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The Norm Show

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The Norm Show
Also known asNorm
GenreSitcom
Created by
Starring
Theme music composerW. G. Snuffy Walden
Opening theme"Too Bad"performed byDoug and the Slugs
ComposerW. G. Snuffy Walden
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No.of seasons3
No.of episodes54(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Norm Macdonald
  • Frank Sebastiano
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22–24 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 24, 1999(1999-03-24)–
April 6, 2001(2001-04-06)

The Norm Showis an American televisionsitcomthat ran onABCfrom March 24, 1999, to April 6, 2001. Starting in September 1999, the show's title was shortened toNorm.[1]The series starredNorm Macdonald,who created the series withBruce Helford.

Plot[edit]

The show focused on the life of Norm Henderson (Norm Macdonald), a formerNHLhockeyplayer who is banned for life from the league because ofgamblingandtax evasion.To avoid jail time for these crimes, Norm must perform five years of community service as a full-timesocial worker.Other characters in the show included fellow social workers Laurie Freeman (Laurie Metcalf), Danny Sanchez (Ian Gomez), and Danny's sometime girlfriend and formerprostituteTaylor Clayton (Nikki Cox). Norm's Boss on the program for the first several episodes was named Anthony Curtis (Bruce Jarchow). This character was quickly replaced by a new Boss, Max Denby (Max Wright), whom Norm frequently antagonized and pranked.

The second season of the show addedArtie Langeas Norm's half-brother Artie, andFaith Fordas Shelly Kilmartin, Norm's probation officer and love interest.

Episodes[edit]

Main article:List of The Norm Show episodes
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110March 24, 1999(1999-03-24)May 26, 1999(1999-05-26)
220September 22, 1999(1999-09-22)March 15, 2000(2000-03-15)
324October 4, 2000(2000-10-04)April 6, 2001(2001-04-06)

Cast and characters[edit]

Main cast[edit]

  • Norm Macdonaldas Norm Henderson: Norm is a former NHL hockey player, though he was purportedly not very good. However, constant gambling and tax evasion catch up with him – leading him to being banned from hockey forever. He avoids jail time by agreeing to five years of community service as a social worker. Norm often shows complete disregard for his work, and is a compulsive gambler. Norm also had a deep fear of death, attributed to his parents telling him nothing good would happen to him after he died.
  • Laurie Metcalfas Laurie Freeman: Laurie was previously Norm's social worker. Once he starts working at the office, she becomes his co-worker and best friend. Often (and usually to her exasperation), she has to guide Norm in social work. Laurie is a dedicated social worker and frequently makes noteworthy proposals to help clients. She also has a twin sister (also played by Metcalf), with whom she is argumentative.
  • Ian Gomezas Danny Sanchez: Another social worker at the office, Danny is usually portrayed as quite effective at his job. He is sometimes Norm's partner-in-crime – aiding in his gambling pool and other schemes.
  • Bruce Jarchowas Anthony Curtis (episodes 1–5): As Norm's first Boss, he had a great deal of difficulty managing Norm. Mr. Curtis has a daughter, with whom Norm ends up having sex. This causes Mr. Curtis to snap, and doesn't appear in the show from then on.
  • Amy Wilsonas Molly Carver (Season 1): Molly is hired as a new social worker a little while after Norm's sentence began. She believes that her education and street smarts enable her to be an effective social worker without anyone's help. She disappears without explanation after the first season.
  • Max Wrightas Max Denby (episodes 6-54): Norm's second Boss, with whom he has an antagonist relationship. Mr. Denby is a divorcee, with a son and a daughter – neither of whom has a good relationship with him. Details about Mr. Denby's past include serving in the military (where he shot six of his own men) and working for the Nixon administration (though he was not involved in the infamous Watergate break-in).
  • Artie Langeas Artie Henderson (Seasons 2–3): Artie is Norm's overweight paternal half-brother. Artie at times lived in Norm's shadow while growing up. When he comes to visit Norm, he seems to turn things around and had become a bonafide success. However, he later admits his business partner has ripped him off, and that he lost everything, and subsequently takes up various jobs. In the third season, Artie becomes a bartender at the gang's usual hangout. It is also revealed that in the tenth grade he knewThe Drew Carey Show's Mimi Bobeck (then known as Miriam).
  • Nikki Coxas Taylor Clayton (Season 2; guest Season 1, recurring Season 3): A prostitute, Taylor is Norm's first client after he became a social worker. She gives up being a prostitute and ends up working in the office. She at different times forms relationships with Danny and Norm.
  • Faith Fordas Shelly Kilmartin (Season 3; recurring Season 2): In the second season, Shelly is introduced as Norm's probation officer. Norm is immediately attracted to her and pursues her, but she insists they keep their relationship professional. However, she eventually develops feelings for him and they begin an on-and-off relationship.

Recurring[edit]

  • Wiener Dog: ADachshund,Wiener Dog lives in Norm's apartment and is a devoted pet.
  • Patricia Belcheras Landlady (seasons 2-3): Norm's frequently angry landlady, though she is usually angry because Norm consistently fails to pay the rent. Her name never revealed, and she is just simply known as "Landlady".
  • Kate Walshas Jenny (seasons 2-3): Norm's other main love interest. Laurie sets them up on a blind date and after some hi-jinx, they develop an on-and-off relationship. She disappears after the second season (save for an out-of-order season 3 episode) without explanation.

Guest stars[edit]

Jack Wardenguest-stars in one episode as the father ofIan Gomez's character, and fakes a grab at Norm's crotch (as he did inDirty Work).[2]

Production[edit]

Originally airing on Wednesday nights afterThe Drew Carey Show,the series was one of the top-rated sitcoms on ABC among adults 18-49 during its first season.[3]In between the first and second seasons, ABC shortened the series' title toNormto avoid a legal conflict withMichael Jantze's comic stripThe Norm.[4]ABC continued to keep the series on Wednesdays for its second season, though initially moved it an hour earlier. In November, the series moved back to its original timeslot, before moving back again in January. This caused ratings in the second season to fluctuate. When the series was renewed for a third season, ABC movedNormto Friday nights (also known as theFriday night death slot), in an effort to create a new "Working Comedy" Friday night comedy lineup after the network disbandedTGIF.The third season saw even more time changes and ratings fluctuations. This, in addition to low ratings, caused ABC to cancel the series in May 2001.

Home media[edit]

On September 7, 2010,Shout! FactoryreleasedThe Norm Show: The Complete Serieson DVD in Region 1. The 8-disc set features all 54 episodes of the series as well as a handful of running commentaries (only in seasons 1 and 2) by Norm Macdonald and Bruce Helford.[5]

Reception[edit]

Critical reception[edit]

Initial critical reviews were mixed with the show's first season receiving a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[6]In a negative review of the show, Michele Greppi with theNew York Poststated of Laurie Metcalf's presence on the show "Metcalf’s energy just comes across as desperation when she’s working with a man who has no inflection, no expression, and no moves and brings nothing to would-be comedy except dead weight." In a more positive review, Howard Rosenberg of theLos Angeles Timesstated "Macdonald's ability to do this without being stupid -- his character is actually quite smart -- is key to this series, some of which is just a hoot, its humor perfectly tailored to its star's offbeat sardonic style."[7]

Ratings[edit]

Season Episodes Timeslot (EDT) Season Premiere Season Finale TV season Rank Rating
1 10 Wednesday 9:30 pm March 24, 1999(1999-03-24) May 26, 1999(1999-05-26) 1998–99 46 8.1[8]
2 20 Wednesday 8:30 pm(1-7, 14–20)
Wednesday 9:30 pm(8-13) 		September 22, 1999(1999-09-22) March 15, 2000(2000-03-15) 1999–2000 48 7.8[citation needed]
3 24 Wednesday 9:30 pm(1)
Friday 9:00 pm(2-11)
Friday 9:30 pm(12-14)
Friday 8:30 pm(15-24) 		October 3, 2000(2000-10-03) April 6, 2001(2001-04-06) 2000–01 109 4.3[citation needed]

References[edit]

  1. ^Brooks, Tim;Marsh, Earle (2007). "Norm".The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present(9 ed.). Random House Publishing. p. 996.ISBN978-0-345-49773-4.Retrieved2024-05-23.
  2. ^"Norm Dates Danny's Dad".The Norm Show.Season 1. Episode 3. April 7, 1999. 21:12 minutes in.ABC.
  3. ^Rice, Lynette (December 20, 2000)."'Spin' Out ".Entertainment Weekly.Retrieved2009-02-09.
  4. ^Smith, Austin (July 27, 1999)."Situation Norm-al: Macdonald Show Forced to Change Name".New York Post.Retrieved2015-12-17.
  5. ^"The Norm Show DVD news: Announcement for The Norm Show - The Complete Series".TVShowsOnDVD.Archived fromthe originalon 2010-05-28.
  6. ^"Norm - Rotten Tomatoes".rottentomatoes.Retrieved2023-04-13.
  7. ^Rosenberg, Howard (1999-03-24)."Mixed Blessings in Midseason".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved2023-04-13.
  8. ^"NIELSEN RANKINGS FOR 1998-99".SFGate.May 28, 1999.RetrievedSeptember 10,2019.

External links[edit]

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