Macdonald hosted “Weekend Update” onSaturday Night Livefrom 1994-1998.
His tenure overlapped with the O.J.
Those jokes did not sit well with NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer, a close friend of Simpson.
Norm Macdonald in one of his many appearances on Conan O’Brien’s late-night talk shows.Norman Ng/NBCU Photo Bank
AfterSNLfired Macdonald, he credited Ohlmeyer as the culprit in subsequent interviews withDavid Lettermanand Howard Stern.
“The word came down: you’ve got the option to’t book Norm Macdonald anymore.
I wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for Don sticking with me.
I owe him that.
So I wrote a letter to Don that said, ‘I got this directive.
You’ve hired me to do the best show I can do, and this is my best guest.
So I need to do my job, which is the best show I can do.'”
“It is completely outrageous what he’s doing,” O’Brien said of the moth bit.
“It’sThe Tonight Showand he’s telling this very long story, taking all the time in the world.
I love it because even though I was there, I’m delighted every time I see it.
What he’s doing breaks every rule.
Brevity is the soul of wit!
But like Picasso, he blew up the form.”
NBC declined to comment.
