1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Armstrong and Getty Show. We get to 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: add to the list of former Saturday Night Live news 3 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:07,960 Speaker 1: anchors we've talked to, because I believe we've talked to 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: Chevy Chase years ago. We've had Dennis Miller on many times. 5 00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: I think we talked to Colin Quinn once when he 6 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: had a show out. So now we get to add 7 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 1: Norm McDonald, who I've actually paid to see do stand up. 8 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: Could not be happier to be talking to comedian, actor, writer, writer. 9 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: Now Norm McDonald is memoir based on a true story 10 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,840 Speaker 1: is out. Norm Welcome. How are you sir? Oh? Great 11 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: stand up? I saw you at Caroline's in New York 12 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: City many years ago and it was fantastic. Thanks man, 13 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 1: you're in New York City? Yes, I was all right, 14 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,559 Speaker 1: but enough fluffy go ahead? Sorry, Oh no, no, that's right. 15 00:00:45,560 --> 00:00:48,879 Speaker 1: I think we exhausted the conversation. Yeah, that's that was 16 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 1: my sense of it, and enough enough fluffery. Now the 17 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: tough questions, why aren't you as rich as Seinfeld? Oh? 18 00:00:56,800 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: Well felt what he did was smart. He created a 19 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: hit television program. Uh, I had a whole different idea. 20 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: I thought, Um, my plan was to watch television programs. 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: It's a lot more fun I can tell you that, 22 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: and a lot less stress. Yeah, it doesn't. It doesn't 23 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: pay well at all. I've heard this story million times, 24 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: but I had forgotten you were fired from the news 25 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: anchor on SNL because one of the suits didn't think 26 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: you were funny, which in itself is pretty funny. Um. Yeah, 27 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:41,199 Speaker 1: that's the That's the tough part is it doesn't really matter, 28 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 1: like how many people think you're funny if it's just 29 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: one person that have us owned the camera and you're 30 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: in trouble, we know that. Yeah, yeah, how much you 31 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: I've actually read some reviews of of the book based 32 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: on a true story, um, which almost uniform we say 33 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: it's hilarious. How much memoir is it? Really? Are we 34 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,680 Speaker 1: gonna hear about that sort of thing? Well? Yeah, what 35 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,000 Speaker 1: I did was, um, you know, it's based on the 36 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: true stories of seven seven But what is what I did? 37 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be suped reliable and uh you know, 38 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: so it's very hard to put in anything you know 39 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: true and and not flattering or you'll be sued. So 40 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: I I thought, what if I put true stuff but 41 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: mix it in with all ridiculous stuff, so that if 42 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: the guy tried to assume me, I'd go, wait a minute, 43 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:38,560 Speaker 1: what about all that's ridiculous? Of course it's not. None 44 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 1: of it's true. So that's what I did. So there's 45 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: a you know, there's bombshells in the book, but you 46 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 1: have to find them. I can't tell you what they are. 47 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: So we read the book and try to figure out 48 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:52,240 Speaker 1: which parts the ridiculous part, in which parts the true part. 49 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: I like that game, and then speculate on the internet. Yeah, 50 00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,079 Speaker 1: I had to put the parlor game, you know that 51 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: sweeping the country at the risk of of of turning 52 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 1: this serious norm am I correct, You're from pretty rural Canada, 53 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: very rural. Yeah, we had two towns, monk Land and 54 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,080 Speaker 1: av and more and it's gonna seem strange, but everything 55 00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: is relative. But we live in a fireman between Muggle 56 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: and Amore. Muggle was a hunter people. Amore was two 57 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: d sixty people. And I swear to guy, like the 58 00:03:27,520 --> 00:03:29,280 Speaker 1: town there was two und fifty people. We thought it 59 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 1: was like a big town. I'm from rural America. I 60 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 1: understand that I moved to a town to go to 61 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: college with twelve thousand people, and I and my first 62 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: day there, I thought, how am I ever going to 63 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 1: find my way around a place like this? But anyway, 64 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 1: the reason I bring it up is terrified. But then 65 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 1: you're in Manhattan, for God's sake, and you're dealing with, 66 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 1: you know, some people who may allegedly be complete snakes 67 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: masquerading as human beings. Um, you're getting banged around by 68 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: show business at this point. What's your view of humanity? Well? 69 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: I remember when I first came to New York, because 70 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: you know, you get this idea of New York from 71 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,839 Speaker 1: from popular culture and everything, you know when you're when 72 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,000 Speaker 1: you're from a small place. And uh so I remember 73 00:04:14,200 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: because I took the train and went to Grand Central Station. 74 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 1: Then there was a sign on the I was doing Letterman. 75 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 1: I was going to go do Letterman, And there was 76 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: a sign on the when you got out and said 77 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: do not go into any gypsy Calves. You know, So 78 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: I have my my suitcase and them, so I don't 79 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: know what a gypsy cab was. So then I got 80 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: into the street and like Calves, because I was carrying 81 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: two suitcases down the street. So Calves just kept stopping. Hey, 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,799 Speaker 1: you know, I go not out forget it, like because 83 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: I figured they were a gypsy cab and then so 84 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 1: I walked like like you know, it's like Jethro Bodine. 85 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 1: I walk all the way. Then Uh, they put me 86 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: up at the Omni Berkship was just across from Central 87 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: Park and Central Park. I thought they you know, I 88 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,600 Speaker 1: thought they put me at the worst place ever, because 89 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: I would has heard that Central Park was just you 90 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: got mugged. You know, you went to the Central Park 91 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: and you got mugged, and uh, you know, people think 92 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: it's kind of crazy, but I would just stay in 93 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: my room and I remember I would like race down 94 00:05:11,839 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: and get a COVID cola and race back because that's 95 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,159 Speaker 1: that dangerous. I thought it was. Yeah, it's funny because 96 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,719 Speaker 1: I'm I'm from Roald American. I had that view of cities. Also, 97 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: I've been so scared of it. Hey, um, do you 98 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: watch Saturday Night Live? Like, will you watch this Saturday Night? Yeah? 99 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: Well I think this Saturday is the premiere episode, so 100 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,920 Speaker 1: we will definitely watch it this Saturday. I just wanted to. 101 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 1: I just wandered. Some of the alums seemed to the 102 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: we've talked to over the years seemed to kind of 103 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,599 Speaker 1: you know, not be into it in some of them are. Yeah. 104 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,119 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I used to watch it every 105 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: single week, you know, because you know as one of 106 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: those things you watched ever since you're a kid. And 107 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: then there's a period where where you get old where 108 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 1: you're like, well, I don't know who these people who 109 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: who they're doing an impression of you know what I mean? 110 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: Right right, there is that, And I especially that with music, 111 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: even when I was on the show, like I would 112 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: always realize later that there were big music stars, you know, 113 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 1: Like the first show I was, I was Kurt Cobaine 114 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 1: in Nirvana, but I didn't know, you know, to me, 115 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: it was just a band. And then later I was 116 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,719 Speaker 1: like I should have said, I don't know what I 117 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: should have done. Yeah, you should have told them, no 118 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: matter how bad things get, don't put a shotgun in 119 00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: your mouth. That would have been a good piece of advice. God, 120 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: you're right. Our interview is good because we've got Norm 121 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: McDonald say oh my lord God, which is one of 122 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 1: my favorite things you always ever say. Norm McDonald is 123 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: on the line. His book is based on a true story. 124 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,080 Speaker 1: Um and uh oh, By the way, I can't forget 125 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: to say this. There are a number of stand up 126 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: dates norms doing in the various towns where we're on 127 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: the air. Uh, just go to Norm McDonald dot com. 128 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 1: It's mac m ac norm McDonald dot com next weekend 129 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,040 Speaker 1: in San Francisco. Yeah, and we'll have a link in 130 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: our website so people can be sure to find them. 131 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 1: But you know, and and we got no reason to 132 00:07:00,760 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: kiss your ass ONRM. But his stand up is fantastically 133 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: I don't pay to see a lot of people, and 134 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: I paid to see him. Yeah, yeah, thanks man. Well 135 00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: that's the only thing I'm good at. Yeah, that's a 136 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: funny thing in show biz you're good at, especially stand 137 00:07:19,360 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: up for some reason. Then they go, do you what 138 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: about this? Would you like to be a bad actor? 139 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: And then you're like, yes, very much, thank you, that'll 140 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: be fun. I'll be a good idea. And uh, you 141 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: end up doing all this stuff. You have no idea 142 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: what you're doing or how to do it or anything. 143 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 1: But I never stopped doing stand up. So that was 144 00:07:40,840 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: a good thing. I never I never. I always realized 145 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: I should just keep doing it. Who's everything everything that 146 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: I got by acts, and because of stand up, well 147 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: I was doing that. I kept doing stand up at 148 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: same time, that's a hell of a skill because you know, 149 00:07:54,840 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: I've heard Jay Letto talk about it. He always feels 150 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: like he could get in his car and drive around 151 00:07:58,080 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: American support himself if he ever had to. And you 152 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: could do that too, which is cool. Yeah, Letto Letto 153 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: Letto is a kind of kind of guy we all 154 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: took from you. Yeah, we've seen his stand up two 155 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: live and it is it is laugh until you're in 156 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: pain funny, which always made the you know, hosting the 157 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: Tonight show thing a little odd for those of us 158 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: who are huge fans of stand up. But we're not 159 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: here to talk about Jay. Let him. Norm McDonald's new 160 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: book is based on a true story. He would not 161 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 1: answer my question about what he thinks of humanity. I 162 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: can only assume he dreams of genocide every night. Ladies 163 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: and gentlemen, The fantastic Norm McDonald. Norm is great to 164 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: talk to you. Thanks man, fun alright, good deal, Let's 165 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:41,319 Speaker 1: do it again sometime. Would really enjoy that. Yeah. I 166 00:08:41,320 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: couldn't even have told you that's one of his regular lines. 167 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: But when I heard him say it, he said that 168 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: a million times. Oh lord God, I love him, And 169 00:08:54,160 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: you know what, he's a Canadian. There may be two 170 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: unlikable Canadians on Earth. He's a a Canadian from living 171 00:09:01,120 --> 00:09:03,000 Speaker 1: between a town of one people in a town of 172 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:05,199 Speaker 1: two hundred people. Yeah, I a little nervous about going 173 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:07,719 Speaker 1: to the town to two hundred A big city lost. 174 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: Some people just have a funny way of talking, no 175 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 1: matter what they say. I guess we've exhausted that conversation. 176 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: You're listening to The Armstrong and Getty Show.