Hi. I'm Norm Macdonald.

I'm here to do my reddit AMA. Victoria from reddit will be helping me.

Check out my official YouTube channel at YouTube.com/NormMacdonald, my twitter @normmacdonald, the Video Podcast Network at YouTube.com/VPN, and JASH at YouTube.com/JASH.

LATEST EPISODE JUST WENT LIVE!

Ok, AMA.

https://twitter.com/normmacdonald/status/466013591150141440

Oh my gosh, well Brent is making me go, it's not my idea. Brent says I have to go. You know Brent? Well, let me tell you a little bit about Brent. He can be a real nice fella, he can be one mean sunamabitch. It's up to you. Well thank you for all of your questions. And especially the person who had the story of stealing the candy that was meant for others, your question was very moving to me, and made all the other questions seem pointless and ridiculous in comparison. So - I'm thanking one person! Wait, no three people. The candy store raconteur, you, Victoria Larkin, and her husband of 14 years, Barry Larkin. Thank you.

Comments: 2224 • Responses: 75  • Date: 

TX_Devil1224 karma

Your Burt Reynolds is is the best impersonation in SNL history, did Burt find it funny?

ImNormMacdonald2276 karma

Yes, he phoned me and told me he wanted to come on the show, because I did celebrity Jeopardy as Burt Reynolds. His idea was to come on the show, punch me in the face, replace me and then be even stupider. He talked to me on the phone, and he was even funnier in real life, he would just laugh all the time.

bencalpink768 karma

Norm! You once recalled a story about when you were a very shy and very young boy and had to take your dad's friend (who was blind) to a store. The blind friend requested that you describe the world around him, what the grass was like, the street lights, et cetera. The friend was happy and loved that you were describing such things to him. You said for the first time this made you look outward at the world, not inward, and that you fell into a kind of hysteria, laughing uncontrollably. Another time you were talking to a homeless guy who was saying he knew John D. Rockefeller, was at John D. Rockefeller's funeral and all this insane stuff, and again you fell deep into laughter.

I had a similar experience when I was a shy kid and stole a bag of candy from a drugstore. My mom found out and made me return it, and I couldn't stop laughing at the idea of bringing it back up to someone who worked there. On the way back I was in tears from laughing so much, my mom was actually a little worried. I had laughed so much it hurt, it was a complete hysteria. I remember thinking about how I took this candy from someone else (in a way) and it wasn't for me, this world has other people who see and want things too. For whatever reason my reaction to that was to laugh, and in addition to being less self-absorbed and nervous, I found a lot of everyday things to be funny from that point on.

My question is, do those memories of the blind friend and homeless man still mean something to you? And do you think they have had an effect on the way you think about things now? I felt a kinship when I heard you tell those stories, they meant a lot to me and I wanted you to know that.

  • Thank you

ImNormMacdonald710 karma

I found that story you told me very moving. Well, there was a hysteria, I can't really remember it right now, maybe it's called Stendhal syndrome and I think there was someone named Stendahl, where he was overcome by the beauty of the artwork in his gallery and the world.

When I was young I used to be overcome by life, and I was overcome just now hearing your story, because that is quite a moving story about the candy. It quit gets to me, any how.

frogvanexel716 karma

Norm, there are rumors that you are being considered to fill a possible vacancy as host of the Late Late Show. If you were to fill the position, who might be a suitable sidekick?

ImNormMacdonald985 karma

Oh, well there's only one person I can think of, Adam Eget, who would not be considered. But anyone else? Sure.

ImNormMacdonald828 karma

Now all those fishermen will be thinking they made the wrong choice.

GerriSteinfeld656 karma

If Hitler had a time machine, who do you think he'd go back and kill?

ImNormMacdonald1129 karma

Oh, that's a good question. If Hitler had a time machine, who do you think he'd go back and kill. Hmm. Well, boy oh boy, that's a funnier question than I can deliver an answer to I think. In a related story I sent Adam Eget in a time machine back to kill Hitler, and he became mesmerized by Hitler's black eyes. Adam says his eyes were deep black and inviting. So he came back with all sorts of decorations on him that Hitler had put him on for god knows what, he didn't get back for four years, I thought he'd be back in a day, but yeah, so Adam Eget, he can show you a few goose-steps now.

But that's not really answering the question: OH I know he would kill! The greatest man who ever lived, and also a jew - the great Jesus Christ of Nazareth! That would be my answer.

underfucked573 karma

Hey Norm! What are your thoughts on Artie Lange these days.. Would you ever consider doing a Dirty Work 2?? Huge fan!

ImNormMacdonald1137 karma

Yes. Wait, what? Yes, I would consider doing a Dirty Work 2. But there's so much involved. I should start a kickstarter. Because the problem is Dirty Work 1 lost so much money the movie studio had to shut down. MGM had a huge loss in their quarter, and the stock owners fled, and boy, you hear a lot about that on your answering machine. So I don't know if they want to make another one. But Artie is always hilarious.

Frajer482 karma

Are the moth joke and Bob Saget roast jokes from the same place?

ImNormMacdonald658 karma

Yes, they were, they were from the same book I have.

Lol_jk_Omg476 karma

Norm you've talked about the perfect joke being where the setup and punchline are identical. Have you ever come up with one?

ImNormMacdonald1281 karma

Yes, the joke is "Lyle Lovett and Julia Roberts were divorced today. The reason: he's Lyle Lovett and she's Julia Roberts." That's the closest one.

MimonFishbaum369 karma

Hey, uh, ya got any gum?

ImNormMacdonald481 karma

That's an unanswerable question. That is just one of those unanswerable questions.

OH WAIT I DO!

RKitch2112363 karma

During your time as an SNL cast member, what was your favorite character to play?

ImNormMacdonald1281 karma

Well, here's what I did, Victoria. Any sketch I would write, I would call my character "Stan Hooper" and he didn't really do anything, you know? And I would be very careful to name him Stan Hooper, and then have someone in the sketch say "Hey Stan Hooper" and one time I read a list of recurring characters and Stan Hooper was way up there. And of all the characters he had no real qualities of any kind. Just a bland empty vessel of a man.

Bill6dozer330 karma

With the Twitterverse exploding with support for you to take over for Craig Ferguson would you consider doing it if asked? And if you did take over what direction would you take the show in? Would it be more weekend updatey? Follow up question: waffles, pancakes or crepes?

ImNormMacdonald1295 karma

This is an interesting number of questions, Victoria. Who was it that said: If nominated, I will not run, if Elected, I will not serve? Whoever it was, they were an idiot. If nominated, I will run, and if elected, I will serve.

But as we know, television is not a democracy but an oligarchy. They don't hire a lot of guys who run around saying oligarchy. Many times a boss will call me and say "I'll have to let you go" and I'll say "Why" and they'll say "Well you sell more than everybody else at the plant, but you've been saying Oligarchy in the break room too much at lunch. In fact the suggestion box is filled with pieces of paper that complain about that." And I'll say "well sir, Oligarchy, holy fuck" and then I know it's time to pack up my duffle bag and hit the lonely road.

I like chicken and crepes.

Purefluffnyc14296 karma

Hi Norm,

I read your tweets about Roseanne Barr today and I was wondering if you wanted to elaborate about what a genius she is and why Hollywood is so tough for innovative thinkers.

ImNormMacdonald894 karma

I was just on twitter talking about Roseanne because she gave mea first job, and I thought of her and Chappelle who I have both worked with, and who have both been called "Difficult" or "crazy." And that word crazy when it's applied to an entertainer can torpedo their career. One time I was on a show, and I wanted to get Burt Reynolds to play my father, and the director said "You don't want Burt Reynolds, he's crazy." I said "I don't want you to be my director. I want Burt Reynolds." So crazy just means creative. And difficult just means hardworking, and opinionated. And Roseanne was a victim to this specifically because she was a woman, which is very sad. But that's all I was saying.

sillywalkr263 karma

Loved the Norm Show. What in your opinion went wrong with A Minute With Stan Hooper?

ImNormMacdonald935 karma

Oh. Well I thought a Minute with Stan Hooper was the best thing I ever did outside of stand up comedy. But Fox didn't stay with the show. It was a show that was intended to turn very dark, like at the end of the first season, it was set up like a homespun show, and then at the end of the first season my wife was going to be slaughtered by the town barber that we'd come to love as a kind of a funny old fella. Anyways, turned out he was a psychosexual sadist. but they never let us get to the end. So you never got to see my plan.

And I'm not saying anything against psychosexual sadists. I just think oftentimes you know, they'll slaughter innocents and I'm no fan of that.

10ac252 karma

When's the first time you remember making someone laugh?

ImNormMacdonald789 karma

When I was a young boy, I studied high math because I was put way ahead in school. So I was doing college when I was 9 years old, I was very good at math, very shy. And then the professor of calculus said "the next theory we're going to learn if A, then A equals A." If A', then A equals A, and he said "what do you think the name of this theory is" and I said "is it the pointless theory?"

And he was fantastic to work with.

Akaflyingmuffin196 karma

Dude you're cracking me up with the"fantastic to work with" stuff. Betty White a fan of yours?

ImNormMacdonald942 karma

Betty White is a huge fan of mine. No, I'm a huge fan of Betty White. I always get those two confused. I like it when she pretends she has a sex drive.

JensStigen203 karma

Norm, you have stated before that you are a Christian. Have you always been one? Does it impact your views on comedy at all?

ImNormMacdonald417 karma

I am not presently a Christian. And of course i haven't always been one, that would be absurd. And no it does not impact my views on comedy at all. But at the present I am not one.

ImNormMacdonald812 karma

I only believe in God, that's all I believe in. You know what I don't believe in, Victoria? Nothingness. If you don't believe in nothingness, you must believe in God. There's no third option. And for all the people who say "I've never seen god," I counter with "I've never seen nothingness."

Add Laughter

ronson1911203 karma

From Rusty's Juicy Chicken Hole to the Jack Loyd fan club, to you eating kibble, Screwed is one of the best comedies of the early 2000's. Any good stories about making that one?

ImNormMacdonald575 karma

Trying to think of a good story...

I remember one amazing day when Dave Chappelle didn't smoke weed. And it was great to work with Chappelle, he is just the funniest guy ever.

I saw Elaine Stritch in a girdle one day, and two years later, I returned to having sex.

She was fantastic to work with. I say that at the end of every story.

catalano35181 karma

Hey Norm, How did Kyle get the job on Sports show?

ImNormMacdonald296 karma

Oh my son Dylan loved him on the internets. He loved Good Neighbors on the internet. And he used to interview people outside the Staples center. So my son introduced me to him and I said that he'd be cool to be a correspondent, and now i'm very proud of him, because he's on Saturday Night Live!

ImNormMacdonald390 karma

Often, when I am looking for talent, I will go to Schwab's drug store and I'll find some talent alright.

JJGerms180 karma

Did you ever meet Carrot Top after your infamous Conan appearance?

ImNormMacdonald443 karma

Oh yes. Because one time I was on Conan, and I made fun of Carrot Top, I didn't do it on purpose, but this girl said she was in a Carrot Top movie, which sort of shocked me when she said it. I reacted the same way anyone would upon finding out that Carrot Top had movie. Anyways, they didn't tell me that but by the way, but later they were going to invent something where this would live forever, they forgot to tell me that. So I met Scott after that, he was a really nice guy, I already knew him and apologized. So it was funny.

oldchunkofcoal171 karma

Please go on Opie and Anthony more. You and the show are hilarious, and complement each other perfectly.

ImNormMacdonald299 karma

Oh yea, those guys are really funny. I go on them every time I go to NY, but I'll be goddamned if I fly 6 hours to go on a radio show. But they are fine fellas, and they are fantastic to work with.

swolebro420167 karma

Norm, you've been my hero since I was a kid. You're honestly my favourite comedian of all time. I can't wait for more of the podcast. I know you love Letterman, and I know Ferguson is leaving... my question is why haven't they given you his job yet?

ImNormMacdonald229 karma

Well, seriously, you know, they have a lot of great candidates to look into, and not all of them live on this side of the globe.

ImNormMacdonald783 karma

I'm sure they'll make a fine decision, and if they don't, they'll pick someone else.

ok_where_am_i158 karma

I love the joke about Bill Cosby calling your dad. Did you ever talk to Cosby again after that?

ImNormMacdonald537 karma

Oh yes, that wasn't a joke, but what happened, Victoria, was, I opened for Bill Cosby. I told him my dad was a big fan. He said he would have my dad backstage when he went to Ottawa where my dad lives. But my dad has been dead for 15 years. So he asks me for my dad's phone number, and i Just write some numbers down on a piece of paper. He was such a nice guy, I didn't want to say he was dead. So I did hear from Cosby after that, because Cosby is so nice, I told that story one time on Letterman and the next day at SNL I received like 200 things of flowers, and then about 2 weeks later I found on one flower way in the back a little card and it was from Bill Cosby and it said "I'm sorry to inform you from this, but your dad is long since dead." He was very funny and nice also.

ioncekilledaman137 karma

Hey Norm huge fan. You and Colin Quinn are the only people I follow on twitter, you can be absolutely hilarious and also make really interesting conversation.

How's your memoir coming along? Do you have any books you've recently read you can recommend?

ImNormMacdonald349 karma

I'm reading a book right now. The best book I've read lately is In Search of Lost Time. My memoir is coming along swimmingly. Not that it's any of your business.

dustn64113 karma

Who's your favorite comedian?

ImNormMacdonald237 karma

Well, it would be a tie between Opie & Anthony. Both fine fellas.

normfan69111 karma

Who do you consider under-recognized for how funny he/she is/was?

ImNormMacdonald323 karma

The funniest person I've ever met is Bob Uecker. So he'd probably be the most underrated.

You're looking that up, Victoria!

Euchre is probably the easiest game next to Tic-Tac-Toe.

Queequeg32107 karma

How do you tell a story? Does it come naturally for you or do you have some guidelines?

ImNormMacdonald381 karma

Well, I know how you DON'T tell a story saying the ending part first, because that's what my mother does all the time, and that's what people sometimes do in the audience, where they'll yell out "DO the joke where the thing at the end happens?!"

You know how they always say a story has to have a beginning, middle and an end?

Well, I find that if you have a beginning and an end, you don't really need a middle. Why waste time with a middle? Who ever goes "You know what part of the movie I liked? The middle.. That long part between the beginning and the end." That is no one's favorite part. Although I worked on the Middle and it was a fine show.

ImNormMacdonald389 karma

And just because the other person is silent, don't forget to stop your story.

lukearmour1195 karma

Hello Norm

How do you think the internet will change comedy? How do you think it will change entertainment in general? Do you think the ability to independently upload anything you create is a good thing?

goodbye

ImNormMacdonald302 karma

I think the big problem with the internet when it comes to comedy is it requires too much content, and supply and demand does not work with comedy. And success goes to the ones that give the most content, but the content would be, there'll be a precise algorithm between amounts and mediocrity of content. So that's how I think the internet demands too much input of a comedian. And the successful ones will be the worst ones. I'm doing JASH, a video podcast, which is like a tv show that is only on the computer. And it's about time there was a place to put tv shows other than the TV, I've always said!

everydayrebellions93 karma

Any plans to write another movie? We'd kill for another outing with you and Artie Lange. I guess you could invite Saget too.

ImNormMacdonald327 karma

I dunno. I finished writing my book, and I started writing another book, because I think I like writing books. I'm writing a children's book, Victoria, and it's about a boy, you know how all little children are different? You know how the beautiful thing is about little children are all being different? Well this is about a little boy who is the same. That's what the book's about. And I think there's a bidding war right now, but I believe it will be either Harper Collins or self-published. So down to us two.

ImNormMacdonald287 karma

But I'm a tough opponent in a bidding wars.

Kknowsbest92 karma

Where is the strangest place someone has recognized you?

ImNormMacdonald368 karma

Well, let me answer this by asking a question: when I was on SNL, I played Burt Reynolds on Celebrity Jeopardy. One time, he (being me, playing he) refused to be called "Burt Reynolds" because he had changed his name to "Turd Ferguson." So Alex Trebec had to call him "Turd Ferguson" that became a little cult thing. So one time, i was in a very crowded street, and the street was 5th Avenue, which you know, at lunchtime how crowded it was, and there were hundreds of people watching as a gentleman yelled at me "HEY TURD!" and I said "Thank you! Thank you!" And I always wondered what sort of relationship those people thought me and that fellow had.

kevinsorbo8288 karma

Hi Norm, first off you are easily the funniest person on the planet. I was wondering if you were still in possession of old Alec Majerison, the enthusiastic holocaust denier puppet?

ImNormMacdonald207 karma

Oh yes, Alec Majerison. That whole thing was unfortunate Victoria. What happened was I bought a puppet that was originally belong, originally belonged to Edgar Bergen, and he was a crusty old fella. He was a curmudgeon, ya know? Well pretty early on it became clear to me that he was a vehement Holocaust denier. But this is the point I'm trying to make: he's just plain wrong. And you know, I know he was born in a different time, but he's just plain wrong. He's in a musty old suitcase in my basement. And that's where he'll stay.

dgonsh86 karma

Hi Norm, my two brothers and I grew up in the 90's and would stay up late every saturday to watch you on Update. We went on to obsess over Dirty Work and memorized it word for word. Can you share your favourite (or least favourite) memory during the making of the film? Thanks! #LateLateNormNorm

ImNormMacdonald267 karma

Oh yes, my favorite memory of the movie was Chris Farley, because we had him play a guy whose nose was bit off by a Saigon whore. So he did all the scenes with no nose, and he would improvise all his dialogue, he would ask first if it was alright, and I would say "sure," because he was just the funniest guy ever. It was really sad with Chris because he would always say he wanted to be as funny as John Belushi, and I would say that he funnier than John Belushi, but he never knew how funny he was. Sad.

ngreen3786 karma

Hi Norm. Big fan. In your DVD Me Doing Standup, the audience was very dimly lit, if at all. Lots of specials do the opposite. Was this a specific choice of yours?

ImNormMacdonald202 karma

Oh yes. I didn't really want to have the audience showing at all because I always hate it when I see that when I'm watching standup. So I didn't want to show the audience. And I didn't want to go out on a big laugh, I wanted to go out on silence. Because I've always hated big pretend laughter, and shots of audience members laughing, so we did not light the audience. Although I still think they cut to them a couple times.

allsetcobrajet83 karma

What's your favourite Bob Dylan song and why? If you met the man, what would you say to him? What's your favourite Springsteen song? Ever met THAT dude?

ImNormMacdonald261 karma

I've met Bob Dylan. But my favorite Dylan song is, oh god...Don't think Twice, it's Alright. My favorite song is Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. And I don't know Springsteen songs at all, something about a dead dog lying in a ditch, I remember that. And then I remember Courtney Cox singing something about a dead dog in a ditch, and then Courtney Love jumped onstage and started dancing... which sounds like a bad Bob Dylan song. But I MET Bob Dylan, that's the interesting part. It was pretty amazing, because I did not expect this. But I went to LA, I was living in Toronto, to do an audition for the Joan Rivers show way back when, and I was walking down the street all nervous in front of the world famous Comedy Store, I kept walking and walking because I showed up three hours early, and so anyways, a car came by and then stopped, and Bob Dylan asked me for a light (because I was smoking a cigarette). I lit his cigarette, and said "here you go buddy" pretending I didn't know who he was like an idiot, I thought it would be cool, I didn't say anything of interest to him, and then I had to go back to this ridiculous Joan Rivers audition. I did get the gig, but I didn't take it. I had to go from Bob Dylan to Mario Canton. Who didn't believe my story.

uberlad79 karma

What's your very best life advice?

ImNormMacdonald224 karma

Like, seriously?

Well, I think being happy with what you have is very important. But more important than that is not to be happy with what you DON'T have. Like not to make what you don't have happy. So be happy with what you have, and never be happy with what you don't have.

ImNormMacdonald217 karma

Let what you have make you happy. But never let what you DON'T have make you happy.

ImNormMacdonald343 karma

Let's do a sudoku and figure it out.

oldchunkofcoal74 karma

What’s your favorite movie ever?

ImNormMacdonald253 karma

I guess my favorite movie ever is Planes, Trains and Automobiles, because it always makes me cry at the end.

iamthebluejay69 karma

Have you ever considered bringing back Turd Ferguson and giving him his own TV show?

ImNormMacdonald240 karma

Hahaha. What are the chances that question would come up?

Someone should write a Smokey & the Bandit sequel and have me in it doing Burt Reynolds. It seems like it would be illegal, but I think it would be amazing.

oldchunkofcoal67 karma

Are you a fan of Louis C.K.? I love both of you guys and would like to know your thoughts on him.

ImNormMacdonald225 karma

Oh yes, I like Louis a lot. I was in NY and he wrote for Conan when I was on SNL. so I got to know him quite well, and of course, he's gone on to great success and yeah, I'm very very happy for him. He's hysterical and he deserves it. It's nice when the most famous comic in the world is also a great comic.

1egbeard65 karma

Norm, I followed your twitter bookclub and was wondering who were your favorite Spanish language authors and/or which authors you would like to read? Also! What's on your now reading list?

PS I am rooting for a Late Late Norm Norm show! Who would like your first guest to be?

ImNormMacdonald244 karma

Cervantes. I found Don Quixote transformative. I mean, I never read anything like that before. Well, I'm reading this norwegian guy and I can't remember his goddamn name. I'm trying to remember! I know what it's called, the book is called My Struggle. By Karl Ove Knausgaard. No wonder I couldn't remember it. The title is even very daring, but it's an unflinching look into mortality, which I like to do. I like to look into mortality, in an unflinching manner.

Some days, I'll flinch. Some days I'll be honest with you Victoria, I'll stare into my own mortality in that abyss. I'll flinch. But I can't say the same for Horgalveyeysbadlobad. I'm sure he flinches too, but he writes it down and pretends he's not flinching. Because that's what I did when I was writing my book.

Haha the old braille typewriter! I find that words can be much more powerful than their creators. Words are brave and strong and true in your memoir, and then you go look at yourself in the mirror, and the flinching begins.

Well, if I ever got any talk show on any network, the first thing I would do, the first guest I would get is one of those politicians up from Washington Way. And I often say, Victoria, that we could solve our energy crisis by getting the hot air to come out of Washington and bottle that somehow! ANYWAYS, I'd get that politician on a tv show beside me, and I'd start skewering. And finally I'd puncture that blowhard until he popped like a balloon.

ImNormMacdonald151 karma

Never had much use for politicians! Had more use for hound dogs that sat on my porch.

lazysobaz65 karma

Hey Norm, any chance you could join CBS' broadcast of The Masters next year? Love your golf commentary. Also, I hope you get the Late Late Show. Craig was great and I am bummed he'd left but you'd be a great replacement. Good luck.

ImNormMacdonald172 karma

Oh, i would love to do any golf broadcast that would have me! I'm probably going to run a simulcast with the US open on the computer so you can hear me going while you watch.

oldchunkofcoal64 karma

Norm, love ya. One question: do you have an estimate as to when your book coming out?

ImNormMacdonald285 karma

Well, it's already written but I realize there's a lot more to a book than simply writing it. There's the book binding, there's the paper cutting, there's the printing, there's the dedication, and hoping someone close to me expires soon, the massive bibliography, and appendix (which I've taken out), there's the illustration - all of this I am responsible for. I didn't read the fine print.

I can't read actually, which is another troublesome part. It's hard for me to rewrite because I can't read what I've written.

cherry_garcia64 karma

I'm extremely excited you and Adam Eget are back for another season of the podcast. You guys are hilarious together.

Norm, you often make references to Russian literature classics. What are some of your favorites?

ImNormMacdonald244 karma

Well, I can't really be funny in this, should I just say what they are?

Well, I like anything that's written by Leo Tolstoy, or Gogol, my favorite is War & Peace. And I just love Leo Tolstoy, he was fantastic to work with.

ImNormMacdonald192 karma

And there's one guy I forgot to mention in the fan of Russian Literary Greats: JAKOV SMIRNOFF!!!!!!

Charizander74750 karma

Norm, where do you get your ideas from?

ImNormMacdonald217 karma

Other comics? I go "well, if it worked for that guy in Atlanta, it'll work for me in Miami"...

Wait, Victoria, why aren't you laughing? I don't actually steal jokes from people.

Charizander74748 karma

If you never got into comedy what line of work would you see yourself in?

ImNormMacdonald240 karma

I guess Meta-Comedy.

Fjandinn66647 karma

Hey Norm, I am fond of Tolstoy's writing and I saw on twitter you were too. You said that you believed he was the second deepest thinker of all time. I find you and your perspective on life fascinating (and you are also my favourite stand up) and so I have to know who you believe is the deepest thinker of all time?
- Connor, Winnipeg age 22

ImNormMacdonald189 karma

Regardless of religion, or what your beliefs of religion would be, the teachings of Jesus are shown to be the most profound thinking of all time. Ideas such as "love thy enemy" or "turn the other cheek," these are not thoughts that come to a normal person. And of course, all of the great pacifists throughout the ages, they all trace back to that one person, religious belief or not, historically speaking. He was by far the deepest thinker, he could think. He thought in layers. And if you take only his words and forget everything else in the bible, you'll have yourself a very good book.

DevinBelow46 karma

Norm. How is Artie doing? Is he gonna be on the Norm MacDonald Live Podcast Internet Show?

ImNormMacdonald78 karma

Yes, he is eventually going to be. He had to cancel the first time because of diabetic shock (for those of you not listening earlier).

DrMcgoo42 karma

Norm, I love the way you speak. Not like an erotic voice or anything, but the way you put together stories and tangents. Not always your jokes, but even the deep and interesting stories. I dont really have a question, just wanted to tell you that you're the funniest person I've ever heard and you bring a lot of joy to people in a world that needs it.

ImNormMacdonald70 karma

That's really nice.

kuanes41 karma

Hey Norm. You have the best Twitter feed. I especially enjoyed your comments on Roseanne last night.

My question: do you think that writing for Roseanne helped you become a better writer or made you see the bullshit that is the entertainment industry? Or both?

Oh, and Dirty Work is the most criminally underrated comedy film of all time. BABY GORILLA!

ImNormMacdonald72 karma

Oh, Roseanne herself definitely taught me how to write. And yes, of course you see the ridiculousness of hollywood.

manuel22239 karma

What’s the best book on the subject of death other than the works of Becker?

ImNormMacdonald102 karma

Wow, this person knows the works of Becker? Well that's probably the best one, Becker's Denial of Death. There's a book by Otto Rank, the trauma of Birth, he talks about death in that one a lot. You probably don't want to read about death, but if you do want to read about death, it's a good "summer read."

oldchunkofcoal37 karma

Ever watched the movie “The Room”?

ImNormMacdonald95 karma

The Room? What are you, Inspector Clouseau? The Reeeeummm? The one where the director goes to the screenings? And pretends he did it on purpose? No, I haven't seen it. Adam have you seen it? No, he hasn't seen it.

ImNormMacdonald128 karma

Adam hasn't seen it, but he has seen the men's restroom plenty of times, and when his bladder was empty too.

Queequeg3236 karma

Hello Norm,

What does an ol’ chunk of coal like you get out of reading some of the great Russian novelists? Any recommendation on where to start?

You are undeniably one of the best stand-ups and my favorite, for what it’s worth.

ImNormMacdonald91 karma

That's nice. Well if you really want to read Russian novelists, you should learn to speak Russian, that's the best way. But if you don't want to do that, there are wonderful translators, a husband & wife team by the name of Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, they are the greats. So even if you've already read Russian literature, you should reread. I would begin with a book of Tolstoy short stories, there's a book called the Death of Ivan Ilovitch and other stories, which is a jumping off point. And not ironically at all but it's very funny writing.

Bangadang34 karma

Hey Norm. Huge fan since dr Doolittle.

I've always wondered. How did you get into live tweeting different sporting events like golf, soccer, the draft, etc?

ImNormMacdonald56 karma

Sometimes i would on the internet talk about sports, and then someone would say "oh i'm not watching, i'm not near a TV" because people have jobs and commitments and so forth, so that's where I come in. I give them their sports, while they go through their earthly contacts. You know, the day to day life.

HoochieKoo31 karma

Norm, I knew you were a fellow Canadian but I didn't realize you were born in Quebec City. How's your French? Comment ca va?

ImNormMacdonald63 karma

Ca va bien.

captaindurango25 karma

What was your favorite show to write for?

Also, is it easier writing for your standup or shows?

ImNormMacdonald43 karma

Standup is the hardest to write for of anything. My favorite thing to write for was when I did weekend update on SNL, because I could write jokes which were easier to think of than sketches. But i liked writing for SNL the best.

iruvyounorm16 karma

You are the greatest comedian of all time. Do you write all of the jokes for Norm MacDonald Live yourself? If not, how many writers help produce them?

ImNormMacdonald63 karma

We have upwards of 10,000 writers right now. And frankly, we're going broke quick. I don't know anything about Mechanical turk, but a lot of times we're running low on jokes, we'll take our cars down to Home Depot and pick up a couple of undocumented workers, bring 'em back, they think something odd's going to happen, I say "nope" and they end up scouring the newspaper for jokes.

blaqmarket15 karma

Norm you're my favorite comedian, but Gilbert Gottfried is an extremely close second. When are you going to have him on your podcast again so I can settle my indecision once and for all?

ImNormMacdonald40 karma

Oh, well I love Gilbert. He was my favorite comedian when I started, and he was very very nice to me. He was sweet. But he was extremely cheap. And when he first met me he said "I know this is the first time we're meeting, but I feel it's your turn to pick up the check." we were at Mayer's Deli in Toronto, Ontario.

And here's the link to that episode. I'd love to have him on again as soon as he's in town.

seanuz14 karma

Hi Norm, can't wait for the podcast today! I'd like to ask you what you think the one, single, most important thing in stand-up is?

ImNormMacdonald31 karma

I would say authenticity.

TwinklesMcfrisky13 karma

What are you wearing?

ImNormMacdonald33 karma

At the present moment?

I just wear sweats and a t-shirt. Gravy. Lot of gravy.

sharpalright9 karma

Dylan has shown at least some level of interest in comedy with his sketch comedy videos. Have you ever considered collaborating with him on something?

ImNormMacdonald18 karma

My son Dylan is very funny, he's much funnier than I am. But I think he's kind of on his own wavelength. But I consider him funnier than me.

UOENORAP8 karma

[deleted]

ImNormMacdonald10 karma

the book club is up! What are we doing? The Joke by Milan Kundera.

dianakurlan25 karma

What's your favourite joke you've ever told doing stand-up, you dirty kike?

How many hours of stand-up do you have, you disgusting nigger lover? I read somewhere you have 9 hours accumulated, is that accurate, faggot?

daily reminder that anti-racism is code for anti-white and that president obama is a disgusting spear-chucking leftist.

ImNormMacdonald17 karma

Yes, it's probably about that. My favorite joke, I dunno.

I like this joke that my son told me.

Roses are gray

Violets are gray

Tulips are gray

Because I am a dog

My son Dylan told me that one.

qwnm4 karma

[deleted]

ImNormMacdonald11 karma

Well, I love Jon Stewart and I love Stephen Colbert, they are very very funny. But personally, I don't like comedy whose first intention is not comedy. So both Colbert and Stewart, their first agenda is comedy, but other people their first agenda is looking smart. And that's the kind of comedy that doesn't age very well, or make you laugh. I don't think anyone likes to be preached to, except by a down-home preacher. If I were a preacher, I'd go to Jimmy Swagger, a man who calls himself a preacher. I would take my comedy unadulterated.