More Jim Downey please! Have him back for ten more episodes!

@benthiele

8 ай бұрын

More Downey!

@florete2310

8 ай бұрын

He's a pretty cool dude. So, I second this motion🤚

@MISNM0

8 ай бұрын

Yes to the freaking Please! This was Phenomenal and adds another look into why people come into this orbit and stay together as q real work family. I love every thing I heard from this man and will eagerly look for more content by him in the future. (Had no idea about his acting work but was L I V I N G for your commentary on, There Will Be Blood. Straight effing 💀)

@waylonnicholson371

8 ай бұрын

Would love if Jim had his own podcast on the Team Coco network. He could talk about anything and it would be interesting.

@christianfarmer

8 ай бұрын

And Kevin Nealon

Norm walking away from his dream job cause tgey wanted to get rid of Jim. And then not even telling Jim.....made me tear up. A great man.

@ColoursOfDan02

6 ай бұрын

This is something I hope to learn from Norm. Doing the good deed is enough getting praise for that act cheapens it.

@James_Bee

Ай бұрын

Norm was Christian and Christianity teaches to do the right thing because God says it's the right thing, not because you could get anything for doing it.

The fact that norm went to battle for this writer is just another example of how much respect i have for him. I miss him so much. Legend

"Well, it is finally official. Murder is legal in the state of California" - Norm McDonald and Jim Downey

I want a 24 hour version of this podcast. Please have an entire special with Jim. I absolutely live for these sort of "inside" stories and shared experiences between Conan and other writers. Please, please have more content like this

@michaelduck11

8 ай бұрын

Trim the fat and cut into the muscle

@odaydrums

8 ай бұрын

Me too! When I discovered Norms first podcast with Adam "Egret" I thought " this is so cool! I am seeing how comedians work"

Thank you for telling us that it was really important to have Norm on your last shows, Conan. It was a real mystery to many of us why he wasn't there given the gold he had spun with you and Andy over the years. It was clearer what was going on just a few months later, when Norm passed. But to know how important it was to you to have him there means a lot.

@davidhurtado2725

8 ай бұрын

Listen to his episode on Norm's death with Smiley (I think) and Andy. He talks about this there

@NuttyMongrel

8 ай бұрын

Goes to show sometimes you just don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Some people were speculating that Conan and Norm had a falling out.

@primus103

8 ай бұрын

which proves you can't trust the internet. People were bashing Conan for not having Norm on, thinking he was boycotted.

I miss Norm so much. He could say the same line six different ways and I’d laugh 7 times

@leobender2910

8 ай бұрын

And between the attempts where he just smirks at his own joke

@modsquad20

8 ай бұрын

Are you a woman? I'm sensing someone not good at math.

@Psychol-Snooper

8 ай бұрын

Or so the Germans would have us believe.

@TWOhype23

8 ай бұрын

@@Psychol-SnooperYou don’t strike me as someone who owns a doghouse

@prashantnegi007

8 ай бұрын

Hah?

I love the joke Norm did about women drivers, then challenging the audience with “that joke was written by a woman”. Then “nah, we don’t hire women”. I don’t know who wrote that but it’s absolutely genius.

@alexandercain732

Ай бұрын

I believe that was one of Jim's jokes, with Norm modifying it a bit for the live show.

@mikeshelogowski434

Ай бұрын

"Now ya don't know WHAT to think!" 😅

Norm interrupting Jim during his speech in Dirty Work is still comic gold.

@hankgowdey3255

8 ай бұрын

How about 2 dollars?

@roycopeland9560

8 ай бұрын

Here’s your 2 dollars.

@hankgowdey3255

8 ай бұрын

Right that's the line@@roycopeland9560

Jim's recall is incredible. A total legend.

@sabbracadabra8367

4 күн бұрын

Luckily because Conan was butchering them :P

I could listen to people talk about Norm all day.

@driftless7134

8 ай бұрын

Sorry about your girlfriend.

@TheKitchenerLeslie

8 ай бұрын

@@driftless7134 Her name is Mom to you. Got it, buddy? You're grounded for the week.

@driftless7134

8 ай бұрын

@@TheKitchenerLeslie You're a bit of a rough and tumble character... When she went to the doctor, he told her to open up and say oink!

@TheKitchenerLeslie

8 ай бұрын

@@driftless7134 Hey hey there friend! I'll have you know that pig is my girlfriend! I don't care too much for you, Cap'n.

@driftless7134

8 ай бұрын

@@TheKitchenerLeslie I don't work day and night in a dank, coaly mine to take guff from you, fella!

This man needs his own podcast. Such a story teller and has such history. Lovely seeing him after hearing his name mentioned over the years.

@roywhiteo5

8 ай бұрын

the homeless newspaper was a great jim/norm story

@davidlrogers

8 ай бұрын

i like the Fly on the Wall podcast (David Spade & Dana Carvey) because of the neat behind-the-scenes history (and comedians laughing with comedians is the best stuff) but i missed the episode with Downey; i'll have to go back and pick it up :) he's great

@ALK-le6pv

7 ай бұрын

@@davidlrogers Their Downey episode was fantastic.

It is so cool hearing this from Downey himself. Conan is awesome for giving time to the people who really make the sausage.

@LIamaLlama554

8 ай бұрын

It truly is incredible isn’t it? Not to mention that he wrote a lot of great comedy in addition to making all of those sausages.

Norm's appearance on Letterman after being fired from Update is a masterclass in how to destroy someone in the most roundabout way. Don Ohlmeyer had a long career, including MNF and coining "Must See TV" for NBC... and all people will remember is him firing Norm and that Letterman appearance by Norm.

@LIamaLlama554

8 ай бұрын

That Letterman appearance was hotter than a two dollar pistol, by god.

@vanmoody

8 ай бұрын

Talking about Don, "The Quisling" Ohlmeyer.

@daveidmarx8296

7 ай бұрын

Norm and Dave were both fearless legends. Them together was the epitome of Must See TV in my book.

@GEM4sta

7 ай бұрын

​@@derfroschprinzausbayernyeah but he's a good guy, he just didn't think Norm was funny

@jonmcdaniel8492

4 ай бұрын

I don't know what that means,​@@vanmoody

Very glad Jim is getting the attention he deserves after so many years of working behind the scenes!

@mikeyoungblood1642

2 ай бұрын

Plus he was at SNL so long that he has stories that could sink ships lol. Give him a 10 part documentary

Thank you Jim for telling that story about Norm sticking up for you. What a standup guy.

I always knew Norm was a class act, but yet, the more i hear such stories about Norm, the more and more i adore him. Someone i'd like to emulate in my life. God rest your soul, in peace, good man. ❤

One of the best guests in the entire run of the podcast.

Norm felt like a friend, man I miss him!

Imagine getting fired by your boss and his justification for giving YOU the ax was that HIS "best friend" was a knife-wielding murderer. 😂

Norm was beloved by some audiences, but not nearly as much as he was by other comedians. He was so original and deeply, darkly funny in ways that make average audiences squirm.

@GlennTillema

8 ай бұрын

There are quite a few stories from other comedians that Norm would discover himself tanking in front of a crowd but instead of being discouraged he'd adjust his material for the comedians watching! They'd be laughing there heads off while Norm would tell the stupidest jokes to a dead audience and he'd be doing it just for them. One particular story stands out where he was touring with a bunch of comedians and they played some midwest venue and he was tanking, so he just doubled-down on the worst jokes much to the delight of the crew he was traveling with!

@cmfrtblynmb02

7 ай бұрын

@@GlennTillema Norm was the chef that other chefs love to eat from. And he had such simplicity when he made his jokes, he didn't go out of his way to make them complicated. But his jokes had layers. If you analyze them, there is a lot. but then as you go deeper, you go back to the beginning and realize it is a simple joke. That's why nearly every comedian refers to him as a master. It is a cliche now but he didn't try to be the smartest guy in the room though he often was. A lot of bad comedians like Bill Maher are doing just the opposite.

Every single time I think of Norm Macdonald dying I get a lump in my throat all over again. His comedy meant so much to me. Such a profoundly funny human being.

New norm clips are my favorite drug

I'm so glad that Conan brought up Norm. Conan seems to have a good understanding of what his audience wants. Jim is hilarious and a great storyteller.

My impression of Norm is that he was just simply happy to entertain himself. If other people found it funny too, well, that's just gravy.

@terrylodercreative

8 ай бұрын

So THAT’s why I don’t get gigs!!! So…….. don’t … call me…. I guess.

@butchie2752

Ай бұрын

Well said.

It’s odd, and great, that Norm’s legend grows with each day that passes since his death. Like his firing from SNL, he left us at the top of his game, and we were wanting more. I love the guy…

Norm is a legend! Jim Downey is the gift that keeps on giving. Love this!

Norm was the absolute King. I didn’t even know him but he felt like family and I miss him everyday.

Jim could have his own podcast, so funny, honest and charismatic

I started crying listening to the pod when Jim was telling how Norm quit SNL because they were firing Jim. Absolutely amazing.

I was so angry at conan for not inviting norm on his final week. There was controversy with fallon cancelling norms appearance about a year earlier and i thought conan was following suit. I was wrong. Conan you are the man and im sorry i doubted you. Noone gets it more than you in late night.

@Paulafan5

8 ай бұрын

Conan isn't like that. His L.A. writers, probably, but not Conan.

@user-nx3zk5qi8t

8 ай бұрын

When Norm was going through all the stuff at SNL, Donny told Conan to not have Norm on. Conan wrote him a letter saying his job was to put in the best show he can, and that his best guest was Norm. Donny said something to the effect that he expected better from Conan

Those of us who loved Norm and understood his style of comedy appreciated that commitment to the bit that would die, but was really brilliant.

Norm would have loved the thumbnail for this video. Norm's name taking up half the screen, but another guy's face is the picture, but a tiny thumbnail of Norm in the corner. It's perfect.

Cried at the "no way" about firing Downey. That is beautiful.

I like Jim's cadence in storytelling. I could listen to him for 10 hours. You know he has a bunch of stories no one has heard.

Norm embodied comedic integrity

@alibabaschultz352

7 ай бұрын

Just "integrity" in general.

As a comedy geek and comedy historian I knew I loved Downey, but his comedy ethics and principles are so inspiring and powerful. He is subtley calling out every single piece of comedy that is out there right now. Even Conan (who is a god to me) is having little epiphanies while he speaks where he is remembering where he used to be and questioning what he is doing and has been doing. I wouldn't be surprised if Conan actually made changes after this interview.

The more I learn about this Norm guy. The more I like him.

@jseanperry

9 күн бұрын

😂

Norm didnt talk about his cancer because empathy ruins comedy. Maybe he didn't tell Downey about standing up for him because it might ruin their dynamic. It's a wonderful thing that these two men worked together. Those (way too few) stories about Norm's comradery with Downey, Drake Sather and others with a similar style of humor to his really fills that Norm shaped hole in my heart.

@karlgustov9648

3 ай бұрын

I think he would've found it gross or cheap(?) to tell Downey. Like bragging about donating to charity.

I can’t remember whose podcast it was on, but Downey tells a great story about there being a newspaper for the homeless in New York and he and Norm pitching an idea for a sketch about a tough, no-nonsense newspaper editor yelling to his news staff about getting him 500 words about “going to the bathroom in your pants” and “a human interest piece on urine-stained mattresses.”

@jonjaime

8 ай бұрын

​@@user-cl3re8xi7yand norm said "and they hated it." It was so hilarious the way Norm said that 😂

@butchie2752

Ай бұрын

Norm could read a grocery list and make it funny when he’d start laughing at the end. And he probably did. Proof? I’ve watched the moth joke and the turtle joke a hundred times each. I still laugh every time. It’s the telling more than the joke. Genius.

@85tclower

Ай бұрын

I think it was Dennis Miller’s show? You’re right. It’s hilarious 😂😂

There will never be another Norm.

We've been hearing the name Jim Downey for decades from the lips of David Letterman, Norm, SNL folks...It's nice to have him step in front of the camera for an interview and find he can talk with such grace and humor about his work.

This guy was great. I’d never heard of him before, and I’m so glad to now have him on my radar so that I can appreciate all of his creative contributions. I’d love to hear more from him.

@davidalexander3320

4 ай бұрын

He was the guy in Billy Madison moderating the quiz at the end. The "i award you no points and my God have mercy on your soul" guy

You can tell Gourley was 💯 invested in these stories.. True respect for a legend.

We need more Jim and more guests like him. I could listen to his stories all day. Hilarious man.

I never realized Mr. Downie had gotten fired for that as well. This was a great show. I was very excited to see he was the guest this week. I could listen to Conan interviewing him for 4 more hours

The Norm jokes on OJ were brilliant, lacerating, courageous and unlike anything done before or after on SNL. So of course they were fired.

I could listen to these two talk about comedy and norm stories for hours

THANK YOU for the Norm memories, Jim.

I think SNL was the only Job besides stand up that he really loved doing, so it was really a blow to him when he was fired. And when SNL wanted Norm to stay and to get rid of JIm it shows how much loyalty and respect Norm had for his friend when he said "if you fire him then I go to" and they did.

There's never enough interviews with people talking about norm. Still miss him

I love me a Norm story.

@georgesotiriou7051

8 ай бұрын

They hated it

I love Norm stories.

Jim is a comedic genius... Or so the Germans would have us believe

The more I hear about this Norm fella, the more I like him.

Love conan and downey keeping norm’s legend alive. I didn’t even know he was sick

How sad we all are and didnt even know Norm personally. His friends and family must be still hurting a lot. Norm wouldnt like this "mushy" talk 😂💕😭

we need so many more jim downeys and conan o'briens on this planet

Ohlmeyer ordered Conan to stop booking Macdonald as a guest. Insane OJ pal. Conan said nope.

I’m loving these video of Jim Downey and Conan. To listen to the progression of comedy over time is very special and moving.

Norm and Downey was a real meeting of the minds. Minds. Plural god damn it!

@karlgustov9648

3 ай бұрын

Guarantee Downey has owned has owned a dog house or two.

@georgesotiriou7051

3 ай бұрын

@@karlgustov9648 He might have an unconventional private life but nobody criticises him

Jim Downey is an unsung National treasure. Thank you for this interview! 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️

As a Norm fan I can't believe I haven't heard about this guy until now. I can totally see these two being on the same wavelength.

@Tonyhouse1168

8 ай бұрын

I read his Wikipedia page yesterday; he really is a legend

@thedude4672

8 ай бұрын

I don't think that you have the Norm Macdonald everyone knows and loves without Jim Downey.

@hubes96

2 ай бұрын

If you were not old enough for the Jim Downey yrs of SNL, you would not have heard of him

@mattm3023

13 күн бұрын

​@@hubes96 I could be wrong but I think Jim Downey wrote for Norm's podcast (Norm Macdonald Live) which is arguably Norm's greatest and most often referenced work. I think he even mentions him in the podcast a few times but I could be misremembering

Downey one of the best comedic writers, and minds of my generation. Conan, my generations late night host. And Norm Macdonald my favorite comedian of all time.

I could listen to people talk about norm for hours.

Thank you for these conversations. For sharing with us a little snippet of Norm's life. We miss him so much. Please continue to talk about him. He was truly a good soul. RIP

'runners whom renown outran, and the name died before the man' - a.e. houseman

@scottstewart5784

8 ай бұрын

a laurel as brief as a girl's?

I was there during this time. I got my first joke on with Norm and Jim on 11/15/97. 6 weeks later they'd be fired. After Norm and Jim were fired from Update, both were still employed by SNL. Norm stuck around for another 4 episodes (or so), but Downey's stay was much more amusing and under the radar. Jim would call in to the script department every Wednesday in the late morning (Wednesday is read-thru day) and would free-form write a sketch that one of our top script coordinators would have to type out. Literally he'd write it from the back of a towncar that was driving him around and she would have to just type the whole thing out. Each week this happened the sketches got longer and longer - 14 pages, then 17 pages, then 20, and finally we had something like a 32 page sketch of madness that concluded this crazy pattern. The sketches were funny (Downey's the greatest late night writer of all time, imo), and weird, but what always stood out is that he would cast NBC execs to appear in the beginning of them. It would go something like this: NBC LAWYER NAME: Hi, my name is NBC Lawyer Name. (Thunderous applause from audience. This lasts for 30 seconds at least) NBC EXEC And I'm NBC Exec. (silence) ...sketch continues. Each sketch had execs and lawyers and it was just bizarre and awesome. Jim and Norm are the best. Just true disciples of The Joke and masters of their craft.

@IBAndreas

8 ай бұрын

Too funny.

I remember watching weekend update when I was young in the 90s and absolutely loved it. Norm and Jim had a profound effect on my sense of humor.

It's so interesting seeing two people who both got a raw deal when being fired

tv execs are the worst, they didn't just fired him, but after that they kept making it difficult for norm to do other shows and to promote them. Then they had the balls to invite him to host the show again, which he did, cause norm is a classy guy who just loved to make people laugh.

Most important comedy guy you’ve probably never heard of

this episode should be retitled to 'walking through ankle deep blood and bones to find a gambling den in northern canadian escarpment'

Jim and Norm sound like a match made in heaven.

I could listen to Jim and Conan talk for hours. What a great guest.

Miss norm so much! This was a great interview.

Seth Meyers can’t hold a candle to Norm Macdonald.

@mickfanning93

12 күн бұрын

Cool, there isn't a podium you know

Norm's brother Neil would be an excellent interview with Conan.

@jackburton2680

8 ай бұрын

Has he ever spoken out before about norm? Be interesting to hear how norm was growing up

@truantbuick

7 ай бұрын

Can't wait for the off-the-cuff badinage.

Yet more reasons to love Norm!

Even before I understood the genius of Norm, seeing him on weekend update as a teen, I knew whatever he was doing was something special. The way he would hold the joke when the audience didnt get it, was just next level brilliance. Absolute Legend!

I wonder how many people don’t realize this is the guy from Billy Madison.

Even from beyond the grave Norm is still absolutely cracking Conan up!

"theres not really a great place to laugh in that joke" omg when he said that I started crying laughing.. that is hilarious

Make the next ten episodes with and about Downey! Also, ask every comedy guest about Norm!

More Jim Downey please. Thanks

Great interview.

what he says there at the end doesn't really surprise me at all. In one of Norm's several different Howard Stern appearances, I remember him saying once how hilarious he personally found it when he absolutely bombs. Of course not that he WANTS to bomb onstage, but whenever it happens, he's never disillusioned by it, and still appreciates the absurdity of it occurring. That you're completely failing in literally the only thing you're intended to do in that moment -- making them laugh.

Jim is a real craftsman. He is too good to deliver for a living

These stories are amazing.

This format is so much better than the TV show. It's hard to express how much more I enjoy this.

Great CANADIAN.❤ still listening, and watching. 😂 Norm Macdonald 😊

Having Jim on was a delight and I love any talk about Norm.

This just goes to show that those closest to us need to know how much they mean to our everyday existence. I would hate to have regrets if my closest friend died tomorrow. I'm not suggesting this guy has any regrets, but the way Norm shed his mortal coil was stoic and dignified.

@karlgustov9648

3 ай бұрын

Exactly. A class act to the very end.

Mr Downey is such a great human. I'm so glad I could experience his gifts

Norm was so damn funny, or so the Germans would have us believe.

@adamcoe

8 ай бұрын

i'll you one thing, they LOVE david hasselhoff

I'm ok with this show being all about Norm.. Seriously. More Norm stories please ❤ ''Hearts are not good'' 😅

Fave Norm skit was him as Letterman and Mark McKinney as Paul. "Hey Paul, you watching Arliss?" "Arliss, yeah, HBO, great." "ARLISSSSS. Ha ha! Euuuuugh..."

I have listened to this entire podcast every night before I fall asleep for 2 weeks straight. Please for the LOVE OF GOD bring Jim back on!!!

I was shocked norm wasn’t on the last Conan show, when Norm passed it made sense.

It's better to burn out than to fade away. Best punk line for a couple of punks in snl.