30 years ago I was on a one-nighter outside of Toronto with #NormMacDonald and another comic. It was a holiday Monday and the bar had been packed since noon with people drinking.
When it was time for the show, the owners didn't kick anyone out - meaning the audience was mostly very drunk people. The other comic and I did fine, both having acts that were palatable to such an audience.
As the headliner, it was Norm's turn. The audience was even drunker by then and took an instant dislike to him. Norm was fearless in such matters and even enjoyed bombing - seeing how far he could push things.
There were two guys up front who were especially unkind to Norm, screaming things like "Don't quit your day job!" Instead of going on the defensive, Norm played along. "Oh my god! I don't have a day job! This is what I do. What a horrible career plan that was."
He then went into a lengthy bit about being in a sauna and seeing an old man's sack. The word 'sack' was said often and loudly. The two male hecklers became irate at its use. "Stop saying the word sack!" they demanded.
"That's all I do," Norm explained. "All my jokes are about sacks. Sacks and violence." The hecklers then screamed for Norm do jokes about violence instead.
Norm forged ahead, "This guy at the gym, y'know... he came into the shower and... took out a knife and... cut off my sack!"
The other comic and I doubled over in laughter as the audience booed.
The other comic and I doubled over in laughter as the audience booed.
After the show, bouncers had to escort him to my car.
A week later, Biff Henderson escorted him to the stage for his first David Letterman appearance after which his life changed forever.
He was my favorite comedian of all time.
A week later, Biff Henderson escorted him to the stage for his first David Letterman appearance after which his life changed forever.
He was my favorite comedian of all time.
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