-
-
THE FAKE NEWS (EE#11)
An e-zine for Norm Macdonald fans
-
-
[ FROM THE EDITOR ]
Our redesign is now complete!!! And before the collective
dance of joy begins, I'd like to publically thank GUY
GARDNER who dedicated his time to reworking our
"Weekend Update" archive and other arduous tasks. I
appreciate the willingness of many readers to help me
maintain the magazine in any way they can. Huzzah and
kudos to you all. -N!
[ NEWS ]
July 29 (The Dallas Morning News) -- Norm is developing a
game show based on the British series "Have I Got News for
You," which tests comedians on their knowledge of current
events. "The British version was hysterical, but all the
British comics are super-smart. They know everything about
the news," he said. "So, this won't be like that because we'll
have, like, American comics." ABC hopes to have a pilot
episode shot in September for a possible mid-season start. In
the new season of "Norm," Our Hero will be delivering
some tongue-in-cheek advice at the top of each episode. It's a
way of comically explaining the parental rating - TV-PG,
TV-14, etc. - for that week, especially now that the show is
moving to an earlier time period. Norm says, "I don't think a
lot of people know what the ratings mean, so we're just
going to say, 'Hey, it's dirty. It's dirty, dirty sex' . . . so if
there's any children [watching], you don't want them to see
dirty sex." He's serious, sort of. "Well, I mock the ratings
system because I don't understand them. But I really believe
in telling people what's going to be on. I don't like tricking
kids into watching. I have a kid."
--
July 28 (Variety) -- ABC has announced three hefty additions
to the "Norm" cast: Our Hero's "Dirty Work" partner in
crime, and real-life pal, ARTIE LANGE ... plus, get this,
THE AMAZING BREASTS OF NIKKI COX. Fans will
remember Nikki as the "huge whore" from the sitcom's
premiere. She'll return as that character, who returns to
Social Services, this time as an office assistant. According to
the network, Nikki will stay with the show for just one
season before moving to her own sitcom for The WB, which
will be produced by "Norm" executive producer BRUCE
"THE GENIUS" HELFORD. Norm will also get a
girlfriend, though the role hasn't been cast yet. As for Artie,
well, he'll play Norm's half-brother ... Artie. Clever, eh?
Norm has always wanted him involved with the show, but a
few things stood in the way of that happening last season.
First off, Artie was really busy with his movie career ("Lost
& Found," "Mystery Men," "The Bachelor" and "The Fourth
Floor.") But the biggest obstacle was his contract to be
involved in future projects at NBC. Apparently, that's been
resolved, and we all have at least three new reasons to tune in
this fall.
--
July 28 (The Fake News) -- First it was "The Norm
Macdonald Show." Then "The Norm Show." Now, it's
simply "Norm." On Friday, Our Hero made a slight mention
of the change by stating only that they "had to." So, there's
been a fair amount of speculation about the switch, but the
reason is fairly simple. Turns out cartoonist MICHAEL
JANTZE holds "The Norm" trademark for his strip by the
same name. Jantze tells The Fake News that he, in fact,
contacted Warner Bros. Television (producers of Norm's
sitcom) about their infringement of his copyright. But Jantze
did not feel comfortable commenting any further, because
they are in "the final stages" of rapping up the details. ABC
has already adopted the new moniker in their press material
for the fall season.
[ APPEARANCES ]
o "The View" rerun (5.99) on August 11 (ABC).*
* Available in archive.
--
Keep an eye out for Norm's "Miller Lite" commercial with
Netscape cofounder MARC ANDREESSEN. In regional
markets, new "Hardee's Star" spots are also airing ... one
reportedly featuring the lovely VENDELA.
[ NORM ]
This week ... Episode 6: "The New Boss" -- When the new
boss, Mr. Denby (MAX WRIGHT), is hired, he instantly
becomes Norm's best friend and Laurie's worst nightmare.
Conflicts of interest bring tension to their friendship and a
new job for Laurie.
--
Summer reruns aren't known for capturing lots of viewers,
but it bares mentioning that "Norm" has seen its lowest
ratings yet ... "My Name Is Norm" broke its own record for
being the series' least watched episode. The first time it
aired, 7.4 million tuned in. Last week, 4.5 million.
[ ARCHIVE ]
For those of you who have stacks of Playboys stashed
about, you might want to dig up your August 1997 issue.
There's a Q&A interview in there with Our Hero in which he
explains why he admires BOB DOLE, why comedy is better
than manual labor and how he discouraged his stalker. For
the same article ... minus the nekkidness look no further than
The Fake News:
o Playboy: "20 Questions: Norm Macdonald"
http://www.thefakenews.net/n/playboy.shtml
[ LAUGHS ]
"Washington D.C. mayor MARION BARRY is in hot water
again. This time, for bringing 54 government employees
with him on a trip to a posh West Virginia resort. According
to Barry, 'That's how many guys it takes to keep me from
smoking crack.' "
--
"Last week in Calcutta, India, MOTHER THERESA
suffered a slight concussion when she slipped and bumped
her head. Doctors say the 86-year-old nun is completely back
to normal except for one interesting difference ... she now
hates poor people."
--
The Tonight Show: "Social workers showed up and
protested ('The Norm Show'), because when we wrote the
show -- I wrote a lot of the show, and I didn't know
anything about social work! And a lot of people told me,
'Hey, you should research!' And I'm like, 'Why?!' How
boring would that be, ya know? [Laugher.] So, I was just
pretending I was a social worker and now there protesting.
But, ya know, they're only social workers, they're not that
dangerous! Not like -- [Laugher.] No, I mean if it was 'The
Sopranos' they'd be like mob dudes showing up. [Laugher.]
'Third Rock [From The Sun.]' you'd have like horrible
space aliens protesting -- that could eat you!"
[ CONTEST ]
Our 22nd Caption Contest is well underway. Get your
entries in by the August 21st deadline and win a copy of one
of our crappy, yet remarkably cool Norm videos.
o Test your wit in the current contest.
http://www.thefakenews.net/n/contest.shtml
--
THE FAKE NEWS
http://www.thefakenews.net
editor
--
Advertising information:
http://www.thefakenews.net/n/ads.shtml
--
REMOVAL: Go to our site, enter your address under the
headline EMAIL EDITION, select UNSUBSCRIBE and
click SUBMIT. Please bus your own table.
-30-
|