Hold onto your barstools, folks, because the big man, the legend, the *Norm* himself, George Wendt, has apparently kicked the bucket at the ripe old age of 76. Yeah, yeah, we all know him as the ultimate barfly from that little-known show called ‘Cheers’. You know, the one where everybody shouts his name when he walks in? Groundbreaking stuff. 🙄
So, this guy, George Wendt (or as I like to call him, “Discount Santa”), is apparently dead. His family released a statement, probably written by some fancy-pants publicist, saying he was a “doting family man” and “well-loved friend.” Sure, Jan. I bet he just sat around drinking all day and complaining about Vera. 🍺 Just kidding… mostly. 😉
Oh, and before I forget, some other dude named Joe Don Baker also died. Apparently, he was in some movie called ‘Walking Tall.’ Never heard of it. Moving on! 🚶♀️
Apparently, Wendt was born in Chicago back in 1948. Can you imagine being born *that* long ago? Dude probably remembers when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. 🦖 He went to some fancy Jesuit boarding school and then got the boot from Notre Dame for being a terrible student. Zero-point-zero-zero GPA? Now *that’s* impressive! 🏆 I bet he was too busy perfecting his beer-drinking technique to study.
After his brief stint in academia, Wendt bounced around Europe for a while. Probably just looking for the perfect pint of beer. 🍻 Then, he joined Second City, the improv troupe. So basically, he was a professional funny guy. Or at least, that’s what he told himself. 😂
Before he was famous for being Norm, Wendt popped up on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as one of the “superfans.” You know, the guys who were obsessed with “Da Bears”? Yeah, those guys. Pretty sure that’s the peak of his career. 🐻🏈
But let’s be real, we all know him from ‘Cheers.’ He played Norm, the accountant who spends all day, every day, at the bar. What a life! 🍹 He even got nominated for a bunch of Emmys for it. Imagine getting paid to pretend to drink beer all day. Sign me up! 🙋♀️
Wendt apparently told *The Washington Post* that the fake beer tasted disgusting. Yeah, I bet. Probably some watered-down garbage. No wonder he always looked so miserable. 😒
After ‘Cheers’ ended, NBC considered giving Wendt and Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin) their own spinoff. Can you imagine? Two hours of those guys complaining about their wives and drinking beer? Sounds like a nightmare. 😵💫 Instead, Wendt got his own show called ‘The George Wendt Show.’ It lasted six episodes. Ouch. 😬
Aside from ‘Cheers,’ Wendt also popped up on ‘Columbo,’ ‘Becker,’ and even ‘Seinfeld.’ Talk about a diverse career! 🎭
Oh, and get this: Wendt was also in ‘Spice World.’ Yes, *that* ‘Spice World.’ I bet he regretted that one. 🤦♀️
Wendt is survived by his wife, Bernadette Birkett, who was the unseen voice of Norm’s wife, Vera, on ‘Cheers.’ Talk about typecasting! 🤣 He’s also survived by his kids and stepkids. Good for him. 👍
And here’s a fun fact: Wendt’s nephew is Jason Sudeikis, the star of ‘Ted Lasso.’ So basically, comedy runs in the family. Or maybe it’s just a shared love of beer. 🤷♀️
So, there you have it. George Wendt, the man, the myth, the legend, is no more. He’ll be forever remembered as Norm, the barfly who made drinking beer look like a respectable profession. Cheers to that! 🍻
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
