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Norm on Cheers passed away at age 76. Deliverer of the line:
"What's new Norm?"
"It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk-Bone pants"

RIP. Definitely one of my favorite actors growing up as a kid.

I was talking to a youngster, probably like five years ago now, who played the piano. I said, you should play the Cheers theme song. She was like what’s Cheers? Oof, I’m that old?

Not too long ago, he headlined the Frank Wilcox film festival down in De Soto.

https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/what ... a056a.html

As for second fiddles, he was up there with Ed Norton and Cosmo Kramer.

edwin drood wrote: ↑20 May 2025 16:28 pm Norm on Cheers passed away at age 76. Deliverer of the line:
"What's new Norm?"
"It's a dog eat dog world and I'm wearing Milk-Bone pants"

"What's up Norm?"

"My nipples, it's so freaking cold out there."

George was terrific as Norm, but let's remember all those great lines came from WRITERS.

DJ Davis wrote: ↑20 May 2025 18:12 pm RIP
Not too long ago, he headlined the Frank Wilcox film festival down in De Soto.

https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/what ... a056a.html

Wowwww...he headlined the 7th Annual Frank Wilcox Film Festival in DeSoto, named for a longtime character actor who lived in DeSoto until he was seven???? Why didn't I see this in the national headlines?

Mark the date for the next one!!

Clark Kimble wrote: ↑22 May 2025 21:14 pm

DJ Davis wrote: ↑20 May 2025 18:12 pm RIP
Not too long ago, he headlined the Frank Wilcox film festival down in De Soto.

https://www.myleaderpaper.com/news/what ... a056a.html

Wowwww...he headlined the 7th Annual Frank Wilcox Film Festival in DeSoto, named for a longtime character actor who lived in DeSoto until he was seven???? Why didn't I see this in the national headlines?

Mark the date for the next one!!

How many accounts do you have? All spewing the same (bleep).

I never claimed the Wilcox festival is some globally-renowned event, but it’s a local connection to this area … so I thought it was worth posting.

DJ Davis wrote: ↑22 May 2025 21:34 pm
I never claimed the Wilcox festival is some globally-renowned event, but it’s a local connection to this area … so I thought it was worth posting.

You've taken plenty of shots at me over the years, so I couldn't resist this one. Yes, that DeSoto appearance actually was worth posting; and Frank Wilcox has more than 300 IMDb credits.

In fairness, I did extended live radio interviews with people who, long long ago, were stars, but now are primarily nostalgic memories: Herb Alpert (who's touring now at age 90)...Mario Andretti...Stan Musial...Toni Tennille...Maria Muldaur...Engelbert Humperdinck...Tab Hunter...Rita Rudner...Louie Anderson...Kenny Wayne Shepherd...J. D. Souther...Paula Poundstone...Ronny Cox..."Judge Jeanine Pirro" (who's a "star" again)...and one of the things I immediately took note of was how they handled going from being big stars in their prime to being booked nowadays in small venues in backwater burgs (like mine).

When I lived in L.A., I saw former arena-filler Bill Squier did a concert in a backroom at Borders Books. And Three Dog Night --- a major, major headliner in the classic rock years --- did three shows I saw in St. Louis in one year, all free: The grand opening at America's Center; a Thursday free concert at Union Station; and Fourth of July at Frontier Park in St. Charles. Yet, they rocked them to the max.

When I saw Monkees idol Davy Jones at the San Diego County Fair, he did a small side-stage with 100 folding chairs...and worked his butt off, charming everyone, then sitting down to sign free autographs and sell signed pics. At that same venue, Mickey Thomas from Jefferson Starship did a similar gig...and just killed.

My wife's church in Arizona hosted B. J. Thomas for charity concerts three times...and B. J. loved it as much as we did.

It's easy to be snarky (guilty) and assume George Wendt probably said "You're sending me WHERE???" to his agent for that DeSoto event, but once he was there and saw the warm welcome from attendees, I'm sure he, like everyone listed above, knew the affection and memories he helped create were genuine. And at a small venue, you can actually engage in a few nice conversations with your fans.

Like Bob Hope said when asked about 1960s teens being on drugs, "I have a drug addiction, too. It's called applause."

Pink Freud wrote: ↑23 May 2025 11:19 am

DJ Davis wrote: ↑22 May 2025 21:34 pm
I never claimed the Wilcox festival is some globally-renowned event, but it’s a local connection to this area … so I thought it was worth posting.

You've taken plenty of shots at me over the years, so I couldn't resist this one. Yes, that DeSoto appearance actually was worth posting; and Frank Wilcox has more than 300 IMDb credits.

Fair enough, but it’s always been under the same account.

The "Milk Bone underwear" one was taken, here's my second-favorite:

Woody: Beer, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Isn't it a little early?
Woody: For a beer?
Norm: For stupid questions!

Also, one of the best gags in Cheers history is baby Frederick Crane's first word. The episode-long setup is masterful.