Name: Back to Norm
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2005-05-29
Duration: 30 min
Rating: 7
Cast: Norm MacDonald, Rob Schneider, John Farley

Norm MacDonald is one of those rare performers who has a great natural comic gift. He can just stand there with that silly look on his face and crack me up. His Burt Reynolds impression is hysterical, as are several other of his celebrity characterizations. But it's a puzzler as to why he can't do sustained comic work. He was often hilarious on Saturday Night Live in skit work, but his sitcom "Norm" was flaccid and suffered from the presence of tedious and boring side players. This new half-hour Comedy Central presentation is similarly lazy and loose. It feels as if it might have been written over a weekend and never rehearsed before shooting. The only flickering bright spots were the Andy Rooney bit and the skit with the guy who wanted a threesome for his birthday. But even they were weirdly paced and ended up being sort of one-trick ponies. Norm, we love you. Get some discipline and get to work. 

PS. The fisherman in heaven in the opening scene is Max Wright, the befuddled character from ALF and also "The Norm Show."

The sketch comedy subgenre consists of a series of short, self-contained scenes or sketches, often connected by a common theme, style, or recurring characters. Each sketch typically lasts a few minutes and presents a humorous situation, scenario, or interaction that delivers a punchline, comedic twist, or funny observation.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in Key and Peele (2012)

The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

Will Ferrell, Angela Grillo, and Lap-Gei Cheung in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

A series of comedy sketches featuring comedian Norm Macdonald, including a Jihadist negotiating for 72 virgins with Rob Schneider.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Iggy Pop, Joel David Moore, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Bob Saget, Carly Chaikin, and Chantel Riley in Daniel's Gotta Die (2022)

Artie Lange, Norm MacDonald, Nikki Cox, Ian Gomez, and Laurie Metcalf in The Norm Show (1999)

Norm MacDonald in Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special (2022)

Jason Lee and Tom Green in Stealing Harvard (2002)

The Bad Boys of Saturday Night Live (1998)

Rob Schneider, Joshua Bitton, Cress Williams, Katrina Bowden, Chet Hanks, and Derek Smith in Dead Wrong (2024)

Back to Norm

Photos

Top Cast11

User reviews5

More like this

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed