Norm Macdonald Will Be Missed

photo of me meeting Norm years ago

Yesterday’s death of Norm Macdonald hit me pretty hard. He’s easily my favorite comedian of all time, and maybe one of the funniest people to have ever done the job. I loved him before I was a comedian and loved him even more once I became one. His joke writing was equal parts silly and brutal. He wasn’t afraid to tell a dumb joke, but would deliver it with an equaled sincerity that made you believe. A fucking maestro of humor. Yet somehow, not only could he write some of the best jokes, sketches, and stand-up bits, but he had a magic wizardry with live conversations in his talk show appearances and podcasts that are awe-inspiring.

Take this moment from his podcast where Bob Saget’s telling him about meeting Dean Martin. Saget takes just one small pause at the end, and Macdonald throws his own punchline that’s so brutal and so perfect that Saget just smiles and remains silent as he knows nothing he can say can top it. Norm then giggles and ends the show abruptly. Beautiful.

Once I was in a line of folks after Norm Macdonald’s show for autographs, photos, whatever. He was gracious and gave quality time to everyone and didn’t hurry them. The guy right before me was some weirdo that said he had a great joke for Norm and it was some meandering nonsense about a Jeep that went nowhere and had no point. Norm pat him on the arm afterward, never once looking down on him, and said, “That’s a great joke! I might use it someday!” Soooo nice.

If you haven’t read his book, “Norm Macdonald Based on a True Story: A Memoir” you’re in for a treat. A surreal somewhat true recap of his life and journey that has some of the most hilarious and poignant writing ever. The audiobook is an equally pleasurable experience.

Norm Macdonald’s chapter on Rodney Dangerfield is one of the most amazing pieces of comedy writing I’ve ever seen. “The ugly little secret in Hollywood was that Rodney Dangerfield never got any respect.” He goes on to deadpan work Rodney’s classic jokes into a sad tale of a man that deserved better. He does a similar riff on how mean Don Rickles was to him that is just divine.

Once I saw Norm Macdonald at Cobb’s Comedy Club and his set was of course, hilarious, but what made it even funnier is that he had a gag through the whole length of it where he would just…almost…smoke a cigarette. He’d bring it to his lips, then get ready to light it after a joke, then just think of a new joke and delay it. Kept the audience teased with it for an hour and it never got old.

Later I learned he had asked one of the staff if he could borrow a cigarette and a lighter and promised he’d give it back. And he did.

I’ve probably spent more time watching Norm Macdonald YouTube clips than anything else on that page. Here’s a collection of must see footage that show you just how amazing he can be.

I’m thrilled that Conan just uploaded a shiny new HD copy of the famous moth joke that is one of Norm’s most beloved jokes. What seems like a bizarre meandering mess ties up so perfectly and suddenly like a sucker punch. It’s a masterpiece.

Norm jokes about Steve Irwin’s death too soon for Jon Stewart’s comfort but still pulls out a win!

Norm’s final appearance on the 2nd to late Letterman show is a master class of stand-up comedy and it ends with a teary eyed Norm thanking Dave for all he’s done. It’s brilliant and amazing.

And this.

Go down the rabbit hole and find so many more. There’s maybe 150 hours of stuff you can enjoy.

Rest in Peace, you old chunk of coal!

-Robert Berry