George Wendt’s Humorous Mix-Up: Linking 'Cheers' Character to Ohio Politics and John Boehner

There was no mistaking the moment when Norm Peterson, played by George Wendt, made his entrance at the iconic TV watering hole "Cheers." The regulars’ thunderous shout — "Norm!!!" — set the tone for a character who became a symbol of the everyman, welcoming viewers into a world where everybody really did know your name. Wendt, who passed away last week at age 76, embodied Norm with a blend of warmth and resignation, earning six consecutive Emmy nominations for his work.

But outside the safe confines of "Cheers," Wendt inadvertently found himself entangled in the gritty world of American politics. During the heated 1990 congressional race for Ohio’s 8th District, a bizarre case of mistaken identity linked Wendt to the campaign of future House Speaker John Boehner. The prior year, incumbent Rep. Buz Lukens faced national scandal after a televised sting revealed his involvement in a sex scandal involving a minor. Despite the charges and subsequent conviction, Lukens refused to resign, triggering a fierce primary challenge from Boehner and former congressman Tom Kindness. Boehner, then a state legislator, saw an opening in the chaos — but he was far from a household name.

In the general election that followed, Boehner faced Democrat Greg Jolivette, Hamilton’s then-mayor. Jolivette, known for both his drive-in restaurants and his quirky effort to rename the city "Hamilton!," had a powerful ally: George Wendt, his brother-in-law. At the time, Wendt was riding a tide of popularity from "Cheers" and frequently visited Ohio to stump for Jolivette. Yet it was a late-night appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show" that would unexpectedly link Norm Peterson's name to political intrigue.

On the show, prompted about his political connections to Jolivette, Wendt made a blunder that reverberated through the campaign. He conflated Boehner with disgraced ex-congressman Lukens, stating, "The guy he’s running against had some problems a while back… some convictions, some felony or a misdemeanor or something." The confusion, shared on national television, implied Boehner was embroiled in the very scandal that had sunk Lukens. Host Arsenio Hall, himself an Ohio native, let the comment pass without correction — perhaps a sign that even those closest to the story struggled to untangle its threads.

The Boehner campaign quickly responded, casting doubt on Wendt’s assertions and referencing unrelated allegations against Jolivette. Jolivette’s team fired back, decrying "cheap gutter politics" and demanding Boehner fire his campaign manager. Through it all, Boehner maintained that Wendt should have been more careful on such a prominent stage, yet declined to take punitive action against his trusted aide Barry Jackson, who would later become his chief of staff as Speaker.

Ultimately, the confusion proved no match for the district’s Republican history. Boehner defeated Jolivette by a convincing margin — 61 to 39 percent — paving the way for a career that would see him reach the pinnacle of congressional leadership. Decades later, Boehner would recall the episode with surprising good humor, sharing after Wendt’s death that the actor called to apologize for the mistake and that the two enjoyed a warm conversation.

Reflecting on the incident, Boehner raised a glass to Wendt, remembering him not for the campaign misstep, but as the beloved Norm. It’s a testament not only to forgiveness but also to the enduring impact of a character who made millions feel at home, whether in a Boston bar or on the campaign trail. Or, as they might say on "Cheers," here’s to friends old and new — and to memories that live on.