I am Norm Macdonald, AMA.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/25eonq/i_am_norm_macdonald_ama/

created by ImNormMacdonald on 13/05/2014 at 00:31 UTC*

3062 upvotes, 88 top-level comments (showing 25)

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[1], my twitter @normmacdonald, the Video Podcast Network at YouTube.com/VPN[2], and JASH at YouTube.com/JASH[3].

1: http://www.youtube.com/NormMacdonald

2: http://www.youtube.com/VPN

3: http://www.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

Comment by [deleted] at 13/05/2014 at 00:41 UTC

1222 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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

Comment by [deleted] at 13/05/2014 at 00:42 UTC

181 upvotes, 1 direct replies

[deleted]

Comment by Lol_jk_Omg at 13/05/2014 at 00:34 UTC

477 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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

Comment by Purefluffnyc14 at 13/05/2014 at 00:47 UTC

294 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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.

Comment by RKitch2112 at 13/05/2014 at 00:40 UTC

369 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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

Comment by frogvanexel at 13/05/2014 at 00:32 UTC

718 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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?

Comment by Kknowsbest at 13/05/2014 at 01:58 UTC

91 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Where is the strangest place someone has recognized you?

Comment by [deleted] at 13/05/2014 at 00:34 UTC

574 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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

Comment by ngreen37 at 13/05/2014 at 00:46 UTC

84 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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?

Comment by Frajer at 13/05/2014 at 00:34 UTC

479 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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

Comment by GerriSteinfeld at 13/05/2014 at 00:32 UTC

653 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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

Comment by ok_where_am_i at 13/05/2014 at 00:35 UTC

157 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by Bill6dozer at 13/05/2014 at 00:48 UTC

332 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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?

Comment by iamthebluejay at 13/05/2014 at 01:50 UTC

71 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by 1egbeard at 13/05/2014 at 00:41 UTC

66 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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?

Comment by JJGerms at 13/05/2014 at 00:53 UTC

181 upvotes, 3 direct replies

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

Comment by sillywalkr at 13/05/2014 at 00:42 UTC

262 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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

Comment by [deleted] at 13/05/2014 at 00:32 UTC*

761 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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, etc. 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, I had completely lost all control. 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.

Comment by 10ac at 13/05/2014 at 00:32 UTC

247 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by Queequeg32 at 13/05/2014 at 00:41 UTC

111 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by DevinBelow at 13/05/2014 at 00:48 UTC

47 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by lukearmour11 at 13/05/2014 at 00:42 UTC

90 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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

Comment by toriko at 13/05/2014 at 00:37 UTC

163 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Hey Norm has SNL ever asked you to come back to the show since this infamous monologue happened[1]? It's easily one of my favorite SNL openings ever.

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofXxinOtPiQ

Comment by kevinsorbo82 at 13/05/2014 at 00:39 UTC

87 upvotes, 2 direct replies

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?

Comment by [deleted] at 13/05/2014 at 00:48 UTC

112 upvotes, 1 direct replies

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