# RIP Norm MacDonald **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 14, 2021, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662 "2021-09-14T18:36:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2021, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/102 "2021-09-25T11:46:10Z")
According to Conan O’Brien, the short version is Colin Quinn’s version, and Norm only pulled this out because he was told to fill a 7 minute segment on his show. It was the only thing he could think of to talk about and to make it fill the time added all the extra details. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/103 "2021-09-27T16:35:23Z")
Wrong room: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FmDoDrzLi68/hqdefault.jpg "The Norm Show - Wrong Room (One of the funniest scenes of the show)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmDoDrzLi68) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/104 "2021-10-02T21:03:07Z")
I continue to explore Mr.MacDonald’s work. Today this laid me out for several minutes; I admit that I, like Blake Griffin, had never thought about the Rookie of the Year Curse: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yEIRnUDjuqc/hqdefault.jpg "Norm Macdonald Makes Blake Griffin Laugh") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEIRnUDjuqc) ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/105 "2021-10-02T21:23:58Z")
That’s a fun one. A few days ago, Letterman did a similar thing at a Nets press conference, asking Kevin Durant why his nickname is KD. I wonder if that was a little tribute to Norm by Dave. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/106 "2021-10-02T21:29:41Z")
I saw that. Was that really only a few days ago? It was almost like the old-days with Dave, back when he actually did stuff. “What percent do you plan to give on the court this year? 90? 95? 110?” ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2021, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/107 "2021-10-03T15:47:45Z")
Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update did a little piece: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/onXLKcB1a0c/maxresdefault.jpg "Weekend Update Pays Tribute to Norm Macdonald - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onXLKcB1a0c) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/108 "2021-10-04T18:32:06Z")
That segment easily could’ve been another ten minutes (at least!) of comedy gold! ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2021, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/109 "2021-10-05T00:10:23Z")
Yeah, there could have bee a lot more Norm. That said, I wasn’t expecting that first Dasani joke and gave an honest to goodness Laugh Out Loud. Not a chuckle or smirk, a screen spraying (if I’d been sipping something, luckily not) full belly laugh on a Sunday morning. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2021, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/110 "2021-10-09T22:19:50Z")
A 35 minute compilation of all of Norm’s OJ jokes from SNL Weekend Update. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCH_Ab6SIE) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2021, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/111 "2021-10-19T02:06:03Z")
On the radio today heard two additional sketches by Norm. “Hidden Track” mocked Star Search, (where Norm first appeared and did not do well). “Magic Phones”, which was new to me, is a funny and folksy discussion of smartphones. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/112 "2021-11-30T10:45:47Z")
For the sake of completeness, over the last few months comedy radio has played two other excellent stand-up routines. I would call them _Teachers_ and -_Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau_. Probably not their real names. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/113 "2022-02-10T00:35:40Z")
I didn’t know Norm had a gambling problem but I came across this video (it’s audio over a still photo) of him describing an aspect of his addiction a bit (~1:40): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/q0V-C5yr5sg/maxresdefault.jpg "Norm Macdonald talking about his gambling addiction") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0V-C5yr5sg) ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/114 "2022-02-10T13:26:41Z")
Conan O’Brien, on his podcast in an episode where he reminisced about Norm, told a story about a time that Norm was a guest on his show. Conan met Norm backstage just before the show was about to start and noticed Norm seemed a bit off. He asked Norm what was wrong and Norm said “Ahhh, the team I bet on just lost. So I just lost (insane amount of money, I think something like $18 grand)”. Norm just shrugged it off and put in one of his many classic hilarious offbeat guest appearances on the show. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/115 "2022-02-10T13:30:18Z")
I never knew about his real life gambling issues - his character on his sitcom [Norm](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181935/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3) had a gambling problem as well. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/116 "2022-05-10T21:42:37Z")
Some previously unseen footage came up in my youtube feed today. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LxksaDp3POw/maxresdefault.jpg "Norm Macdonald Had a Secret") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxksaDp3POw) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2022, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/117 "2022-05-10T21:46:11Z")
I had no idea he had battle cancer his entire life. Yeesh. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2022, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/118 "2022-05-13T01:29:09Z")
> **[Norm Macdonald Shot Secret Final Netflix Stand-Up Special Before Passing](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/norm-macdonald-netflix-special-1235145692/)** > > In a comedy first, the late actor-comedian self-shot a final hour of new stand-up to be released in the event of his death: "The material's fantastic. … I hope people appreciate that he did this." There’s a new special coming out and I’m already crying. Do yourself a favor and DON’T listen to the fake ass narration, just terrible. ---
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/119 "2022-05-31T01:32:27Z")
Looks like that special dropped today and was well reviewed (gift link should work for all): > **[Norm Macdonald had one last secret](https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/05/29/norm-macdonald-nothing-special-netflix/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWJpZCI6IjI3NjQyNzIzIiwicmVhc29uIjoiZ2lmdCIsIm5iZiI6MTY1Mzk2MDUxNCwiaXNzIjoic3Vic2NyaXB0aW9ucyIsImV4cCI6MTY1NTE3MDExNCwiaWF0IjoxNjUzOTYwNTE0LCJqdGkiOiJkYWRiM2U2ZS0yM2FmLTQ0YjUtYmI4ZC1iNGViMzJiODVhODEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vYXJ0cy1lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50LzIwMjIvMDUvMjkvbm9ybS1tYWNkb25hbGQtbm90aGluZy1zcGVjaWFsLW5ldGZsaXgvIn0.HQgdS7Y7aKwU4ZLmjxxmptEV6lXrMgFTHfSplDwtTUE&itid=gfta)** > > Show includes footage of a group of friends and admirers — David Letterman, Dave Chapelle, Molly Shannon, Conan O’Brien, David Spade, Adam Sandler — discussing the comedian on camera after watching his final creation together. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662/120 "2022-05-31T14:26:22Z")
His material was good but it misses something without a live audience. Apparently, one of the things that makes him so funny is the way he works the crowd. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-norm-macdonald/950662.md?page=5)