Norm Macdonald to perform at Centennial Hall

Arizona Daily Wildcat Comedian Norm Macdonald, well known for his work on "Saturday Night Live," will perform tonight at Centennial Hall. Macdonald's new film, "Dirty Work," opens in theaters May 15.

The glory of years past, featuring such luminaries as Chevy Chase, John Belushi, Jon Lovitz, Phil Hartman, Dana Carvey and others, is gone.

The sketches are rarely ever funny anymore. In fact, they can make you groan in disgust more often than not.

But every time the show has had a slump in its history, there's always been that one cast member who was still around that managed to save some face.

For a long time, that one guy was Norm Macdonald.

As the host of SNL's "Weekend Update" news segment, Norm was loved by fans for his deadpan delivery of such "news" items as "Paul McCartney now admits that Bob Dylan turned The Beatles on to marijuana. In a related story, Bob Dylan admits that George Harrison turned him on to looking old and haggard" and "The state of Michigan's Legislature has just passed a law allowing the blind to hunt deer. The biggest supporters of the new law? THE DEER."

NBC made a big mistake when it removed him from the segment.

Norm is one of today's few remaining genuinely funny guys, and although you can't see him on "Weekend Update" anymore, you now have the even better opportunity to see him live, not only in Tucson, but right here on campus.

Yes, Norm Macdonald will be performing at our very own Centennial Hall, in a special show presented by Rising Star Entertainment, tonight at 8:30.

Born in Quebec, Macdonald started his career as a comedian eleven years ago, doing stand-up in clubs around Canada, before moving to L.A., where he worked as a writer on "Roseanne," then moved on to SNL.

Norm's standup style is very similar to his news anchor attitude, which, if you haven't caught it before, is a straight-man delivery of satirical humor, skewering everything from politics to the media, tongue always planted firmly in cheek.

Macdonald is also well known for his wide variety of impersonations, most notably those of Bob Dole and David Letterman. In a recent TV appearance on "Larry King Live," Macdonald dressed up as King himself and interviewed the real host in a bit reminiscent of his appearance on SNL alongside the real Bob Dole.

Aside from SNL, Macdonald has co-starred in "Billy Madison" with former late-night colleague Adam Sandler, and appeared in "The People vs. Larry Flynt."

Macdonald's first starring role, in the film "Dirty Work," will be unleashed on the world just a few weeks from now, on May 15. In "Dirty Work," Norm plays a man who specializes in helping folks get revenge on the people who have slighted them.

Also in the works is "Ballbusted," in which Macdonald plays a chauffeur who becomes involved in a kidnapping -Êof a dog.

There are also rumors, which the comedian has so far refused to confirm, that Norm will be a regular on Howard Stern's upcoming late night TV show, which will be going up against "Saturday Night Live." The show already looks set to give the long-running SNL a bit of a beating in the ratings, so if Norm is involved it will certainly serve them right.

Norm Macdonald performs this evening at Centennial Hall. Doors for the show open at 8:00 p.m.; showtime is 8:30 p.m.

Local comedian The Genesis will provide an opening act before Norm hits the stage.

Tickets for the show are $10 for students with ID, $12 for the general public, and are available now from the Centennial Hall Box Office and all Dillard's ticket outlets.

For more information, call Rising Star Entertainment at 621-5779.