Jordan October 17, 2011 at 4:12 am

Norm’s been a huge part of my life since before I can remember being interested in comedy at all. I have many vhs recordings of his talk show appearances and things on snl from when I must have been under 12 years old and I can’t figure out how someone that young would have loved something like that so much. And since I started listening to this podcast I have been thinking about how perfect a combination it would be to have Norm on your show. I’m halfway through the show now (which i stayed up all night to listen to) and it hasn’t disappointed. I don’t want it to end. Thanks so much to both of you.

Justin October 17, 2011 at 5:51 am

Norm has been my comedy hero for nearly 2 decades now. My own little Norm story is that me and a friend just so happened to meet Norm one day in a cold small Canadian town (this about 2 years ago) and I had this stupid thing where I was actually SO concerned I was going to turn into a ridiculous blathering fanboy that I somehow over-compensated becoming this mumbling overly-casual idiot. Fortunately my buddy was a normal casual fan and hence carried a normal conversation between the three of us.
Norm was just awesome, genuine, really good about pictures and this might sound weird but I honestly believe he knew I was having a ‘meet my hero overcompensating inner-panic’ thing and (in retrospect) was actually helping me get through it.

Anyways, the point is that I loved this podcast and Marc had the conversation I wished I could have with Norm (if i wasn’t a ridiculous mumbling freezing fanboy) and wow was this ever great!
      One of my all-time favourite interviews. I mean of anything. Ever. This was pure awesome and massive thanks to Marc and Norm!!!

Diane October 17, 2011 at 8:13 am

I have loved Norm since I first saw him on SNL years ago. That interview was, in my opinion, one of the top ten WTF conversations so far.
Norm shared one of my personal sentiments, that in this age it’s kind of ridiculous to try to shock people as entertainment, and that the use of innuendo is, more often than not, insulting to the intelligence of the audience. At this point in time the shocking thing really is the truth. I suppose that’s one of the reasons I enjoy WTF so much.

Eric Kincaid October 17, 2011 at 8:58 am

I have always like Norm Macdonald, but what made me really love the guy was his performance on the Bob Saget Roast. I know a lot of people didn’t get it, and maybe that’s bad, but I thought it was true comedy brilliance. I couldn’t stop smiling. I’m excited to listen to this podcast!

jimjim October 17, 2011 at 10:34 am

Marc, please do an entire month of Norm interviews.  I want more!  Maybe do a 5 part series about his childhood.  Anyway, I’m so glad you interviewed him and his story about the blind man was fascinating.  Norm if you’re reading this please know that there are many fans who love you and want to hear about your life.  I sound fucking crazy, sorry.

Will October 17, 2011 at 11:03 am

I was unreasonably excited for an adult man to see Norm was your guest when I updated my iTunes podcasts. Awesome.

Alex Romero October 17, 2011 at 11:09 am

My only complaint is that this is too short! Please have Norm on a live show one of these days! This episode was terrific, I can’t wait to re-listen to this!

I wish Norm would go on Green Room, The Nick & Artie Show, and Opie & Anthony!

RB October 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm

I, too, am looking forward to this one. Unfortunately, I have spotty Internet access this week. I might have to either steal someone’s signal or go to a public place, like a cafe or something, which seems weird to wear a headset and giggle creepily at my computer. It might be hard to not laugh out loud though!

Andy October 17, 2011 at 1:52 pm

Norm MacDonald is the best!  Great interview, Marc!  I hope that you’ll have Norm back on the show many times in the future!  Keep up the great work!

jeff October 17, 2011 at 2:18 pm

It occurred to me while listening to this that Norm would be a great replacement for Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes. I hope that is not taken as an insult but I think it would be a good medium for Norm, so somebody should get on that .  Great interview.

Ellen October 17, 2011 at 2:31 pm

Thank you, once again, for creating the space to allow conversations like this to happen. I had no idea that Norm MacDonald was so wonderful. i just thought he was a dry funny guy.  Thank you.

Luis October 17, 2011 at 4:40 pm

I guess it goes without saying because you obviously felt it, but this was a GREAT episode. Probably my favorite so far. Thanks, man.

Pedro October 17, 2011 at 5:38 pm

amazing podcast,  Norm is definitely one of my favorite comedians..

It killed me when you cut him off right when he was about to explain why Patrice was the best roaster. Now I’ll never know Norm’s opinion on why Patrice was so great.

Apart from this the podcast was superb.

frank October 17, 2011 at 6:56 pm

I’ve been wondering when this would happen and I leaped with joy when I saw Norm was todays WTF. It was great and I loved it. I agree with these guys. More Norm!!!

Frank October 17, 2011 at 6:56 pm

Add me to the list of Norm Macdonald fans.  Love his delivery style.  I also liked the sports show.

Amy October 17, 2011 at 8:10 pm

That was really enjoyable.  The only problem was that it was too short.  I could listen to you two for hous.  Norm is so fascinating and understated.  Great interview.

Jreynold October 18, 2011 at 5:41 am

Fantastic interview. Should definitely have him on again, if that’s an option, some time in the future. Norm’s Twitter account(s) are often full of these really interesting discussions, and what went down in the interview was just a sliver of what he thinks on. He had this great conversation with his followers about which comedians are artists and which comedians are journalists, then this whole religion debate…

it was immensely satisfying

Shjon October 18, 2011 at 10:15 am

Norm MacDonald is one of the most sincere comics I’ve ever heard. I’ve noticed he makes the best interview subject for shows like Letterman and Conan, everytime I see him on either of those shows he is hilarious. This may be the first time I have actually listened to my all time favourite comedian having a candid and honest conversation that isn’t centred around delivering material. He is as interesting as he is funny. He is as funny during a candid conversation as he is during a staged comedic conversation. What a natural. He doesn’t have to try hard and at all to be funny, he can say the same thing as someone else but be 100x funnier because he has a way of using the right word to enhance the funny.
I remember a really old bit about being in the backseat of a car, he is talking about being backseat middle and how whenever the driver steps on the break you would go flying through the window, and you’d be laying there, with window all over you. Haha window. Not covered in glass, but covered in window. Only Norm can pull off a joke like that.

rob October 18, 2011 at 10:25 am

One of the best WTFs so far. Fantastic conversation.

I’ve been a Norm fan since I was a kid and he was just getting started. But then in 1998 he did a show on my college campus and I’d never laughed so hard in my life. The second hardest I’ve ever laughed was when he was on Dennis Miller Live’s 100th episode special. It was amazing. Then Spade came out and three of them together had me crying.

But at the very end of this interview, I wanted so badly to ask Norm, “Why is Christianity any more legitimate than what the 17 year old girl at the burger joint believes? Because it’s been around longer and more people subscribe to it?” I’d hate to think that Norm is sliding into Christianity (or any religion) simply because it’s old and has a large membership. If you want to have faith in something, do it because it means something to you and you feel it. Not because it’s more “established” than the next one. That’s the only thing he said that kind of bothered me. Otherwise…Norm is the man. Great job, Marc.

Jerome October 18, 2011 at 11:39 am

Is this one the Graal?
“A top aviation watch-dog group warned this week that the nation airlines are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The biggest problem, apparently, are the watch-dog groups, pointing out to terrorist that the airlines are vulnerable.” – Norm MacDonald,  week-end update

vadgeman October 18, 2011 at 2:23 pm

Jeez, Norm, I dig your work and all, but would it kill you to speak up a bit?

Marv October 18, 2011 at 4:58 pm

One of the best episodes ever.

Christina October 18, 2011 at 8:42 pm

I was so excited to see Norm was on this week and the interview did not disappoint. I was big fan before but now love him even more! One of the best WTF interviews!

Lee Stringer October 18, 2011 at 9:51 pm

I’ve always loved Norm’s comedy, followed him since SNL, and his bit on the roast was genius. The first couple jokes on the roast I thought he was just bombing, but then I realized what he was doing and nearly shit myself laughing. That took serious balls, knowing that most people watching probably weren’t going to realize the irony of what he was doing.

This was a great interview, but I have to say I was truly shocked when he got on the topic of God and the great literary writers. What a great fucking point he makes when he says that some of the greatest literary minds had deep faith. What do the atheists have to say about that (I used to be one of them by the way)? I never would have guessed in a million years, especially knowing that he’s a big sports fan (I have a stereotype in my brain that most big sports fans never have deep thoughts) that he was an avid reader of great literature. Now I have more respect for him than ever. What a cool fucking guy. 

Marc really has something special here, and it seems to be getting better and better. I just hope that has the guests get more and more high profile that it doesn’t lose its beautiful honesty.

P.S. Thanks Norm and Marc for helping me realize why I love literature and comedy so much: It cuts through all the bullshit.

Justin October 18, 2011 at 11:33 pm

Forgive me this isn’t a fan page but just a suggestion to go along with this podcast - I got into a Norm ‘youtube’ journey and crying..  crying laughing at some Norm classics:

- maybe lost on 99% but the story of the dad who hated fantasy television and would mock the TV “..ya that guy is probably a ghost”. (i think it was on The View?)

- Just a few days after Steve Irwin on Daily Show his imaginary Crocodile world “..ya.. you know what.. I could have ate him AND his kid!”

- Devastates Conan, Courtenay Thorne Smith (?) and Carrot Top (Conan interview).

- Roasting Clinton White House Correspondents and most seems lost on unhip audience but might be the greatest damn thing ever.

Again, sorry not trying to turn this into a ‘fan page’ thing but I watched some of these along with the podcast listens and just appreciated it even more.

Yep.. agree with everyone who said this is one of the all-time greatest WTF interviews… and please please return Norm for a second part. I feel there is at least another hour!

Sean October 19, 2011 at 12:42 am

AMAZING interview!! Norm is the man

Chris October 19, 2011 at 2:03 am

hahaha. these other religions have been around for ages, but you figured it out? you work at burger king.

would have loved to see norm expose some of his political views rather than maron completely domineering that part of the convo.

Natasha October 19, 2011 at 3:42 am

I loved this interview but was upset that you, Marc, didn’t do anything but laugh about his refusal to do Weekend Update with a woman.  If he had said he wouldn’t do it with a Jewish person or a black person or a gay person, etc. I can’t imagine you would have let that go.  So much good in this interview, but that was upsetting to me, and I am hard to offend.

joshua-p October 19, 2011 at 7:47 am

@ He did expose his political views. He isn’t political.

Jessie October 19, 2011 at 8:28 am

Chris, really?  Norm said he doesn’t get into politics, and I’m sure he would have spoken up if he cared.  Norm is a big boy.

Joe Tily October 19, 2011 at 8:36 am

Great interview Marc - nice to hear a famous comedian talk modestly about his considerable talent. Just a great honest conversation. One of the best WTF’s !!

ryan October 19, 2011 at 9:33 am

On the talk about politics—while I think politicians deserve our full fury of criticism—we must admit that it takes a certain amount of courage and intelligence to stand up in your community, run for public office, and then make real life decisions, once in office, with the spotlight shining on you. Sure, on this or that issue, politicians’ decisions are guided by special interests, local and corporate. But the myth of all politicians being controlled by a small group of puppet masters on every decision is simply unsupported. There’s a political game to be played regarding every issue, with different players coming into the fold each time; and it’s the politician, and party, who must sort that pressure out and make the best political decision possible, for the presumed greater good and also unfortunately to get re-elected. I don’t see this as being whorish; but rather it’s simply politics. In some ways I value them; in other ways I despise them; but nevertheless wish there were more of them, so the competition for them produced the best of them.

Joey October 19, 2011 at 10:32 am

Pow!  This interview about made me shit my pants.  This is classic WTF.  Put this in the WTF time capsule.

Smith October 19, 2011 at 12:54 pm

Natasha is right on.  Would Norm have turned down Update if his proposed co-host had been a man?  It is a shame Marc didn’t explore this further, especially given the Steve Martin portion of the story.

I suspect that Norm wasn’t keen on co-hosting with anyone because he doesn’t consider himself an actor, and even though it’s the “news”, Update still requires some acting - though perhaps the least of any role on SNL.

Otherwise, I enjoyed this one a lot. I strongly disliked Norm’s hosting of Update, but that’s been years now. I’d love to go back and watch those segments again.

Nick October 19, 2011 at 3:37 pm

The pain relief through swearing only works if the words used are taboo for the person and not used commonly. The study is interesting but if you just swear all the time it won’t do much for you.

Andy October 19, 2011 at 5:38 pm

I’ve listened to this interview 6 times so far.  We need to hear more from Norm on WTF!

Nathan October 19, 2011 at 8:34 pm

Been listening a long time now, since the Mencia shows.  I love Norm MacDonald and was thrilled you had him in.  If I could relate to the thoughts of any comedian, minus the gambling addiction, it would be Norm.  And I love the brutal honesty that he shared about his knowledge of sports, trials with Christianity, loosing all of that money, and his apolitcal stance.  I only wish something was brought up about his 90’s movies Screwed and Dirty Work, who he starred in with your recent live WTF guest, Artie Lange, who also spoke on his gambling addictions with Norm on the Howard Stern radio show many moons ago.  However, I love the shows.  They’re worth their weight in printed stamps.  (I had to add that.  I’m a shipping clerk for a company after all)

Jcar October 19, 2011 at 8:47 pm

Norm Macdonald is the best host of weekend update ever!  Although, he does seem to be kind of a “either you get his humor, or you don’t” type comedian with very little middle ground.  People who get him seem to love him, while those who don’t just seem puzzled by him (which is part of what made his version of Weekend Uppdate so great.  Often the audience wouldn’t no what the fuck he was doing, so there’d just be dead silence—which made the jokes that much more great to me).

He was the highlight of SNL in the 1990s for me (which often was a bit of a suck fest).  In fact, one of my favorite SNL sketches ever was the one where Norm McDonald played the sketch artist who did the Unibomber sketch.  It was hilarious.  It’s kind of sad that there’s no online SNL archive.  You used to be able to find old SNL clips on youtube, but then NBC became really draconian about getting them removed.

Jcar October 19, 2011 at 8:52 pm

@Justin:

Shit, I completely forgot about that Courtney Thorne SMith/Conan interview.  One of the best Conan moments ever.  It was hilarious.  Everyone needs to youtube search that if they haven’t seen it.

lynxminx October 20, 2011 at 10:07 pm

“They eventually did it with a lady….”  Yeah…Tina Fey, the head writer.  Imagine if they’d let Norm stay!... “Well hey, missy, if the writers *really* want me to do this bullshit, why do they keep sending their secretary?” 

that guy October 21, 2011 at 2:46 pm

What more can be said about Norm not wanting to work with a woman? I’m glad he stood his ground on that.
Tina Fey is beautiful and charming but her weekend update wasn’t very funny (and she wasn’t helped by Jimmy Fallon who is also just as charming but kind of a mediocre talent)—and i think Norm would agree. (And I haven’t seen 30 Rock, but I liked it better the first time I saw it—when it was called The Larry Sanders show)
The funniest women—Roseanne Barr, Sandra Bernhard, Margaret Cho, Amy Sedaris, Janeane Garafalo—tend to be the edgiest and are therefore marginalized to the edges of pop culture.
BTW, for those looking for SNL clips, Hulu.com has recently opened the floodgates of SNL clips, including Norm’s stuff.

lynxminx October 21, 2011 at 5:27 pm

Tina Fey is also funny, but she’s a writer, not a stand-up.  Of course Norm was the better performer, he had fifteen years of performing experience over her.  It’s like comparing Dennis Miller to Conan O’Brien: apple meet orange.  (For the record, I’m immune to Tina Fey’s charm…I truly, deeply dislike 30 Rock).  It’s still churlish to say “They wanted me to work with some woman, and I said “no” cause that sounded godawful to me…”...then go on to say the *original* Weekend Update with “that woman” wasn’t funny, which is horseshit.  It was hysterical, *mostly* because of Jane Curtain….and yes, she does have a freakin’ name.

It’s okay.  Norm’s a crusty 80 year old man on the inside, right?  Sixty years ago women didn’t have names. 

Lee Stringer October 21, 2011 at 8:13 pm

I think you’re all missing the point with his comment about working with a woman on Weekend Update. I dont think he thought a woman can’t be funny, but that he didn’t want to have that corny man-woman comedy team, playing cheesy jokes off one another, and doing basically sketches in the part of the show that wasn’t supposed to have sketches. And he’s right. The lamest part of any of those weekend updates with Fallon and Fey was when they stopped doing straight “news” and performed those silly sketches.

IP Daily October 23, 2011 at 3:29 am

That was great.  Norm, still an enigma but thanks to Marc, now less so.

Matt October 24, 2011 at 4:38 am

This podcast is fucking golden. I feel like I just went on a journey.

DK October 26, 2011 at 9:22 am

One of my favorites so far. Norm is one of my favorite comedians. But what about Al Franken as a non-atrocious politician ??

Simon October 31, 2011 at 8:34 pm

The first few minutes were brutal - it made me feel awkward and sad - like when you’re suffering along with a comedian that is dying.  Then on came Norm - sublime for the next hour or so - then another awful minute at the end.

Overall rating 8/10

Tom November 01, 2011 at 3:43 pm

Norm could make him raping you in the ass funny… while he’s doing it.

Zach November 03, 2011 at 12:41 am

Easily the best interview yet.

Kevin November 07, 2011 at 11:31 am

Does anyone have the name of the book they referenced that’s about getting over fear of death obsessions (or something to that affect)?  Sounded like something I should check out.

Oh, and a awesome interview.  I genuinely believe Norm when he says he doesn’t really care about his shows getting canceled.

Craig November 15, 2011 at 4:12 pm

Kevin that book is Denial of Death by Ernest Becker.  It’s well worth your time.

scott meier November 21, 2011 at 9:49 pm

Jesus, buttfuckingchrist—how do you just log-the-fuck in? I’m giving you a whopping 72? cents a month, where’s the log-in prompt?

grind November 22, 2011 at 1:40 pm

raymond carver’s Cathedral.

p.s.  everything that rises must converge -  flannery o’connor

p.p.s.  o.j. did kill that waiter and the pretty lady…

Jorge Garrido December 05, 2011 at 5:56 pm

Norm mentions his love for Patrice for the first time in this interview. I had no idea Norm was such a big fan of Patrice until this, then his stroke, then his death.

:(

audicyannuaxy December 23, 2011 at 10:49 am

This is rediculous. No way this is true

Lettie January 03, 2012 at 8:54 pm

BION I’m ipmreessd! Cool post!

Hammiali February 18, 2012 at 8:23 am

Use words that are taboo for people, and generally if you do not use pain relief will only work with an oath. Study interesting, but I swear all the time if it just does not do much for you. Best cd rates

creative February 18, 2012 at 11:00 am

I’ve been wondering when this would happen and I leaped with joy when I saw Norm was todays WTF. It was great and I loved it. I agree with these guys
Naperville Limo

Andy February 22, 2012 at 9:46 pm

This interview about made me shit my pants.  What a classic WTF. 

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