I don't really know how to start shows.

Come on now, don't start liking me now.

So yeah, I'm funny compared to you, you know, well you'll see later.

I favor me.

I know a lot of fucking idiots.

I think a lot of shit is mean-spirited, just because it goes against what they believe.

But the relief of comedy is it take things that aren't funny and it allows us to laugh about them for

an hour. We got a purple suit to buy in a gigantic coffin. Why are you laughing? Welcome everybody

to Why Are You Laughing? A history of comedy podcast week by week. We take you through the history

of comedy. I mean, not really the history. I guess starting in like 1960, but I'm glad we

corrected it on the fourth go-around. I've been thinking it the whole time. I was like,

oh, it's not really my show. But tonight, I'm pleased to introduce you to the saga of Norm

McDonald on SNL and his eventual firing. Norm's passing at this point, maybe a month ago. I don't know when you guys are hearing this,

but as we record, it was just a couple weeks ago. And that was like the first celebrity death

in my life that, like, affected my day. Like, I was genuinely broken up about it. I was very sad.

And part of that is the way he went out. But today is strictly about remembering the greatness

of Norm MacDonald. And I think one of the best ways to salute his brilliance and his

attitude and his charm, really, is by examining his time on S&L and the way it ended

and the way it all played out, and his eventual revenge.

So, and you know, it's a great word.

It's come up recently that Norm didn't always love female comedians.

He wasn't necessarily the politest to them.

...