Movies - TV
Cheers’ Most Famous Recurring Joke Kept The Writers On Their Toes
By RYAN SCOTT
The writers on the series “Cheers” used the same gag joke upon Norm’s entrance, which proved to be very difficult considering the series ran for 11 seasons with 275 episodes.
When Norm, played by George Wendt, enters Sam Malone’s bar, the other patrons inside shout “Norm!” in celebration, followed by a new humorous comment or one-liner every episode.
Writer/producer Peter Casey explained to the Hollywood Reporter why the gag became so difficult, “It became more difficult because the bar kept getting set higher and higher.”
Writer Rob Long shared that the bit was a problem in the episode where a parking meter was installed in Norm’s parking spot, making him “leave and come back four or five times.”
Ken Levine, writer and producer for the show, explained that in the end, the running gag was the writers’ fault, “And it was our idea. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.”