"The Norm Show" (1999)TV series 1999-2001

Creators:

Bruce Helford
Norm MacDonald
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

24 March 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Norm Henderson is an ex-hockey player who was banned from hockey for life for gambling and tax evasion...

Plot Keywords:

Human Relationship | Sex | Sitcom | Character Name In Title | Actor Shares First Name With Character

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins

Cast

Norm MacDonald	...	Norm Henderson (54 episodes, 1999-2001)
Ian Gomez	...	Danny Sanchez (54 episodes, 1999-2001)
Laurie Metcalf	...	Laurie Freeman (54 episodes, 1999-2001)
Amy Wilson	...	Molly Carver (52 episodes, 1999-2001)
Max Wright	...	Max Denby (49 episodes, 1999-2001)
Faith Ford	...	Shelley Kilmartin (32 episodes, 1999-2001)

(more)

Series Directed by
Steve Zuckerman		(14 episodes, 1999-2001)
Shelley Jensen		(11 episodes, 1999-2001)
Gerry Cohen		(8 episodes, 1999-2001)
Sam Simon		(4 episodes, 1999)
Thomas J. Thompson		(3 episodes, 1999-2001)
Joe Regalbuto		(2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Michael Lessac		(2 episodes, 1999)
Wil Shriner		(2 episodes, 2001)
Richard Correll		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Cheryl Holliday		(12 episodes, 1999-2001)
David A. Caplan		(9 episodes, 1999-2001)
Brett Baer		(7 episodes, 1999-2001)
Dave Finkel		(7 episodes, 1999-2001)
Frank Sebastiano		(6 episodes, 1999-2000)
Bruce Rasmussen		(5 episodes, 1999-2001)
Rob Ulin		(4 episodes, 1999-2000)
Steve Gabriel		(3 episodes, 1999-2001)
Lawrence Broch		(3 episodes, 2000-2001)
Curtis Chin		(2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Ed Lee		(2 episodes, 2000-2001)
Matt Tarses		(2 episodes, 2000)
Bruce Helford		(1 episode, 1999)
Norm MacDonald		(1 episode, 1999)
Lloyd Garver		(unknown episodes)
Regina Stewart		(unknown episodes)
Sarah Stokes		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Jerry Belson	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Lawrence Broch	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Diane Burroughs	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
David A. Caplan	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Matt Ember	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Joey Gutierrez	....	consulting producer (unknown episodes)
Bruce Helford	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Lori Jo Hoekstra	....	co-producer (unknown episodes)
Cheryl Holliday	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Al Lowenstein	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Norm MacDonald	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Deborah Oppenheimer	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Bruce Rasmussen	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Mea Squires	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Rob Ulin	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
W.G. Snuffy Walden		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Ken Lamkin		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Pam Marshall		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Brett Benner		(unknown episodes)
Marc Hirschfeld		(unknown episodes)
Meg Liberman		(unknown episodes)
Barbara Miller		(unknown episodes)
Bonnie Zane		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John Shaffner		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Julie Rhine		(53 episodes, 1999-2001)

Series Makeup Department
Lisa Layman	....	makeup department head (unknown episodes)
Leslie Lightfoot	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rebecca Baughman	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Dennis Capps	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Elena Santaballa	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Bill Shea	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Francoise Cherry-Cohen	....	set designer (unknown episodes)
Quico Encinias	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)
Ricardo Silva	....	graphic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Todd Grace	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Larry Stephens	....	sound (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Greg C. Jensen	....	special effects supervisor (1 episode, 1999)
Dan Crawley	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Daniel Carrington	....	Flame artist (2 episodes, 1999-2000)
Kevin Carney	....	animator (unknown episodes)
Scott Milne	....	visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Ashley Cusato	....	tennis stunt double: Faith Ford (unknown episodes)
Diana R. Lupo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt double: Norm Macdonald (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Howard Baum	....	camera operator (44 episodes, 1999-2001)
Nicholas S. McLean	....	first assistant camera (24 episodes, 1999-2000)
Ron Eisenberg	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Jason Kilgore	....	electrician (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Linda Grigorian	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kim Myer	....	set costumer (54 episodes, 1999-2001)

Series Editorial Department
Blake McCormick	....	executive in charge of post-production (54 episodes, 1999-2001)
Stephanie Hurd	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes, 2000-2001)
Theo Hidley	....	post-production assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Michael Mason	....	music production coordinator (10 episodes, 1999)

Series Other crew
Thomas J. Thompson	....	technical coordinator (9 episodes, 1999)
Scott Ichikawa	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes, 2000-2001)
Liz Alexanian	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Clark	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Ross Helford	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Lise E. Lee	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Allison L. Staak	....	production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Cindy Taylor-Arp	....	assistant production coordinator / production assistant (unknown episodes)
Wilfred Wong	....	title designer (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Mohawk Productions
• Warner Bros. Television

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC)

Other Companies

• MFX  visual effects

Also Known As:

Norm (USA) (new title)

Runtime:

30 min (54 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Mohawk Productions

Trivia:

The original title was changed in it's second season to "Norm", because there was a threat or legal action as there was already a local public access show called "The Norm Show."

Quotes:

Norm Henderson: He may be rich, but all his money and power can't stop me from rubbing my hands together maniacally!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary (1999) (TV)

A gem; relationship shows are never this funny

Network: ABC; Genre: Sitcom; Content Rating: TV-14 (for language and crude & sexual humor); Classification: contemporary (Star range: 1 - 4)

Season Reviewed: Complete Series (3 seasons)

After a high profile bouncing from the Weekend Update desk on 'Saturday Nigh Live' the irrepressible Norm MacDonald was able to land softly in this, his own self-titled series for ABC. From creators Deborah Oppenheimer and Bruce Helford ('The Drew Carey Show'), 'The Norm Show' is a sitcom that is very much in touch with the specific sense of humor of its lead and knows how to best convey it. This show is what 'Drew Carey' could have been had it not evolved into a self-indulgent star vehicle in the final seasons.

MacDonald plays Norm Henderson, a former hockey player sent into community service after being busted on gambling charges. The plot is just thin enough for any number of possible gags. He is kept in line by dedicated public servant (Laurie Metcalf) and constantly making a fool of his incredulous supervisor Denby (Max Wright, 'Alf'). Ian Gomez ('The Drew Carey Show') and joining later Nikki Cox ('Unhappily Ever After') and Faith Ford ('Murphy Brown') do a fine job keeping up with the shows bounding energy, but it's character-named leads MacDonald, Metcalf and Wright that are run the show.

'Norm' feels like it was poured out of MacDonald's head. Too often funny comedians come into a sitcom and flounder around, muffled by its trappings. But MacDonald finds himself right at home here. Through the years the episodes have some bizarre and creative plots that push the boundaries of reality. The crude humor is piled high and thick, but McDonald is able to turn the oldest gags into an honest laugh with his trademark deadpan comic delivery. His touch is everywhere. MacDonald has never been funnier and sitcom veterans Metcalf (criminally underrated in everything she does) and Wright fall into his twisted groove perfectly.

'Norm' is a relationship series through and through with all the usual trappings. It has a preoccupation with dating, sex and bed-hopping amongst its ensemble that would turn the head of even the biggest 'Friends' fan. As a relationship show it is peerlessly funny. But while the show's crude humor and office comedy elements work well, it never convinced me that it needs to be a relationship comedy. Do we really need Norm and co. going through some contrived love-lorn drama? And do we really believe MacDonald when proclaims to be 'in love' with someone he met that week? Particularly when he does it in the exact same dry, monotonous voice that serves the jokes so well, but is impossible to take seriously. This is a regrettable kink in the armor for me. And it doesn't help that ABC shuttled this show out the door with nary a whisper in its final season.

Most of the time, however, 'Norm' does it right and rises above the usual banality of this material. It lacks any pretension about itself and is refreshingly free of the melodrama that bogs down most shows of this ilk. Its purpose, first and foremost, is a giddy laugh. It is the crude, sex comedy in near top form where so many other shows fall flat. It aims low but it gets the job done.

'Norm' doesn't break the mold of the sitcom and try anything revolutionary, but within this mold (the one-liners, the put-upon boss, the cute wiener dog stealing the show, and the typical office & apartment setting) 'Norm' fills out the genre, stretching it to the limits and, best of all, getting genuine laugh-out-loud belly laughs. On a side note, the original "wrecking ball" opening sequence is, I think, a modest classic among intros.

Here's one of the highest compliments you can give. 'Norm' makes me wonder why so many traditional sitcoms flail about in such embarrassing desperation to get the slightest laugh. McDonald makes it all look effortless. It just shows what great casting, performers willing to dive head-first into the material, and exceptional comic delivery can do for you. A silly, mindless and truly hysterically funny series. Its hard to ask for anything more in this type of show.

* * * / 4