Sports Show with Norm Macdonald
Encyclopedia
Sports Show with Norm MacDonald was a sports comedy series which aired on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. ET
on Comedy Central
from April 12, 2011 to June 7, 2011. The show lampoons the world of sports using Web videos and field segments. The show is hosted by comedian and former Saturday Night Live
"Weekend Update
" anchor Norm MacDonald
. As host of Sports Show, MacDonald is a "gleeful, equal-opportunity offender who is back in his element making snarky asides at the absurd excesses of the sports biz," according to TVGuide's Matt Roush.
Comedy Central
, and on April 13, 2011, on the Canadian
cable television
channel The Comedy Network
. Comedy Central ordered nine episodes of the show, all taped on Monday nights in front of a live studio audience; however, MacDonald "wanted to (broadcast
) live." In June 2011, it was announced that Comedy Central would not be renewing the show for a second season, reportedly due to relatively low ratings, even though Sports Show steadily averaged one million viewers per episode.
news anchor, but now covering topical and controversial sports-related stories with his signature smirk and absurdist dry spin, according to Washington Times Craig Sanger. The show's segments consist of topical sports humor, wacky field segments, and long form comedic rants.
players DeAndre Jordan
and Blake Griffin
were featured in a sketch called "Blake Like Me." The sketch also featured MacDonald, who hired a makeup artist to disguise him as Blake Griffin so he could go undercover in the NBA. MacDonald's undercover-Griffin (actually, Blake Griffin played this undercover-Griffin role) then joins his teammate Jordan on the practice court, and MacDonald's voice is dubbed-in
for the undercover-Griffin. Jordan can't understand why his teammate is playing so poorly (i.e. airballs, awkward moments and even a sky-hook), until the real Blake Griffin enters the practice court and the undercover-Griffin runs away when confronted.
Eastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
from April 12, 2011 to June 7, 2011. The show lampoons the world of sports using Web videos and field segments. The show is hosted by comedian and former Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
"Weekend Update
Weekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
" anchor Norm MacDonald
Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene "Norm" Macdonald is a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer and actor. He is best known for his five seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which included anchoring Weekend Update for three years...
. As host of Sports Show, MacDonald is a "gleeful, equal-opportunity offender who is back in his element making snarky asides at the absurd excesses of the sports biz," according to TVGuide's Matt Roush.
History
The show premiered on April 12, 2011, on the American cable networkCable network
A cable channel is a television channel available via cable television. Such channels are usually also available via satellite television, including direct broadcast satellite providers such as DirecTV, Dish Network and BSkyB...
Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
, and on April 13, 2011, on the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
channel The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network
The Comedy Network a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media specializing in comedy programming.The channel operates two time shifted feeds, East and West ....
. Comedy Central ordered nine episodes of the show, all taped on Monday nights in front of a live studio audience; however, MacDonald "wanted to (broadcast
Broadcast
Broadcast or Broadcasting may refer to:* Broadcasting, the transmission of audio and video signals* Broadcast, an individual television program or radio program* Broadcast , an English electronic music band...
) live." In June 2011, it was announced that Comedy Central would not be renewing the show for a second season, reportedly due to relatively low ratings, even though Sports Show steadily averaged one million viewers per episode.
Episode format
Episodes of the Sports Show feature MacDonald in a role reminiscent of his time as SNL's Weekend UpdateWeekend Update
Weekend Update is a Saturday Night Live sketch that comments on and parodies current events. It is the show's longest running recurring sketch, having been on since the show's first broadcast, and is typically presented in the middle of the show immediately after the first musical performance...
news anchor, but now covering topical and controversial sports-related stories with his signature smirk and absurdist dry spin, according to Washington Times Craig Sanger. The show's segments consist of topical sports humor, wacky field segments, and long form comedic rants.
Weekly recurring segments
- Headlines: Features the familiar feel of MacDonald spouting off quick, topical one-liners behind a news desk in front of a video monitor, riffing on current sports events.
- Wide World of Sports Show: MacDonald riffs on sports related video clips from across the world.
- Wait, what?: Features an outrageous sports related clip of the week, with MacDonald stopping the clip at particularly outrageous spots by exclaiming "Wait, what?" MacDonald features a video-clip of lawyer Gloria Allred'sGloria AllredGloria Rachel Allred is an American lawyer noted for taking high-profile and often controversial cases, particulary those involving the protection of women's rights.-Early life:...
press conference discussing an incident with Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
Pitching Coach Roger McDowellRoger McDowellRoger Alan McDowell is the pitching coach of the Atlanta Braves and was a right-handed relief pitcher for twelve seasons in Major League Baseball from 1985 to 1996. He played for the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League and the Texas Rangers and...
. Ms. Allred alleged McDowell simulated gay sex using a baseball bat and his hand in front of her client and his two 9-year-old girls. She demanded that McDowell apologize for traumatizing the young girls; however, Ms. Allred then grabbed a baseball bat and, with the aid of the hand of the young girls' father, proceeded to reenact the simulated gay sex in front of the young girls, over and over again. MacDonald is baffled and interrupts this video clip in horror many times by exclaiming, "Wait, what?" - What the H: Features a free-form rant focusing on and reacting to one particular topic from recent sports news, ending with MacDonald proclaiming "What the H!" For example, during the May 17, 2011 episode, MacDonald discusses Michael Jordan'sMichael JordanMichael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
new Hitler-like mustache in his recent Hanes' commercial. MacDonald rants that the commercial's director, upon seeing Jordan's new mustache, must have exclaimed, "'Good lord! His upper lip is sporting the most universally recognized symbol of evil ever known to man!' What the H!" - Garbage Time: The last large segment of the show, where MacDonald starts a count-down clock and proceeds to do a "lightning round" of non sequitur jokes, random thoughts and trash talk.
Recurring (but infrequent) segments
- Breaking News from the Future: While discussing a current sports topic, MacDonald is interrupted by his future self (dressed in a futuristic metallic outfit) reporting on future developments of the current topic. For example, during the May 17, 2011 episode, MacDonald was reporting on the LA Lakers losing the NBA playoffsNBA PlayoffsThe National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
to the Mavericks. While reporting on Maverick's coach Rick Carlisle'sRick CarlisleRichard Preston Carlisle is the head coach of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons, and was previously a player in the NBA. He is also one of the only 11 people to win an NBA championship both as a player and as a coach.-Playing career:Carlisle...
comments, about Phil Jackson'sPhil JacksonPhilip Douglas "Phil" Jackson is a retired American professional basketball coach and player. Jackson is widely considered one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association . His reputation was established as head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 through 1998;...
retirement, that "Phil Jackson will get tired of smoking PeyotePeyoteLophophora williamsii , better known by its common name Peyote , is a small, spineless cactus with psychoactive alkaloids, particularly mescaline.It is native to southwestern Texas and Mexico...
and return to coaching," MacDonald is suddenly interrupted by "Breaking News from the Future." The future MacDonald then reports that, "Phil Jackson has not gotten tired of smoking Peyote and has not returned to coaching." - Nephew Kyle: MacDonald's "nephew" (played by actor Kyle Mooney) reports badly from the field.
- Oh, Google!: MacDonald points out Google'sGoogleGoogle Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
"did you mean" suggestions for various sports searches, then ends the segment by exclaiming, "Oh, Google!" For example, during the May 17, 2011 episode, MacDonald did a Google search for "WNBA statistics" and Google returned with "did you mean: NBA statistics." However, the next day, Google corrected this and no longer returns with the suggestion "did you mean: NBA" when doing "WNBA" searches. - Which fan had the better night?: Two clips are shown of two fans at sporting events, then MacDonald asks, "Which fan had the better night?" It is obvious which fan he is going to pick as having had the better night.
- You just got Pau'd!: Norm walks around Los Angeles with Pau GasolPau GasolPau Gasol Sáez is a Spanish professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . He was born to Marisa Sáez and Agustí Gasol, and he spent his childhood in Spain...
impersonator Michael Fanter, asking random individuals if they know who he is. If they reply, "Pau Gasol", Norm says, "Really, then you just got Pau'd! This is...wait, what was your name again? Michael Fanter." - Quick sign-off with thanks to troops: May 3, 2011 episode, MacDonald signed-off with a special shout out to Stephanie Truax of the US Military (with photo) and her Medivac Company, as well as a general "Thank you!" to all the troops serving in Afghanistan.
Blake Like Me sketch
During the premiere episode, Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
players DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan
Hyland DeAndre Jordan, Jr. is an American professional basketball player at center for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. He played a year of college basketball at Texas A&M University...
and Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin
Blake Austin Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association . Griffin had a renowned high school career at Oklahoma Christian School, winning state titles each of his four years under his father, Tommy Griffin, who was the...
were featured in a sketch called "Blake Like Me." The sketch also featured MacDonald, who hired a makeup artist to disguise him as Blake Griffin so he could go undercover in the NBA. MacDonald's undercover-Griffin (actually, Blake Griffin played this undercover-Griffin role) then joins his teammate Jordan on the practice court, and MacDonald's voice is dubbed-in
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
for the undercover-Griffin. Jordan can't understand why his teammate is playing so poorly (i.e. airballs, awkward moments and even a sky-hook), until the real Blake Griffin enters the practice court and the undercover-Griffin runs away when confronted.
Running gags
MacDonald sometimes uses running gags during the show.- Medical Correspondent Burgess Meredith: After discussing a sports topic involving a leg injury, Macdonald says, "We now go to Medical Correspondent Burgess MeredithBurgess MeredithOliver Burgess Meredith , known professionally as Burgess Meredith, was an American actor in theatre, film, and television, who also worked as a director...
," then turns to an image of the late Burgess Meredith and asks him for a diagnosis. The image is a short clip of Meredith, from the movie RockyRockyRocky is a 1976 American sports drama film directed by John G. Avildsen and both written by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It tells the rags to riches American Dream story of Rocky Balboa, an uneducated but kind-hearted debt collector for a loan shark in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
, sternly admonishing Rocky not to have sex because "women weaken legs." For example, during the May 17, 2011 episode, MacDonald asks Meredith what could be causing pain in Tiger Woods'Tiger WoodsEldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Formerly the World No...
left leg. Meredith's diagnosis: "Women weaken legs." - Sad Bill Cosby: After discussing a sports topic, MacDonald says, "We now go to Legal Correspondent Sad Bill Cosby," then turns to an image of Bill CosbyBill CosbyWilliam Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
and asks him yes-or-no questions. The image is a short clip of Cosby shaking his head "no" with a disgruntled look on his face during a previous appearance on Larry King LiveLarry King LiveLarry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
. - Sad Jack Nicholson: After discussing a sports topic, MacDonald says, "We now go to NBA Correspondent Sad Jack Nicholson," then turns to an image of Jack NicholsonJack NicholsonJohn Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
and asks him yes-or-no questions. The image is a short clip of Nicholson shaking his head "no" with a disgruntled look on his face.
Ratings
- The 4-12-2011 premiere of Sports Show with Norm MacDonald drew 1.011 million viewers, 0.6/2 adults 18-49.
- The 5-3-2011 episode (4th episode) drew 0.980 million viewers, 0.5/1 adults 18-49, 0.7/1 HH, 1.0/3 M18-34.
- The 5-24-2011 episode (7th episode) drew 1.007 million viewers, 0.5/1 adults 18-49, 0.7/1 HH.
- The 6-7-2011 episode (9th episode) drew 0.944 million viewers, 0.5/1 adults 18-49, 0.7/1 HH, 1.0/3 M18-34
External links
- Sports Show With Norm MacDonald official website
- Sports Show with Norm MacDonald Comedy Central's video clip archive of Season One