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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thHWvoYfNyo
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