Norm Macdonald Live
Norm Macdonald Live was a weekly free audio and video podcast hosted by Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor Norm Macdonald with The Comedy Store's Adam Eget serving as co-host and former Late Show with David Letterman producer Daniel Kellison serving as executive producer.[1] Launched by Jash's Video Podcast Network on March 26, 2013, the podcast ran for three seasons. It featured interviews with comedians, actors, and other members of the entertainment community. The program aired on Amazon Video and was later archived on YouTube. On February 16, 2018, the series became unavailable on YouTube. Norm Macdonald Has a Show, a spiritual successor to Norm Macdonald Live starring Macdonald and Eget was released on Netflix on September 14, 2018.
| Norm Macdonald Live | |
|---|---|
 Norm Macdonald Live logo | |
| Presentation | |
| Hosted by | Norm Macdonald Adam Eget |
| Genre | Comedy Talk |
| Format |
|
| Created by | Norm Macdonald |
| Language | English |
| Length | 1 hour |
| Production | |
| Production | Daniel Kellison (executive producer) |
| No. of episodes | 36 |
| Publication | |
| Original release | March 26, 2013 – February 16, 2018 |
| Provider | Jash |
| Website | Youtube |
Background
The first season premiered on March 26, 2013 and concluded after eleven episodes. After a year-long hiatus, the second season debuted on May 12, 2014.[2] It concluded after thirteen episodes in August 2014.
A third season was released in September and October 2016, but only aired 2 episodes before going on hiatus. On July 25, 2017 the season continued with guest David Letterman. The recommencement of the third season featured a brand new set as well as a new style of filming, that seemed to prefer close-up camera shots on subjects rather than the traditional medium close-up.
Format
The podcast followed a talk show format. Each hour-long episode features opening remarks between Macdonald and co-host Adam Eget, often involving elaborate comedic bits and irreverent chit-chat, leading into a guest interview. The show concludes with a segment called "Jokes," in which the hosts and their guest take turns reading one-liners from index cards.
Episodes
Season One
| Episode | Release Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 26, 2013 | Bob Einstein |
| 2 | April 2, 2013 | Tom Green |
| 3 | April 9, 2013 | Fred Stoller |
| 4 | April 16, 2013 | Russell Brand |
| 5 | April 23, 2013 | Billy Bob Thornton |
| 6 | April 30, 2013 | Larry King |
| 7 | May 7, 2013 | Kevin Nealon |
| 8 | May 14, 2013 | Simon Helberg |
| 9 | May 21, 2013 | Nick Swardson |
| 10 | May 27, 2013 | Andy Dick |
| 11 | June 11, 2013 | Gilbert Gottfried |
Season Two
| Episode | Release Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 12, 2014 | Ray Romano |
| 2 | May 21, 2014 | Adam Sandler |
| 3 | May 26, 2014 | David Spade |
| 4 | June 2, 2014 | Carl Reiner |
| 5 | June 9, 2014 | Fred Willard |
| 6 | June 16, 2014 | Todd Glass |
| 7 | June 25, 2014 | Todd Glass Part 2 |
| 8 | June 30, 2014 | Bob Saget |
| 9 | July 7, 2014 | David Koechner |
| 10 | July 14, 2014 | Roseanne Barr |
| 11 | July 21, 2014 | Marc Maron |
| 12 | July 28, 2014 | Martin Mull |
| 13 | August 7, 2014 | Jack Carter |
Season Three
| Episode | Release Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15, 2016 | Stephen Merchant |
| 2 | September 26, 2016 | Bill Hader |
| 3 | July 25, 2017 | David Letterman |
| 4 | August 1, 2017 | Mike Tyson |
| 5 | August 8, 2017 | Bobby Lee |
| 6 | August 15, 2017 | Sarah Silverman |
| 7 | August 22, 2017 | Dana Carvey |
| 8 | August 29, 2017 | Jerry Seinfeld |
| 9 | September 5, 2017 | Caitlyn Jenner |
| 10 | September 12, 2017 | Rich Little |
| 11 | September 19, 2017 | Margaret Cho |
| 12 | September 26, 2017 | Tim Allen |
| 13 | October 3, 2017 | Jim Carrey |
Specials
| Episode | Release Date | Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 13, 2013 | The Masters with Norm Macdonald 2013 (day 1) |
| 2 | April 14, 2013 | The Masters with Norm Macdonald 2013 (day 2) |
| 3 | April 11, 2015 | The Masters with Norm Macdonald 2015 (day 1) |
| 4 | April 12, 2015 | The Masters with Norm Macdonald 2015 (day 2) |
Critical reception
Reviews for the series have been positive, with warm notices from USA Today[3] and Entertainment Weekly.[4] Darren Staley of America's Comedy writes "The show is at all times smart, unpredictable, thought-provoking, and funny as hell," arguing that "It's the best podcast out there right now."[5] Writing for IFC, Ron Mwangaguhunga called Macdonald "a comedic force with which to be reckoned," noting that the show was "a bit rough around the edges," in its first episode.[1]
References
- "Norm Macdonal Live Review". IFC. March 26, 2013.
- "Here's the Season 2 Premiere of 'Norm Macdonald Live' with Ray Romano". Splitsider. May 13, 2014.
- "Norm MacDonald launches a video podcast". USA Today. March 26, 2013.
- "Norm Macdonald talks new video podcast, shares excellent advice: 'The best defense is an insane offense' - EXCLUSIVE". Entertainment Weekly. March 27, 2013.
- "'Norm Macdonald Live' in Retrospect". America's Comedy. May 29, 2013.