True Comedy dies with Norm Macdonald

It is with profound sadness that I received the news about Norm Macdonald's passing today. Since I was a kid growing up in NY I felt some attraction to comedy. The genre really caught me as that form of art that consist of a balance act where the performer walks a fine line between offense and truth. There are ways to tell a story and in comedy that story is stretched to the limits of what is acceptable. 

Comedians are truth tellers that make you laugh while telling you the facts of life. True comedy is most of the time offensive as it makes fun of reality. 

I remember the first time I saw Norm performing in SNL. He sounded dry and his monotone voice was not something you expect from a comedian. Yet he made me laugh with his witty dry humor which I later learned was called "deadpan comedy". 

Norm used his comedy to make social commentary. His jokes on OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson were an example of that. It was precisely because of those jokes that he got fired from SNL. Those were his funniest jokes and when some of the audiencec heckled him he then repeated what he said to drive the point across that comedy is offensive because it is true. 

I've always seen Norm as an example to emulate. He is like John the Baptist who kept saying the truth until he got decapitated. Norm kept making comedy until he got fired. He was warned to tone down his jokes on MJ and OJ but he didn't because for Norm comedy was an art and silencing art is is offensive. His comedy shone specifically because he dared the executives and kept doing what he did best, comedy. 

I was really surprised when I heard his voice on a cartoon character from "The Fairly Odd Parents" when I was watching TV with my kids. That was one of the funniest episodes ever. NBC might have tried to silence comedy and they did but not Norm, he kept doing what he knew best without changing his style or tone, his offensive and truthful tone. 

A couple of days ago I was watching his latest stand up "Hitler's Dog, Gossip and Trickery". I am revisiting those great comedians who didn't dilute their art to please the networks. People like Sam Kinison, Ralphie May, Dave Chapelle and Norm Macdonald have in common one thing, they were all fired from mainstream media but they didn't let their comedy be censored. Those are the kind of people I admire. 

Norm's life was cut short by cancer. He did his last stand up while battling it. Imagine making people laugh while you are suffering. I have no other way to describe but heroic. Norm Macdonald, you will be missed. This kid from the Bronx who liked your style and admired your integrity will always remember you as will all of those who appreciated your candor and sincerity in comedy. You will be missed. And yes...murder became legal in California.