The Norm Show
| The Norm Show | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | ''Norm'' |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Created by |
Bruce Helford Norm Macdonald |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | W. G. Snuffy Walden |
| Opening theme | "Too Bad" performed by Doug and the Slugs |
| Composer(s) | W. G. Snuffy Walden |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 54 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Norm Macdonald Frank Sebastiano |
| Camera setup | Multiple camera |
| Running time | 22–24 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Mohawk Productions Warner Bros. Television |
| Distributor |
Warner Bros. Television Distribution Shout Factory (under license from Warner Bros.) (2010, DVD) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | March 24, 1999 – April 6, 2001 |
The Norm Show is an American television sitcom that ran from 1999 through 2001 on the ABC television network. Originally titled The Norm Show, the show simply became Norm from September 1999 through the remainder of the show's run.
The show focused on the life of Norm Henderson (Norm Macdonald), a former NHL hockey player who is banned for life from the league because of gambling and tax evasion. To avoid jail time for these crimes, Norm must perform five years of community service as a full-time social worker. Other characters in the show included fellow social workers Laurie Freeman (Laurie Metcalf), Danny Sanchez (Ian Gomez), and Danny's sometime girlfriend and former prostitute Taylor Clayton (Nikki Cox). Norm's boss on the program for the first several episodes was named Anthony Curtis and was played by Bruce Jarchow. This character was quickly replaced by a new boss, Max Denby, who was played by Max Wright.
The second season of the show had the addition of Artie Lange, playing Norm's half brother. The second season also brought about the shortening of the show’s official title to simply Norm to avoid a legal conflict with Michael Jantze's comic strip The Norm.
Originally scheduled on Wednesday nights, the series was one of the top-rated sitcoms on ABC among adults 18-49 during its first season. The second season had ratings fluctuate because of time changes. When ABC moved the series to Friday nights (known as the Friday night death slot) for the third season, ratings declined and the series was cancelled.
Played by Norm Macdonald. Season 1–3. Norm was once an NHL hockey player and greatly enjoyed it (though he was purportedly not very good). However, constant gambling and tax evasion caught up with him – leading him to being banned from hockey forever. He avoided jail time by agreeing to five years of community service as a social worker. He was not properly trained, however – saying he was only ever shown how to work the coffee maker (which he still didn't understand). Norm often showed complete disregard for his work – speaking frankly about the clients' problems, playing with toys at his desk, openly mocking/defying his bosses, etc. Nonetheless, there were times he attempted to help others and do the right thing. Norm is a compulsive gambler and had to seek counseling. Norm also had a deep fear of death (attributed to his parents telling him nothing good would happen to him after he died), but a children's book about Heaven showed it was nothing to fear. At the end of the series, a technicality releases Norm from his community service, but he ends up voluntarily returning to work.
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