Jim Downey & Norm Macdonald Were Both Fired From “SNL” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Jim Downey didn’t find out for years that Norm Macdonald refused to work on the show without Jim.
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ABOUT CONAN O’BRIEN NEEDS A FRIEND
Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way. Watch highlights of Conan, Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley chatting with celebrities and meeting fans, along with special segments like “Review the Reviewers” and “Big Dick History.”
ABOUT TEAM COCO
Team Coco is the KZbin home for all things Conan O’Brien and the Team Coco Podcast Network. Team Coco features over 25 years of comedy sketches, celebrity interviews and stand-up comedy sets from CONAN on TBS and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,
Literally! with Rob Lowe, Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer, The Three Questions with Andy Richter, May I Elaborate? with JB Smoove and Scam Goddess with Laci Mosley.
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[@thegrandlegislature]

More Jim Downey please! Have him back for ten more episodes!

[@benthiele]

More Downey!

[@florete2310]

He's a pretty cool dude. So, I second this motion🤚

[@MISNM0]

Yes to the freaking Please! This was Phenomenal and adds another look into why people come into this orbit and stay together as q real work family. I love every thing I heard from this man and will eagerly look for more content by him in the future. (Had no idea about his acting work but was L I V I N G for your commentary on, There Will Be Blood. Straight effing 💀)

[@waylonnicholson371]

Would love if Jim had his own podcast on the Team Coco network. He could talk about anything and it would be interesting.

[@christianfarmer]

And Kevin Nealon

[@CasperLD]

Norm walking away from his dream job cause tgey wanted to get rid of Jim. And then not even telling Jim.....made me tear up. A great man.

[@ColoursOfDan02]

This is something I hope to learn from Norm. Doing the good deed is enough getting praise for that act cheapens it.

[@James_Bee]

Norm was Christian and Christianity teaches to do the right thing because God says it's the right thing, not because you could get anything for doing it.

[@1craley878]

The fact that norm went to battle for this writer is just another example of how much respect i have for him. I miss him so much. Legend

[@tsgorman]

"Well, it is finally official. Murder is legal in the state of California" - Norm McDonald and Jim Downey

[@Mudder1310]

I love the joke Norm did about women drivers, then challenging the audience with “that joke was written by a woman”. Then “nah, we don’t hire women”. I don’t know who wrote that but it’s absolutely genius.

[@alexandercain732]

I believe that was one of Jim's jokes, with Norm modifying it a bit for the live show.

[@mikeshelogowski434]

"Now ya don't know WHAT to think!" 😅

[@sweetssandbox3526]

I miss Norm so much. He could say the same line six different ways and I’d laugh 7 times

[@leobender2910]

And between the attempts where he just smirks at his own joke

[@modsquad20]

Are you a woman? I'm sensing someone not good at math.

[@Psychol-Snooper]

Or so the Germans would have us believe.

[@TWOhype23]

@@Psychol-SnooperYou don’t strike me as someone who owns a doghouse

[@prashantnegi007]

Hah?

[@PrimarchX]

Thank you for telling us that it was really important to have Norm on your last shows, Conan. It was a real mystery to many of us why he wasn't there given the gold he had spun with you and Andy over the years. It was clearer what was going on just a few months later, when Norm passed. But to know how important it was to you to have him there means a lot.

[@davidhurtado2725]

Listen to his episode on Norm's death with Smiley (I think) and Andy. He talks about this there

[@NuttyMongrel]

Goes to show sometimes you just don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Some people were speculating that Conan and Norm had a falling out.

[@primus103]

which proves you can't trust the internet. People were bashing Conan for not having Norm on, thinking he was boycotted.

[@Footerismyname]

Norm interrupting Jim during his speech in Dirty Work is still comic gold.

[@hankgowdey3255]

How about 2 dollars?

[@roycopeland9560]

Here’s your 2 dollars.

[@hankgowdey3255]

Right that's the line@@roycopeland9560

[@Paulafan5]

Norm's appearance on Letterman after being fired from Update is a masterclass in how to destroy someone in the most roundabout way. Don Ohlmeyer had a long career, including MNF and coining "Must See TV" for NBC... and all people will remember is him firing Norm and that Letterman appearance by Norm.

[@LIamaLlama554]

That Letterman appearance was hotter than a two dollar pistol, by god.

[@vanmoody]

Talking about Don, "The Quisling" Ohlmeyer.

[@daveidmarx8296]

Norm and Dave were both fearless legends. Them together was the epitome of Must See TV in my book.

[@GEM4sta]

​@@derfroschprinzausbayernyeah but he's a good guy, he just didn't think Norm was funny

[@jonmcdaniel8492]

I don't know what that means,​@@vanmoody

[@DaveChurchill]

I want a 24 hour version of this podcast. Please have an entire special with Jim. I absolutely live for these sort of "inside" stories and shared experiences between Conan and other writers. Please, please have more content like this

[@michaelduck11]

Trim the fat and cut into the muscle

[@odaydrums]

Me too! When I discovered Norms first podcast with Adam "Egret" I thought " this is so cool! I am seeing how comedians work"

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

I could listen to people talk about Norm all day.

[@driftless7134]

Sorry about your girlfriend.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@driftless7134 Her name is Mom to you. Got it, buddy? You're grounded for the week.

[@driftless7134]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie You're a bit of a rough and tumble character... When she went to the doctor, he told her to open up and say oink!

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

@@driftless7134 Hey hey there friend! I'll have you know that pig is my girlfriend! I don't care too much for you, Cap'n.

[@driftless7134]

@@TheKitchenerLeslie I don't work day and night in a dank, coaly mine to take guff from you, fella!

[@gkniffen]

Imagine getting fired by your boss and his justification for giving YOU the ax was that HIS "best friend" was a knife-wielding murderer. 😂

[@alb2620]

Jim's recall is incredible. A total legend.

[@joseville]

My impression of Norm is that he was just simply happy to entertain himself. If other people found it funny too, well, that's just gravy.

[@terrylodercreative]

So THAT’s why I don’t get gigs!!! So…….. don’t … call me…. I guess.

[@butchie2752]

Well said.

[@Ellierua]

This man needs his own podcast. Such a story teller and has such history. Lovely seeing him after hearing his name mentioned over the years.

[@roywhiteo5]

the homeless newspaper was a great jim/norm story

[@davidlrogers]

i like the Fly on the Wall podcast (David Spade & Dana Carvey) because of the neat behind-the-scenes history (and comedians laughing with comedians is the best stuff) but i missed the episode with Downey; i'll have to go back and pick it up :) he's great

[@ALK-le6pv]

@@davidlrogers Their Downey episode was fantastic.

[@mikefraley6935]

Norm was beloved by some audiences, but not nearly as much as he was by other comedians. He was so original and deeply, darkly funny in ways that make average audiences squirm.

[@GlennTillema]

There are quite a few stories from other comedians that Norm would discover himself tanking in front of a crowd but instead of being discouraged he'd adjust his material for the comedians watching! They'd be laughing there heads off while Norm would tell the stupidest jokes to a dead audience and he'd be doing it just for them. One particular story stands out where he was touring with a bunch of comedians and they played some midwest venue and he was tanking, so he just doubled-down on the worst jokes much to the delight of the crew he was traveling with!

[@cmfrtblynmb02]

@@GlennTillema Norm was the chef that other chefs love to eat from. And he had such simplicity when he made his jokes, he didn't go out of his way to make them complicated. But his jokes had layers. If you analyze them, there is a lot. but then as you go deeper, you go back to the beginning and realize it is a simple joke. That's why nearly every comedian refers to him as a master. It is a cliche now but he didn't try to be the smartest guy in the room though he often was. A lot of bad comedians like Bill Maher are doing just the opposite.

[@craigstahl1874]

It is so cool hearing this from Downey himself. Conan is awesome for giving time to the people who really make the sausage.

[@LIamaLlama554]

It truly is incredible isn’t it? Not to mention that he wrote a lot of great comedy in addition to making all of those sausages.

[@robinheil]

Thank you Jim for telling that story about Norm sticking up for you. What a standup guy.

[@gobabawonan2199]

Very glad Jim is getting the attention he deserves after so many years of working behind the scenes!

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

Plus he was at SNL so long that he has stories that could sink ships lol. Give him a 10 part documentary

[@dannyp8503]

I was so angry at conan for not inviting norm on his final week. There was controversy with fallon cancelling norms appearance about a year earlier and i thought conan was following suit. I was wrong. Conan you are the man and im sorry i doubted you. Noone gets it more than you in late night.

[@Paulafan5]

Conan isn't like that. His L.A. writers, probably, but not Conan.

[@user-nx3zk5qi8t]

When Norm was going through all the stuff at SNL, Donny told Conan to not have Norm on. Conan wrote him a letter saying his job was to put in the best show he can, and that his best guest was Norm. Donny said something to the effect that he expected better from Conan

[@MrBudNess]

Every single time I think of Norm Macdonald dying I get a lump in my throat all over again. His comedy meant so much to me. Such a profoundly funny human being.

[@foolishsamurai]

I always knew Norm was a class act, but yet, the more i hear such stories about Norm, the more and more i adore him. Someone i'd like to emulate in my life. God rest your soul, in peace, good man. ❤

[@seanlittle7035]

One of the best guests in the entire run of the podcast.

[@chaunceyrichardson6624]

Norm felt like a friend, man I miss him!

[@patreekotime4578]

I started crying listening to the pod when Jim was telling how Norm quit SNL because they were firing Jim. Absolutely amazing.

[@jaxokream]

New norm clips are my favorite drug

[@jaytrace1006]

It’s odd, and great, that Norm’s legend grows with each day that passes since his death. Like his firing from SNL, he left us at the top of his game, and we were wanting more. I love the guy…

[@scotthighmark9810]

I'm so glad that Conan brought up Norm. Conan seems to have a good understanding of what his audience wants. Jim is hilarious and a great storyteller.

[@sirchadiusmaximusiii]

Norm was the absolute King. I didn’t even know him but he felt like family and I miss him everyday.

[@hankdatank09]

Norm is a legend! Jim Downey is the gift that keeps on giving. Love this!

[@hansjuker8296]

The more I learn about this Norm guy. The more I like him.

[@leezysaurus]

Jim could have his own podcast, so funny, honest and charismatic

[@authorrayrogers]

Those of us who loved Norm and understood his style of comedy appreciated that commitment to the bit that would die, but was really brilliant.

[@jairkerker2821]

Norm didnt talk about his cancer because empathy ruins comedy. Maybe he didn't tell Downey about standing up for him because it might ruin their dynamic. It's a wonderful thing that these two men worked together. Those (way too few) stories about Norm's comradery with Downey, Drake Sather and others with a similar style of humor to his really fills that Norm shaped hole in my heart.

[@karlgustov9648]

I think he would've found it gross or cheap(?) to tell Downey. Like bragging about donating to charity.

[@DogmenHardcastle]

As a comedy geek and comedy historian I knew I loved Downey, but his comedy ethics and principles are so inspiring and powerful. He is subtley calling out every single piece of comedy that is out there right now. Even Conan (who is a god to me) is having little epiphanies while he speaks where he is remembering where he used to be and questioning what he is doing and has been doing. I wouldn't be surprised if Conan actually made changes after this interview.

[@johnbod]

Norm embodied comedic integrity

[@alibabaschultz352]

Just "integrity" in general.

[@hammer3122]

I can’t remember whose podcast it was on, but Downey tells a great story about there being a newspaper for the homeless in New York and he and Norm pitching an idea for a sketch about a tough, no-nonsense newspaper editor yelling to his news staff about getting him 500 words about “going to the bathroom in your pants” and “a human interest piece on urine-stained mattresses.”

[@jonjaime]

​@@user-cl3re8xi7yand norm said "and they hated it." It was so hilarious the way Norm said that 😂

[@butchie2752]

Norm could read a grocery list and make it funny when he’d start laughing at the end. And he probably did. Proof? I’ve watched the moth joke and the turtle joke a hundred times each. I still laugh every time. It’s the telling more than the joke. Genius.

[@85tclower]

I think it was Dennis Miller’s show? You’re right. It’s hilarious 😂😂

[@RonUSMC]

I like Jim's cadence in storytelling. I could listen to him for 10 hours. You know he has a bunch of stories no one has heard.

[@HG-pi3qp]

Cried at the "no way" about firing Downey. That is beautiful.

[@Fergus316]

We've been hearing the name Jim Downey for decades from the lips of David Letterman, Norm, SNL folks...It's nice to have him step in front of the camera for an interview and find he can talk with such grace and humor about his work.

[@richb313]

There will never be another Norm.

[@Baqota]

This guy was great. I’d never heard of him before, and I’m so glad to now have him on my radar so that I can appreciate all of his creative contributions. I’d love to hear more from him.

[@davidalexander3320]

He was the guy in Billy Madison moderating the quiz at the end. The "i award you no points and my God have mercy on your soul" guy

[@uncleflansy5621]

Norm would have loved the thumbnail for this video. Norm's name taking up half the screen, but another guy's face is the picture, but a tiny thumbnail of Norm in the corner. It's perfect.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

You can tell Gourley was 💯 invested in these stories.. True respect for a legend.

[@rdlystad23]

We need more Jim and more guests like him. I could listen to his stories all day. Hilarious man.

[@user-nx3zk5qi8t]

I never realized Mr. Downie had gotten fired for that as well. This was a great show. I was very excited to see he was the guest this week. I could listen to Conan interviewing him for 4 more hours

[@sonnieandjacob]

Jim is a comedic genius... Or so the Germans would have us believe

[@AndrewRyan-rd1wl]

I think SNL was the only Job besides stand up that he really loved doing, so it was really a blow to him when he was fired. And when SNL wanted Norm to stay and to get rid of JIm it shows how much loyalty and respect Norm had for his friend when he said "if you fire him then I go to" and they did.

[@rachelisagrapefruit]

I could listen to these two talk about comedy and norm stories for hours

[@mattwilliams7454]

There's never enough interviews with people talking about norm. Still miss him

[@godofgamingnos]

The more I hear about this Norm fella, the more I like him.

[@alexstewart9068]

Norm's brother Neil would be an excellent interview with Conan.

[@jackburton2680]

Has he ever spoken out before about norm? Be interesting to hear how norm was growing up

[@truantbuick]

Can't wait for the off-the-cuff badinage.

[@JonnyDIY]

How sad we all are and didnt even know Norm personally. His friends and family must be still hurting a lot. Norm wouldnt like this "mushy" talk 😂💕😭

[@VotePaineJefferson]

THANK YOU for the Norm memories, Jim.

[@mikehunt9884]

tv execs are the worst, they didn't just fired him, but after that they kept making it difficult for norm to do other shows and to promote them. Then they had the balls to invite him to host the show again, which he did, cause norm is a classy guy who just loved to make people laugh.

[@DJ-bj8ku]

The Norm jokes on OJ were brilliant, lacerating, courageous and unlike anything done before or after on SNL. So of course they were fired.

[@adamcoe]

we need so many more jim downeys and conan o'briens on this planet

[@ylette]

As a Norm fan I can't believe I haven't heard about this guy until now. I can totally see these two being on the same wavelength.

[@Tonyhouse1168]

I read his Wikipedia page yesterday; he really is a legend

[@thedude4672]

I don't think that you have the Norm Macdonald everyone knows and loves without Jim Downey.

[@hubes96]

If you were not old enough for the Jim Downey yrs of SNL, you would not have heard of him

[@mattm3023]

​@@hubes96 I could be wrong but I think Jim Downey wrote for Norm's podcast (Norm Macdonald Live) which is arguably Norm's greatest and most often referenced work. I think he even mentions him in the podcast a few times but I could be misremembering

[@sichard.rimmons]

Love conan and downey keeping norm’s legend alive. I didn’t even know he was sick

[@CircleEF]

I love me a Norm story.

[@georgesotiriou7051]

They hated it

[@blackjesus804]

Ohlmeyer ordered Conan to stop booking Macdonald as a guest. Insane OJ pal. Conan said nope.

[@georgesotiriou7051]

Norm and Downey was a real meeting of the minds. Minds. Plural god damn it!

[@karlgustov9648]

Guarantee Downey has owned has owned a dog house or two.

[@georgesotiriou7051]

@@karlgustov9648 He might have an unconventional private life but nobody criticises him

[@beloved6003]

I’m loving these video of Jim Downey and Conan. To listen to the progression of comedy over time is very special and moving.

[@tomimpala]

It's so interesting seeing two people who both got a raw deal when being fired

[@InfamousMS]

Jim Downey is an unsung National treasure. Thank you for this interview! 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️

[@johnfazzari6208]

I love Norm stories.

[@patrickcarpenter4524]

'runners whom renown outran, and the name died before the man' - a.e. houseman

[@scottstewart5784]

a laurel as brief as a girl's?

[@nuckle4270]

I could listen to people talk about norm for hours.

[@wardengentles53]

Downey one of the best comedic writers, and minds of my generation. Conan, my generations late night host. And Norm Macdonald my favorite comedian of all time.

[@SanaZub]

Thank you for these conversations. For sharing with us a little snippet of Norm's life. We miss him so much. Please continue to talk about him. He was truly a good soul. RIP

[@CoreyDowning]

I remember watching weekend update when I was young in the 90s and absolutely loved it. Norm and Jim had a profound effect on my sense of humor.

[@Buttsac]

Most important comedy guy you’ve probably never heard of

[@shephusted2714]

this episode should be retitled to 'walking through ankle deep blood and bones to find a gambling den in northern canadian escarpment'

[@davidvondoom2853]

Jim and Norm sound like a match made in heaven.

[@jgbgw591]

Norm is loyal and brave. Many people turned on him when he dared to say something that the hive mind didn't agree with. It made me cringe to watch everyone scramble around when he passed away acting like they didn't distance themselves from him when he wasn't woke enough. Conan was one of the few that didn't seem to participate in that.

[@thedude4672]

Norm wouldn't like to be told that he is loyal and brave, nor would he want to make anything political. So your comment is disrespectful.

[@LIamaLlama554]

@@thedude4672jeez Louise, you sound like that old battle axe I call my wife. God love her.

[@cartoonistaaronhazouri]

Conan sure did get raked over the coals for not having Norm on his show until fairly recently, when Conan explained they'd tried to but Norm just wasn't up to it. It all makes total sense in hindsight.

[@allergic2life]

Miss norm so much! This was a great interview.

[@119Agent]

I wonder how many people don’t realize this is the guy from Billy Madison.

[@ginaheller333]

Yet more reasons to love Norm!

[@pwk22]

Norm was so damn funny, or so the Germans would have us believe.

[@adamcoe]

i'll you one thing, they LOVE david hasselhoff

[@Chillllllbruh]

Y'know I'm starting to think this Norm guy was a real jerk! RIP Norm MACDonald.

[@matttilley8620]

This just goes to show that those closest to us need to know how much they mean to our everyday existence. I would hate to have regrets if my closest friend died tomorrow. I'm not suggesting this guy has any regrets, but the way Norm shed his mortal coil was stoic and dignified.

[@karlgustov9648]

Exactly. A class act to the very end.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

I'm ok with this show being all about Norm.. Seriously. More Norm stories please ❤ ''Hearts are not good'' 😅

[@mcbrizzle82]

Even from beyond the grave Norm is still absolutely cracking Conan up!

[@MrThorp1]

i really miss norm... those stares they talk about, the awkward pause as if it was never the joke that could be off, but you... and we will wait here and stare till you come to terms with it. The dryness, the brilliance.. ugh... i really miss norm.

[@bgheadjack]

I was there during this time. I got my first joke on with Norm and Jim on 11/15/97. 6 weeks later they'd be fired. After Norm and Jim were fired from Update, both were still employed by SNL. Norm stuck around for another 4 episodes (or so), but Downey's stay was much more amusing and under the radar. Jim would call in to the script department every Wednesday in the late morning (Wednesday is read-thru day) and would free-form write a sketch that one of our top script coordinators would have to type out. Literally he'd write it from the back of a towncar that was driving him around and she would have to just type the whole thing out. Each week this happened the sketches got longer and longer - 14 pages, then 17 pages, then 20, and finally we had something like a 32 page sketch of madness that concluded this crazy pattern. The sketches were funny (Downey's the greatest late night writer of all time, imo), and weird, but what always stood out is that he would cast NBC execs to appear in the beginning of them. It would go something like this: NBC LAWYER NAME: Hi, my name is NBC Lawyer Name. (Thunderous applause from audience. This lasts for 30 seconds at least) NBC EXEC And I'm NBC Exec. (silence) ...sketch continues. Each sketch had execs and lawyers and it was just bizarre and awesome. Jim and Norm are the best. Just true disciples of The Joke and masters of their craft.

[@IBAndreas]

Too funny.

[@simonpollo]

Make the next ten episodes with and about Downey! Also, ask every comedy guest about Norm!

[@sadhbh4652]

Great interview.

[@willjeffrey2285]

I was shocked norm wasn’t on the last Conan show, when Norm passed it made sense.

[@k_hack9441]

These stories are amazing.

[@yeetboi9817]

Norm was a cool guy because he made out he got fired. He was secretly honourable, not doing it to look good.

[@me007gold2]

I could listen to Jim and Conan talk for hours. What a great guest.

[@Erilis000]

Having Jim on was a delight and I love any talk about Norm.

[@loranv3435]

Great CANADIAN.❤ still listening, and watching. 😂 Norm Macdonald 😊

[@MrBfg586]

I'm aware of age and people getting older, but man, Jim looks so different than when he was on David Letterman or even just a few years ago.

[@cartoonistaaronhazouri]

it's the mustache! And the glasses but mostly that mustache.

[@brianmoore5498]

these jim downeys are really something special

[@CB-ke7eq]

Norm had this charmingly innate deadpan that you seem to find in Canada and the upper Midwestern US, but his is unique.

[@user-hf2ut2jk5y]

More Jim Downey please. Thanks

[@thbemky827]

"theres not really a great place to laugh in that joke" omg when he said that I started crying laughing.. that is hilarious

[@kevinw712]

what he says there at the end doesn't really surprise me at all. In one of Norm's several different Howard Stern appearances, I remember him saying once how hilarious he personally found it when he absolutely bombs. Of course not that he WANTS to bomb onstage, but whenever it happens, he's never disillusioned by it, and still appreciates the absurdity of it occurring. That you're completely failing in literally the only thing you're intended to do in that moment -- making them laugh.

[@andrewgonzalez6208]

“He waged a battle!”