Norm MacDonald at Zanies
by Julie Seabaugh
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His slightly nasal, endlessly sarcastic skewering of all things social, political and pop-cultural as the anchor behind Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" desk was all well and good (though far more significantly, it was deliciously divisive). His numerous appearances in Adam Sandler flicks are often unequivocal high points, but in terms of down-and-demented worldviews, nothing beats MacDonald's critical and commercial bomb of a revenge-comedy, Dirty Work. Co-starring Artie Lange, directed by Bob Saget and genius in its disregard for convention, it parallels dominant themes underlying MacDonald's stand-up: Nothing is above ridicule, substance ultimately trumps style and above all, laughter is a strikingly serious pursuit. From Work it was on to sitcoms and Comedy Central, but MacDonald has kept a devilish glint in his eye and metaphoric cattle prod in his grasp throughout. Few can do both biting and beleaguered as well; fewer still can make a lasting career of it.
Tue., Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., 2008
Tue., Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Wed., Nov. 12, 7:30 p.m., 2008
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