Norm Macdonald has a show, which is a frequent topic of conversation onNorm Macdonald Has a Show.
The Netflix series debuts on Friday, and Netflix itself is a regular part of the conversation.
Were both on Netflix!
Credit: Eddy Chen/Netflix
Were like a brotherhood!
Is Macdonald part of that paradigm, or just a fortunate beneficiary of a ludicrous boom economy?
Macdonalds first guest is skeptical.
What else is Netflix recommending?
Because theyre really not nailing it right now, says Spade, midway through a deliriously slapdash pilot episode.
We just got the numbers, and its not doing well, he continues, Teds freaking out.
Conversely, Spade notes,The Do-Overdid well on Netflix, even though they dont tout it every day.
That might be a joke Spades bone-dry delivery has gone positively desiccant in middle age.
For 25-35 minutes, Macdonald sits at a desk, speaking to just one guest.
Sidekick Adam Eget will say things, too.
Theres no audience, but the crew laughs.
There are no breaks, but Macdonald willpretendthere are breaks.
(He makes Spade tell the same story twice.)
There is one running segment, where Macdonald and the guests read (horrible) jokes off index cards.
Its an appropriately low-key setup for Macdonalds particular brand of humor.
Hes still an original, somehow deconstructive and conversational, snarky yet humane.
(Colin Jost claims inspiration, but thats not Macdonalds fault.)
There are no bits anyone would describe as viral.
The episodes Ive seen can be a bittoolow-key, though, and repetitive.
Lorne Michaels is one of the guests.
Barrymore talks about how fun it is to hostSaturday Night Live.
We shared a room with Mike Judge atSNL, says Spade.
Sure we did, Macdonald confirms.
The series launches the same day as new seasons ofBojack HorsemanandAmerican Vandal.
Macdonald is finding his footing here, though.
The leisurely conversation style lets him get away with questions so provocative that even just saying them is hilarious.
Do you miss cocaine?
Do you consider your mortality more than you used to?
he asks Jane Fonda.
You been thinking about your mortality a lot lately?
he asks David Letterman.
Fonda has her dog, Tulea, on her lap most of the show.
Uh, who, ye, you love…who do you consider sexy?
is the first stammering question Macdonald asks her.
Fonda laughs, flashes a Jim Halpert grin at the camera and says Blake Shelton.
Informed that hes been declaredPeoples Sexiest Man in America, she moans, Thats soclicheof me.
uttered by the star ofKlute.
Youreweird, Fonda tells Macdonald early in the interview, looking nervous.
And then, four minutes later, she says, I think Ilikeyou, laughing.
