Latest news with #Danson
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ted Danson reveals he was ‘dead wrong' in thinking Shelley Long would be ‘terrible' for ‘Cheers'
Ted Danson's predictions weren't in a good place. The actor, 77, got candid on having a history of being wrong while starring on the NBC sitcom 'Cheers' from 1982 to 1993. 'I had the reputation on 'Cheers' where if I said, suggested something, pretty much—this is not self-deprecating humor or false humility—I was dead wrong,' Danson said while on the Wednesday episode of his SiriusXM podcast with Woody Harrelson, 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name,' adding, 'And if they did the opposite, it would work brilliantly.' Advertisement 8 Ted Danson on his podcast. Team Coco/YouTube His guest, Andy Richter, asked the comedian if things ever changed over the course of 11 seasons. 'No, I know,' Danson continued. 'I will tell Mary [Steenburgen], I'll say, 'Turn right here,' and she'll say, 'Thank you, but I know it's left.' Yeah. I'm sorry. You were right. It was right. I love being able to have an opinion, and I don't really have that much at stake because it's wrong. I'm okay to be wrong.' Advertisement 'The Good Place' alum's history of being wrong dates all the way back to 'Cheers,' the show set in a Boston bar, which also starred Harrelson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, John Ratzenberger, Kelsey Grammer, and late stars George Wendt and Kirstie Alley. 8 Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Ted Danson as Sam Malone. NBCUniversal via Getty Images 'One of my first obvious ones was 'Cheers' casting Shelley Long. And I'm going, 'Oh, no, not Shelley Long. That'd be, that's all wrong. She'd be terrible for that,'' Danson recalled. 'And she, right out of the shoot, she became this instant, brilliant character actor doing a brilliant job. Serving the entire thing perfectly. It sounds like I'm discounting all the other actors, but that first year she put us on the map. Yeah, she really did.' Long, 75, portrayed Diane Chambers in the sitcom and earned five Emmy nominations. She took home the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1983. Long also won two Golden Globe Awards for her role. Advertisement This isn't the first time Danson, who played bar owner Sam Malone, has acknowledged his faux pas — and he's pretty certain the actress knows. 8 Ted Danson and Shelley Long onstage at the 2006 TV Land Awards. Getty Images 'Yeah, I've said it enough that yeah,' he said about Long knowing. 'But she may not. Maybe she never listened to anything I've ever said. I say it as a form of compliment, 'cause my God, she is astounding.' At the 2024 Emmys, the cast of 'Cheers' reunited on stage with Danson, Grammer, Perlman, Ratzenberger and Wendt. Advertisement Long and Harrelson were not in attendance. 'I'm sorry Shelley [wasn't there] and Woody was off doing a play in London — which I saw, and he was amazing,' Danson said at the time. 'But it was lovely.' 8 Shelley Long as Diane Chambers, Ted Danson as Sam Malone on 'Cheers.' NBCUniversal via Getty Images Shelley was Danson's love interest on the sitcom before leaving after Season 5 in 1987. Alley joined the show as Rebecca Howe in Season 6. Rumors of a feud between Danson and Long surfaced for years, but the pair chalked it up to different acting styles. 'I ain't gonna say anything bad about my partner. I mean, my wife and I have terrible arguments sometimes, and they're kind of our business. Our relationship, Shelley's and mine, has included not being happy with each other and being happy with each other,' Danson told People in 1987. 8 Shelley Long. Getty Images Long added that same year, 'Terrible teasing went on in the relationship and outside the relationship, but our energy went into our work, and it paid off.' Advertisement In May, the 'Cheers' family lost another one of their own when Wendt, who played Norm Peterson, died at age 76. Alley had already passed away in December 2022 at 71 after a brief battle with colon cancer. His family rep confirmed the news to The Post, saying Wendt 'died peacefully in his sleep while at home' on May 20. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement read. 'He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.' 8 'Cheers' cast. ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement Danson shared his heartfelt sentiments after the news broke. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' a rep for Danson shared with The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.' Perlman, 77, who played cocktail waitress Carla Tortelli on the show, also addressed Wendt's sudden death. 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him,' she told The Post. 'As Carla, I was often standing next to him, as Norm always took the same seat at the end of the bar, which made it easy to grab him and beat the crap out of him at least once a week. I loved doing it and he loved pretending it didn't hurt. What a guy! I'll miss him more than words can say.' Advertisement 8 Shelley Long, Ted Danson, George Wendt on 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Before the actor's passing, he reunited with his 'Cheers' co-stars, Danson and Harrelson, 63, on an August 2024 episode of their podcast. During the episode, Wendt reminisced on how he landed the role of Norm Peterson on the series. 'My agent called and said, 'You know, honey, they want you to do this 'Cheers,'' he said. ''Now you're not available,' because I had this other show ['Making the Grade'] at Paramount for CBS. Then they go, 'But they want you to come in anyway, and it's really small, though.' I go, 'Oh, okay.'' Advertisement 8 George Wendt, Shelley Long, Ted Danson in the NBC sitcom. Courtesy Everett Collection 'I read it,' he went on, 'and then they decided they were going to try to make it work out where I could do both shows, and then the other show got canceled.' Wendt quickly became a fan favorite, earning six Emmy nominations for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. The show's creators Glen Charles, Les Charles and James Burrows shared about the comedian after his death: 'George Wendt was as lovable as the character he played on 'Cheers'. It was the perfect marriage of actor and character.' 'George was a gentleman and a gentle man. Norm was America's favorite barfly, and as the theme song said, everybody knew his name. And shouted it when he walked through the door. We were blessed to have him in our lives.'
San Francisco Chronicle
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
‘We're nauseatingly in love': Ted Danson brings his real-life romance to ‘A Man on the Inside'
Love and mystery collide in San Francisco as real-life couple Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen bring their romance onscreen. The Golden Globe winner and his wife of 30 years have teamed up for Season 2 of the Netflix comedy series, ' A Man on the Inside. ' Steenburgen is set to play Danson's love interest on the show. Danson, who plays a retired college engineering professor who is hired by a private investigator to go undercover at a Nob Hill retirement home, gushed about working with his wife on his 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name" podcast. 'It's just magical,' he said on the episode, released on Wednesday, June 11. 'We're falling in love. The story evolves, but I'm just head over heels. My character is in love with her, and to sit there on camera and look into your wife's eyes — and we're nauseatingly in love in private life — and just disappear into her eyes in front of a camera is pretty astounding.' Steenburgen's character, Mona Margadoff, is a former musician and is expected to play a large role opposite Danson's Charles Nieuwendyk, according to Netflix's Tudum. Others joining the show include Michaela Conlin ('Bones'), Gary Cole ('NCIS') and Max Greenfield ('New Girl'). This isn't Danson and Steenburgen's first time working together. They have co-starred in a number of projects over the years, including 'It Must Be Love' (2004), 'Gulliver's Travels' (1996) and 'Pontiac Moon' (1994). In the latter, they starred as a married couple, which sparked their real-life romance. 'By the way, if we suck, it's her fault,' Danson joked on the podcast episode. 'I just want to go on the record.' 'A Man on the Inside' featured a number of iconic San Francisco landmarks in its first season, from Oracle Park to the Golden Gate Bridge and the Palace of Fine Arts. The show's first eight episodes were released in November and it was named one of the American Film Institute's 2024 TV programs of the year. The second season is expected to release later this year.
Fox News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Ted Danson admits he's 'nauseatingly in love' with wife Mary Steenburgen as couple reunites on screen
Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen are "nauseatingly in love" after nearly 30 years of marriage. During SiriusXM's "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" podcast, Danson – who hosts the show with Woody Harrelson – told guest Brett Goldstein that he will be working with his wife, actress Mary Steenburgen, in season two of "Man On The Inside." He also explained that starring alongside each other in the show has made them fall in love again. "Oh, it's just magical. We're falling in love. The story evolves, but I'm just head-over-heels in love with her and to sit there on camera and look into your wife's eyes…. And we're nauseatingly in love in private life and to just disappear into her eyes in front of a camera is pretty astounding," Danson said. Goldstein asked Danson how working alongside his wife has been, and the actor replied, "Oh, it's delicious." Goldstein was full of questions and told Danson, "I am freaked out by the idea of couples who act together. How does it work? And how do you leave your house? You go to work together, in the car? And then what happens? Did you act together before you got together?" Danson explained that he met his wife on the set of a movie, but he learned quickly he had to check his ego "at the door." "I realized part of my job is to host my wife. I was here last year. I am this 'Man on the Inside.' And if she doesn't have a wonderful time, I'm an a--hole. And that's on me. And that's just my attitude," Danson said. Danson and Steenburgen first met in 1983 and married in 1995. They each have two children from previous marriages. In January, Steenburgen admitted that she thought Danson was a bit of a ladies' man before she met him – similar to the character he played on "Cheers" from 1982 to 1993. "I admired him so much as an actor, but I didn't personally know him, and I had this stupid idea that he was, like, maybe kind of a slick guy," she told People at the time. However, she soon realized "how wrong" she was. "Slick guys don't say, 'gosh-a-rooni,' after making love. I'd like to apologize to my granddaughters," she jokingly added. She added that there's a reason Danson is "treasured" by everyone he works with. "He's just so loving and takes such joy in acting that all of us who are hard at work away from our families for long hours get to work on a set that is dictated by his kindness," she said. She continued, "I also fell in love with the sort of father that he is and with his beloved daughters... Ted loves them with all his heart and yet had space in there to love my Lilly and Charlie so perfectly as well. It's pretty thrilling to go through life with Ted Danson." The couple's best quality time is very early in the morning, according to Danson. "The most fun is the early mornings," Danson told People of their 4:30 togetherness time. "Coffee in bed, playing Wordle, Connections, and Spelling Bee, talking and laughing and sharing. To both of us, it's like heaven on Earth." He added, "Even if she's working in a different time zone, we will wake up in time to be able to play our games and have coffee over the phone."
New York Post
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
How Jason Sudeikis learned of his uncle George Wendt's death
Jason Sudeikis was hard at work when he learned his uncle George Wendt died at age 76 last month. Brett Goldstein appeared on Wendt's former 'Cheers' co-star Ted Danson's 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' podcast Tuesday and revealed he was with Sudeikis, 49, in the 'Ted Lasso' Season 4 writers room when the tragic news came out. 10 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' in 2017. Getty Images 'And Jason and the writers sat and watched like compilations of the best of Norm and told stories,' Goldstein, 44, shared. Wendt, who was best known for playing Norm Peterson in all 11 seasons of 'Cheers,' died from cardiac arrest on May 20. 10 Ted Danson talking about George Wendt's death. 10 Ted Danson and Brett Goldstein. 'I'm very sorry for your loss,' Goldstein told Danson, who played Sam Malone in the sitcom. 'I know from Jason there were wonderful stories, but he was also individually so lovely to all of us at 'Ted Lasso,' cause he came to the premiere and you'd get a thing saying, 'George wants to meet you.' And be like, 'What, George?' And you'd go over and he was so f—ing generous with all of us.' '[He was] so complimentary and lovely and you're just like, 'I can't believe I'm talking to him,'' Goldstein continued about Wendt. 'He was so very kind. And we saw him a few times over the years and he was nothing but lovely. I'm very sorry.' 10 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis at Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party in January 2024. WireImage 10 George Wendt, Sam Moser, Kelsey Grammer and John Ratzenberger during the Nick at Nite 2001 Upfront Presentation. Getty Images 10 George Wendt during an interview with Jay Leno in March 1995. NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images The 'Ted Lasso' actor asked Danson how he's doing after the death of his former colleague, and Danson got choked up before he responded. 'Sorry. I think, I'm fine,' Danson replied. 'And I have a big old hole and I haven't started to process it. I feel totally complete with George, so I don't have any regrets. And we were able to, Woody [Harrelson] and I were able to sit down and have this great conversation with him early on with this podcast.' 10 George Wendt and his nephew Jason Sudeikis in January 2024. FilmMagic 'Some of it's private, but I had just seen Bernadette recently,' Danson said about Wendt's wife, Bernadette Birkett. 'So anyway I was in the middle of working and I had to kind of squelch. Had a little cry and then had to like, move on. So I haven't really caught up with it.' Danson admitted to Goldstein that he 'may tear up' if they talk about Wendt, as he called the late star 'an amazing man.' 'What a funny, unbelievable actor,' Danson said. 'I could sit there and watch and laugh and will continue to for a very long time. Celebratory-ness is called for as well. Even though I will miss him, and I can't imagine what it's like for Bernadette and his kids, that I can't touch in my imagination.' 10 Kelsey Grammer and George Wendt in 'Cheers.' NBCUniversal via Getty Images Sudeikis, who was always close with Wendt, broke his silence on his uncle's death two weeks later at the Big Slick 2025 kickoff in Kansas City. 'He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' the 'Saturday Night Live' alum said during a news conference as he remembered Wendt, who is the brother of Sudeikis' mom, Kathy. 10 Jason Sudeikis, George Wendt seen in Los Angeles in Feb. 2014. GC Images 'He was an incredible influence to me,' Sudeikis continued, 'both as someone that plays the trail being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have.' 'But yeah, we miss him greatly and I love him dearly,' the actor added. For the charity event, Sudeikis honored Wendt by wearing a jersey with his uncle's last name on the back and the number 76 (Wendt's age at death) at the celebrity softball game. 10 Jason Sudeikis honors George Wendt at the 2025 Big Slick Celebrity Softball Game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock Danson, for his part, paid tribute to Wendt in a statement after his death. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' Danson's rep told The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.'
New York Post
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ted Danson breaks silence on ‘Cheers' co-star George Wendt's death
Ted Danson is raising a glass to the one and only George Wendt. Hours after news of Wendt's death at age 76 broke, the 'Man on the Inside' star, 77, shared a heartfelt sentiment for his fallen co-star. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' a rep for Danson shared with The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.' Advertisement Wendt's family rep confirmed he passed on Tuesday, telling The Post he 'died peacefully in his sleep while at home.' 5 Ted Danson and George Wendt in 1998. FilmMagic, Inc 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' the statement read. 'He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.' Advertisement Danson and Wendt starred in 'Cheers' together for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993, with Danson portraying Sam Malone, and Wendt starring as Norman Peterson. During their time on the series, Wendt garnered six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm, while Danson earned 11 and won two. The 'Cheers' nostalgia was at an all-time high in recent years, as the cast reunited at the Emmys in January 2024. 5 NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images Advertisement 5 FilmMagic, Inc Wendt, Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger reunited as part of a special tribute at the awards ceremony honoring the most beloved shows in television history. The cast appeared at a replica of the iconic Boston bar, with host Anthony Anderson calling the NBC sitcom 'one of the greatest television shows of all time.' 'This feels nice to be here in front of you,' Danson said, before Ratzenberger, 78, remarked that the event was a 'long overdue class reunion.' Advertisement 5 ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection 5 ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Grammer, 70, noted, 'Being together brings back some great memories of a show we're all very proud of.' Absent from the festivities was Woody Harrelson, who starred in the show's fourth season as bartender Woody Boyd. 'Woody Harrelson couldn't make 'Cheers' because he's in a play,' Jesse Collins, an executive producer for the Emmys, told the Hollywood Reporter at the time. Added Collins, 'So there were a few people where there were just logistical challenges. But we were lucky to get so many people who were willing to participate.' In April, Danson got candid on some behind-the-scenes drama of the show, setting the record straight on a 30-year-long rift he had with Grammer. Advertisement While talking to the 'Frasier' actor on his and Harrelson's, 63, 'Where Everybody Knows Your Name' podcast last October, Danson told Grammer: 'I missed out on the last 30 years of Kelsey Grammer, and I feel like it's my bad, my doing, and I almost feel like apologizing to you.'
