Norm Macdonald, born on October 17, 1959, in Quebec City, Canada, grew up in a family of educators, with both parents working as teachers. He was one of three brothers, both of whom would later become Canadian newscasters. Macdonald began his journey in comedy by performing stand-up at clubs in Canada, starting in Ottawa. His breakthrough came at the 1987 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, a testament to the strong stand-up scene in Canada, which Macdonald attributed to the limited presence of the broader entertainment industry in the country. In the early stages of his career, Macdonald was hired to write for the sitcom "Roseanne," thanks to Bruce Helford. However, despite his admiration for Roseanne Barr’s stand-up comedy, Macdonald found himself uninterested in sitcoms, famously admitting to Rolling Stone that he fell asleep while watching episodes to prepare for the role. A pivotal moment in Macdonald's career came shortly after the birth of his son in 1992, when he joined "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) as the anchor of the Weekend Update segment. This role suited his stand-up style, allowing him to deliver sharp and offbeat humor. Macdonald became known for his unconventional references during Weekend Update, earning praise from Chevy Chase, the original host of the segment, who claimed that Macdonald was the only one who had done it justice since. Despite his popularity among some fans, not everyone appreciated Macdonald’s humor. NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer was notably unimpressed and played a significant role in Macdonald’s sudden firing from SNL in 1998. It was widely speculated that Ohlmeyer’s decision was influenced by his friendship with O.J. Simpson, whom Macdonald frequently mocked during his updates. Following his controversial departure from SNL, Macdonald released the film "Dirty Work" in 1998. Unfortunately, the film struggled at the box office, partly due to NBC's refusal to accept advertising because of the ongoing feud with Ohlmeyer. However, Macdonald soon found a new opportunity at ABC, where Bruce Helford helped develop a sitcom centered around Macdonald himself. In 2005, Macdonald showcased his comedic talent with the Comedy Central special "Back to Norm," originally intended as a pilot for a series that never materialized. The following year, he released his comedy album "Ridiculous," comprised primarily of sketches featuring former SNL colleagues like Will Ferrell and Jon Lovitz. The album, produced over nine years, also included a hidden track of Macdonald's stand-up. Macdonald delighted audiences at the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget in 2008 by subverting traditional roast jokes, a performance celebrated by many comedy enthusiasts. In 2011, he released "Me Doing Stand-Up," which premiered as an hour-long special on Comedy Central, later available on CD and DVD in an uncut and uncensored version. Throughout his career, Norm Macdonald’s unique comedic voice and his ability to blend sharp wit with offbeat humor established him as a respected figure in the world of comedy, securing his place as one of the top stand-up comedians of all time according to Comedy Central.