Everybody Knows His Name.

It’s 11 a.m. and I’m sitting at the Knave Bar inside Le Parker Meridien Hotel in Manhattan. No, I hadn’t been there all night. I was actually there to see “Norm” walk in the bar. As it was 11 a.m. and I was about to speak with George Wendt about his new book, Drinking with George,

I wasn’t sure if it was proper etiquette to order a beer this early in the morning, and while conducting an interview. I figured I’d play it safe and wait for him to order. “Sir, can I get you something?” asked the waitress. A silence filled the room as if people were waiting for E.F. Hutton to give financial advice. “Coffee, please,” said George. As relieved as I was, a small sigh of disappointment came over me. I think I wanted bragging rights to say I had a beer with Norm Peterson. Coffee was fine for me (it was still early) but I’m convinced that had this been an hour later, we would have been downing Pilsners and lagers. Instead, sipping cups of joe, we talked.  

After starting out in the famed Second City Theater group, Wendt went on to build an endless roster of television and movie appearances throughout the ’80s and ’90s, including Saturday Night Live where he defined one of the show’s most memorable sketches as Chicago Superfan Bob Swerski, who displayed his football knowledge and love of his favorite team … Da Bears.

From 1982 to 1993, Wendt played accountant, interior decorator and house painter Norm Peterson on the hit TV show Cheers. The character became somewhat of a cult icon: the bar patron who everyone knows and loves and whose longevity has lasted 16 years after the show ended. Wendt says, “It was Nick Colasanto who came up with ‘Let’s scream Norm’s name every time he comes in.’ He remembered, back in the day, being in a bar where everyone would yell out someone’s name when they walked in. So he is responsible for that, and it’s just one of those catchphrases, like Fonzie’s ‘Aaay.’”

Usually when I’m sitting with an actor, I’m trying to figure out which character, if any, he is like. With George, it was different. Even though he is a very diverse actor, he is almost one and the same with Norm. As George explains in his book, there isn’t much of a difference in the character he brought to life and himself, other than that Norm disliked his marriage and apparently never got drunk. “He also had better writers,” Wendt modestly adds. After reading his book, I would have to disagree. He has parodied Norm several times, which led me to ask him which worthy adversary would be the better drinking buddy, [The Simpsons’] Homer Simpson or [The Family Guy’s] Peter Griffin. “Oh, boy, that’s a good one.” Showing bias, George replied, “I would have to say Homer Simpson because Dan Castellaneta is an old friend from Second City.”

In true form of a lover of the brew, George explained why he wrote this book. “ I was bursting with love for beer and couldn’t sit still anymore. I wanted to give something back. Thank God I didn’t sing a Barry White song [on Cheers].” I did notice that one thing was missing – no mention of his favorite beer. “Asking me to choose a favorite beer is like asking me to choose my favorite child,” he laughs. “I’m all over the map. I pick my beer by whim; I like it all.” Over the past decade, microbreweries have popped up everywhere in the U.S. and in Wendt’s opinion, they rank as the best place to have a beer. “It’s exploding. I’m learning so much. By way of promoting the book, I’ve been reaching out to some Octoberfests and beer festivals. The dedication, skill and passion among the brewers and their fans and consumers really took me by surprise.”

I’ve learned a lot from Drinking with George and become a little smarter in the process. I now know the do and don’t cures for hangovers, how the Guinness Book of World Records was created, and the positive effects that beer can offer. But most importantly, I learned about the man himself, from his first casting, hanging out with fellow cast members and even facing death in the eyes on his wedding night. I told George that prior to the interview, if I were ever going to write an article on him, his book would be it. It’s a great combination of an autobiography and barroom trivia, including more than 100 ways you can say that you’re drunk. And while we won’t be seeing a George Wendt Lager anytime soon, I can guarantee everyone will still know his name.

From Drinking with George:

George Washington’s Recipe “To Make A Small Beer”(1757)

Take a large Siffer [Sifter] full of Bran Hops to your Taste. -- Boil these 3 hours then strain out 30 Gall[ons] into a cooler put in 3 Gall[ons] Molasses while the Beer is Scalding hot or rather draw the Molasses into the cooler & St[r]ain the Beer on it while boiling Hot. let this stand till it is little more than Blood warm then put in a quart of Yea[s]t if the Weather is very Cold cover it over with a Blank[et] & let it Work in the Cooler 24 hours then put it into the Cask -- leave the bung open till it is almost don[e] Working -- Bottle it that day Week it was Brewed."