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A few years after The Big Bang Theory wrapped up its wildly successful 12-season run and not long after Young Sheldon said goodbye after seven heartfelt seasons, Chuck Lorre decided it was time to dip back into the universe he helped build. Enter Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage — a brand-new spinoff that follows Montana Jordan’s Georgie Cooper and Emily Osment’s Mandy McAllister as they step into early parenthood and married life in 1994.

Premiering on October 17, 2024, the show may seem like it’s flying under the radar for now, but those who’ve tuned in are starting to see its charm. Built as a sequel to Young Sheldon, this series carries the same characters forward while reshaping the vibe into something a little more traditional — and surprisingly heartwarming.

Even though the show has just begun with only one season out yet, it’s already managed to build a cozy corner in the sitcom world,...

From 1994 to 1993, Kelsey Grammer’s Frasier character frequented a bar called Cheers alongside George Wendt’s Norm. Grammer, who went on to star in an award-winning spinoff sitcom, Frasier, is paying tribute to Wendt, who died May 20 at the age of 76. Per Deadline, Grammer talked about his “extraordinary” co-star while a guest on Gayle King’s SiriusXM show.

“It was a bit of a surprise,” Grammer said about getting the news of the Cheersstar’s death. The actor died at his home in his sleep, per his publicist, Melissa Nathan. “George was a lovely guy. I mean it’s still odd to speak of him in a past tense right now, but it was just yesterday morning we found out,” Grammer continued.

“And I was just sitting, writing something at the moment. I got a call. But I spoke to his family yesterday and just told them how much I liked him,...

Kelsey Grammer shares his thoughts on his Cheers co-star George Wendt after hearing the news of his death.

The actor is one of many that are remembering Wendt and their time working together on the NBC sitcom. During an appearance on Gayle King’s SiriusXM show, Grammer called Wendt “extraordinary” and “hysterical.”

“It was a bit of a surprise,” Grammer said.

He continued, “George was a lovely guy. I mean, it’s still odd to speak of him in a past tense right now, but it was just yesterday morning we found out. And I was just sitting writing something at the moment. I got a call. But I spoke to his family yesterday and just told them how much I liked him and, you know, choked up a little bit.”

Wendt was best known for playing beer-loving Norm Peterson across 11 seasons of the NBC sitcom. Grammer joined the series in Season 3 as Dr.

Chicago – He was America’s favorite barfly. For 11 TV seasons, George Wendt shuffled into the “Cheers” saloon in Boston to a hale and hearty chorus of “Norm!” … a traditional greeting before his character Norm Peterson took to the barstool. Chicago born-and-bred Wendt passed away on May 20th, 2025, in Los Angeles. He was 76.

George Robert Wendt Jr. was born in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago, and came back to the city after college to perform at The Second City. After TV guest roles on “Mash,” “Taxi” and “Soap,” Wendt got his first regular role on the short-lived “Making the Grade” (1982). That show’s quick cancellation allowed Wendt to land his most famous role, and “Cheers” premiered in September of 1982.

George Wendt at The Second City in Chicago in 2017

Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

The character of Norm Peterson appeared in all 275 episodes of “Cheers,” with cast...

Hollywood and many of George Wendt’s former co-stars are paying tribute to the actor after news of his death was announced Tuesday.

Wendt died peacefully in his sleep at home, his family confirmed Tuesday morning. He was 76.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

Wendt had an incredible career as an actor, beloved for his starring role as Norm Peterson in all 11 seasons of the NBC sitcom Cheers. During his time playing Norm, he earned Emmy nominations for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for six consecutive years, with the character notably also making cameos on St. Elsewhere, Wings, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Frasier and The Tortellis.

Wendt’s credits on the silver...

It’s very sad news today. George Wendt, best known for playing Norm Peterson throughout all 11 seasons of Cheers, is dead at 76. His family confirmed that he died peacefully in his sleep at home.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” a rep for Wendt said in a statement. “He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.“

Along with Ted Danson and Rhea Perlman, Wendt was the only member of the Cheers cast to appear in every single episode. Norm drank a lot of beer during the series, but the beverage that Wendt was actually drinking was a warm, flat, non-alcoholic drink that was layered with salt to create the foamy head. Sounds… awful. “There I was slamming those down for a whole day. It not only tastes disgusting, I was...

George Wendt, best known for playing the beer-swilling Norm on Cheers, died peacefully in his sleep while at home early Tuesday morning, according to a family representative. He was 76.

Wendt was on Cheers for the entirety of the show’s epic run from 1982–1993. On a series full of beloved characters, his Norm Peterson was arguably the most beloved, with his entry into a scene announced each time as all the bar’s patrons exclaimed, “Norm!” What followed was usually a setup from one of his co-stars followed by a snappy one-liner from Norm.

As a result of that performance, Wendt earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, but never won.

“I have a hard time talking about Norm. It’s like he’s too close to me,” Wendt once said of the character. “I think he’s the toughest to write for because he’s not really anything.

George Wendt, the actor and comedian best known for his role as Norm Peterson on NBC’s hit sitcom “Cheers,” died Tuesday in his home. He was 76.

“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. The family has requested privacy during this time,” Wendt’s publicist, Melissa Nathan, said in a statement to press.

Wendt was born on Oct. 17, 1948 in Chicago where he graduated from iconic theater troupe The Second City and met his wife Bernadette Birkett. Before he landed “Cheers,” Wendt worked a bit in film, appearing in “My Bodyguard,” and had smaller TV roles in “Taxi” and CBS’ war comedy-drama “M*A*S*H.” His debut as a series regular was in 1982 when he starred in the CBS sitcom “Making the Grade.”

That same year, Wendt booked his breakout role as Norm Peterson,...

Actor George Wendt, best known for his role as Norm Peterson on Cheers, has passed away. He was 76 years old.

Per Variety, Wendt died at his home in his sleep on Tuesday morning. A cause of death was not revealed, but his passing was confirmed by the beloved actor's publicist, Melissa Nathan, with a statement shared on behalf of the family.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him," the family's statement noted. "He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

George Wendt got his career in show business started as an alumnus of The Second City, where he worked after graduating with a B.A. in economics. He picked up some small roles in the early 1980s, appearing in the films My Bodyguard, Jekyll and Hyde... Together Again, and Airplane II: The Sequel.

George Wendt, an American actor and comedian who earned six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm Peterson on the beloved NBC comedy series “Cheers,” died Tuesday morning at his home. He was 76.

Wendt’s death was confirmed by his publicist Melissa Nathan with the following statement: “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. The family has requested privacy during this time.”

A student of the Chicago improv landscape, Wendt was a comedian at The Second City in the 1970s before becoming a television actor. After numerous guest spots, he landed the role that would come define him: the loyal barfly Norm Peterson, whose regular first line of “Afternoon everybody” became one of the fan-beloved motifs of the series.

A standout among the cast, Wendt earned six Emmy nods in...

Warning! Spoiler ahead for Frasier season 2, episode 8, "Thank You, Dr. Crane."The Frasier reboot season 2 brings Frasier Crane back home to Seattle, and in the process, it wraps up the original series 20 years after it ended its run. While Cheers capped off its 11-year run on NBC in 1993, the network found a way to continue capitalizing on the success of the Boston-set sitcom. Admittedly, giving Kelsey Grammer's standout but still supporting character his own show was risky, considering the failure of Rhea Pearlman's The Tortellis. That said, the original Frasier only took 1 episode to prove its quality, which it maintained throughout its run.

Grammer was and continues to be great as the elitist but with a heart of gold Frasier Crane. That said, the original Cheers spinoff couldn't have succeeded without the rest of the cast. The old Frasier had to create a couple of plot holes to...

The upcoming Cheers remake has the opportunity to have ties to Ted Danson's original sitcom thanks to Kelsey Grammer's Frasier revival. Despite being a late addition to the Cheers ensemble, Frasier Crane immediately became a favorite, primarily because of what he brought to the show's storytelling. He stayed until the end of the series even after Shelley Long's Diane left in Cheers season 5. More interestingly, while Sam's original love interest never tried to fit in with the pub's barflies, Frasier was able to assimilate himself even though he couldn't be different from them.

Despite the success of Cheers and Frasier's appeal, awarding him his own spinoff was still a big risk, especially with the failure of The Tortellis. Surprisingly, the original Frasier became one of the rare sequels that equaled the success of its predecessor. Despite its great ending, however, Grammer decided to bring back the show with Paramount+'s revival.

Unexpectedly, Cheers is getting a remake, which kills all chances that Ted Danson's original sitcom will get a revival. Released in the early '80s, Boston-set comedy wasn't an immediate hit. In fact, it almost got canceled in its debut year due to very low ratings. While it took Cheers some time to find its audience, when it did, there was no stopping it. Not only did it become a massive commercial hit for NBC, but it also garnered countless awards throughout its 11-season run. It remained very popular even when Cheers ended in 1993 with a much-beloved finale.

In this day and age of reboots and revivals, Cheers is a favorite target of such wishful thinking. Its cast remains incredibly close. In 2024, Cheers even had a reunion except at the 75th Emmy Awards proving the ensembles' continued camaraderie. As with every time Danson and his former co-stars get together,...

Premiering in 1982, Cheers was a staple in many households for the better part of the decade, introducing audiences to a colorful group of characters that spent their days and nights drowning their sorrows in suds at the titular Boston locale. Though the show was nearly canceled after its first season due to low ratings, some NBC execs saw its potential and were willing to give the series a chance. Their instincts proved correct, as Cheers went on to become one of the greatest sitcoms in TV history, and placed in the Top 10 ratings list for eight of its 11 seasons. Now, UK execs are hoping that lightning will strike twice, as the influential classic is getting the remake treatment for a British audience.

According to a new report from Deadline, Big Talk Studios is in the early stages of developing a remake of Cheers, with Simon Nye at the helm. The...

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the Frasier season 2 premiere.The events of the Frasier revival season 2 premiere confirm why Frasier Crane was different in Cheers. Kelsey Grammer's therapist-turned-Harvard educator is officially back in the Paramount+ revival to continue his final act in Boston. The first 10 episodes of Frasier were focused on getting the character re-acquainted with his old stomping ground, although he oddly didn't visit his usual drinking hole. Despite this, Frasier's history with Cheers remains a big part of his overall arc, especially since it paved the way for the birth of Freddy. Eventually, the new show will have to acknowledge it.

Awarding Frasier with his own spinoff after Cheers ended was a big risk. Despite the popularity of the bar-set sitcom, its original spinoff, The Tortellis, was canceled early on. Grammer's character, while fun, didn't have the same pull as many of the other characters in Cheers.

It’s not every day that a classic 1980s sitcom gets revived by a major television channel, but that’s exactly what happened with Night Court. Fans of the original series, which aired from 1984 to 1992, were thrilled—and perhaps a little shocked—when NBC premiered a revival of Night Court on January 17, 2023. Rather than rebooting the beloved show, this new series continues the original storyline, focusing on Abby Stone, the daughter of Harry Stone, the quirky and endearing judge who was the heart of the original series.

The revival has proven to be more than just a nostalgic trip down memory lane. In February 2023, after a successful debut, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on December 23, 2023. The momentum didn’t stop there—by May 2024, NBC had renewed Night Court for a third season, set to premiere on November 19, 2024. With its blend of old and new, the...

If there had never been “The Tracey Ullman Show,” there likely would never have been “The Simpsons.” Too, without “Happy Days,” then “Laverne and Shirley” and “Mork and Mindy” would never have seen the light of primetime. Television series spinoffs have been a thing going back to some the earliest days of the medium itself, when “The Honeymooners” premiered in 1955 after beginning life as a series of sketches on “The Jackie Gleason Show” a few years earlier. Thus was born the concept of introducing a character or characters on a show that prove so popular it’s decided they deserve their own series.

SEEHappy 30th anniversary! 30 greatest ‘Frasier’ episodes, ranked worst to best [Photos]

Sometimes, the strategy hasn’t worked out so brilliantly, such as when “Cheers” gave birth to “The Tortellis,” “M*A*S*H” to “AfterMASH” and “The Brady Bunch” to “The Brady Brides” (we’ll save the rest...

Creating a successful shared universe requires crossovers, similar themes with unique twists, and purpose behind spin-offs. The Cheers universe, with shows like Frasier and Wings, lacks a strong connection compared to the original and feels less cohesive. The Walking Dead universe expands with new spin-offs and rewards viewers with Easter eggs, making the world feel lived in without forcing the concept.

It's not just movies that can have a wide array of projects within the same franchise, television has conquered this arena as well, but not every TV show with a shared universe is created equal. The concept of having multiple television series that all take place in the same universe is not new. Still, the popularity of franchises working this way has exploded in recent years. Using the shared universe format allows for deep focus to be placed on the lore of the world, and expands the opportunities for...

Frasier Crane's family expanded in the spin-off series, with notable characters like Martin Crane and Hester Crane being introduced. The decision to make Frasier a family series was critical to its success, setting it apart from Cheers and providing a compelling narrative. The absence of Niles and Daphne in the Frasier reboot is notable, but new character David Crane represents the next generation of the Crane-Moon family.

Frasier Crane's family tree is quite simple, but it has expanded in the last couple of decades with the addition of some notable characters. NBC took a massive risk in expanding the Cheers universe when it decided to greenlight Kelsey Grammer's spin-off. For starters, the polls strongly suggested that the public essentially had no interest in watching a show that was fully focused on the snobby psychiatrist. By then, the network already knew that just because a new series was tied to Cheers,...

Cheers was more consistent than Frasier, with consistently good storytelling from start to finish. Cheers had a clear protagonist in Sam Malone, while Frasier's focus shifted between characters, making Cheers more engaging. Cheers had a better theme song, "Where Everybody Knows Your Name," which became iconic and memorable.

Frasier may have more Emmy wins, but Cheers will always be better for several reasons. The ensemble sitcom based in Boston debuted in 1982 and ran for 11 brilliant seasons. Cheers' premise is rather simple — it's about a group of people who frequent a bar in Boston every night. However, its success lies in its simplicity and brilliant ensemble. Admittedly, following up Cheers' footsteps was almost impossible, but NBC took the risk anyway by greenlighting Frasier.

The network had previously attempted to further capitalize on Cheers' success with the launch of its first offshoot — The Tortellis. Despite being spearheaded by Rhea Pearlman's Carla, the...

We know that the broadcast networks have produced some of its best series as spinoffs from other shows – like “Cheers” spawning “Frasier” and “Happy Days” giving us “Laverne and Shirley.” What is discussed less often are the stinkers that are spun from successful shows much more often. For instance, “AfterMASH” probably seemed like a good idea in 1983 when it hit the CBS air the fall after “M*A*S*H” departed. But it never caught on. The same was true of the producers of “Friends” deciding to give Matt LeBlanc his own series as his Joey Tribbiani character in 2004. But it too proved to be a relatively short-lived flop.

TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...

We know that the broadcast networks have produced some of its best series as spinoffs from other shows – like “Cheers” spawning “Frasier” and “Happy Days” giving us “Laverne and Shirley.” What is discussed less often are the stinkers that are spun from successful shows much more often. For instance, “AfterMASH” probably seemed like a good idea in 1983 when it hit the CBS air the fall after “M*A*S*H” departed. But it never caught on. The same was true of the producers of “Friends” deciding to give Matt LeBlanc his own series as his Joey Tribbiani character in 2004. But it too proved to be a relatively short-lived flop.

TV history is jam-packed with ill-conceived and poorly-received spinoffs that in hindsight seem tailor-made for failure. I’m talking about you, “Mrs. Columbo,” and you too, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” In fact, “Mrs. Columbo” was an idea that neither the producers of the original...

If there had never been “The Tracey Ullman Show,” there likely would never have been “The Simpsons.” Too, without “Happy Days,” then “Laverne and Shirley” and “Mork and Mindy” would never have seen the light of primetime. Television series spinoffs have been a thing going back to some the earliest days of the medium itself, when “The Honeymooners” premiered in 1955 after beginning life as a series of sketches on “The Jackie Gleason Show” a few years earlier. Thus was born the concept of introducing a character or characters on a show that prove so popular it’s decided they deserve their own series.

SEEHappy 30th anniversary! 30 greatest ‘Frasier’ episodes, ranked worst to best [Photos]

Sometimes, the strategy hasn’t worked out so brilliantly, such as when “Cheers” gave birth to “The Tortellis,” “M*A*S*H” to “AfterMASH” and “The Brady Bunch” to “The Brady Brides” (we’ll save the rest...

Cheers, a beloved sitcom, has spawned various spinoffs and crossovers like Frasier, Wings, The Tortellis, and St. Elsewhere, creating a Cheers cinematic universe. Frasier, a spinoff of Cheers, introduced the character Frasier Crane and entertained audiences for 20 years, showcasing his character development and ongoing storylines. Wings, although not a direct spinoff, is connected to Cheers through shared creators and occasional appearances by characters from the original show, giving it a subtle link to the Cheers universe.

Cheers is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, and many do not know that there are actually a number of spinoffs and crossovers that spawned from it. Set in Boston at a bar named Cheers, the show depicts the lives of its staff and frequent visitors. Running for 11 seasons, the show became one of the most popular American sitcoms of the '80s and '90s.

Considering that Cheers' was full of popular and dynamic characters,...

There are a number of TV shows that are known to have spawned other series, but some of these produced more spinoffs than are remembered. Among the forgotten spinoffs in the annals of TV history are the Friends follow-up show Joey and Mr. T and Tina, an offshoot of Welcome Back, Kotter that didn't even have anything to do with the famous Mr. T. Like these examples, many deserve to have fallen into obscurity. However, when a hit series does wind up with a successful spinoff or two, such as Cheers and Law & Order, it's worth recalling when they had other side shows or sequels that didn't pan out.

Not all forgotten spinoffs were failures, though. Some of these TV shows simply spawned niche follow-ups and by-products that only diehard fans are familiar with. Other spinoffs are merely forgotten as having originated with another show because they took off...

The world of television is full of successful spinoffs of popular shows, like Frasier, Better Call Saul, and NCIS. However, for every spinoff that lived up to the original series, there are countless more that ruined the legacy that their predecessors established.

Some spinoffs start off weak but eventually find their footing in later seasons, while a few poorly-received spinoffs never get there and are canceled by the networks. Spinoffs like Joey, That '80s Show, and Blade: The Series disappointed viewers, who were glad they got canceled.

Related: 10 DC Shows We're Glad Got Canceled

Joey (2004-2006)

Friends was one of the best '90s sitcoms that managed to transcend its time to become one of the most beloved comedies ever made. After wrapping up its 10-season run, Friends lived on in the form of Joey, a spinoff following Matt LeBlanc's eponymous character.

Unfortunately, Joey was never able to find...

This post contains spoilers for "Ted Lasso" season 3.

"Ted Lasso" season 3 has just come to an end, leaving the fictional team of AFC Richmond at a crossroads after their head coach leaves his fish-and-chips-out-of-water life in London behind. Overall, the supposedly last season of the Apple TV+ phenomenon left a lot to be desired, failing to live up to the high points of the first two seasons where the jokes that hit far outweighed the ones that fell flat. While a lot of the episodes in season 3 felt overly long and unnecessarily melodramatic, the overall spirit of the show managed to stay intact thanks to Jason Sudeikis' naively positive "aw shucks" attitude as Ted.

Ted isn't only a sports fan, he's a pop culture aficionado raised on Thursday night primetime sitcoms from the '80s. Throughout its entire run, "Ted Lasso" has peppered in a number of clever references to the golden years of U.

The Frasier reboot will feature some original characters as guest stars, but while Lilith can't be it, several other players fit the bill. After years of being stuck in production limbo, Kelsey Grammer finally got the project off the ground. Aside from returning as the snooty psychiatrist, Frasier Crane, the actor is also producing the show, which means he is also creatively involved in the endeavor. As the major proponent of the Frasier reboot, Grammer has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the show honors the legacy of the original sitcom.

Grammer has recently shared pertinent information about what to expect from the series. He has confirmed that none of the characters from the original show will be back as series regulars, but contrary to earlier reports, one or two of them have signed up for a cameo. While Bebe Neuwirth's Lilith is confirmed to return in the Frasier reboot,...

One fan of The Mandalorian has a pretty interesting idea about who should replace Gina Carano as Cara Dune and it has a connection to the iconic sitcom Cheers. Star Wars fans were left divided when it was announced that Carano had been fired by Lucasfilm. For some, Cara Dune is a character that was worth fleshing out, and Carano was the perfect actress to do that job. For others, her character didn't add much to The Mandalorian storyline as a whole and they are indifferent about her leaving.

Regardless of how fans felt about Gina Carano and Cara Dune, it's beginning to look like the character will be recast. Now, there are all kinds of opinions on social media about who the right actress would be to take over, with Lucy Lawless being the top pick by a lot of Star Wars fans. A new fancasting idea takes things...