Damn, if this is real, it’s yet more proof that Norm hid the mind of a brilliant poet beneath his comedy.
Tbh, I was never a fan of his comedy. A little too flat for me. But the guy was so smart and kind, it’s no wonder everyone that knew him loved him.
Norm did have a brilliant mind, that’s why he’s so respected among comedians.
I think his Norm Macdonald live stuff is where he really shined, pretending to be the fool while dog walking other comedians.
Granted they often played into it, but you can usually see their immense respect for him while they watch like fans themselves.
During the roast of Bob Saget, Norm got up on stage and read jokes out of a joke book for 20 minutes. Comedy Central ended up clipping most of his set since the only people laughing were the other comedians on stage.
I loved that so so much. He broke all the rules. He told jokes, read them from a book, paced them terribly, and paused for laughter when there wasn’t any.
“Cloris Leachman is here!” checks the book “Cloris, if people say you’re over the hill, don’t believe them. You’ll never be over the hill. Not in the car you drive.”
Dear god, I read that in Norm’s voice and I’m dying.
There was a site that used to offer celebrity AI voices. It’s weird and sick and sad, but also kind of sweet, because there was a Norm Macdonald voice and his cadence made LITERALLY EVERYTHING FUNNY. I miss him. One of only two celebrity deaths that made me legit cry.
I think it was weekend update where Norm really figured out how to lean into this.
I think this clip is maybe the definitive “Norm” tone and cadence (as well as the ‘subverting the subservsion’ aspect):
A little too flat for me
There’s a reason why he’s considered the comedian’s comedian. His deadpan delivery is a perfect blend of subverting joke structure and just perfect timing.
Norm gets how comedy and jokes work in a way that anyone who isn’t a comedian or isn’t a student of comedy wouldn’t understand.
In the end, Norm was Kaufmans heir. He understood that all comedy is based on subversion, but that even that has to fold in on itself.
I’m on board with that fully. I think the best thing I’ve ever seen of his is the moth joke.
And, I think part of my view of him was “too flat” was because he works best when he’s playing off of someone that gets it. Working just for a camera, or a crowd, he doesn’t have the same delivery as he does when it’s smaller scale. He’s still deadpan, but it’s “alive” in a way I’m not sure how to describe.
Obviously, since this came up, I’ve been casually watching stuff again. And that’s the impression I get, that when he’s able to play to people rather than a camera or generic crowd, there’s something in the way he moves that changes. The stuff that has me laughing like a loon is when he’s connected to someone, or a small group, like when he was reading jokes at the roast.
I agree with the other comment, he was the natural successor to the kind of thing Kaufman was so good at. I really just wish I’d seen more of that side of him as a viewer as opposed to the SNL stuff which is a totally different vibe.
the highlights of him co-hosting the youtube awards is a goldmine. i watch it every year
He was a very thoughtful person.
I was always aware of him as that guy who was on SNL, but I didn’t truly give his comedy a chance until after he died and everyone started sharing their favorite clips. I went down a deep rabbit hole on youtube for a while, watching everything of his that I could find.
That old chunk of coal might be my favorite comedian of all time now.
wait ‘til you hear ME do it
I have some positive stories about Norm.
At a comedy show afterparty, these women groupies came for Norm. And Norm, not interested, said, “Hey You don’t want to party with a old guy like me. My dick doesn’t work! Those fellas could probably use some company!”
And they did! They all left together and Norm just hung out with the staff.
If you ever met comedians, they’re timid and shy, and often starving for attention. So to see someone like Norm MacDonald do that made him so incredible to me. Just super confident in himself.
His confidence was really something else. All of his friends in comedy describe him as “fearless” because he was never desperate to prove himself and seemed to just do whatever he personally thought was funny.
There are multiple stories of him going out and bombing on purpose, just for kicks.
There are multiple stories of him going out and bombing on purpose, just for kicks.
I mean if you listen to his live stuff, a solid quarter of it is him bombing intentionally, then just antagonizing the audience. Its like whatever the opposite of crowdwork is.
I only know his most mainstream stuff, but his part of the roast of Bob Saget was basically him bombing on purpose. I’m pretty sure he was just bombing hard because he knew his fellow comedians would love it, and he didn’t care one way or another about the general audience, although the general audience ended up loving it too.
Oh 100%. Its that he understands the fundamental thesis of comedy. You have to subvert expectations. And if they expect you to subvert expectations, you have to subvert that too. Whatever you are not supposed to do, thats what you need to do. Its what Kaufman got. Its what all the greats understand. But what separates the GOATS like Norm is that they go there. Even if there is telling the same OJ jokes again and again. Even if its a 1950’s joke book.
You can’t do comedy if you don’t know where “there” is. You can’t be a GOAT if you aren’t the kind of person who can always just “go” there.
If you look at that roast, I think only Bob Sagat and Gilbert Godfrey got the bit … Everyone else looked confused. He fucking roasted the roast.
crowdplay? 🤔
Crowd edging?
Crowd gooning?
crowd sounding
(am i doing this right?)
Seth MacFarlane: “Norm, you want to be a blob?”
Norm: “Hell yeah, I’ll be a blob.”
Pigeon!
A really, really great youtube doc, about 25 mins, about Norm that was released around his passing. Loved that guy and OJ Simpson killed his wife.
He was already battling cancer when he posted this.
I haven’t watched his last special yet. I just can’t bring myself to, because after that there won’t be any new material from him ever. Stupid I know, it is what it is.
Watching him purposely bombing and egging it on, the looks on his face the whole time … he’s just enjoying the ride. Like all of his jokes were just for him, not the audience, and he knew they were going to land, and i don’t think he cared where.
I’ve only seen it once, but his last special feels less like a stand-up show and more like you’re on a zoom call with Norm while he tries out material. It’s funny, but I really missed all the “oohs” and grumbles from the audience when he would stick his toe over the line and then grin at the reaction.
It’s also very bittersweet, because it includes a bunch of Norm’s comedian friends sharing memories about him and being visibly sad that he’s gone.
I keep rewatching Norm MacDonald Live! on internet archive. Its the best of Norm imo. The Superdave Episode (the real first one, not the fake after the fact, produced one), where Superdave (I think) is literally not in on the joke till the last 20 minutes, it might be one of the funniest pieces of comedy out there.
Is that the one where he insists “I’m not part of this!” over and over? Lol
Yes.
The “What are you doing with your life?” one, where he only finds out its live like 45 minutes in.
But 9/11 was a national tragedy.
also that Hitler guy was a real jerk
You know, with Hitler, the more I learn about that guy, the more I don’t care for him.
Hey, do you own a doghouse?
Oh, I didn’t know he was sick.
What year did Norm die in, again?
EDIT: 2021, so this was probably real.
didn’t even know he was sick
What do you mean, didn’t you hear him at the podiatrist office?
easy for you to say norm you’re the one i grieve the most
Take your love and spread it on everything
…or so the Germans would have us believe.
He’s saying the mom’s a whore. Its somehow a joke, an insult, and heartfelt.
Spread your love around to others, just like your mum did with me and the boyz lmao
