Which is a comment that there will never be another Norm Peterson not just because George Wendt played him so perfectly. More optimistically, there will never be another Norm because the Norms of the past are more likely to be found happily working than escaping it at the bar.

The character played by George Wendt, who died this week, brought his authentic self to what could have been superficial exchanges.

"Cheers" fans from across Boston and even far away were at the namesake bar in Beacon Tuesday evening where they toasted the late actor's memory and shared some favorite memories of his character, Norm.

But for those who work or care about Chicago theater, the barfly Norm from “Cheers” was not what first came to mind when the actor died Tuesday at the age of 76. Rather, the city’s creative ...