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Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

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Old 12-05-02 | 10:52 PM
  #26  
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Thanks for the link to fakenews, but I'm so sad now to see he hasn't been doing anything.

Nobody else has ever made me laugh as hard as Norm. The Norm Show and Dirty Work were both good, but when Norm would go on a talk show, I would actually fall on the floor laughing. But I never liked him on SNL. SNL has been crap for most of it's existence. They've never done anything even comparable with Mr. Show, UCB, Kids in the Hall, Ben Stiller Show, Monty Python, or the State.
Old 12-06-02 | 12:48 AM
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Norm MacDonald was great on WU.. Colin Quinn was horrible.. Jimmy Fallon/Tina Fey have great chemistry and are geared towards a younger, "hipper" crowd.. I like them a lot.

Norm will never be forgotten in my mind, because he said my small-ish hometown of Shoreline, WA is Nazi Germany, in one of the funniest WUs I can remember.
Old 12-06-02 | 06:54 AM
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Originally posted by Jadzia
"Last year's number one worst occupation-- crack whore -- was replaced this year by the new worst occupation: assistant crack whore."
I consider that, structurally, one of the very funniest one-liners I have ever heard in my life. The constuction of the joke is brilliant if you listen to the whole news item.

Puts me in hysterics everytime I hear Norm do it on reruns.

Norm is truly one of those acquired tastes; you either love him or find him the unfunniest human on the planet (I'm in the former group)......
Old 12-06-02 | 01:48 PM
  #29  
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Originally posted by El Scorcho
Miller: A
Nealon: D-
McDonald: C+
Quinn: F
Fey/Fallon: B
This is why I don't post here much, I love every one of them up there, with MacDonald and Quinn being tops. I would be radiculed to pieces for who I like on TV.

I especially like Fey/Fallon because of the "bounce" factor. Each on their own wouldn't be as good, but together they have a synergy. I also apply this theory to people like David Spade and Dana Carvey, where they're funny in things like Tommy Boy & Just Shoot Me and Wayne's World because they can bounce off the other cast. This somewhat applies to Adam Sandler too, as I think films like the Waterboy and Little Nicky are pretty funny, but a lot of it has to do with the supporting cast that he can bounce off of. Who would've ever imagined Henry Winkler in a role like his in the Waterboy?
Old 02-20-14 | 11:06 AM
  #30  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

This is quite a long period of time between posts on a thread (be interested to know whats the longest time between posts....oh well...not that interested).

Any how, watching some Norm on Youtube today and thought i would search some threads here for him. I am actually surprised that Norm is disliked as much as he is here. I thought he was easily the best thing on SNL for a long period of time, and no one came close to him on Update. I think a lot of people simply do not get his sense of humor. I remember hearing him say how he actually loved it when jokes would bomb as he wrote basically wrote (with Frank Sebastiano i think) for himself and not for the studio audience. And i love that about him. Some of his stand ups have been the best i have ever seen and his delivery is so unique that its really easy to watch.

The guy who fired Norm seemed like a massive douche. I read the SNL book and seeing interviews with the cast (there was even a repeat of the VH1 show with Don and Norm talking about this on TV last night) and it seems like Don took offense over the Simpson jokes (My personal favorite being "Folks its official.....Murder is now legal in the state of California") and he took it very personal.
Old 02-20-14 | 01:56 PM
  #31  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Love Norm. Even enjoyed the short-lived Sports Show he did a few years ago. Shame he doesn't get more work.
Old 02-20-14 | 02:09 PM
  #32  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Here's an interview with Norm from a Canadian newspaper, a few weeks ago.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/enterta...170/story.html
Old 02-20-14 | 04:14 PM
  #33  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by james2025a
The guy who fired Norm seemed like a massive douche. I read the SNL book and seeing interviews with the cast (there was even a repeat of the VH1 show with Don and Norm talking about this on TV last night) and it seems like Don took offense over the Simpson jokes (My personal favorite being "Folks its official.....Murder is now legal in the state of California") and he took it very personal.
My favorites were the Michael Jackson jokes.

"Well, there may be trouble in paradise. Lisa Marie Presley confirmed this week that she and Michael Jackson live in separate residences, fifty miles away from each other. Lisa Marie was quoted as saying, 'I guess being married to a homosexual pedophile wasn't such a great idea after all.'"

"Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley plan to divorce due to irreconcilable differences. She's more of a stay-at-home type, and he's more of a homosexual pedophile."

"Micaheal Jackson has decorated his hospital room with giant photographs of Shirley Temple. But don't get the wrong idea, we'd like to remind you that Michael Jackson is, in fact, a homosexual pedophile." (the audience gasps) "What? He is a homosexual pedophile."
Old 02-20-14 | 07:06 PM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

To me, Norm is a solid runner up to Dennis Miller in the fake news sweepstakes (at least as done by SNL). I'd also say I prefer Poehler and Fey to Fallon and Fey.
Old 02-20-14 | 07:29 PM
  #35  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Norm's dead-pan delivery is perfect for the type of acerbic humor he trades in. I didn't even mind his short-lived sitcoms.
Old 02-20-14 | 10:00 PM
  #36  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

I love reading one of my twelve-year-old posts and agreeing with every word of it!

In other news, Kevin Nealon will be appearing in the showroom of a small local casino a couple of miles from my house this weekend. I won't be going.
Old 02-21-14 | 01:43 AM
  #37  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Decker
In other news, Kevin Nealon will be appearing in the showroom of a small local casino a couple of miles from my house this weekend. I won't be going.
I'm not saying he is one of the best, but I saw Kevin Nealon doing his headlining act at a comedy club and it was absolutely fucking hilarious.
Old 02-21-14 | 06:36 AM
  #38  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Decker
I love reading one of my twelve-year-old posts and agreeing with every word of it!

In other news, Kevin Nealon will be appearing in the showroom of a small local casino a couple of miles from my house this weekend. I won't be going.
Also playing that night....you guessed it. Frank Stallone.
Old 02-21-14 | 06:41 AM
  #39  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

I really liked Sports Show (and i am not a sports fan). The nephew guy doing the interviews was seriously weird and made the bit very funny. I also liked the Norm Video Podcasts he did last year. Like everything else he does they just seemed to stop dead in their tracks. He is always a quality guest on Stern. The stand up he did a couple of years ago (Me Doing Stand Up) was i think possibly the single greatest stand up routine of all time. Just hilarious from start to finish. The full thing is on Youtube and i recommend a viewing.
Old 02-22-14 | 03:20 PM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by james2025a
I really liked Sports Show (and i am not a sports fan). The nephew guy doing the interviews was seriously weird and made the bit very funny. I also liked the Norm Video Podcasts he did last year. Like everything else he does they just seemed to stop dead in their tracks. He is always a quality guest on Stern. The stand up he did a couple of years ago (Me Doing Stand Up) was i think possibly the single greatest stand up routine of all time. Just hilarious from start to finish. The full thing is on Youtube and i recommend a viewing.
To take this full circle...the nephew guy doing the interviews is now on...Saturday Night Live as of September 2013 (also on the HBO show Hello Ladies).
Old 02-22-14 | 04:05 PM
  #41  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by james2025a
I really liked Sports Show (and i am not a sports fan).
Sports Show was pretty good. A shame that it only lasted a single season.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aIyn9MUVHi4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 02-23-14 | 12:45 AM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Count Dooku
I'm not saying he is one of the best, but I saw Kevin Nealon doing his headlining act at a comedy club and it was absolutely fucking hilarious.
Kevin Nealon is often an underrated talent because his stint on WU was so bad. He is actually a pretty good standup performer, and no one was more surprised than me.
Old 02-23-14 | 02:51 PM
  #43  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Bill Needle
Kevin Nealon is often an underrated talent because his stint on WU was so bad. He is actually a pretty good standup performer, and no one was more surprised than me.
Nealon's Mr. Subliminal bit is a classic SNL sketch.
Old 02-23-14 | 03:07 PM
  #44  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by dhmac
Sports Show was pretty good. A shame that it only lasted a single season.
That's a pretty funny show - can't believe I missed this when it was on.
Old 02-23-14 | 06:37 PM
  #45  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by PhantomStranger
Nealon's Mr. Subliminal bit is a classic SNL sketch.
He still does the subliminal bit well and it's a highlight of his standup act now.
Old 02-23-14 | 06:46 PM
  #46  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Shannon Nutt
That's a pretty funny show - can't believe I missed this when it was on.
I watched it when it was on and was truly surprised when Comedy Central canceled it after one season. Huge mistake - I think it would've caught on if given more time.

At least we got the 9th and final episode of the show with its Rampage Jackson "Wait What?" segment (about 3 minutes in) before it was over:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ah0n7QUVby8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Old 02-23-14 | 08:34 PM
  #47  
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Norm was my favorite WU anchor, followed by Miller & Nealon.

Sports Show was great. Loved the crack at OJ in the first episode.
Old 09-16-15 | 09:58 PM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

<iframe src="*****************e/A9Tm?stats=1&tools=1" width="854" height="476" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no"></iframe>

Figured this was as good a place as any to share this
Old 09-17-15 | 10:20 AM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

^ Deleted. What'd we miss?
Old 09-17-15 | 10:50 AM
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Re: Norm MacDonald & SNL's "Weekend Update" - why was he fired??

Originally Posted by Trevor
^ Deleted. What'd we miss?
Oh nothing much, someone who is higher up found out Norm said something, took offense to it, and quickly shit canned his clip.


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