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Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special

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Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special
Poster featuring Norm Macdonald in a blue shirt and yellow hat, with the quality and text mimicking a film strip. Text below Macdonald reads, in all capitals, "Norm Macdonald Nothing Special"
Promotional release poster
Directed by
Written byNorm Macdonald
StarringNorm Macdonald
Cinematography
  • Jordan Levy
  • Dylan Sanford
Edited by
  • Clark Burnett
  • Lane Farnham
Distributed byNetflix
Release date
  • May 30, 2022 (2022-05-30)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States

Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special is a stand-up comedy special featuring Norm Macdonald, consisting of 50 minutes of previously unreleased material recorded by Macdonald in June 2020, and a half-hour roundtable discussion featuring his friends and colleagues reflecting on his life and career.[1] It was released on Netflix on May 30, 2022, eight months after Macdonald's death from acute leukemia.

The special earned three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, and Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special, marking Macdonald's first Primetime Emmy nominations.

Cast

Production

Macdonald had planned to tape the material with a live audience at a venue in Los Angeles, but owing to his health challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic, he elected to record the material alone in the apartment of his producing partner Lori Jo Hoekstra to ensure it would be available to view.[2] Hoekstra commented: "While this version of Nothing Special was not originally meant to be the final product, COVID restrictions prevented him from filming in front of an audience. We want to make sure his fans see this very funny hour. He left this gift for all of us."[3] Macdonald recorded the material on June 28, 2020, not long after his multiple myeloma had returned from remission and metastasized into myelodysplastic syndrome.[2]

The concluding roundtable discussion, which features several of Macdonald's friends and collaborators commenting on the special and Macdonald's life, was taped during the May 2022 "Netflix Is a Joke" festival.[1]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 9.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Norm Macdonald's parting standup set is as dry and unconventionally hilarious as fans could have hoped, and the specter of the comedian's encroaching mortality gives his characteristically unsentimental sendoff a powerful emotional undertow."[4] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 78 out of 100, based on 6 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[5]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2022
 Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Comedy or Standup Special Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special Won [6]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) Norm Macdonald, Lori Jo Hoekstra, Marc Gurvitz, John Irwin, and Casey Spira Nominated [7]
Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special Norm Macdonald and Jeff Tomsic Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special Norm Macdonald Nominated [8]
2023
 Critics' Choice Awards Best Comedy Special Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special Won [9]

References

  1. ^ a b Lowry, Brian (30 May 2022). "Norm Macdonald says goodbye in a Netflix special, with a little help from his friends". CNN. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Edgers, Geoff. "Norm Macdonald had one last secret". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  3. ^ Wilstein, Matt (30 May 2022). "Norm Macdonald Faces Death as Only He Can in Posthumous Netflix Special". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  4. ^ "Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  5. ^ "Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc.
  6. ^ Schneider, Michael (July 7, 2022). "'Severance,' 'Ted Lasso' Lead Streaming Nominees for 2nd Annual HCA TV Awards". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  7. ^ "2022 Creative Arts Emmys: See full winners list". Entertainment Weekly. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Snierson, Dan (September 12, 2022). "See the full list of 2022 Emmy winners". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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