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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 s

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
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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

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