RIP Norm Macdonald

[User 149557]

It appears he didn’t tell anyone.

 

[Tighthead]

It appears he didn’t tell anyone.

He did tell family according to his brother, who is a long time correspondent with the CBC.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

He did tell family according to his brother, who is a long time correspondent with the CBC.

But he must have told his family not to tell anyone, and they didn't. That's a pretty strong tribute right there -- to all of them.

 

[DanOregon]

He strikes me as someone who would be kind of quiet and reserved in everyday life - but damn I could see him doing some funny bits during chemo.

 

[wicked]

RIP. Was a true genius who was stuck down at the bottom of that SNL order.

 

[Songbird]

If there was an SNL tournament bracket I'd have to think Norm is a strong contender for Final 4.

 

[UNCGrad]

I'm always struck on the "Moth Joke" on Conan, that Conan knew right when to insert his own joke ("how long was this drive?") because he, as another comic, knew intimately how Norm would construct the long joke, even if he didn't know where it was ultimately going. Just masterclass stuff.

 

[MileHigh]

If there was an SNL tournament bracket I'd have to think Norm is a strong contender for Final 4.

Possible recency bias here, but hard to argue.

 

[Songbird]

Well, strong contender. Definitely Sweet 16 and probably takes the Elite 8 to OT.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

If there was an SNL tournament bracket I'd have to think Norm is a strong contender for Final 4.

Of just cast members in general? Oh God no. A very funny guy at times but he just barely showed up outside of Weekend Update.

 

[micropolitan guy]

He had a recurring bit role in "The Middle," as the brother of the father character (the janitor from Scrubs). He was really funny.

 

[Regan MacNeil]

My Final Four: Murray, Murphy, Ferrell and, though many might disagree, Hartman.

 

[Songbird]

 

[Songbird]

My Final Four: Murray, Murphy, Ferrell and, though many might disagree, Hartman.

****, Hartman is probably in the title game.

 

[Sea Bass]

My Final Four: Murray, Murphy, Ferrell and, though many might disagree, Hartman.

I’d replace Hartman with Mike Myers but the other three I’d have.

 

[User 150927]

Too many iconic to choose from. And if I could sit down and watch new sketches from anybody ever, it would be Gilda Radner. How does Gilda just end?

 

[DanOregon]

McDonald was probably the second best newsguy after Miller. Before Miller, the segment was as much a takeoff of the news as the news parodied. Miller and McDonald made it a lot more pointed - and funny.

 

[OscarMadison]

Here's the list of WU anchors according to Wikipedia:

• • 1.1Weekend Update (1975–1981)
    • 1.1.1Chevy Chase (1975–1976)
    • 1.1.2Jane Curtin (1976–1980)
    • 1.1.3Charles Rocket (1980–1981)
  • 1.2SNL NewsBreak (1981–1982)
  • 1.3Saturday Night News (1982–1985)
  • 1.4Weekend Update (1985–present)
    • 1.4.1Dennis Miller (1985–1991)
    • 1.4.2Kevin Nealon (1991–1994)
    • 1.4.3Norm Macdonald (1994–1997)
    • 1.4.4Colin Quinn (1998–2000)
    • 1.4.5Jimmy Fallon and Tina Fey (2000–2004)
    • 1.4.6Tina Fey and Amy Poehler (2004–2006)
    • 1.4.7Amy Poehler and Horatio Sanz (2005)
    • 1.4.8Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers (2006–2008)
    • 1.4.9Seth Meyers (2008–2013)
    • 1.4.10Seth Meyers and Cecily Strong (2013–2014)
    • 1.4.11Cecily Strong and Colin Jost (2014)
    • 1.4.12Colin Jost and Michael Che (2014–present)

 

[Scout]

Are we talking SNL work only or after SNL is included?

 

[sgreenwell]

Are we talking SNL work only or after SNL is included?

I'm a huge Norm fan, but even I don't think it would matter, if we're talking consideration for the Top 5 or Top 10. Norm was really good, but 1) him being good in a sketch was more of an isolated thing and 2) his work as a talk show guest and stand-up trump most of his SNL stuff. I'm not going to rank every cast member, but if I did, I think he ends up right around the middle to the upper third.