CHICAGO– On September 9th, 2017, it seemed like the whole of The Second City theater on Wells Street in Chicago let out a collective cry of “NORM!” The favorite barfly of TV’s “Cheers,” George Wendt, came back to his old comedy stomping ground at The Second City to participate in “I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt.”
The roasters included the hottest current TV and movie stars, including Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Key & Peele”) and Jason Sudeikis (“Saturday Night Live”), along with The Second City alumni and celebs Julia Sweeney, Betty Thomas and Joel Murray. The roast was a benefit for Gilda’s Club Chicago, the cancer support community named for the late comic legend, Gilda Radner.
In PARTONE of the Red Carpet interviews, honoree George Wendt does some reminiscing with Jason Sudeikis, his actual nephew. Then Keegan Michael-Key and Bob Odenkirk give perspective on their red-hot careers. Finally, comedian Julia Sweeney (“It’s Pat”) and actor/director Betty Thomas (“Private Parts”) pontificate on the movies and Thomas’s role on “Hill Street Blues.”
In PARTTWO, David Koechner (“Anchorman”) and Tim Kazurinsky (“Police Academy” series) talk about the legendary improv instructor Del Close of The Second City. Joel Murray (“Mad Men”) and Pat Finn (“The George Wendt Show”) reflect on past inspirations and current gigs – including the Joel Murray directed made-in-Chicago film, “Vendors.” And bringing in executive point of view, the CEO of The Second City, Andrew Alexander, and the CEO of Gilda’s Club Chicago, Laura Jane Hyde.
Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com
- WENDT1: Honoree George Wendt gets ‘roasted.’ Norm!
- WENDT2: Jason Sudeikis recently had a role in the film ‘Race.’
- WENDT3: Bob Odenkirk of ‘Better Call Saul.’
- WENDT4: Keegan-Michael Key of ‘Key and Peele.’
- WENDT5: Julia Sweeney was on ‘Saturday Night Live’ with her character ‘Pat!’
- WENDT6: Betty Thomas… from character actor to prominent TV and film director.
- WENDT7: Tim Kazurinsky is a comedian, actor, writer and stage performer.
- WENDT8: David Koechner harmonized in the film ‘Anchorman.’
- WENDT9: Joel Murray, of the Murray family of Wilmette, Illinois.
- WENDT10: Pat Finn is a alumni of The Second City and ‘The George Wendt Show.’
- WENDT11: CEOs: Andrew Alexander of The Second City and Laura Jane Hyde, Gilda’s Club Chicago.
- WENDT12: The logo of The Second City.
 | By PATRICK McDONALD |
