History Creator / NormMacDonald

Norman Gene Macdonald (born October 17, 1959) is a Canadian-born comedian who started on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (though ''SNL'' has had a lot of Canadian cast members, like Creator/PhilHartman, Creator/DanAykroyd, and Creator/MikeMyers, Norm is the only one who was not born in Ontario. Norm was born in Quebec and grew up in Alberta) during the show's 19th season (1993-1994). Though he appeared in sketches on the show (his impressions of Burt Reynolds and Larry King were hilarious), he was most widely known for the "Weekend Update" segment, which was considered by many critics and viewers alike to be the [[JustHereForGodzilla only reason to watch]] ''Saturday Night Live'' when it was limping to the barn with SeasonalRot during the show's 20th season and rumors spread that NBC was going to cancel ''SNL'' yet again.

* ShapedLikeItself: Brought on David Hasselhoff as a guest correspondent on ''Weekend Update'' to read a single line from a cue card: "Germans love me."

Norm Macdonald (October 17, 1959-) is a Canadian-born comedian who started on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (though ''SNL'' has had a lot of Canadian cast members, like Creator/PhilHartman, Creator/DanAykroyd, and Creator/MikeMyers, Norm is the only one who was not born in Ontario. Norm was born in Quebec and grew up in Alberta) during the show's 19th season (1993-1994). Though he appeared in sketches on the show (his impressions of Burt Reynolds and Larry King were hilarious), he was most widely known for the "Weekend Update" segment, which was considered by many critics and viewers alike to be the [[JustHereForGodzilla only reason to watch]] ''Saturday Night Live'' when it was limping to the barn with SeasonalRot during the show's 20th season and rumors spread that NBC was going to cancel ''SNL'' yet again.

-->--'''Norm [=MacDonald=]'''

What happens when a DeadpanSnarker and a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} have a kid. Oh, and they're both [[NietzscheWannabe nihilists]]. Well, that or [[Film/TheDarkKnight The Joker]]. [[OverlyLongGag Wait, Norm MacDonald is The Joker!]]

Norm [=MacDonald=] (October 17, 1959-) is a Canadian-born comedian who started on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (though ''SNL'' has had a lot of Canadian cast members, like Creator/PhilHartman, Creator/DanAykroyd, and Creator/MikeMyers, Norm is the only one who was not born in Ontario. Norm was born in Quebec and grew up in Alberta) during the show's 19th season (1993-1994). Though he appeared in sketches on the show (his impressions of Burt Reynolds and Larry King were hilarious), he was most widely known for the "Weekend Update" segment, which was considered by many critics and viewers alike to be the [[JustHereForGodzilla only reason to watch]] ''Saturday Night Live'' when it was limping to the barn with SeasonalRot during the show's 20th season and rumors spread that NBC was going to cancel ''SNL'' yet again.

His most recent series was a sports show on Creator/ComedyCentral called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sports Show with Norm MacDonald]]'', essentially a sports-themed version of his "Weekend Update" performances, which was cancelled after one season despite regularly having over a million viewers an episode. His current project is a weekly podcast on Website/YouTube called ''Norm Macdonald Live''.

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Had one of the most memorable runs on the celebrity version of ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'', where he won half a million dollars for charity, after spending the week as the ButtMonkey in the Fastest Finger contestant row (he was the last contestant to play the main game and the correct order to his solo FF question spelled out his name). He wanted to go for the million dollars, but admitted he was WildMassGuessing and was talked into walking away by Regis so that he wouldn't cost the charity the money he had banked in case he was wrong. [[spoiler: Had Norm chosen the answer he was thinking about, he would have been correct.]]

TropeNamer for GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff, after a recurring bit from "Weekend Update", keeping viewers apprised of the ''Series/{{Baywatch}}'' actor/producer's extracurricular exploits.

* ShapedLikeItself: Brought on David Hasselhoff as a guest correspondent on ''Weekend Update'' to read a single line from a cue card: "[[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff Germans love me.]]"[[invoked]]
-->"Which once again proves my theory: Germans love David Hasselhoff."

* WrongGenreSavvy: In the Celebrity Edition of ''Series/WhoWantsToBeAMillionaire'', part of his strategy was trying to find Regis' tell for a correct answer, like in a poker game. Regis didn't know the answers either, though Norm did end up winning $500,000.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: Norm supplied the trope namer with his frequent stories on Weekend Update marveling at the success of Hasselhoff in Germany.

** On Series/ComediansInCarsGettingCoffee, in response to the a Creator/BillCosby rape accuser saying that the disrespect was the worst part of the ordeal, Norm suggested that the worst part was actually the ''rape.''

As of late 2014, he voices Pigeon on "WesternAnimation/MikeTysonMysteries". As of 2015, he stars as the Colonel in UsefulNotes/KentuckyFriedChicken's advertising. In late 2016, he authored a book called "Based on a True Story", very loosely based on his life.

--> It's the only disease where you get to drink booze all the time. I mean, I haven't ready ''every'' medical journal, but I believe it's the only disease where you get to constantly ''drink booze''. As a matter of fact, that ''is'' the disease.

His most recent series was a sports show on Creator/ComedyCentral called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Sports Show with Norm MacDonald]]'', essentially a sports-themed version of his "Weekend Update" performances, which was cancelled after one season despite regularly having over a million viewers an episode. His current project is a weekly podcast on {{Youtube}} called ''Norm Macdonald Live''.

Norm [=MacDonald=] (October 17, 1963-) is a Canadian-born comedian who started on ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (though ''SNL'' has had a lot of Canadian cast members, like Creator/PhilHartman, Creator/DanAykroyd, and Creator/MikeMyers, Norm is the only one who was not born in Ontario. Norm was born in Quebec and grew up in Alberta) during the show's 19th season (1993-1994). Though he appeared in sketches on the show (his impressions of Burt Reynolds and Larry King were hilarious), he was most widely known for the "Weekend Update" segment, which was considered by many critics and viewers alike to be the [[JustHereForGodzilla only reason to watch]] ''Saturday Night Live'' when it was limping to the barn with SeasonalRot during the show's 20th season and rumors spread that NBC was going to cancel ''SNL'' yet again.

* OneOfUs: Has been lampshading tropes constantly since before this site existed.

After a rather ignominious split from the show (and when the show was starting to become popular again thanks to the likes of Creator/WillFerrell, Ana Gasteyer, Cheri Oteri, Molly Shannon, Tim Meadows, Chris Kattan, and Tracy Morgan), he did some movies and TV shows, none of which met or exceeded the success he had on ''SNL''. His appearances on late night talk shows are quite popular, for he has a tendency to lampshade the tropes of whatever medium he is currently operating in.

* CaptainObvious: An essential ingredient of his style and the point on which most people's mileage will vary. Part of what makes it work is what he chooses to be obvious about.
** He's obvious about things that are so obvious that we just don't even think about them anymore. Like saying that scientists should start focusing on this death thing.

* RunningGag: Several on Weekend Update. The most memorable ones being [=Norm MacDonald's=] relentless insistence about OJ Simpson being guilty (ending with "This just in, murder is now legal in California"), his weird story of the week which involved, you guessed it, Frank Stallone, and his "Notes to Self" reminding him to shamelessly exploit stupid things happening in the news.

* IWantYouToMeetAnOldFriendOfMine: Norm is often involved in projects with by Creator/AdamSandler, DennisMiller, and Artie Lange (who was a cast member on ''SNL'''s [[DuelingShows rival show]], ''Series/{{MADtv}}'', until Lange was fired for his cocaine abuse).

* TheGadfly: Much like AndyKaufman, Norm has a history of making truly biting, smart ass remarks in such a way that people aren't sure if he's joking. Doubtless this contributed to his firing from SNL.

As of late 2014, he voices Pigeon on "WesternAnimation/MikeTysonMysteries". As of 2015, he stars as the Colonel in UsefulNotes/KentuckyFriedChicken's advertising.

* DeadpanSnarker

* NonSequitur: Nearly every week one of his news stories would "support" the conclusion that GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff. The only exception to this was when he got Hasselhoff to appear on the set and read a card saying "Germans love me," which quite reasonably supported his theory.

* RefugeInAudacity: Everything in "Best Disease Ever" stand-up routine from the title onward, concluding with hypothetical Alcoholics Anonymous member Richie K in Norm's cheerful deadpan.
--> One time I was under the influence of the demon rum, and I started punching my newborn in the face. I kinda looked down on my fist and it was all bloody with, uh, I don't know what it was. It was either from my knuckles or my son's ''skull''.

* ScrewedByTheNetwork: Norm's removal from Weekend Update. Now, it was claimed that it was simply because he wasn't funny (which ran counter to the opinions of critics and the studio audience). However, as noted above, OJ Simpson was a frequent source of material for Norm on Weekend Update and Simpson happened to be a friend of Don Ohlmeyer, NBC's President of West Coast Operations. Many suspect that Ohlmeyer was angered by Norm's jabs at Simpson and subsequently demanded his removal.
** Summed by Norm when he hosted:
-->"I had sort of a disagreement with the management at, uh, at the NBC. Uh, I wanted to keep my job, right? And they felt the exact opposite."

* TooSoon: As a guest on ''Series/TheDailyShow'', he unapologetically cracked jokes about the death of [[Series/CrocodileHunter "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin]] just after it happened. Jon Stewart practically begged him to stop... [[ActuallyPrettyFunny while fighting back fits of laughter]].