It's things like this that got Norm McDonald fired as the host of "Weekend Update."

[mahatmakanejeeves]

“Charles Woodson became the first ever defensive player to win the Heisman Trophy. Congratulations Charles, that is something no one can take away from you. Unless you kill your wife and a waiter.”

- Norm MacDonald

Link to tweet

[samnsara]

1. he was on back when i watched it live every saturday night..

..always enjoyed him.

[Aristus]

2. He shouldn't have been fired for that.

Comedy can help us make sense of senseless things, and help us to laugh again when it seems all we can do is cry.

Not to mention, comedy pokes holes in the pretentions of people who think their accomplishments indemnify them against repercussions for shitty behavior.

[empedocles]

4. That comment was much more permissable back then. Still think the OJ slams were more likely

to cause his downfall.

No SNL 'update' has come close since his time - imo. [Still appreciate the updates though].

[AZSkiffyGeek]

5. I thought he was fired for dropping an F-bomb live

He was relentless with the OJ jokes though.

[Generic Brad]

11. I think that was Charles Rocket

[AZSkiffyGeek]

12. Rocket definitely was...

McDonald dropped one and said something like, "Well, this will be my last night hosting weekend update" afterwards. Maybe he knew he was out the door and went out with a bang.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

8. As the story goes...

NBC's Don Ohlmeyer fired Norm for his brutal and relentless OJ jokes. Ohlmeyer was a good friend and golfing buddy of "The Juice."

[marble falls]

3. Brutal. But very funny.

[MyOwnPeace]

6. That line was used at an ESPY Awards show that he hosted.....

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Here's what happened: Norm Macdonald and his bitter feud with NBC

Norm Macdonald and his bitter feud with NBC

Things went sour when he was fired from anchoring 'Weekend Update'

The world of comedy is mourning the loss of Norm Macdonald, who died on Tuesday at 61 from a long battle with cancer, and what made him a television star was anchoring the "Weekend Update" desk on "Saturday Night Live," which ultimately resulted in a bitter departure from NBC.

Macdonald joined "SNL" in 1993 and took on the role of the comedic newsman the following year. But despite his popularity, it was alleged that he was abruptly pulled from "Weekend Update" in 1997 for his constant mockery of O.J. Simpson, a friend of top NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer, during the former NFL star's murder trial that resulted in an acquittal. He was replaced on "Weekend Update" by fellow cast member Colin Quinn.

During a 1998 interview with David Letterman, Macdonald said Ohlmeyer told him he "wasn't funny" as the reason why he was fired from "Weekend Update" despite having the support of his boss, "SNL" executive producer Lorne Michaels. ... "He doesn't think I'm funny in ‘Weekend Update.’ And God only knows… and, you know, it's just a matter of opinion. He also thinks that O.J. is innocent," Macdonald chuckled. ... "Exactly! Don't let this pinhead push you around, for heaven's sakes!" Letterman reacted. ... "No, he's not a pinhead. He's a, uh, he's a fat guy," Macdonald quipped.

After being openly discontent with being in run-of-the-mill "SNL" sketches, Macdonald parted ways with NBC in 1998. Things remained sour between the comedian and the Peacock network that Ohlmeyer blocked NBC from airing ads promoting his film "Dirty Work" for being so openly candid about the "SNL" drama. Macdonald referred to Ohlmeyer as a "liar and a thug" in an interview with New York Daily News.

But in a strange twist of events, the comedian was invited to host the show in October 1999, taking the bold opportunity to roast the network in his opening monologue.

{snip}

{snip}

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

9. That's the way I heard it.

[cemaphonic]

10. Imagine being fired for "not being funny", and replaced by Colin Quinn (nt)

[AZSkiffyGeek]

13. Colin Quinn was by far the worst of my lifetime nt