Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir

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Macdonald also joined Grantland as a contributor in the first two months of 2013. [78] [79] 2014–2022 [ edit ] Hahn, Jason Duaine. February 14, 2020. " You Could Meet Your Valentine on This Video-Only Dating App Created by Comedian Norm Macdonald." People. Norm is one of my all-time favorites, and this book was such a great read I forgot how lonely I was for a while.” — Amy Schumer a b c Edgers, Geoff (August 18, 2016). "Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016 . Retrieved September 12, 2016. Macdonald, 56... [...] He tells everyone he was born in 1963, but he was really born in 1959.

Based on a True Story - Norm MacDonald - Paperback Based on a True Story - Norm MacDonald - Paperback

I loved the occasional appearance of the book's ghostwriter in the text. It is a clever and funny device. Especially in the audio edition, as it is literally another voice. Hilarious and filled with turns of phrase and hidden beauty like only a collection of Norm Macdonald stories could be.” — Esquire A book that both isn’t a celebrity memoir and is, arguably, the best celebrity memoir ever written.” — AV Club - Norm is one of the greatest stand-up comics who’s ever worked--a totally original voice. His sense of the ridiculous and his use of juxtaposition in his writing make him a comic’s comic. We all love Norm.” — Roseanne Barr I just read Norm Macdonald’s memoir “Based on a True Story.” Read every word of it. Cover to cover. Could not put it down.

This is not your normal, straightforward memoir, far from it, actually. The best that I can describe it is off-the-wall or zany. Zany is not usually my cup of tea--I'd rather have a straight memoir dishing on all of the author's inside information on show business and especially Saturday Night Live. Having said that, there were parts of this book that were really funny. That was its saving grace, the humor was on point. I still would've rather had more of Macdonald's real experiences, but this was a pretty cool book, a decent read.

Norm Macdonald’s Memoir Was Mostly Lies, but One Part Rings True

That summer, he had a standup set prepared for a final Netflix special, and he taped his run through, with the intention of filming it professionally to an audience. While the proper filming never materialized, the run-through was released as Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special on May 30, 2022. [95] The special was followed with a discussion with Dave Chappelle, Molly Shannon, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, David Spade, and Adam Sandler. Reflecting on the state of modern comedy, he bemoaned the influx of dramatic actors into comedy and comedians into dramatic acting. [101] While the majority of the memoir is totally off-base, its core is still tied to some of Norm’s real life history. His time on Saturday Night Live is discussed with his arrival at the show depicting Lorne Michaels as an unhinged drug addict whom Norm bribes with government-grade morphine to secure his spot. His obsession with fellow cast member Sarah Silverman was a definite high point of the book - it had me laughing hysterically as he cluelessly pursued her, leading him to plot to assassinate her then-boyfriend Dave Attell. His move to the Update Desk is mentioned where he spent 3 years reading “the fake news” - he even includes a chapter of the Top 25 Update Jokes of All-Time (#1 belongs to Chevy Chase, 2-25 are all Norm’s, of course)!Norm Macdonald makes me laugh my ass off. Who is funnier than Norm Macdonald? Nobody." --Judd Apatow Macdonald returned to Saturday Night Live to host the October 23, 1999, show. In his opening monologue, he expressed resentment at being fired from Weekend Update, and then he concluded that the only reason he was asked to host was because "the show has gotten really bad" since he left, [50] echoing a perennial criticism of the show. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.