aired 32 years ago today

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80s Deennice (@80s.deennice) on Threads

‘Cheers’ aired its final episode titled “One for the Road” 32 years ago today on May 20, 1993 🍻 In this final scene, Sam has returned to the bar after saying goodbye to Diane for good and Norm offers one last bit of wisdom. As the night ends, someone knocks on the door and Sam says “Sorry...
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I know you're a big Cheers fan and perhaps have read this excellent oral history before. This excerpt is worth sharing:

"Les Charles (co-creator): Shelley knew who her character was and had a much surer idea of herself than the rest of the cast. She was able to carry the show in the beginning while the others were finding their way. That's the way it worked: The actors got closer and closer to their characters. Or maybe their characters got closer to the people.

Glen Charles: I don't think George Wendt had that far to travel."
 
orange79 said:
No one could deliver a throwaway line like George Wendt:

Sam: "How's it going Mr. Peterson?"

Norm: "It's a dog-eat-dog world, Sammy, and I'm wearing Milkbone underwear."


RIP View attachment 252289
Expand...
That has always been my favorite of his intro lines.

This is sad. I still watch an episode or two of Cheers every night before I fall asleep. Every night for maybe the last six years or so…. It’s a part of me.
 
Shows how good it was that they could do the same premise a hundred times and still make it sound funny.

Now that i have gone thru MASH again, Cheers deserves another run thru.
 
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I've been rewatching the show for like the 1,000 time. It hits me more each time how superior the first season is to the rest of the show. The characters were not ridiculous yet. Sam and Diane were witty and intelligent in their distinct ways. The storytelling was more mature and often had something to say about life. By the end of season two, all of the characters were clowns and storylines were mostly ridiculous. Obviously, the show only grew in terms of success and it was enjoyable through the end. I'm sure if they stuck with the season one approach, the show wouldn't have been nearly as successful, but from my perspective, season one of Cheers is one of the all-time great seasons of any show ever.
 
Much like MASH. For pure humor the first 1-2-3 seasons are amazing. But the writing changed after some of the leads left and it was not often as funny, but in many ways much more thoughtul and story lines are more powerful. Almost like 2 different shows.

I would think many shows are like that.. You come up with 10-20 ideas and now you need 200 more to finish 6-10 seasons.
 
Norm was a guy that you felt you knew, that you could sit next to and have a drink. I thought of him despite his part as being hard drinker, he seemed the most “normal” of that crew of great characters. His character didn’t appear to be as huge an exaggeration as the other character portrayals. He was a drinker who you really never saw drunk, he loved his beer and being a part of the group. He was the quiet likeable guy who watched everything, always in the corner who didn’t want to create a fuss but loved watching it all. My son and I were talking about him, his character on Cheers and I said oddly he seemed the most normal guy in the bar and my son said maybe that’s why the writers called him Norm, he was more identifiable to people. I said maybe he was watching the show just like us. Had to laugh. RIP
 
Cheriehoop said:
Norm was a guy that you felt you knew, that you could sit next to and have a drink. I thought of him despite his part as being hard drinker, he seemed the most “normal” of that crew of great characters. His character didn’t appear to be as huge an exaggeration as the other character portrayals. He was a drinker who you really never saw drunk, he loved his beer and being a part of the group. He was the quiet likeable guy who watched everything, always in the corner who didn’t want to create a fuss but loved watching it all. My son and I were talking about him, his character on Cheers and I said oddly he seemed the most normal guy in the bar and my son said maybe that’s why the writers called him Norm, he was more identifiable to people. I said maybe he was watching the show just like us. Had to laugh. RIP
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It is kind of shytty to talk about one’s wife that way. I’m glad we’ve moved-on from Henny Youngman gags.
 
upperdeck said:
Much like MASH. For pure humor the first 1-2-3 seasons are amazing. But the writing changed after some of the leads left and it was not often as funny, but in many ways much more thoughtul and story lines are more powerful. Almost like 2 different shows.

I would think many shows are like that.. You come up with 10-20 ideas and now you need 200 more to finish 6-10 seasons.
Expand...
For me, the loss of Frank Burns character was the tipping point.
 
upperdeck said:
Much like MASH. For pure humor the first 1-2-3 seasons are amazing. But the writing changed after some of the leads left and it was not often as funny, but in many ways much more thoughtul and story lines are more powerful. Almost like 2 different shows.

I would think many shows are like that.. You come up with 10-20 ideas and now you need 200 more to finish 6-10 seasons.
Expand...
I think MASH changed when Frank Burns left. Personally I think Cheers got much funnier when Diane left.
 
Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Rob Riggle and other local KC native celebrities host a huge fundraiser for the local children's hospital every year and George (Jason's uncle) was a regular also. This year's was over the weekend.

 
MSOrange said:
Jason Sudeikis, Paul Rudd, David Koechner and Rob Riggle and other local KC native celebrities host a huge fundraiser for the local children's hospital every year and George (Jason's uncle) was a regular also. This year's was over the weekend.

Expand...

Awwww man
 

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