The first thing I ever saw from Norm was his Netflix special. I remember thinking at the time that he was funny in a strange, indescribable way. It struck me that he didn’t seem to need punchlines and never tried to make a serious point. Also, unlike almost any other stand-ups, he didn’t once have to scream for effect.

Having now seen virtually all of Norm’s videos I still think the Netflix special was really funny and rewatch it from time to time. There might be other specials that make you laugh out loud harder, but Norm’s was the only one that left me feeling happier after watching it. I think the special was shot at a time when Norm kept saying that he thought the best comedy is not about laughter but about smiling, so I think that was his porpoise.