Surprising Behind-the-Scenes Stories from the Set of Cheers

Norm wasn’t just a sitcom creation — he was inspired by a real guy. Co-creator Les Charles told GQ that after college, he worked in a bar where a regular came in every single night. The man always said he’d have “just one beer,” then immediately followed it with “maybe one more,” until they practically had to help him out the door.

His wife constantly called the bar, and he’d whisper, “Tell her I’m not here.” That lovable pattern — loyal regular, endless beers, gentle denial — became the blueprint for Norm Peterson, one of TV’s most iconic barflies.