RIP, Norm Macdonald

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

 

[Randolphkeys]

Loved that show. Unfortunately the NBA Lockout killed his show and left nothing to write jokes about.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

I don't think people take time to appreciate entertainers until they are gone. All of this outpouring of admiration will lead to more people checking out his routines too.

Norm's comedy is timeless. We were living among one of the best comedians and sometimes it takes death to realize this.

Until a few years ago, I thought that he didn't have many fans, and that me liking him so much said something weird about me. Then I started seeing stuff of his all over the internet, and I realized that there were a whole lot more Norm fans than I ever thought. Guy was a unique talent.

Also just saw something from Courtney-Thorne Smith today about the infamous interview:

And she loved every minute of it, she told Vanity Fair Tuesday. “Every once in a while,” she said, “I’ll run into Conan and he’ll apologize, and I say, ‘That was one of my favorite moments of my life.’ Teased by Norm Macdonald? Are you kidding? I did The Tonight Show once, and Don Rickles made fun of my father, and my father never stopped talking about it. This is my version of that.”\

Vanity Fair: Wait, what? Why did Don Rickles make fun of your father?

Courtney Thorne-Smith: I told a story about my father telling a joke at my sister’s wedding, and then Don Rickles just went off on my father being crazy, and it was the high point of my father’s life. That’s how I felt when Norm teased me. It didn’t even occur to me that it could possibly be negative. I was beside myself.

I was there to promote Chairman of the Board. I was not thrilled about having to do it, so when Norm took over, I’m like, Oh, thank you, God and Norm Macdonald. It was a blessing. Look—had I thought that Chairman of the Board was my path to an Oscar, I might have been offended. I did not. [Laughs] So it was a joy to be teased about it. Because I didn’t know what I was going to say [on the show]. I was like, Good, Norm, you take over.

But did the studio feel the same way, to see him pummel Carrot Top and the movie?

I have no idea. It got a lot of attention, maybe more attention than it would have gotten otherwise. You know what they say: Any press is good press.

Did you ever talk to Carrot Top about it?

[Laughs] No, I have not kept up with Carrot Top. No, I did not.

So none of this was planned?

No, no, no. Generally, when you’re the second guest, you talk to the host and have very little contact with the previous guest. Maybe during the commercial, you chat a bit. So what happened wasn’t normal, but it was delightful. That was my favorite talk show appearance by far.

Have you been hearing from people today about Norm?

A few people have reached out. Everyone is so shocked. He’s always been there. He did Weekend Update. He’s a part of my comedy consciousness. I feel like I just watched him on Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. It’s stunning.

Were you a fan before your appearance on Late Night?

I’ve always been a fan of Norm Macdonald, which made it extra super thrilling. Yeah, I loved his take on things. That’s why my dad was so taken when Don Rickles made fun of him. When you’re a fan of a comedian and they make fun of you, is there anything better? It’s just heaven, ’cause you’re in their joke. They may be laughing at you, but it doesn’t matter, ’cause you’re in that moment with them.

Do you remember what happened immediately after the episode? Was Conan concerned you were upset?

How could he possibly have been there with me and not known I was having a good time? He’s such a nice man, and I would run into him later and he was afraid that I was offended. I told him absolutely not. You know those great nights you go out with your friends and you start laughing and you can’t stop, and you have that satiated feeling? That’s how I felt. I didn’t expect to have an amazing time, and I had an amazing time. That’s what I walked away with; just giddy with how much fun it was. I had a ball.

“Thank You, God and Norm Macdonald”: Courtney Thorne-Smith Loved Being Roasted by Norm

The late comic’s most unforgettable late-night appearance involved Conan O’Brien, Carrot Top jokes, and Courtney Thorne-Smith—who tells ‘V.F.’ she was thrilled for her movie to be the butt of Macdonald’s barbed jokes.

www.vanityfair.com

 

[Randolphkeys]

The ending to the last story is perfectly Norm.

 

[Man Called X]

Norm Macdonald hosted a sports show on comedy central and I'm finding out about it 10 years later?

Fuck.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Norm gives the last laugh at the end.

@Lee

-

 

[Lee]

Norm gives the last laugh at the end.

@Lee

-

So fucking true though, lol

 

[2 For The Brew]

So fucking true though, lol

I couldnt stop laughing for 15 minutes. Norm was so deadpan with his zinger at the end but Seinfeld genuinely laughed. Norm got the better laugh with Seinfeld on “Greatest Jew Joke” - incredible.

 

[Lee]

I couldnt stop laughing for 15 minutes. Norm was so deadpan with his zinger at the end but Seinfeld genuinely laughed. Norm got the better laugh with Seinfeld on “Greatest Jew Joke” - incredible.

You can tell through several clips I have seen that Seinfeld and Norm are friends and Seinfeld was a genuine fan of Norm.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

You can tell through several clips I have seen that Seinfeld and Norm are friends and Seinfeld was a genuine fan of Norm.

I think other comics loved Norm because his "I do it my way" approach to comedy was something a lot of them wished they could/would do. He took far more risks than most. And his Bob Saget roast performance reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry decided to deliberately bomb in front of Kenny Bania.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Norm was genuine funny. He got laughs at a time when others got applause. OK by me if an entertainer can pack a house with cleverness that results in applause but there is a shortage of entertainers who get serious laughs. Part of the difficulty is we live in a humorless era.