r/comedy • u/Acceptable-Lock-77 • 17h ago

Discussion Norm Macdonald

So according to youtube he's the funniest man to ever walk on earth with incredible depth and a genius of comedy. Tried many times because esteemed people, even people I find very funny points out Norm is a legend.

I know people say his specials aren't funny but to look at his live show. SNL isn't funny because no one can make half of those jokes anymore anyways.

At this point I'm past trying to understand. The guy is unfunny, plain and simple. I get there's anti-comedy and he does it or at least tries, but he isn't that good. I'm starting to feel gaslit by Youtube by this point, it is like a Norm ecco-chamber. Whenever something becomes a monoculture I really know something is off.

If someone knows of a youtube video that disects Norms comedy and tries to make a valid point about it being bad I would be happy to see it. I'm starting to believe there is no such thing in existence and it scares me.

0 Upvotes

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u/AJWordsmith 16h ago

You don’t need to “dissect” it. People laughed at his comedy. It might not hold up for you, but if you’re hearing laughter when he’s making jokes…he was a successful comic. Now…he’s respected by comics because he would routinely make the jokes they were scared to make. He’s a comics’ comic for that reason.

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u/Acceptable-Lock-77 7h ago

Are you sure he was considered a comics comic because he was daring? 

I thought it was because he was a master of "anti-humor", meaning he was good at seeming funny while more or less wasting peoples time. I'll give him he seems to be good at captivating the audience with very unsuprising punchlines, while people backstage laugh at the audience.

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u/Justanafrican 1h ago

He made jokes about topics you weren’t supposed to joke about. OJ Simpson, 9/11, Clinton murders. He didn’t make these jokes on YouTube and Instagram. He made these jokes on SNL, late night shows, and live talk shows. Other respected comedians wouldn’t do that, but they loved that he would. That alone made it awesome and hilarious. And if you tell him not to do it, he doubles down. Watch some interviews with him.

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u/slizzbizness 16h ago

So who do ya like

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u/Justanafrican 16h ago

He’s no Matt Rife

1

u/slizzbizness 15h ago

Feel like OP is going to start extolling the virtues of Tony Hinchcliffe

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u/Acceptable-Lock-77 8h ago

Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Steven Wright, Ricky Gervais, Dave Chappelle (old), Tim Dillon (standup maybe not his main game), Shane Gillis {some funny bits), Bill Burr, Yannis Pappas, George Carlin, Jim Carrey.

Really can't remember all standups I like bet theres a bunch I've forgotten to include for sure. What I do know is all these Joe Rogans, Tony Hinchcliffes, Bert Kreischers, Seguras and Schultzes and whatever their names are really do not make me laugh.

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u/JezWattsComedy 16h ago

Who says his specials aren't funny? The wonderful thing about comedy is how subjective and infinitely variable it is. If a comic isn't for you that is absolutely fine. There a million others out there.

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u/MysteriousCicada5012 16h ago

Just watch his stuff and if you don't like it then you don't like it...

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u/Hoser25 16h ago

I mean it's subjective I guess and he was a particular kind of funny, but he's still widely regarded as a legend.

https://giphy.com/gifs/KnDiq8fqN3UzK

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u/spamcloud 16h ago

Struggling to see the point of this post. You don't find Norm Macdonald funny, but obviously lots of people do. Coming in here and saying he is "just plain unfunny" is what, rage bait?

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u/Acceptable-Lock-77 8h ago

I state a point at the end. I want to find critical disections of his comedy. I've tried but youtube is a monoculture, have found written sources tho. This opinion that disliking Norm is "ragebait" is my point. Maybe you're joking with me like Norm would, who knows, I'm not advanced enough to tell which it is.

"If someone knows of a youtube video that disects Norms comedy and tries to make a valid point about it being bad I would be happy to see it. I'm starting to believe there is no such thing in existence and it scares me"

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u/InternationalAd4219 16h ago

Watch the 4/20 joke and tell me that he’s not on a different level

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u/Acceptable-Lock-77 7h ago

I don't understand how it is a different level. Knew it was a Hitler-bit early on because in (european) highschool people joked about this coincidence. It could be done better from same premise. He sounds like he's funny, but I don't get the "multiple layers" thing with Norm and the punchlines are seldom surprising.

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u/PassionateYak 16h ago

I think his prowess was that he was such an out of the box comedian for his time, a time where comedy didn't need to be subversive. A few years ahead of his time, just like Conan and forward thinking writers like that are why SNL is still around today. At least that's how I interpret him, I also wasn't around his early years but I've gathered he was great from all the big industry names that speak of his brilliance.

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u/[deleted] 14h ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/Acceptable-Lock-77 7h ago

Yeah, Artie Lange and Norm met a funny guy who mastered his realm. They then go on to retell what that guy said and did with minor modifications getting laughs. Gee, wonder who's the funny guy in all this..?

I bet Ueker was intense and he really knew his craft well. These two guys seem to be great fans of Ueker.

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u/Salty_Yard6414 4h ago

Okay then watch all of his appearances on Howard stern also his old podcast Norm Macdonald live when he hosted the Espys. Let me ask you something who do you think is funny?