Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Norm Macdonald Has A Show’ On Netflix, Where The Veteran Comedian Drives His Guests Crazy

Netflix’s talk show history has been checkered with mediocre efforts (Chelsea), reboots of previous shows (The Joel McHale Show With Joel McHale) and buzzworthy political shows (The Break With Michelle Wolf). All of them have been cancelled. Now Netflix brings Norm Macdonald’s popular podcast to TV. Will it break the streak?

NORM MACDONALD HAS A SHOW: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: In the first episode, Norm Macdonald and his co-host Adam Eget enter a sparse studio with guest David Spade. They chitchat and joke about being on Netflix and Norm offers his old buddy a drink from the Netflix-branded beverage fridge.

The Gist: If you’ve ever watched or listened to Norm Macdonald’s podcast, Norm Macdonald Live, which was available in audio and on YouTube (until Netflix had him take all of the old episodes down), you know exactly what you’re in for with Norm Macdonald Has A Show. Maybe the graphic on the green screen behind Norm’s desk is a little nicer, and the graphics are a fun-looking neon, but it’s pretty much a low-budget affair, and Norm treats the show like the goof it is.

Even when he has a buddy, like his SNL castmate David Spade, at the desk, he peppers generic prepared questions (like “what role do you regret not taking?”) with interruptions, asides, stories, drawn-out jokes and weird tangents. He tricks Spade into thinking they’re taking a “break”, for instance, so he has to tell the start of an involved story about a film he did early in his career all over again. “What else is Netflix recommending for me?” Spade imagines as viewers switch off the low-rent show.

In the first season episodes, Macdonald interviews Drew Barrymore, Judge Judy, Lorne Michaels, Jane Fonda, and David Letterman, among others. Letterman is not only a consultant on the show (and a fellow Netflix talk show host), but a veteran of Norm’s interview style; he appeared on Norm Macdonald Live in 2017. Still, Norm’s scattered interview style causes Dave more than enough amused consternation (we hear Letterman’s signature cackle many times); he says things like “I feel like I’m on a show in another country,” after Norm does a weird and obscure impression.

Our Take: Whatever you may think of Norm Macdonald (and at this moment, he’s getting a lot of flak), one thing he’s proven over the last 25 or so years is that his sense of humor is unique, and he loves making people feel uncomfortable. And, while episodes of Norm Macdonald Has A Show feel like they’re barely produced and that they belong on public access in Kenosha, Wisconsin, we found ourselves laughing hard a number of times, especially during the Spade episode.

You’ll get a few probing questions from Norm or Eget, who Norm basically ignores most of the time, that will elicit great answers. But the best part of the show is the giggling reactions from people who know how weird Norm is, either because they’re friends or just by his reputation, wondering what silly direction the show is going to go in. It’s that raw, unpolished nature that makes us want to watch every episode — just not all in a row, because that’s a lot of weirdness to handle in one sitting.

Parting Shot: Macdonald and Eget sing along to a recorded track, a silly tip of the hat to goodbye songs from shows like The Carol Burnett Show. The guest either watches in wonder, or in the case of Dave, walks out in mock disgust before the song starts.

Sleeper Star: We’ve always wondered why Eget is there. Yes, he could be the Robin to Norm’s Howard, but Norm seems to treat him with disdain (which of course is part of the joke). But at least once an episode, he contributes something interesting.

Most Pilot-y Line: Norm goes on “breaks” that don’t exist. On the podcast, he and Eget read ads. But with no ads on Netflix, the “break” is yet another meta-joke.

Our Call: STREAM IT. It’s hilarious, the guests are great, and it’s a fun way to spend a half-hour or so.

Joel Keller (@joelkeller) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, VanityFair.com, Playboy.com, Fast Company’s Co.Create and elsewhere.

Watch Norm Macdonald Has A Show on Netflix