Judd Apatow's making a Norm Macdonald documentary, needs the internet's help

Apatow has asked the internet to send him their pictures, videos and stories of the late, great Norm Macdonald.

Judd Apatow's making a Norm Macdonald documentary, needs the internet's help
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When Norm Macdonald died in 2021, the world lost one of its comedy greats: A guy who could make news observations, talk show chit-chat, and even advertisements for the hated ManGrate into the most witheringly hilarious comedy salvos imaginable. Now, Macdonald’s legacy is set to get some love, as Judd Apatow has announced that he’s adding Macdonald to the pantheon of comedians he’s immortalized via documentary tribute—and he wants the public’s help to do it.

Apatow made his call for assistance on Instagram, revealing that he’s working on a documentary about Macdonald for Netflix. (Presumably of a piece with projects the director and producer previously created centered on Garry Shandling, George Carlin, and the friendship between Bob Newhart and Don Rickles.) Apatow is apparently looking to crowdsource at least some of the research for the project, asking the public to send him photos or videos they might have of Macdonald—but also just any interesting videos or interviews of the comedian that producers might not have seen. (We’re guessing they’re already familiar with “Box office poison!”, i.e., the meanest/funniest thing a human being has ever said in the context of a late-night softball interview, but hey, who knows?)

Apatow’s production slate has been leaning further over to the documentary side of things in recent years: His last narrative feature was 2022’s The Bubble, and before that the 2020 Pete Davidson vehicle The King Of Staten Island. Meanwhile, per a 2024 Variety article, he’s also currently working on a two-part HBO documentary about the life and time of Mel Brooks, suggesting that there are probably enough comedy legends still untapped to keep him busy in the non-fiction realm for the foreseeable future.

 
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