Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir

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Letterman, David (March 6, 1998). Late Night with David Letterman (TV series). New York: CBS . Retrieved February 23, 2007. Based on a True Story is honest about its various dishonesties. . . . [Macdonald] also flexes his trademark ambling, shaggy-dog storytelling, teasing a crowd-pleasing joke about answering machines that he never actually tells and transcribing his marathon ‘moth joke’ in its lengthy entirety.” — The Globe and Mail

Based on a True Story by Norm Macdonald: 9780812983869

The premise is intriguing: Norm will tell stories about his life, but make stuff up along the way (hench the title of the book). OK - and the book gets off to a nice start with (supposed) childhood tales. But two things in the book undermine it - and both get stronger and more pronounced as the story goes on. First, Norm keeps including his life "tales" with a fictional get-rich-or-die-trying effort at Las Vegas. This tale is rarely interesting - and takes up damn near half of the book. Second, he includes little bits from his (Hassenger, Jesse (May 10, 2017). "Norm Macdonald owns his deadpan minimalism in new Netflix special". The A.V. Club . Retrieved June 28, 2017. Earlier this week, Marlon Brando met with Jewish leaders to apologize for comments he made on Larry King Live, among them that “Hollywood is run by Jews.” The Jewish leaders accepted the actor’s apology and announced that Brando is now free to work again.” Speaking about Canada's homegrown comedy industry, Macdonald reflected that he would have liked there to have been more opportunity for him to stay in the country early in his career, stating: Norm Macdonald makes me laugh my ass off. Who is funnier than Norm Macdonald? Nobody." --Judd Apatow

Based on a True Story - Norm MacDonald - Paperback Based on a True Story - Norm MacDonald - Paperback

SNL veteran Norm Macdonald was revered as a master of stand-up comedy". The Globe and Mail. September 17, 2021 . Retrieved May 18, 2023. Rose, Lacey (May 16, 2012). "Upfronts 2012: TBS Unveils Development Slate With Conan O'Brien Comedies, Norm Macdonald Talk Show". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved August 28, 2020. Norm Macdonald makes me laugh my ass off. Who is funnier than Norm Macdonald? Nobody.” —Judd Apatow While the majority of the memoir is totally off-base, its core is still tied to some of Norm’s real life history. His time on Saturday Night Live is discussed with his arrival at the show depicting Lorne Michaels as an unhinged drug addict whom Norm bribes with government-grade morphine to secure his spot. His obsession with fellow cast member Sarah Silverman was a definite high point of the book - it had me laughing hysterically as he cluelessly pursued her, leading him to plot to assassinate her then-boyfriend Dave Attell. His move to the Update Desk is mentioned where he spent 3 years reading “the fake news” - he even includes a chapter of the Top 25 Update Jokes of All-Time (#1 belongs to Chevy Chase, 2-25 are all Norm’s, of course)! Disorienting, funny, sometimes stupid, and often wildly beautiful . . . Macdonald is a pretty extraordinary wordsmith, capable of working in an impressive range of styles and genres.” — The Week

When it comes to reading books about SNL folks (or comedians in general, for that matter) I expect there to be a lot of funny ha-ha. While there was a blip about how a certain someone came to fruition . . . I have not read the first two. I have read Based on a True Story, and I believe it to be largely bullshit, but it is very, very, very funny! Thanks, Norm, for letting me be part of this Booker Prize-for-literature-quality effort." --David Letterman