My Friend Norm

By: Fred Stoller

Narrated by: Fred Stoller

My Seinfeld Year, and Five Minutes to Kill author Fred Stoller returns describing his complicated friendship with the comedy legend, Norm Macdonald.

When comic actor, Fred Stoller appeared on Norm Macdonald’s video podcast, Norm MacDonald Live, many commented that Norm seemed to care about Fred, and had quite a fondness for him. And some noted Norm seemed like he was being a bully. Both those assessments may have been correct at different times. That’s what made their friendship so complicated. Fred first met Norm in 1989, when Norm staggered off the plane from Canada, entering the famous Hollywood Improv for the first time, so intimidated to be there he could hardly speak.

The two became friends, though when Norm hit it big after landing the Weekend Anchor role on Saturday Night Live, their dynamic changed; Norm was never short on words, often needling Fred about his vulnerabilities to bust his chops. Their friendship was erratic with after spending days on end hanging out, playing tennis, and trivia, Norm sometimes took off for months, sometimes years at a time, and then out of nowhere, he'd resume their friendship.

In My Friend Norm, actor/comedian Fred Stoller—the Kindle bestselling author of 2012’s My Seinfeld Year—tells the story of after Fred hit the wall in both his career, and with his mental health, and not seeing Norm for years, reuniting to be his opening act for a year.

©2025 Fred Stoller (P)2025 Fred Stoller

Norm forever

Love it. Only wish it was 8 hours longer. Made me happy to think about Norm and Fred does a great job of putting me right there with them as they do some shows in Vegas. Norm is funny, Norm is the best. Always looking for any glimpse into the world of Norm. FRED WE LOVE YOU TOO

Heartfelt tribute to a dear friend

Great tales of a beloved actor’s friendship with the great Norm Macdonald. Definitely worth a listen if you are a Norm fan!

Great Behind-the-Scenes Glimpse into a Brilliant Comic Mind

I've been a huge fan of Fred Stoller since his early days of stand-up in New York City, his breakout on HBO's Young Comedians Special, and through his sitcom hilarity on "Everybody Loves Raymond" and more. His podcast, where he interviewed character actors we all recognize but can't quite place, was brilliant. He's written several insightful books about the behind-the-scenes world of comedy that I find fascinating.

In this work, Stoller takes on the difficult task of discussing his friend and comedy legend Norm Macdonald, who was undeniably a complex individual. I think he knocks it out of the park with his straightforward approach that doesn't pull any punches. He neither takes pot shots at Norm nor tries to glorify him, but presents him as the offbeat, sometimes cranky guy that he truly was.

If you're interested in Norm Macdonald or in comedy in general, this is definitely worth a listen... as are Fred's other books.

A Heartfelt, Humorous, Eulogy for a Complex Friendship

I didn’t expect to feel every possible emotion while listening to this, but I certainly did. Fred’s humor and heart are at the forefront, and he tells his story how only he could. Enjoyable, moving, and an excellent peak at the complexities of friendship on the fringes of Hollywood.

Awesome view into norm!

Awesome view into norm! Really enjoyed hearing an inside take. Wish it was longer. Do a sequel.