I Never Understood Norm Macdonald

[@InReserveProductions]

"I never understood Norm MacDonald" sounds like the set up to a killer Norm MacDonald joke.

[@zym6687]

I didn't even know he was funny!

[@zenmode88]

I feel bad that I never found him the least bit funny. As in I've never laughed even once at his jokes.

[@schergerbear]

Do you own a doghouse??

[@RelaxWithAaron]

He was great because entertainers have to answer to so many people, the people who own their contract and the people they want to entertain. He didn’t care about anything other than telling a joke, sometimes they were like OMG he said that, but the times were a lot different. His jokes today would get him canceled by many groups.

[@MrGrifft]

It's that thick Canadian accent. Barely comprehensible.

[@richardrolison9932]

"If you die to cancer, the cancer dies too. In my book that's not a loss, but a draw." -Norm MacDonald RIP

[@oboroth51]

Cope

[@thedrzoidberg4559]

@@oboroth51 This is so wildly inappropriate 🤣

[@YT-Ozymandias]

“I’m pretty sure, I’m not a doctor, but I’m pretty sure if you die, the cancer dies at the same time. That’s not a loss. That’s a draw.” if you're going to put something in quotes maybe actually read the quote

[@Aries4lifes]

You are correct.

[@lego7817]

@@oboroth51 redditor

[@stephengrigg5988]

"It feels like you're losing a book that nobody has copies of." Honestly, Theo is pretty deep here. Losing Norm did seem like we lost this one of a kind relic and we'll never have anyone like him again

[@georgemorenstein]

Nor one like you.

[@rasmusnalleko]

@@georgemorenstein wow, nice comment :)

[@klseytron]

This is why I listen to his book "Based on a True Story: A Memoir" repeatedly. It's essentially a 7 hour bit, that he worked on for years - an absolute gem. He narrates it, couldn't recommend it more.

[@joelglanton6531]

Theo has had a way with words since he was on Road Rules, before he even decided to do comedy. He's one of a kind IMO.

[@wr7662]

Trouble is, everything he says sounds like that, and when you realize that, everything about him just seems really cliché. Comedy is about being funny at all costs, in whatever way that that can be achieved, be that through honesty or fabrication. Theo Von is part of a wave of comedians who are attempting to redefine what comedy is in order to classify themselves as comedians. Imagine a genre of music where none of the artists played any instruments or sang, and instead told you that music is about being yourself and expressing your feelings. That's what Theo Von is like.

[@YawnGod]

"Hey, you want to know a funny joke? While all the comics are going to be talking about the comedy family, I'm just going to die of cancer and not tell anyone about it. Checkmate." Flawless.

[@elponchex]

"And pussy too" - Nick Mullen

[@RemingtonDean]

"So I says to the guy I says to the guy I says..."

[@LeonardNemoy]

@@RemingtonDean I says to him........ I says, "Listen, pal. You canNOT talk to me that way..... But I will allow you to on the ONE condition that I have a dance with your beautiful young daughter."

[@LLlap]

The Moth joke has a history. Norm didn't expect to have another segment that night and had nothing prepared for the last 5 minutes. So he went on to improvise and fill the time.

[@drunkpikachu420]

He took a street joke and made it his own.

[@gabrieljohnson4213]

It's the Shaggy Dog joke format.

[@drunkpikachu420]

@@gabrieljohnson4213 exactly, I love it

[@timmian85]

even funnier is that he remembered that joke because also famously non-famous comedian Colin Quinn had told it to him very recently.

[@georgesotiriou7051]

Norm has said that but Norm has been known to be economical with the truth. There is no way to completely make up a joke of such insane quality on the spot. Elements of it certainly but not from scratch. I mean take the dirty Johnny joke (Stephen Merchant version). Is it possible that he came up with it on the spot too? I don't think so.

[@johnnyb6067]

“The best cancer can do is tie.” I grew up watching him on SNL and he’s been my favorite comedian since.

[@Physics072]

good for you

[@Len124]

​@@Physics072 I couldn't possibly imagine what, but I hope you got something out of that. It's a KZbin comment - how insightful would it have to be for you to not leave this sarcastic fart of a reply? While it might be strange to some that your first instinct to reading a comment you think wasted your time is to waste more time by replying, "good for you," I imagine someone with a blackhole of a personality like you has an lifelong familiarity with fundamentally self-defeating behaviour.

[@Physics072]

@@Len124 Have another drink. You sound like mean old drunk. Sober up come back and say something nice if you can't, don't come back.

[@BeeHatGuy]

Rogan trying to make typing into a mystical experience is on brand for him

[@legoqueen2445]

I know who Rogan is because of course I know who he is but have never actually listened to a whole podcast of his or was familiar with him as an entertainer or anything. I watched a review of his recent stand up thing on Netflix on a KZbin channel a few weeks ago and I almost feel sorry for the guy. Like to be around so many comediennes and have access to anyone in Hollywood as such, yet to have absolutely no comedic talent in yourself or explanation for your celebrity status except you got onto the podcast thing before anyone else and really made it blow up, must be so humiliating! Like you can tell dude really admires comediennes and wants to be one, but he just doesn't have it! Like it would be tragic if he wasn't a multi billionaire who has launched a slurry of talentless hacks who now consider themselves the elites of comedy.

[@rockhaze]

@@legoqueen2445 He probably thinks he's a comedian because he was on Newsradio with Andy Dick and Phil Hartman. I'm with you, I really don't get how he fits into comedy. He roasted Carlos Mencia for not being a real comedian but... it's like... has anyone asked about Joe's comedy? Like, where is it? Lol

[@extremelynormalperson]

I laughed imagining him ascending to nirvana as he types "I identify as an attack helicopter"

[@williamshakemilk2192]

Rogan is a talentless hack. Same with Bill Burr, his best buddy, who thinks Rogan is one of the greats.

[@MsFrostitute]

Massive cringe at this comment, respectfully. Lol ​@@williamshakemilk2192

[@rajesh9585]

The more I learn about this Norm guy, the more I care for him

[@ddd8828]

I liked him a lot until I found out that he said that Brandon Teena deserved to be killed for being a transman. That shit is fucked up.

[@pbdparkbiz602]

Let's go! Keep learning, Brother💪🏽

[@bartsanders1553]

I liked Norm before it was cool to like him.

[@pbdparkbiz602]

@@bartsanders1553 yeahrightlookatthisguy

[@turbobeast42]

The more I learn about norm the more it seems like he's dead

[@jmauer9988]

Norm had a sense of humour that funny people seemed to appreciate the most.

[@halonone]

He was a comedian's comedian

[@HorribleHomeVideo]

this

[@L.C.Sweeney]

Lol that's the stupidest shit I've ever heard

[@0rnery0verwatch]

@@halonone That's the dream, kinda like Patrice o'neal

[@notsocrates9529]

I am not funny and am joyless, Norm is hilarious though.

[@Bottlecap]

I didn’t even know he was sick.

[@Wormfarminc]

No one really did 💔

[@norm77]

First thing I said when he died 😅

[@bigchubb5268]

Reminds me of that tragedy

[@supernotnatural]

He lived his life his way, his comedy his way and he died his way. Not crying or getting attention from others. He was there to help, not to bother other people. Real legend

[@josephkelley8641]

Ahead of Norm's time. Really daring and ballzy guy.

[@momog5615]

He had a true heart and a love of god. The world loss a great man, not just a great comedian

[@behindyou666]

not cocky like so many comedians today

[@brandonthesteele]

"Did you talk to Norm about your dad a lot?" "Never came up, he just made me laugh" Shit, that made me tear up

[@MyUniqueHandle.]

Norm knew Chappelle was 'sick' and gave him the best medicine there is

[@otkare]

what is that clip from? I haven't been able to find it.

[@bastianhahn7320]

@@otkare That's his last comedy special, "Nothing Special"

[@otkare]

@@bastianhahn7320 thanks

[@nickymo]

Losing Norm, Gilbert, & Saget all within 6 months hit me way harder than I ever would have anticipated. I miss them alot.

[@velocityJE]

Forgot they were so close together. Comedy stalwarts never to be repeated

[@kky10xz19]

You knew both of them?

[@samuelwoods164]

@@kky10xz193 names there and you can miss people you don’t know and it can hit you hard…. Probably would have hit me harder if I didn’t find my best friend passed away and was with another friend when someone tried to kill them within 5 days of each other, this was within months of Norm passing.

[@Jimmywoodstock]

What? I didn't even know they were sick.

[@samuelwoods164]

@@Jimmywoodstock Bob Sagat seemed to have some head injury I believe.

[@DuoMetronome]

Regarding the moth joke, Norm said Conan wanted him to stay after the commercial break and he didn't know how to fill up the time. The whole moth joke was off the cuff; that's his genius.

[@jaded9234]

From what I heard, Colin Quinn had told the actual joke to him not long before and he just ran with it on Conan.

[@HibeeMcbee]

@@jaded9234yes, he elongated a 1 liner to last 6 minutes:

[@Monkey_Boy9602]

"I had to walk through blood and bones trying to find my brother! He was in Northern Canada." 😅 I absolutely love this guy! His 9/11 jokes got me everytime! He is so missed.

[@timmian85]

it was a national tragedy

[@inspirationalquote3645]

@@timmian85 We lost 19 of our best guys.

[@Vivi_9]

@@timmian85 the same number of people died every day in the nation during the pandemic and half the country thought it was a scam lol

[@timmian85]

@@Vivi_9 go wear a mask then.

[@Vivi_9]

@timmian85 ah so you're joking about 9/11 being a tragedy and also find it hilarious, I got it!

[@nowthis9614]

Norm had a neighbor who was a professor of logic at the University of Science. Norm was a family man, the guy who owns a doghouse.

[@AI-ke9pp]

My neighbor was a gay man

[@johnindigo5477]

​@@AI-ke9ppcloseted gay man.

[@nikezoo8969]

@AI-ke9pp Are you a professor of logic?​

[@RicRags]

Always was a big fan of Norm because of how different his style was. He was really good at subtext.

[@MatsThyWit]

Norm's jokes always seemed to surprise me, but yet somehow be the most obvious joke I'd ever heard. It was universally relatable and totally unexpected. When I watched or listened to Norm I experienced genuine joy. I'll forever appreciate him for that.

[@terremoto6663]

And he also taught me about Albert Fish! 😮

[@terremoto6663]

​@@MatsThyWityou knew from the getgo that the joke is gonna be a train wreck, but you are excited to see how other people are going to react to this "failure". Serving a youthful poipose is one example, or the Swedish-German joke. They are all from a dad joke almanach. And somehow it always worked.

[@MatsThyWit]

@@terremoto6663 The Youthful Porpoise joke is brilliant specifically because A.) It's the stupidest joke and he's got the balls to tell it on national television, and B.) He almost steamrolls the punchline on purpose in an attempt to play it off like it's not even a joke. It's hilarious.

[@ChildOfChrist89]

​@@terremoto6663Albert Fish was a real jerk!

[@Julian-u7l]

“…and I remembered I still have whiskey left!” Great approach at not taking life too seriously and stay in ownership of your own peace

[@victorkreig6089]

*hwhisky

[@EdgyVidyaGeneral]

The crocodile hunter observation is so fucking funny

[@nealorr5086]

I have yet to find the video for the whole bit online. There's audio. He came on to sell his Audio CD and just wrecked the entire building, for fun.

[@UltrafineDeluxe]

@@nealorr5086 It's on DailyMotion as "Norm Macdonald - Crocodile Hunter bit - Full Interview Sept. 2006".

[@rickr3385]

Norm Macdonald - Crocodile Hunter bit - Full Interview Sept. 2006 3:30 in.

[@valueinvestor77]

“If” there is an afterlife. I’m almost sure Steve Irwin would piss himself laughing at that joke.

[@SpaceMissile]

@@rickr3385 nice work, hero

[@KarazolaX]

I love Norm MacDonald but I'll be real: He'd really hate the way people treat him like a saint postmortem.

[@manwithoutacountry]

Agreed. And the fact that he, or rather the "idea of Norm", is being used to contrast with all these other comics that people like to hate for a whole host of unrelated reasons.

[@preciousgorgeousralf137]

He’d fucking hate this video and the guy who made it.

[@youtubedj9298]

Yes, I'm sure somebody with an anime profile pic speaks for Norm MacDonald. As we all know, Norm was a closet furry and weeb. That kind of porn produces an orgasm 10% greater than the one you might have experienced last thursday.

[@Chonus]

No way Joe said "Us" as if he's a part of the top 250 comedians in the world. 😂😂

[@ALIENjoy]

Especially in response to Katt talking about people being closed minded about comedy. Went right over Joe’s shiny, hypnotic, beautifully perfect head.

[@Jargen52134]

Joe Rogan desperately wants the world to consider him a comedian rather than a presenter.

[@joebaumgart1146]

Agreed

[@brettedward2399]

The look on Katt's face when he said it too. He's like "Who is us?!?"

[@ChicCanyon]

250 living comedians? He's objectively on that list. There aren't 100 making real money. He's not my cup of tea but by audience size and money earned from stand up hes top 5-10 currently working. Hate him sure. Whatever. But he's at the top of the anthill. So was Larry the Cable Guy. So was Carlos Mencia. They suck but reality exists. Kim Kardashian is the biggest tv star of this millennia. Your perspective is littered with personal bias

[@JonGabriel]

"Humility." You nailed it right there. Norm would chat with anyone on Twitter/X, big names and nobodies, treating them with the same high level of respect. So, so many people start out great (comedians, musicians, authors, et al.) and when they get even a little fame, the quality of their work falls off a cliff. Never stop learning from others whether they have a Ph.D. or they mow your lawn. Humility is key.

[@MisterN1]

Norm trolling Joe Rogan will always be one of the funniest things ever.

[@sporolol75]

Facts😂 Norm left so many epic traces of ownage

[@senseiii3986]

Sauce??

[@BenMelluish]

@@senseiii3986 I don't believe there was any sauce involved.

[@educationalporpoises9592]

@@BenMelluish There was actually. Tons of spaghetti sauce, I don't know what they were thinking on that cooking show.

[@norm77]

Whaaaat

[@blekkster]

Renzy, your channel is criminally underrated. Your analysis of pop culture figures has both opened my eyes to incredible examples of humanity and expanded on my appreciation for incredible people like Norm. Thank you, and keep up the great work 👍

[@Renzy_YT]

thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words and support :)

[@melangalade]

today is the 3rd anniversary of his death. rest in peace Norm

[@ObliqueVisualsNz]

No way its been that fast allready? I didnt even know he was sick

[@anothergamingchannel2656]

I had to Google it just to make sure this wasn't a troll. Holy crap it's already been 3 years?! Feels like he just passed a year and a half ago or so. Wow

[@mitchellwright5478]

Oh he died? I didn’t even know he was sick. I’ll miss that lump of coal.

[@Maw0]

I remember where I was. I was freaking heartbroken.

[@ryansturdivant387]

That's crazy, I can't believe it's been that long already. We should all go to Denny's and wear a hat

[@ravenmarine2015]

Norm is the only guy i know that can make a joke and make it even funnier by explaining it.

[@norm77]

True

[@j_obaymaac2886]

7:15 Super Dave played along with the bit, was not really that offended.

[@Gr8Layks]

100% 👍🏻

[@imkingmailru]

Super Dave was a savage. No way would he get offended by a joke

[@Rukimix]

He just didn't understand Super Dave too, new video coming up

[@nealorr5086]

@@Rukimix Yeah, this guy should leave off comedians. That take was dumb, but not quite as dumb as the Marc Maron one.

[@friedsensei]

This video is farmed from clips, which get you like 80% of the way there. Watching the full super Dave interview reveals the far funnier truth that he was fully commited to playing the straight man, and ends up breaking at the Lindsay Lohan joke of all things. Telling his guests that Adam is a prolific anti semite is also a better encapsulation of norm than anything shown in this pseudo-ai waste of time.

[@Copacetic94]

The single most DIFFICULT clip to watch was Joe Rogan trying to get Katt Williams to agree on how many “true comedians” are out in the world. Rogan has absolutely zero business making that comment and he’s lucky Williams didn’t lambast him on the spot…

[@nathaninostroza7655]

And phucking Katt s such a real dude, he couldnt behave like a stupid embarrasing himself on Joe s show. It s painful to watch such self importance over something that phuck isnt done shit to lift, like Patrice O Neal, Norm and Greg Giraldo. Ppl who were phucking unique. It's crazy that Joe isnt humble enough to tell anyone he s just standing on the shoulders of giants.

[@Marta1Buck]

The dude needs to learn humility for sure.

[@victorkreig6089]

Williams isn't all that great either lol

[@Copacetic94]

@@victorkreig6089 fair point… they’re probably both just narcissists anyway lol

[@ExecutionerHopkins]

​@@victorkreig6089 hes richard pryor when you put him next to rogan tho.

[@Al33m240]

It wasn’t just humility that made him likeable, it was that he also wasn’t afflicted with false humility. He knew he was one of the best.

[@BonIvermectin]

Yup. Fake humility is just as repulsive as obnoxious arrogance, maybe moreso

[@TSGC16]

Whats the difference between humility and fake humility? Genuinely asking

[@johnindigo5477]

​@@TSGC16i guess acting humble then doing the opposite

[@ExecutionerHopkins]

​@@TSGC16 fake humility is calling yourself humble and doing things in front of others to make you look humble. Real humble people arent even aware of their humility.

[@BIG_Z_69]

I’m not sure that’s true

[@thenugwhisperer]

Rogan speaks about comedy as some sort of high art form full of all of these intricacies that only a chosen few can understand, yet he’s a garbage standup.

[@Liusila]

I mean it can be absolutely masterful, maybe he’s just admiring the comedians better than himself.

[@ajaxsid9034]

It's ain't that serious lil bro, put the fries in the bag. -Norm if he was Gen Z

[@jacksonskidmore5903]

​@@ajaxsid9034unfunny and unoriginal?

[@BIG_Z_69]

Amen. Rogans standup is one of the worst

[@youtubedj9298]

@@ajaxsid9034 ?

[@etothez9898]

At first I thought he was overhyped then he clicked with me. He is the smartest man in the room playing the dumb one. He is really intelligent and quick witted. For me what makes him funny is that he makes jokes which are funny to him and that translates. Also his set ups, they are incredible

[@Zack-bl2gg]

Norm is real-guy funny. He’s the type of guy that’s funniest when you’re sitting down by the campfire with him. That’ll never have mainstream success, but it’ll be funnier every time you tell the joke

[@hellohellohellohellohello-h5l]

He was one of the most famous and successful comedians over the last 30 years. I'd say he had plenty of mainstream success.

[@tylerdurden788]

​@@hellohellohellohellohello-h5lhe waz good on Orville

[@GodIwishIknew]

@@hellohellohellohellohello-h5l not as much as he deserved compared to all the hacks we have today

[@josephkelley8641]

@@hellohellohellohellohello-h5l Norm knocked it out of the park.

[@josephkelley8641]

@@GodIwishIknew Norm's performance at one of the White House dinners has to be the greatest ever there. They were all on the floor.

[@chrundle00]

Fantastic video, but you left out the best detail of his Moth Joke I'm neither Norm nor Conan, but as I heard/remember the story: Norm was supposed to do one segment - I believe that maybe the 2nd guest couldn't make it, and as they went to commercial to end Norm's segment, Conan revealed they needed him to stay for the next The first thing Norm thought of was the Moth joke, which he had heard years prior. The joke was about 30 seconds long. Norm asked Conan how long the segment was. Conan said 4 minutes. Norm thought "I guess I can make that joke last 4 minutes..." My favourite part is watching Norm trying not to laugh as he thinks of certain bits for the first time, like "My son.... .... ....I no longer love him."

[@yo-gl6df]

I hope you know Super Dave was acting when he was getting annoyed at the jokes and when he was insulting the podcast the whole episode.

[@redare7]

A man who started by doing impossible stunts that were hysterical might occasionally act to get a laugh? Super Dave is fantastic and doesn't break character.

[@floxy20]

It was so obvious Super Dave was part of the bit.

[@user-ne9sd4ow1o]

Watching Super Dave on VHS is a core memory I will never forget 😂 It was like Jackass before Jackass 😅

[@damienbailey7375]

Very subtle clip but the one where Russell Brand instantly recognizes that he's genuinely struggling with mortality is heart breaking. Norm stutters at being caught

[@user-ne9sd4ow1o]

I like how human Russell seems. Not as disconnected as other famous people.. Maybe it's cuz I loved him in Forgetting Sarah Marshall 😅

[@youtubedj9298]

"I was young once. Now I'm OLD." Any half intelligent person paying attention would know that Norm was sick if they paid attention to him talking about being old and dying.

[@tomdatank]

with norms age, he always had a watery glimmer to his eyes which always made me feel warm, sad and happy.

[@norm77]

That was nice touch

[@HibeeMcbee]

The key thing about Norm is he doesn’t care if you find it funny, he is amusing himself and that’s all that matters.

[@Alexander_Grant]

I will die on the hill that Norm MacDonald Live is the funniest piece of media ever created, the Super Dave one was a masterpiece. The only celebrity death I've ever felt anything about, I had watched everything he did religiously for years, but finally was making enough money to travel to comedy shows. I had seen a few, but was waiting for things to open back up and I was willing to travel across the country to go see him. He'll forever go down as the greatest in my book. The video Saget did right after he passed away was tough, but I watched it almost as soon as he released it, and just like Saget said, I was one of those weirdos up at 3AM when he released the video that watched it. It was really cool seeing how much praise he got, most people I had talked to didn't know much about him before he passed away, but after, I found more people understanding. It's too bad he didn't have that while he was still alive. I still stick his jokes into conversations all the time.

[@LOLFLUSHDRAW]

him and robin william's deaths really hurt

[@gsmprodofficial]

Just off the deeply-closeted gay man joke I gaslit my entire class all throughout high school into thinking I might be a "deeply-closeted gay man."

[@lonewolfprogrammer8932]

You're definitely right about Norm Macdonald Live, but the Steven Merchant episode is my favourite. It was so cool seeing David Letterman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey etc. do the podcast just because they loved Norm, I miss checking the channel for a new episode several times a day☹

[@samstephens5099]

​@lonewolfprogrammer8932 that's a banger. Although the 30 minute introduction/praise of Robert Blake prior to interviewing Fred Stoller was something else

[@charlieruisseau2476]

I prefer Steven Merchant or the Gilbert ones but yeah, he was great.

[@Lasergunjesus]

Absolute legend. Transformed a whole generation of conversational sarcasm without most people even realizing it.

[@renatoism]

SNL firing Norm because he told too many OJ jokes turned out to be another Norm bit. In actuality Norm left SNL in solidarity with Weekend update writer Jim Downy. SNL fired Downy and Norm left with him. Norm was a great friend and a wonderful human being.

[@nealorr5086]

Wasn't it Downy that was righting the OJ jokes with Norm?

[@NotKimiRaikkonen]

Thanks for calling out how self-righteous comedians come-off as. You're not some sort of watchdog over society, any more than the actors who think what they do is more than dressing up and pretending to be someone else... these people are so insecure, they have to convince themselves they're curing cancer.

[@CorbCorbin]

Yeah, and most of the great ones, will admit that, and talk about it, once they’re older. Some talk about it too much. 😄

[@mrjuanderfuI]

@@NotKimiRaikkonen it hasnt always been this bad. Podcasts have made it wayyy worse

[@vitriolicAmaranth]

Gadflies used to call themselves philosophers (or were claimed by them, at least; Was Socrates even a self-proclaimed philosopher, or did Plato just call him that because Plato thought Socrates was wise and badass, and Plato considered himself wise and badass and a philosopher?) and now call themselves comedians, but the only problem with them is that they're neither. If the only issue is a label, I have no gripe with a person, and I think people who have problems with gadflies are usually people who are themselves deeply morally perverted and self-righteous. To anyone else they range from merely inane to lovable. But yes, someone whose job is just being funny doesn't need to pretend they are society's antidote, and a gadfly is often incidentally funny but not when they're actually masquerading as a comedian. I would argue Norm was actually both, but didn't make an effort to be both at once.

[@justinklenk]

​@@vitriolicAmaranth Well said, man. 👍

[@opaljk4835]

I don’t think it’s their fault as much as it is the way we treated Hollywood during its golden age, or during the heyday of the rockstar or how we treated the legacy of Lenny Bruce and George Carlin and the like during the last couple comedy booms. Before social media, these people’s opinions and ideas seemed to have more cultural cache. Nowadays it’s a lot easier for us to say the things these people used to in our day to day lives, and a ton more people could possibly see it any day or the week. We don’t need mouthpieces, we don’t want self important dickheads. But we love to prop them up, almost as much as we love to tear them down. Who knows. Norms the best.

[@garbags9610]

Out of all the youtube rabbitholes there is , Norm is always my favourite one to go down

[@NealBauer]

I will go down on Norm MacDonald all day long... ...WAIT! I MEAN NORM MACDONALD RABBIT HOLES!

[@LeonardNemoy]

@@NealBauer what, do you own a dog house or something? I MEAN, THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT!

[@MrKurtykurt]

“If all these people came to see me to laugh, and then, they don’t, well, that’s a big surprise”😅

[@heavysystemsinc.]

I think Norm's appeal was he was deeply cynical in an 'aww shucks' kinda way. He'd tell an extremely shocking and dark joke and go 'what?' afterwards, like an uncle over for Christmas getting strange looks from the family because he gave his 15 year old nephew a subscription to Playboy magazine as a gift. "What? I mean, he's gotta learn about women from somewhere and his mom is just gonna tell him to go his room instead! I took that into consideration!" Also, I'm pretty annoyed by the fact his sitcom was cancelled after a single season, adding to my laundry list of shows that I adored and were cancelled too soon. I recommend looking it up. It's not the best thing ever, but it was the best thing at the time, if you ask me.

[@sporolol75]

Yea, Norm was a genius comic acting as a demented Alzheimer patient since he was a youngster.

[@YenpisW]

Read that in his voice 😂

[@Ryan-sf8nf]

Just a note but I’m pretty sure Bob Einstein aka Super Dave was just playing the straight man to Norm and Adam.

[@oz_jones]

He 100% was

[@agawtdangedbear]

Absolutely

[@TheRealGr33nGuy]

Oh definitely, you can see him breaking in some parts.

[@trekkiejunk]

Exactly. He played that role on Letterman a lot back in the 80's, and a version of it was present in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and even in the Comedians in Cars interview with Seinfeld. It was his whole schtick. He was rarely out of that character.

[@silverfilmsofficial]

The guy just makes me so happy, and seeing people struggle with his humour (you know the clips) is just incredibly funny and very telling of the people who couldnt deal with him. He never got angry or frustrated, never lost his cool. The biggest balls in comedy and he showed us all how to enjoy yourself through hardships and pain. The guy was and is so inspiring and lovable, its sad that we didnt get a little bit more of him but what we got is so much

[@AdamDoesntReadPinnedComments]

"I don't understand why Norm McDonald was funny" is such a natural preface to presenting Andrew Schulz, Joe Rogan, Bert Kreischer, and Brendan Schaub as at the forefront of a new comedic wave.

[@noahquiles5791]

I couldn’t tell if that was serious or sarcasm when Brendan Schaub was put on the screen…

[@momog5615]

Anyone who doesn’t understand why Norm is funny doesn’t understand humor.

[@GlacialScion]

There's no way you watched this video if you still don't know.

[@Gandhi_Physique]

@@noahquiles5791 I thought he was funny, but I grew tired of hearing stuff from him pretty quick. Now I just feel bad for him.

[@ElliorTim]

he said he didn't know. those guys are the examples of mainstream comedians who have lost touch with their audiences.

[@TheEmiljoergensen]

This describes it so well. Having stumbled upon him too late all I can say is it seems he was a great human. He has already managed to do much just for me in a few years and a wifi connection.. And good proof that even if he was great comic, his qualities as a person was the more important part. What he did is art. In the most genuine sense. Worthy of emulation by many in the commercialized art forms of our day. The 'surprise' being the main thing to being funny often also just seems to be such a master-observation. Thank you for good, kind presentation.

[@krueger92]

The thing I love about Norm is he’s always breaking the rules of comedy and managing to do it in a comedically structured way. Like, he’ll explain the punchline of a joke, but with perfect timing. Check out his turtle joke.

[@BlueGamingRage]

This popped into my feed, and now I need to rewatch all of his best bits. Thank you

[@TheComedyHistorian]

Renzy, Great video! I have a video on Norm coming out tomorrow for the anniversary of our old chunk of coal’s death. Just wanted to tell you I didn’t swipe your idea, we just had a classic case of parallel thinking. Love your editing style man, thanks for covering Normie ❤

[@Renzy_YT]

Thank you for the love, I'll keep an eye out for it :D I appreciate you and your content as well! Also don’t worry about the parallel thinking thing. I don’t own the topic and I’ve seen enough of your content to know you’re both consistent and super original. Excited to see you grow 🙌🏼

[@emcvideoproductions500]

This video helped me appreciate Norm even more than I used to. It still hurts knowing that he’s gone but he’ll always be remembered for how much laughter and love he brought to the world.

[@mrjuanderfuI]

This is such a good breakdown and I'm only halfway through The ability to stay humble after success is such a mark of the great comedians. Unfortunately, they're becoming a rarer and rarer breed these days. RIP Norm

[@timmian85]

he always grounded himself by donating all his money to a casino if he felt he had too much success.

[@LostGirlAt22]

This is a very sweet video, rip norm

[@johng.4711]

Maron’s reply to Whitney was perfect.

[@Sndwvvvve]

Whitney is not, and has never been, remotely funny.

Because he did the show, don't tell equivalent. Be funny, don't tell us what your 'job' is. Just frickin do it. Do all those things Whitney, don't just tell us you are doing it.

[@hectorg5809]

neither has Maron

[@nealorr5086]

It would be perfect, if Maron were not the exact style of unfunny , cancel culture "comedian" that Cummings was railing against.

[@DrDingusDDS]

I told the moth joke in my wedding vows, to wildly different reactions. Some people laughed very little, and others laughed not at all. It ended with vague confusion. I meant to take it all back in the end by saying my wife is the light of my life and I’m just a silly moth, but I forgot that part. It bothered me for months - but now I realize Norm would’ve loved it, and that gives me peace.

[@geoffmerrill164]

Which joke did you go with at your divorce hearing?

[@canaanite23]

​@@geoffmerrill164 lol

[@notyourfriendbuddy]

@@geoffmerrill164battle axe

[@cornybeatz1681]

Norm loved the craft so much that he literally died before letting anyone worry about him and sour the mood.. this makes me cry both out of the triumph of actually going through with it, also out of the loss and the fact that he did it alone. I don't think there will ever be a better example of a true, pure comic. As Theo said, it's like losing a book that nobody has a copy of. There's not one famous person on earth I miss more than Norm. It actually hurts.. and I've never met the guy.

[@patrickrowles5747]

What you said. I can think of comedians who've made me laugh harder, but none who made me feel such warmth, affection and respect as Norm did. If there's a heaven, and I get to go, I'd love to see him there and tell him. I think there'll be a long queue.

[@codystrader7594]

Norm didn’t tell anyone so everyone got a chance to say “I didn’t even know he was sick.”

[@jimcabtv]

This video is absolutely moving and compelling You have a gift for storytelling

[@alkamino]

You bring me here to make me cry dude? Is this a set up? Not but really, I love this video. Norm is the best and you put it perfectly clear for me. Thank you

[@dcl32]

What an incredible tribute. Beautifully made.

[@jeffdecker627]

Watching this has honestly made me ashamed of myself for ever watching a Tom Segura video. Norm was, and still is, the GOAT

[@rasmusn.e.m1064]

Don't be. If you find him funny, he's funny to you, and he is doing his job. You can dislike how he does certain things and still love his comedy. The world is not a fucking chessboard where everything is either completely black or white; you're allowed to like people despite their ugly sides. I'll stand down from my soapbox now xD

[@timmian85]

there is a laundry list of comedians i dont find funny, but they have vocally sung Norm's praises for years - so i sort of keep myself from hating them completely. Tom and Bert are on that list, Rogan too.

[@isaacsee3807]

yea i agree with the other comment, but his comedy changed as he got rich and those clips of him ate just jaw dropping, at least he gave examples of comics with humility, i mean its kinda blown me away realizing how self righteous some of these comics are, i mean shane gillis on JRP is a perfect example

[@dean988]

@@isaacsee3807?

[@batzzz2044]

I am going to go the other route......yup, you probably should.

[@Maximus61589]

Dammit I’m crying over Norm again.

[@Mr.Isquierdo]

5:50 Norm was telling David Letterman goodbye in that clip. Thats why he got so choked up.

[@TJ-kk5zf]

He was saying goodbye to everyone, and to life

[@HOTD108_]

​@@TJ-kk5zfYou think he was doing that in 2014?

[@TJ-kk5zf]

@HOTD108_ yeah, he had cancer then

[@marceames4670]

Yeah... It was confronting to watch then because it seemed so inexplicably sincere. Now I know why it was so sincere and it's even harder to watch

[@jarodandrews7425]

Wow, what a behemoth of a video. Kudos sir, I got teary eyed there.

[@DannyBellTheAuthor]

Norm has been my favorite comic for as long as I can remember. I can name exactly one stand up comic from the last 20 years that I'd call a genius, and it's him.

[@TheAgentAssassin]

I still like Norm's super long jokes where the punch line is so lame it's hilarious. ""Because he was a real jerk."

[@EJD339]

That moth joke is very similar to one we heard and told 20 years ago where youd tell a long story about finding a girl you that you fall in love with and eventually you get the beach and can’t be worth her because she has no toes and you’re lack toes intolerant

[@tyerker]

A beautiful tribute to one of my absolute heroes.

[@norm77]

I dont like him

[@Taylor_5724]

i love the shade being thrown here lmao

[@ItsVeX]

I knew a lot of people thought he was hilarious but everytime I watched his stuff I didn't really feel it. You on the other hand got me to atleast appreciate him for what he was doing and giving him another chance. Presenting comedy the way he did, as just something natural really feels different and heart wearming. Made me actually tear up a bit that we lost someone that special. Great work!

[@Bonez0r]

7:02 The Super Dave episode was NOT an example of a guest becoming physically uncomfortable. He was in on the joke, he played along, he was part of the bit and skillfully added to it. Norm, Dave and Adam each had their role to play and that's what made that episode so great.

[@jdguitar1040]

This is a deeply thoughtful, informative video essay, Renzy. And even when you're somewhat slagging someone in the vid, or a particular attitude or behavior, it's done in a very honest/measured and respectful way. Really appreciate this vid, man. Great work, and endless respect and love to Norm :)

[@SLR762]

Excellent video.

[@JohnnyLobes]

I saw an artist in the street who had drawn a little picture as Norm. I had to buy it because Norm to me is the funniest person. He didn't pat himself on the back like so many other comedians do.

[@brandoncarroll587]

As someone who bought merch from Tom (after years of adoring everything YMH) and then within six months stopped watching any of his podcasts I appreciate this.

[@aR0ttenBANANA]

Did anyone truly understand him? This man genuinely lived in an alternate existence, even his friends didn’t get him truly. What was amazing about him was how much getting a tiny insight into him made you adore his work and person.

[@norm77]

He was real jerk

[@pbdparkbiz602]

Some of these clips are so insanely grounded. He was tapped in to people. It's really the best skill as a comedian

[@CMKarm]

This was really well written. I can say I've never missed someone I never met like I miss Norm. Amazing video friend.

[@dattrax7]

Thank you this work. He's grown on me over the years. Especially now at 50. Love his appearance on Conan on his last episode.

[@thenellierose]

I clicked because I found it incomprehensible that someone didn't understand Norm Macdonald. In sixteen minutes you showed me I never understood him either. Thank you.

[@Kruzun]

Norms been a top fav for me forever. this has to be one of the best videos I've seen on him yet. great job!

[@TheSmark666]

That Joe Rogan clip and Whitney Cummings tweet had me rolling. Acting as if self-proclaimed "comedians" are some integral part of civilized society and the world somehow wouldn't be the same without them. I know when there's an issue with a street/road or the power goes out during a storm or the sewer gets backed or the garbage needs to be taken to the landfill, I call one of the local standup clubs and ask them to send their funniest 'comedians'.

[@casanovafunkenstein5090]

I feel like there is a purpose for comedians who interrogate the status quo and get you to consider things from a new perspective, but the people who try and present themselves as iconoclasts are more often than not so utterly milquetoast and conservative that it's utterly laughable. It's just like how the amount of time you spend talking about Jesus is inversely correlated with how similar to Jesus you are. They want the social capital of speaking truth to power without putting in the effort to really immerse themselves in the subject matter or taking any genuine risks.

[@vlada]

They're as delusional as Tom Cruise is about his powers over space, time, matter and how he knows how only "he" can help.

[@diceland512]

thx for keeping his memory alive with this kind video

[@ShutterContinent]

12:07 I thought you were going to say he is deeply closeted

[@user-pd5ot4zd4b]

Hehe, actually, I sometimes wondered if maybe he was! His comedy sometimes had a few kinks and themes, and not just OJ!

[@user-ne9sd4ow1o]

Name another comedian that goes on an all women's talk show and has great chemistry.. He was atleast bi 😅

[@forgetfulstranger]

Norm seems like a simple guy who is like an open book, the dumb guy who lies to get his way, smiles his way through his life as if the tragedy of it didnt register in his small brain. Yet the more you listen to his unique words and study his mischievous, grinning countenance, you realise he's a true, authentic free spirit who says what's on his mind and reacts with quick wit, always with a surprise attack, sometimes shockingly vulgar and other times introspective and moving. I'm watching his NML podcast and i swear i learn new words every episode, new anecdotes, new wisdoms while giggling at the most ridiculously, gratuitous jokes. And his stoicism with his declining health, that actually started quite early on in his adulthood... i feel like I'm rambling on but I truly miss him, that old chunk of coal may have thought he was just that but to all of us he was a diamond.

[@mercster]

If you think Super Dave (Bob Einstein) was uncomfortable, well, there's your next guy to learn about.

[@Cosmicshambler]

Joe talking about this is so funny cause like bro have you seen your new special

[@God0fForge]

This is an excellent video that I feel like Norm would hate.

[@dyldog]

4:49 never been a huge Rife fan, never got his style (except on Wild n Out he’s pretty good), but this setup and payoff in like 3 seconds is great

[@RicoBanani]

Love Norm and loved his book. Have a read

[@tomrowell1558]

“Shaggy dog stories” is what they call those kinda long-winded jokes Norm would tell with lots of random irrelevant information thrown in, the term has been around for ages but I’ve never seen or heard of anyone doing them quite like Norm, only came across his stuff just before he died and I was still so sad when he passed - would’ve loved to have met him and listen to one of his jokes for however long it took for him to tell it, the longer the better even

[@jdguitar1040]

I have now watched the first 6 minutes of this, but have to stop and go to work. But this can't wait, I gotta write it now: Thank you for making this vid. Though I'm not even halfway through, I can tell you've nailed some very important ideas/truths here and I can't wait to get back from work to finish. Thank you, and Norm FOREVER.

[@Being_Joe]

I watched Norm on SNL when I was a kid. Always loved him and used to wonder why he was never as famous as others. When I got older I realized the greatest did not need to get famous.

[@AndersRB]

This was beautifully made for a beautiful person, thank you.

[@legoqueen2445]

I'm one of those people who just doesn’t get him. I've tried because there's been so much said about him. I respect that he stayed quiet about his illness towards the end of his life. I've watched his routines and sometimes I've laughed and sometimes I've gotten impatient and given up before the punch line. There was one time, I think it wasca podcast, where he introduced a whole heap of his ventroquliquist dolls (no way I spelt that correct). And he had a different voice for each doll. That was hilarious. He kept laughing at himself, that was especially endearing because ofcourse, it being a podcast, you can't see him so he probably hasn’t got any dolls with him at all! But he was true to the bit, describing the dolls legs swigging, goggly eyes, each one had a different voice. It was genius and silly and wholesome and funny all at once. If that's what people love about him, then I get it and Im said I haven’t experienced more of it.

[@geoffmerrill164]

"Do or do not. There is no try"

[@nealorr5086]

It was on Dennis Miller's radio show.

[@dean988]

thats how i used to think about him, then i stopped trying to force myself to see why people like him and randomly it clicked a few years later

[@pigpig252]

Norm did the delivery like nobody else. His jokes never hit the same told by anyone else

[@supercrownjosie7732]

I just have one thing to say about this video: all the stars are here!

[@JohnathanHoff]

I checked this out worried somebody didn't like normie..... I was so moved by this video what a great highlight of the greatest.....I was missing him extra today now I'm crying thanks Lol

[@DPSFSU]

Norm was an absolute genius of a comic. So missed.

[@notyourfriendbuddy]

That old chunk of coal is now a diamond.