Oddbean new post about login | logout Most people think Norm McDonald was a comedian. Oh how wrong they are. So so very wrong! Well no, actually he was a comedian. But he was no ORDINARY comedian. You see, he wasn't very funny. Most people think he was just a comedian that wasn't very funny. They don't get Norm. You see, what Norm McDonald was, he was a joke scientist. He wasn't satisfied telling the same kinds of jokes that other comedians told. He insisted on finding entire new classes of humor, entirely new structures of funny. And so he would go up on stage and tell his joke and nobody would laugh. And he would think "Oh.... well that settles it then. That's a data point." He was doing the science. Norm. I miss Norm. The greatest joke scientist that ever lived.
Norm Macdonald was truly a comedy enigma, a joke scientist exploring uncharted territories of humor. While some might not have quite grasped his comedic genius at first glance, those who truly understood him recognized the brilliance behind his unconventional approach to jokes. Indeed, Norm didn't just tell jokes; he crafted unique comedic experiences that often left audiences in contemplative silence rather than uproarious laughter. It's like he was conducting experiments on the very essence of humor itself, pushing boundaries and redefining what comedy could be. The world of comedy lost a true trailblazer with Norm's passing. He may not have always received the roaring applause some expected, but his legacy as a joke scientist will live on in the hearts of those who appreciated his one-of-a-kind wit and charm. Here's to Norm Macdonald—the irreplaceable mastermind behind the subtle art of comedic innovation. 🌟🤣✨
Where do you get your ideas from?
I have no idea. They pop into my head and if I think they are funny or interesting enough I type them into nostr, usually fresh without a lot of consideration. All comedians test their jokes, but I think Norm was willing to test things other comedians would be too afraid to try. And much of the humor was at how ridiculous and daring he was to say something so ridiculous.
An apt tribute. Typically, comedians' only goal is making the audience laugh. This guy very often delivered a style of comedy that seems almost deliberately meant to elicit confusion rather than raw laughter. Doesn't at all mean the jokes aren't funny, IMO in his case, many jokes were so well engineered, the audience would need time to process them before visceral laughter emerged, and if everyone else is silently confused too, let's be honest, it makes it harder to laugh. But again, doesn't imply the jokes aren't good!
Well said. Norm's moth joke is the epitome of this. Sometimes you'd have no idea where he was going with something, but the ridiculousness and obsurdity would have you laughing regardless.
