A funny fearless Canadian, a dirty dog, an ol chunk of coal… Norm Macdonald went by a variety of nicknames throughout his illustrious career in comedy., But to me, he was the embodiment of that endearing drunk uncle who could leave you passed out laughing with just his charm, quick wit, comic timing and cerebral jokes that had a setup as lengthy as the Great Wall of China. However, they usually ended with ‘so bad it’s hilarious’ dad jokes that were pointless yet poignant at the same time.
And that was just the beauty of Norm’s comedic chops; it’s one of many reasons he will be remembered as a masterful comedian and satirist who delivered no matter what. Here are just a few personal favourites that I’ll cherish the most, post his untimely passing.
1. Norm on ‘Conan’
I couldn’t start this list without mentioning both Norm Macdonald and Conan O’Brien in the same sentence. Be it O’Brien’s successful career on The Late Night Show, his short-lived stance on The Tonight Show—or his decade long run on cable with TBS—one consistent aspect you could always count on was that Norm Macdonald would always make an appearance or two. You could also guarantee that he would surely end up derailing the show with his interruptions and downright outrageous shenanigans.
Norm truly shone as the people’s comedian with his side-splitting jokes about his battle-ax wife (whilst promoting his memoir), his light-hearted jabs at the ‘big headed O’Brien’ and his ‘Swedish German sidekick’ Andy Richter, or even with his witty puns about movie titles (yes, I’m talking about the ‘Chairman of the Bored’ incident).
An amusing instance in particular that truly cemented his place as a ‘intellectual prankster’ took place during an interview. He he took off on a tangent to explain his stance on the murder allegations leveled against sprinter Oscar Pistorius back in 2016, only to wittily ensnare O’Brien in an uncomfortable situation and making the host the punchline of his devious yet hysterical joke.
As an English major, I was highly impressed by his use of stream-of-consciousness and wordplay while crafting intellectual jokes. The manner in which he utilised words like ‘alleged’ and ‘little people/midgets,’ incorporating them into his often squirm-inducing but well-meaning set-ups (and ultimately even into his punchlines) was only something that a quick witted devilish genius like Norm could get away with. And the ‘Oscar Pistorius’ anecdote was just one shining example of the same.
Another ‘Norm-ism’ that clicked with me was his unfiltered nature and his brutal honesty, something that he shared with another of my favourite comedians—Ricky Gervais. The man could even go so far as trolling Chef Gordon Ramsay to his face by referring to him as a ‘cook’ (a term that Ramsay often claimed was demeaning to his line of work) and then proceeding to pretend to chop oranges in full view of the famously temperamental chef who thankfully took all the mockery on his chin during a cooking segment that has since amassed a million views on YouTube, and is still my go-to episode of O’Brien’s old Late Night Show. Sadly, it was also the video I was watching when the news of Norm’s passing away hit me like a ton of bricks.
2. SNL’s ‘Celebrity Jeopardy’
This SNL sketch (or rather series of sketches) was probably what introduced me to this legendary comedian in the first place. “Celebrity Jeopardy” was a piss take on the game show Jeopardy!, featuring SNL alum Will Farrell impersonating host Alex Trebek. With Norm at the helm as Burt Reynolds, or rather, ‘Turd Ferguson,’ there was never a dull moment.
Due to Norm’s back and forths with Ferrell, his childish character’s refusal to follow the rules of the gameshow as well as the comically large cowboy hat that Turd Ferguson refused to part with, his arrogant, toothpick-chewing attitude and his penchant for mispronouncing names with hilarious results, this character stands out for me and is just one of my favourite SNL characters of all time alongside Bill Hader’s Stefon.
3. ‘The Orville’
Norm Macdonald on “The Orville.” Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
While Norm wasn’t the main character, but rather a recurring supporting character in “The Orville” (a show that was diehard Trekkie Seth MacFarlane’s tribute to “Star Trek” and will now be known as one of Macdonald’s final roles) he still brought a smile to my face whenever he lent his familiar voice to the corny and horny gelatinous blob aboard the space station, Lieutenant Yaphit.
Lt. Yaphit’s role mainly involved him attempting to seduce his human crush, medical officer Claire Finn (played by Penny Johnson Jerard) while she continues to tell him off for his lotherio-esque approaches. Macdonald brought the same screwball energy to Yaphit that Jamie Farr brought to portraying the oddball Corporal Klinger in the TV adaptation of “M*A*S*H” and effortlessly transformed even a lifeless blob into a lovable, innocent yet silly goofball character whom you’d love to share a drink or two with in outer space.
4. Norm Macdonald Live
Last but not least, this chat show is certainly not for the easily offended; but if you enjoy a satirical take on sociopolitical issues, then be my guest and feel free to binge it. Norm was at his unfiltered best here, interviewing fellow comedians and celebs alike.
His knack for making his guests squirm in their seats with his questions was legendary; his opinions and revelations are best captured in a hilarious turn of events in an episode from Season 3. He interviews Caitlyn Jenner about her memoir and her thoughts post her transition; Macdonald ends up sneakily but tastefully catching her out. He comments on her befuddled stance on trans people and how she refers to herself in her book. The awkward pause that follows—as well as Jenner’s attempts to defend herself—are just the cherry on top of the cake!
That’s the end of my list, but definitely not the end to all Macdonald achieved during his life. He also left behind a rich legacy of standup compilations that you can easily find on YouTube as well as on his Instagram, a Netflix special titled “Norm Macdonald: Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery,” his countless movie roles from the early 2000s that I’m yet to delve into, and even a stint as Colonel Sanders in those ridiculously over the top KFC ads (I still can’t come to terms with Lifetime not casting Norm in their KFC romcom. A missed opportunity!).
In the end, I just want to express my gratitude to this late legend for inspiring me to explore my own comedic voice, be it through writing and critiquing, or through performing silly parody sketches on social media for kicks; and also for normalising the need to be open, honest, and unfiltered. Hopefully I too can follow in his footsteps and successfully make someone squirm or fall off their chair laughing. But until that day comes, there will be nobody quite like the iconic and late Norm Macdonald.
Do you have a favorite role or moment of Norm Macdonald? Share with us in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you.
