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Netflix will stream a Norm Macdonald stand-up special he shot before dying

44 points by furcyd 4y ago

chordalkeyboard 4y ago
ironic that Norm was the one who died, I guess we know what makes the other guy "special"
- codefreeordie 4y ago
liketochill 4y ago
I don’t understand why I enjoy listening to norm so much. I remember him from weekend update when I would get to stay up late before I was a teenager, and his story on david letterman about throwing mustard on the football field at the panda game while on acid. Maybe he was the first adult I heard talk openly about getting fucked up and doing stupid stuff. As a 12 year old it was an eye opener, oh you can do drugs and be successful and be on TV. During covid I watched all the norm material on YouTube. “I’m not norm”, a YouTuber out of Seattle slanging norm t shirts uploads all the clips. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something I love about norm. I even rewatch his talk show episodes on Netflix. Maybe it’s because he never seemed to care for the trappings of success, fame, celebrity and money, he has a humbleness that is genuine. I recall a story where he throws $70k in to the ocean and says what’s the difference I’m just going to gamble it away anyway. What was also interesting is the respect that he got from other comics. There was a david letterman episode with Schneider, spade, Sandler, 2 other dudes, and norm, and they all would stop to let him talk. Somehow he was the alpha comic. His trolling of the other hosts on the view was also spectacular. Can’t wait for this special to be released!
- version_five 4y ago
  There is something about his sarcastic and I'd say "self aware" delivery that makes him so funny. He was almost funnier on weekend update with bad material, because he was also almost laughing at how dumb it was. Same as in e.g. Dirty Work, which was a throwaway movie but he still ends up being funny just because he's Norm Macdonald. I think that's what let's him get away with telling these long rambling jokes that almost nobody else could deliver in a funny way, and still be entertaining
- dman 4y ago
  In my case I suspect because he was a real person and he didnt hate the people he was making fun of :)
  - hotpotamus 4y ago
    He might have hated OJ Simpson.
- assttoasstmgr 4y ago
  Because he was true to his craft. Norm was what's known as a "comedian's comedian" - the furthest thing from a phony celebrity. Norm understood 'funny' in ways most people do not. He valued comedy over being famous. He spoke his mind with no concern for political correctness, but did so in an intelligent way. That's why his (more famous) peers - Dennis Miller, Conan O'Brien, Jim Breuer and others all regarded him as a 'genius'. One of my favorite exchanges between two recently departed greats (caution strong language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2IQbeAr_b8&t=240s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2IQbeAr_b8&t=240s
  - rendall 4y ago
    Thanks for that. Really excellent.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
cyphertruck 4y ago
Love Norm. Very unique takes. This will be interesting. Norm invented what he calls the perfect joke: where the setup and the punchline are exactly the same sentence. Best example I could find: Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts were divorced today. The reason: he’s Lyle Lovett and she’s Julia Roberts.
fileoffset 4y ago
This is the first piece of news I have read in weeks that makes me feel good
vannevar 4y ago
Reading this headline, I can hear Norm's voice in "Weekend Update" mode: "Meanwhile, the special he shot after he died will stream on Peacock." You know he'd do it.
codefreeordie 4y ago
The only time I ever saw Norm Macdonald live, he was supposed to be doing a short set as part of an SNL-cast standup show. The whole show was pretty unfunny (mostly just really crude, basically it turned into a "we're not on TV let's say all the things" exhibition), but everyone was excited for Norm. Then he came out on stage high as a fucking kite and could barely talk. He mumbled and swore semi-incoherently for 20 minutes, and then they cut both the lights and his mic, and dropped the curtain practically on his head. I was kinda young then, and didn't really know who this crazy guy was. Later, when I learned how funny he is when he's not whacked out of his fucking mind, I was really sad that that's what I got out of a live Norm Macdonald show.
- mixmastamyk 4y ago
  Oh, where was this?
  - codefreeordie 4y ago
    This was at a Vegas casino. I think it was the Flamingo Hilton, but I'm not totally sure.
mattl 4y ago
Not a fan but I get why people are
amscanne 4y ago
I saw Norm Macdonald at a comedy club in Portland a few years ago. I remember that a big part of his set was about aging and mortality, which makes tons of sense retrospectively. I can only imagine what this last set will be, produced knowing that he might not see it released. I appreciate that Norm was able to find humor in serious subjects in addition to pure nonsense (see: moth joke).

44 points by furcyd 4y ago

chordalkeyboard 4y ago

ironic that Norm was the one who died, I guess we know what makes the other guy "special"

codefreeordie 4y ago

liketochill 4y ago

I don’t understand why I enjoy listening to norm so much. I remember him from weekend update when I would get to stay up late before I was a teenager, and his story on david letterman about throwing mustard on the football field at the panda game while on acid. Maybe he was the first adult I heard talk openly about getting fucked up and doing stupid stuff. As a 12 year old it was an eye opener, oh you can do drugs and be successful and be on TV. During covid I watched all the norm material on YouTube. “I’m not norm”, a YouTuber out of Seattle slanging norm t shirts uploads all the clips. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something I love about norm. I even rewatch his talk show episodes on Netflix. Maybe it’s because he never seemed to care for the trappings of success, fame, celebrity and money, he has a humbleness that is genuine. I recall a story where he throws $70k in to the ocean and says what’s the difference I’m just going to gamble it away anyway. What was also interesting is the respect that he got from other comics. There was a david letterman episode with Schneider, spade, Sandler, 2 other dudes, and norm, and they all would stop to let him talk. Somehow he was the alpha comic. His trolling of the other hosts on the view was also spectacular. Can’t wait for this special to be released!

version_five 4y ago
There is something about his sarcastic and I'd say "self aware" delivery that makes him so funny. He was almost funnier on weekend update with bad material, because he was also almost laughing at how dumb it was. Same as in e.g. Dirty Work, which was a throwaway movie but he still ends up being funny just because he's Norm Macdonald. I think that's what let's him get away with telling these long rambling jokes that almost nobody else could deliver in a funny way, and still be entertaining
dman 4y ago
In my case I suspect because he was a real person and he didnt hate the people he was making fun of :)
- hotpotamus 4y ago
  He might have hated OJ Simpson.
assttoasstmgr 4y ago
Because he was true to his craft. Norm was what's known as a "comedian's comedian" - the furthest thing from a phony celebrity. Norm understood 'funny' in ways most people do not. He valued comedy over being famous. He spoke his mind with no concern for political correctness, but did so in an intelligent way. That's why his (more famous) peers - Dennis Miller, Conan O'Brien, Jim Breuer and others all regarded him as a 'genius'. One of my favorite exchanges between two recently departed greats (caution strong language): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2IQbeAr_b8&t=240s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2IQbeAr_b8&t=240s
- rendall 4y ago
  Thanks for that. Really excellent.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

cyphertruck 4y ago

Love Norm. Very unique takes. This will be interesting. Norm invented what he calls the perfect joke: where the setup and the punchline are exactly the same sentence. Best example I could find: Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts were divorced today. The reason: he’s Lyle Lovett and she’s Julia Roberts.

fileoffset 4y ago

This is the first piece of news I have read in weeks that makes me feel good

vannevar 4y ago

Reading this headline, I can hear Norm's voice in "Weekend Update" mode: "Meanwhile, the special he shot after he died will stream on Peacock." You know he'd do it.

codefreeordie 4y ago

The only time I ever saw Norm Macdonald live, he was supposed to be doing a short set as part of an SNL-cast standup show. The whole show was pretty unfunny (mostly just really crude, basically it turned into a "we're not on TV let's say all the things" exhibition), but everyone was excited for Norm. Then he came out on stage high as a fucking kite and could barely talk. He mumbled and swore semi-incoherently for 20 minutes, and then they cut both the lights and his mic, and dropped the curtain practically on his head. I was kinda young then, and didn't really know who this crazy guy was. Later, when I learned how funny he is when he's not whacked out of his fucking mind, I was really sad that that's what I got out of a live Norm Macdonald show.

mixmastamyk 4y ago
Oh, where was this?
- codefreeordie 4y ago
  This was at a Vegas casino. I think it was the Flamingo Hilton, but I'm not totally sure.

mattl 4y ago

Not a fan but I get why people are

amscanne 4y ago

I saw Norm Macdonald at a comedy club in Portland a few years ago. I remember that a big part of his set was about aging and mortality, which makes tons of sense retrospectively. I can only imagine what this last set will be, produced knowing that he might not see it released. I appreciate that Norm was able to find humor in serious subjects in addition to pure nonsense (see: moth joke).