This show was funny when it debuted, but it didn't really take off until the second season. In my opinion, ABC had something here that could have surpassed "The Drew Carey Show," but unfortunately the timing was all wrong. "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" exploded onto the television scene (for reasons I still cannot understand) and all of a sudden ABC forgot about everything else. The network made it nearly impossible to watch Norm. TV Guide would list it on Friday at 9pm, so you'd tune in only to see Regis' evil, smiling face, mocking you. Sometime during the week ABC had decided to move Norm to 8pm and Millionaire to 9pm. Hey, you missed Norm, tough luck! So the next week you tune in at 8 pm but there's REGIS again! A special 90-minute Millionaire followed by Norm at 9:30. At least you get to see it. Next week - a two hour Millionaire and Norm is never heard from again. ABC rides Regis for all he's worth and now they're consistently beaten in the ratings because they have no proven quality shows. Cry me a river, ABC.
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rageistruth13 January 2003
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rekolde5 October 2006i haven't gotten to see this show since it went off the air, but i think of it now and then. norm Macdonald is both hilarious and a sex god. that's a REAL man.
i liked laughing until i peed myself every time i watched this show. you wouldn't think the premise would be so good, but the cast made this show work. or maybe that i was (and maybe some other citizens are) forced to do work we don't really want to do, and we like to laugh at someone else trying not too hard to fit in.
so this show is out on DVD? i must find it. now, would somebody also put "Open All Night" on DVD, and "Becker" too??? Please???? -
Catherine_Grace_Zeh14 August 2008"THE NORM SHOW," in my opinion, is an absolute ABC classic! I haven't seen every episode, but I still enjoyed it. It's hard to say which episode was my favorite. However, I think it was always funny when a mishap occurred. I always laughed at that. In addition, I really loved the theme song. Despite the fact that it was a short-lived series, it was nice that all of the main characters had stayed with the show throughout its entire run. It seems that no one stays with a show throughout its entire run. Everyone always gave a good performance, the production design was spectacular, the costumes were well-designed, and the writing was always very strong. In conclusion, I hope someone brings it back on the air for fans of the show to see.
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13Funbags9 April 2019Continuity isn't really important in a sitcom if the stories are funny. Married With Children proved that even while re-using the same plots over and over. In less than 54 episodes we learn that Denby never had children, then had a son in high school, then had a grandson that was about 8 or 9. Adding a new character with a NY accent, having her drop the accent and then disappear in less than 6 episodes because she added nothing to the story was just as bad. So was having his dad in an early episode then in a later one pretend Norm hadn't seen him in decades. Not to mention the entire premise of the show is flawed because Norm played hockey and didn't pay taxes in Canada and then got sentenced to community service in New York. I won't mention that being given a cushy job isn't much of a sentence. I never questioned why they mentioned hockey teams like the Anaheim Ducks and the Oilers but called New York's team the Zephyrs. Yet somehow this is still one of the funniest shows ever.
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13Funbags25 April 2017Norm MacDonald has always been underrated and misunderstood.He's one of the funniest people who ever lived and this show proves it. The series starts with Nikki Cox guest starring and they make you think she will be a regular but she just leaves. Early in the first season they realize the character of Norm's boss is going nowhere and they incorporate him leaving into an episode(although we never actually see him).Then they make the greatest decision ever,they bring in Max Wright as Max Denby and they have the formula for a great show. The second season sees the show change it's name.They also change the name of the bar they hang out in,although the exterior and interior appear to be the same.Nikki Cox returns, Faith Ford joins the cast and the show just gets better. The Norm Show(Norm) ran for 3 seasons and had 4 different opening sequences but weirdly,they used the exact same clip of a white van almost every time they needed a transition clip. The third season sees two very odd changes.The transition clips start to feature a guy scatting and they start dressing Laurie like a mentally challenged gypsy.I have recently found two other shows where the main female character started dressing completely different(usually almost always the same clothes,just different colors) in the third season,Still Standing and My Hero. I could talk about Norm all day but I won't.
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Op_Prime26 December 1999This show is great and Norm MacDonald is very, very funny. I consider it an equal to The Drew Carey Show, if not a superior. I recall many wondering if Norm could bounce back from Dirty Work's failure and it seems he has, rejuvenating his career. Seeing him on SNL, I didn't know what to expect from Norm on this show. But I'm happy with the results. I doubt ABC will cancel it anytime soon.
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drawler28 August 2006ABOUT TIME THIS SHOW WAS ON DVD. Pretty much the best comedy to come out of America since cheers and the simpsons.
Fantastic FUNNY gags. The writing is excellent. Brilliant deadpan delivery. The cast are fantastic. Cutting edge humour abounds. Often on the verge of politically incorrectness, it pushes the boundary every now an then.
Has been unfairly treated by network executives in the us and the uk who don't understand comedy. They wouldn't know good comedy if it jumped up and tickled them in the ribs.
Why was it ever cancelled? No other comedy makes me smile and laugh as much as Norm/The Norm Show. Its time to get this out on DVD and for everyone to re-appraise it. -
vallahvallah24 September 2021It's a funny show, Norm carries it all on his own. The rest of the cast isn't funny, nor are they great at acting but between all the noise, Norm is honestly the only refreshing thing along with the small appearances of Artie every now and then.
Watch it for Norm because the show is like 90% of his jokes, which is just perfect. Anything other than that would have made it insufferable.
RIP Norm, you'll always be funny. -
It is a sitcom first and before anything else. it falls into the tropes and does what you'd expect. Not terribly inventive or interesting over all. Norm doesn't really get to shine as his style isn't the best for the format. Does get some good quotes and is worth putting on in the background. Not bad but not a classic.
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knifeintheeye14 March 2006I recently grabbed an old VHS I had in my closet and popped it in. On that tape were about 12 episodes from this series. I had forgotten how funny it was. I'm glad I saved the tape.
It's humour was far from highbrow though--much closer to Married With Children and The War At Home. Norm always makes me laugh--even in his weird cheese sitcom that came out years later.
Release this series on DVD please. With all the crap releases we see all the time, there has got to be room for this show. Just a few special features are needed. I'd be happy to have it near bare bones even, like Newsradio is doing. Just release it on the DVD format. -
ITrifonov12 October 2021Wow, I have listened about this show over Norm's interviews during the years. Finally started one episode and it turned out to be the best - Norm's humour in the extend of 3 seasons. So good and funny. Miss Norm.
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bigdude10114 January 2005Norm McDonald is hilarious, he can't act, but he's hilarious. Facial expressions, one liners, flopped lines, hilarious. I'm sure he could walk into a wake and have everybody in stitches within minutes.
The shows premise had Norm working against his will as a counciler, insulting his clients, co-workers and superior. The majority of the costars acted as straight men (or people) that help set up Norms one liners, and then he'd continue with the jokes. His boss was mostly the brunt of his jokes, but then again he should have been used to it. He was once a straight man for ALF (Yo Willy!!!!).
It was the one sitcom that I'd be anxious to watch, but it suddenly disappeared. -
jacksvoice12 December 2021It's sickening there aren't more ways to watch this! Every episode I have been able to see have been great! If ever there were a a random, forgotten show to bring back, this was it! Too bad it can't be done now! Would love to find a box set!
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Network: ABC; Genre: Sitcom; Content Rating: TV-14 (for language and crude & sexual humor); Classification: contemporary (Star range: 1 - 4)
Season Reviewed: Complete Series (3 seasons)
After a high profile bouncing from the Weekend Update desk on 'Saturday Nigh Live' the irrepressible Norm MacDonald was able to land softly in this, his own self-titled series for ABC. From creators Deborah Oppenheimer and Bruce Helford ('The Drew Carey Show'), 'The Norm Show' is a sitcom that is very much in touch with the specific sense of humor of its lead and knows how to best convey it. This show is what 'Drew Carey' could have been had it not evolved into a self-indulgent star vehicle in the final seasons.
MacDonald plays Norm Henderson, a former hockey player sent into community service after being busted on gambling charges. The plot is just thin enough for any number of possible gags. He is kept in line by dedicated public servant (Laurie Metcalf) and constantly making a fool of his incredulous supervisor Denby (Max Wright, 'Alf'). Ian Gomez ('The Drew Carey Show') and joining later Nikki Cox ('Unhappily Ever After') and Faith Ford ('Murphy Brown') do a fine job keeping up with the shows bounding energy, but it's character-named leads MacDonald, Metcalf and Wright that are run the show.
'Norm' feels like it was poured out of MacDonald's head. Too often funny comedians come into a sitcom and flounder around, muffled by its trappings. But MacDonald finds himself right at home here. Through the years the episodes have some bizarre and creative plots that push the boundaries of reality. The crude humor is piled high and thick, but McDonald is able to turn the oldest gags into an honest laugh with his trademark deadpan comic delivery. His touch is everywhere. MacDonald has never been funnier and sitcom veterans Metcalf (criminally underrated in everything she does) and Wright fall into his twisted groove perfectly.
'Norm' is a relationship series through and through with all the usual trappings. It has a preoccupation with dating, sex and bed-hopping amongst its ensemble that would turn the head of even the biggest 'Friends' fan. As a relationship show it is peerlessly funny. But while the show's crude humor and office comedy elements work well, it never convinced me that it needs to be a relationship comedy. Do we really need Norm and co. going through some contrived love-lorn drama? And do we really believe MacDonald when proclaims to be 'in love' with someone he met that week? Particularly when he does it in the exact same dry, monotonous voice that serves the jokes so well, but is impossible to take seriously. This is a regrettable kink in the armor for me. And it doesn't help that ABC shuttled this show out the door with nary a whisper in its final season.
Most of the time, however, 'Norm' does it right and rises above the usual banality of this material. It lacks any pretension about itself and is refreshingly free of the melodrama that bogs down most shows of this ilk. Its purpose, first and foremost, is a giddy laugh. It is the crude, sex comedy in near top form where so many other shows fall flat. It aims low but it gets the job done.
'Norm' doesn't break the mold of the sitcom and try anything revolutionary, but within this mold (the one-liners, the put-upon boss, the cute wiener dog stealing the show, and the typical office & apartment setting) 'Norm' fills out the genre, stretching it to the limits and, best of all, getting genuine laugh-out-loud belly laughs. On a side note, the original "wrecking ball" opening sequence is, I think, a modest classic among intros.
Here's one of the highest compliments you can give. 'Norm' makes me wonder why so many traditional sitcoms flail about in such embarrassing desperation to get the slightest laugh. McDonald makes it all look effortless. It just shows what great casting, performers willing to dive head-first into the material, and exceptional comic delivery can do for you. A silly, mindless and truly hysterically funny series. Its hard to ask for anything more in this type of show.
* * * / 4 -
Manos-625 March 1999The Norm Show is gonna be a big hit. Trust me. This has everything a sit-com should have. Great acting, funny humor, originality, and... well that's about all it needs. Norm MacDonald's monotonical jokes hit you dead on, and Laurie Metcalf is great as the leading actress on the show. But still, Norm MacDonald is the highlight of the show. He doesn't even have to make a joke to get you laughing. Though it is kind of unrealistic, with Norm being an ex-hockey-player-turned-social worker, but that's just part of the originality. Everyone will love this show after watching just one episode, so I think it'll be around for a while.
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Geoff-5224 March 1999I have just watched the pilot, and I am positive that this show will be a hit. I am a big Norm Macdonald fan, and could not stop laughing during the pilot. This show is Norm at his best. If you liked "Dirty Work", or Norm on SNL, then give this show a chance. One of the funniest lines on the show is when he (Norm) is trying to convince a young call girl to stop turning tricks. After Laurie Metcalf told the girl that nothing is sadder than a seventy year-old prostitute, Norm replies "yeah, you don't want to have to take your teeth out 30-40 times a day". Long live Norm!!
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brent-1114 February 2001I was excited to hear this show was going to air, I had high expectations, and was not disappointed. Unfortunately, the networks keep moving the time slot around and it's getting buried. If they stuck to one time slot, it would become another Seinfield, only funny.
With the addition of Ian Gomez, it became painfully hilarious to watch, and will easily survive with the loss of Nikki Cox. -
tomcat_alley12 June 2006i first became aware of the norm show a few years ago when it was being shown on channel 4 on Friday nights at 3am, i only bothered to watch it as it was scheduled after drew Carey and Meego, and I'm a big fan of both. however it ended up with me staying up all night to watch norm every week with the others being more of a warm up.
because of this show I'm now a huge norm MacDonald fan and I've collected all his films including the doctor Doolittle movies which i think are rubbish but i had to have just for Lucky's witty normistic attitude.
for those of you new to "norm" look out for the scene of norm giving Mr Denby a lift on his bike....
my favourite quotes...
1. Norm - "I Didn't say Mr Daddy, i Said Mr Daddy" 2. Norm - "I Knew if i did something selfless I'D get something out of it" 3. Shelly - "If You Painted This By yourself Then do Another one!"
Norm - "Okay, I Think This One Should Be A Nude, Strip!" -
barry-5610 September 1999The show everyone it's calling the comedy of 1999 has returns to kick-off their 2nd season. Norm (Dirty Work) plays this retard of a social worker, and to be honest I wonder what's going to fly out his mouth next.
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4-Kane23 December 2000I've been watching "Norm" since its debut in 1999, and haven't stopped watching it. I think it's one of the most underrated shows, and one of the funniest shows (if not THE funniest show) on the air.
One of my favorite episodes is the one where Danny's father dies, and Danny discovers that his dad was gay. Another hilarious one is where Danny gets a toupee. These episodes prove that "Norm" IS funny.
The cast is clever, consisting of supporting actors/actresses who were in other series: Max Wright ("ALF"), Faith Ford ("Murphy Brown"), Laurie Metcalf ("Roseanne"), and Ian Gomez ("Drew Carey Show" and "Felicity") to name a few.
Leaving "Saturday Night Live" to do "Norm" was a smart move for Norm MacDonald. And there is little that I would like better than to see this series obtain longevity. It deserves a good, long run. And I would honestly like to see "Norm" stay on the air for at least five or six years. -
BigErn3 April 1999The Norm Show is the best show on television. I had stopped watching TV a year ago and when i heard Norm was coming to the little screen, I had to go back. It's more hilarious than I ever imagined and I'm glad others do too -- I thought it would get canceled, just by virtue of it being Norm and all. Anyway, I'm glad he's doing well and all I have to say is Viva La Norm!!
Cheers,
Jon -
Bogue-225 March 1999Now, I know that a lot of people didn't like Dirty Work, but for those who did watch this show. Norm McDonald's a former hockey player who is forced to become a social worker as part of his community service for tax evasion and gambling. I was expecting his character to be watered down and be an okay guy, but he comes across as being a selfish jerk which was a pleasant surprise. Check this show out before it gets canceled.
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AngieS7 July 1999Who knew that Norm's departure from SNL would be a blessing in disguise. This show lets Norm be the star...finally! I love it. I've turned many TV-haters into fans of this show by forcing them to watch it just once. Yes, it's that good.
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Channel 4 has just started showing Norm over here in the UK, only on late nights, but it's pretty darn good. And to think, I nearly went to bed! This is easily better than any other American sitcom I can think of, except Larry Sanders.
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lloyd2196 March 2001I first saw Norm several months ago and was instantly hooked. This guy is genuinely FUNNY!!! His dry wit breaks me up and I love the hard edge to his character. It's also good to see that Willy Tanner is no longer playing second banana to a stuffed alien aka Alf and has 'risen' through the ranks in social security to now be boss. (talk about type casting) Like all quality sitcoms Norm has a strong ensemble of performers. It's so good I'm afraid it may well be axed before it gets to fully spread it's wings. Hope I'm wrong. Mind you I'm sure it wouldn't have even got past pilot stage in Australia. Look what they've done to Frasier here, dumped it in summer because it doesn't rate. Go figure. Norm's now showing here in prime time. The inventor of the VCR deserves a medal.
My Vote 10 out of 10