In 1986, a young comedian walked off stage at Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club and vowed never to perform again.
That same year, he was diagnosed with cancer.
His name was Norm Macdonald, and his story would change comedy forever.
Here's what happened:
Eric Hunley
42.5K posts
Eric Hunley
@hunleyeric
Wisdom Miner ⛏ Host of multiple YouTube Channels All links at linktube.com/erichunley
I post about what feels right at the time. History, music and more.
- In 1953, the CIA began drugging unsuspecting Americans with LSD. No, this isn't a conspiracy theory. It was called "Operation Midnight Climax" - and it's one of the darkest chapters in CIA history. Here's the disturbing story:
- On January 1st, some of history's most valuable art just became free. Hemingway. Disney. Hitchcock. Even Popeye. $100M+ worth of creativity is now yours to use. Here's everything you can legally steal in 2025: 🧵
- The January 2025 LA fires destroyed homes of Paris Hilton, Anthony Hopkins & at least 18 other A-list celebrities. But behind the $57B disaster lies an even darker truth: Many victims can't rebuild. Here's why...
- RIP Rick Davies of Supertramp. One of my favorite tracks, "The Logical Song" is a true classic addressing how education forces conformity at the cost of joy and curiosity.
00:00 - This was Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's final moment. The last performance. The last song. Paranoid
- Replying to @hunleyericIn 1998, Norm hosted the ESPYs. Just weeks after being fired from SNL, he delivered a scorching monologue to a room full of athletes. His final joke about OJ brought the house down. The message? Never compromise your art.
00:00 - Replying to @hunleyericBy 1993, Norm landed his dream job on SNL. But his relentless jokes about OJ Simpson caught the attention of NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer - a close friend of OJ. When ordered to stop, Norm did something unexpected:
00:00 - Replying to @hunleyericHis answer? "I haven't gotten funnier. The show has gotten really bad." The writers booed. The audience roared. Norm stood there smiling, showing that sometimes the best revenge is just telling the truth.
00:00 - Replying to @hunleyericThe day after OJ's acquittal, Norm opened Weekend Update with: "Well, it's finally official: murder is legal in the state of California." He chose principles over job security. The cost? His position at SNL.
00:00 - Replying to @hunleyericNorm played the dumb guy but behind this persona was a genius who graduated high school at 14 and studied mathematics in university. He kept this hidden, believing the smartest comedians play dumb. "The worst guy you can be, a guy smarter than the audience - they're going to
00:00 - In 1864, eight men climbed into a 40-foot iron tube to change naval warfare forever. None would survive the mission. But their sacrifice would make history as the first successful submarine attack in warfare. This is the extraordinary story of the H.L. Hunley: 🧵
- Replying to @hunleyericHis appearance with Courtney Thorne-Smith on Conan became legendary. When she mentioned starring in a film with Carrot Top called "Chairman of the Board," Norm waited... Then delivered: "I bet the Board is spelled B-O-R-E-D"
00:00 - Replying to @hunleyericThe Moth Joke became Norm's masterpiece: "A moth goes to a podiatrist. The podiatrist says 'What's the problem?' The moth says 'Doc, I'm troubled...'" For the next 3 minutes, Norm wove Russian literature, existential dread, and profound depression into a story about... a moth.
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