Skip to main content

The Late Norm Macdonald Left Behind a Surprise Stand-Up Show

The world lost one of its best and longest-tenured comedians in Norm Macdonald last September. This week we found out it’s not the last irreverent deadpan we’ve heard from the man.

In what’s most likely a first for comedy, news broke that Macdonald shot a secret standup performance in his living room before his passing at 61. Sources said that the comedian wanted to offer one last appearance for his fans should his health take a turn for the worst.

Norm Macdonald (right) with a fan in 2016.
Greg2600.

“His test results were not good, so during the heart of COVID-19 pandemic and literally the night before going in for a procedure, he wanted to get this on tape just in case — as he put it — things went south,” Lori Jo Hoekstra, Macdonald’s longtime producing partner, told The Hollywood Reporter. “It was his intention to have a special to share if something happened.”

Known for his sarcasm, sardonic delivery, and untempered wit, Macdonald entertained millions of viewers for nearly 30 years before succumbing to cancer on Sept. 14, 2021. He was maybe best known for his time on Saturday Night Live from 1993 to 1997, generating controversy more than a few times as host of the show’s Weekend Update segment. After that run, Macdonald appeared in a few movies but primarily remained in the cultural consciousness via standup and other comedic appearances. Now he’s deeded audiences one last chance to appreciate his dry hilarity.

Macdonald filmed himself in a single, over-an-hour take from his living room. This wasn’t an off-the-cuff effort, though. The set was actually supposed to appear in front of a live audience in 2020, but we all know what ill winds blew in during that year. After the COVID-19 pandemic put a permanent cramp in the comedy special’s plans, Macdonald ended up filming the show at home in the summer of 2020, ensuring one last laugh for viewers in case he was unable to beat cancer a second time.

“Norm worked so hard on a new hour of material and wanted it to be seen… We want to make sure his fans see this very funny hour,” Hoekstra said in a Netflix statement. “He left this gift for all of us.”

The special will also include bonus material with comedic peers like Dave Chappelle, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Adam Sandler, Molly Shannon, and David Spade. These fellow humorists will provide their perspectives on their relationship and special experience sharing life with Macdonald in a fitting farewell for one of comedy’s greats.

Fans will be able to stream the comedian’s standup farewell, Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special, on Netflix beginning Monday, May 30.

Editors' Recommendations

Matthew Denis
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
The best boxing documentaries to watch this year
From Muhammad Ali to Joe Frazier, the docs on this list cover some of the most prominent fighters in boxing history.
When We Were Kings Doc

Boxing is having a moment right now. From highly-anticipated heavyweight bouts to exhibitions of old rivals to insanely hyped celeb boxing, boxing fans new and old alike are turning their eyes to the sport's latest renaissance. Notice how we say "latest," for boxing already features many great moments of glory in its rich history. If you're not someone who wants to get in boxing shape yourself, there are still plenty of ways to engage with the sport.
One of those ways to engage with the great, inspiring stories that delve into the history of boxing and its present. It would take all day to find the best boxing documentaries on streaming platforms, but this list should be a good starting point. By watching these eye-opening docs, you’ll learn more about the most historic fights, the biggest fighters, and the global reach the sport has had since it first emerged.
Related Reading

Best Sports Movies
Best Sports Documentaries

Read more
Star Wars drinking game rules you can use for all the movies
These drinking game rules will ensure that the Force of intoxication is with you, whether it's May the Fourth or not.
star wars drinking game rules cocktails death feature image

May the Fourth may come just once a year, but celebrating everything that Star Wars has given us shouldn't be confined to a single day. You should feel free to rewatch your favorite Star Wars films whenever you want, especially since they're so conveniently located on Disney Plus.

As fun as lounging and binge-watching is in and of itself, you might find that adding alcohol to the equation really spices things up. This is why movie drinking games are a great way to take any film you've already seen and add a whole new level of entertainment on top of it. With 11 different movies to choose from, we thought it best to create one list of Star Wars drinking game rules to rule them all. So whether you're starting with the original trilogy or jumping ahead to The Force Awakens, here are some drinking guidelines to try to stick to throughout.

Read more
The 10 best Marvel movies, ranked
With 32 MCU movies to choose from, we think the top 10 stand tall above the rest
Avengers Endgame Best Movies

Some people don't like the dominance displayed by the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent years, as it seemingly blocks out all of the other great cinema on display at the movie theater and at home. Still, there's no denying the pop culture influence and the mainstream adulation towards the superheroes that make up these 32 films in the MCU. With almost 15 years of movies to choose from, most have been a hit, but several also didn't live up to expectations. We're here to help you watch the 10 best Marvel movies, from the Avengers movies to all of the niche MCU movies that make the universe stick and come together in special unison. You can watch nearly all of these movies on Disney Plus!

10. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Read more