‘Norm MacDonald Has a Show’ Fails to Break the Norm

Image courtesy of Netflix

Everything you need to know about Norm MacDonald Has a Show is right there in its title: it’s a show, and Norm MacDonald is in it. But apart from MacDonald’s name, there isn’t much to get viewers to start watching and keep them watching. More disappointingly, there’s not much to make them laugh either.

So Norm MacDonald has a show, but what kind of show is it? Netflix — its producer — lists it as a “Talk Show,” which is technically right. MacDonald invites guests, often other comedians, to talk just about anything they want. Note how I make no mention of “interviewing,” though. Unlike other talk shows, MacDonald isn’t interested in the usual rigmarole of the genre or hosting the show in any sensible fashion. Instead, he launches into topics at random and gleefully sees where they lead. Sometimes they lead to extemporaneous and engaging talks, with some laughs thrown in. But most of the time they go absolutely nowhere, with guests often looking offstage at producers and wondering aloud what’s going on.

This makes one think that Norm MacDonald Has a Show isn’t a talk show at all but a satire of one. And anyone familiar with MacDonald’s brand of anti-humour wouldn’t be surprised. His entire career has been based around the same kind of sparseness found in the title of the show. Very often his comedy has been described as “so bad it’s good,” but this isn’t for a lack of effort on his part. In fact, MacDonald is at his funniest when you can’t tell if he’s joking.

Image courtesy of Netflix

While on the surface he might appear stupid, constantly saying “Ya know?” and carrying himself like a country bumpkin, this charade only belies a scary fast wit and incredible self-awareness. The only indication of this might be a grin or a chuckle when he knows he’s duped someone, or the glint in his eye as he looks into the camera, assuring those watching that he knows what they’re thinking. This Andy Kaufman-esque performance has endeared many fans and made him something of a cult icon in the comedy world. Put simply, MacDonald is usually smartly stupid. But in Norm MacDonald Has a Show, he just seems stupidly stupid. Gone is any sense of the underlying intelligence that has characterized his career.

It’s hard to figure out how this happened though. It’s not like MacDonald has been out of the industry and returned to Netflix a shell of his former self. MacDonald has been busy since 2013 with Norm MacDonald Live—a podcast and a spiritual predecessor to this new Netflix show—where he was sharp, focused, and funny as hell. And though MacDonald Has a Show follows the same exact format as Norm MacDonald Live, the shows couldn’t be more different. One is animated and light-hearted, while the other is stilted and purposeless. 

One possible reason for this change may be because of working for Netflix and the pressures associated with being one of the coveted “Netflix Originals.” Maybe because the previous Norm MacDonald Live was a niche product, MacDonald never had to pander to a larger audience. But on Netflix, he may have had to follow his producer’s advice and tone it down, although toning down Norm MacDonald rids him of all of his appeal. MacDonald thrives when he has the freedom to say whatever he wants, no matter how abrasive or immature. Without this he is left playing interviewer, which is something he is so awful at that he even admits it himself during the show.

Is there anything that redeems Norm MacDonald Has a Show? Well, with MacDonald not acting like his usual self, the burden of carrying each episode is left with the guest. Naturally, this is a grab-bag: veteran comedians like David Spade and Chevy Chase are able to keep things funny and light. But with non-comedians like the musician Billy Joe Shaver and actress Jane Fonda, the show varies between periodically chuckle-worthy and physically painful.

Looking back, Norm MacDonald Has a Show had no lack of potential. The show-runners must have recognized the promise in the show’s central host, hence the literal and upfront title of the show. Unfortunately for most viewers, just the fact that Norm MacDonald has a show isn’t that exciting, and also leaves people wondering if Norm MacDonald even deserved a show at all.

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Matthew Montopoli

Matt is in his second year of Algonquin’s Professional Writing program. He enjoys writing, editing, reading history and philosophy, and not talking about himself.

Cloudy with a Chance of Quesadillas

If you’re planning on eating at Ahora, be sure to bring an appetite, a good attitude, and a GPS. My partner and I walked up and down Dalhousie, confused and hungry, searching for a restaurant we were beginning to suspect didn’t exist. Finally, after ten minutes of aimless wandering, we discovered a nondescript door that led either to a magical realm or Ahora. It turned out to be the latter.

Located in the heart of downtown Ottawa, we stepped over the threshold, trading the clamour of weekend clubbing for a corridor enveloped in silence. A plaque tacked to the wall displayed a glowing review from 2004, making us wonder what the quality had been like since then. At the far end of the hallway, disappearing around a corner into shadow, was a flight of rickety steps. Stomachs grumbling, we risked the troublesome descent.

At the bottom, we entered a whirlwind of noise and colour. Immediately, we were greeted by a host with a pleasant persona who led us past a maze of tables to our own in the back corner. We felt cramped, Ahora being a small square dining room packed with bodies (I won’t even bother getting into the details about my expedition to the bathroom). And it was loud—very loud—yet it was not a cacophonous drone, but a lively buzz of chatter and laughter. A vibrancy trembled throughout the restaurant. Each guest appeared in good spirits, enjoying themselves and the swell of ebullient energy.

The menu boasts a large selection of food from nachos to burritos to enchiladas. What Ahora lacked in proper accessibility, it makes up for in accommodating certain dietary restrictions, offering numerous vegetarian and gluten-free options. While we waited for the server, my partner and I were left to observe our surroundings more closely. It seemed like a rainbow threw up all over the place. Every inch of wall is painted in bold contrasting colours. Art is hung sporadically along all major walls. A tad overwhelming, it is fair to say that each individual piece is beautiful and consistent with the theme of flowers and farm animals.  

We continued to wait for our server, Ahora testing our patience, forcing us to sit through a confusing mix of traditional Mexican music, David Bowie, and Justin Bieber. Eventually, we realized guests were expected to place their order at the cash register. Our displeasure at not having been told this earlier quickly evaporated thanks to the cashier’s incredibly friendly service. While we waited, we were treated to a variety of free salsas. Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan, but even so, I slurped up the mild salsa as quick and lip-smacking as a smoothie.

Our meals arrived before I could do much damage to my Corona. I eyed the Quesadilla Suprema with interest. The criss-crossing grill marks on the toasted pita teased my taste buds. With that first bite, my mouth exploded with such magnificent flavours my tongue would’ve applauded if it could: tender chicken cooked with the perfect amount of char, rice nicely seasoned, black beans for an extra punch of protein, and the side of chips reasonably salted. Sour cream was a dollar—a revelation that found me making a second trip back to the cash—but it was money well spent, adding a perfect layer of creamy moisture to the quesadilla. Being a messy affair, I resorted to a knife and fork, but that was all a part of the fun promised by those already enjoying their meals when we arrived. 

Equally pleased, my partner’s Mex-Vegetariano Burrito was stuffed to near bursting, packed with chicken and crunchy vegetables, and the salad consisting of crisp lettuce doused in a sweet vinaigrette. With so much food, we were surprised that our bill came to only thirty dollars.

Though it was an evening of ups and downs—from searching the side alleys of Dalhousie to climbing back up those creaky untrustworthy stairs—it is hard to deny that Ahora offers a fun dining experience with incredibly priced meals of high quality. Such highlights overshadow any minor issues, making it a place I’d recommend to anyone looking for an exciting night out in Canada’s capital. And that’s not the Corona talking!

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Nathaniel Neil Whelan

Nathaniel has an M.A. from Carleton University and is currently enrolled in the Professional Writing program at Algonquin College. An up-and-coming author, he lives in Ottawa with his partner and pet cat Susie-Bear.