| Jim Norton | |
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| Jim Norton, 2007 | |
| Born | July 19, 1968 Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, radio, television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Genres | Cringe humor, black comedy, satire, observational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Human sexuality, self-deprecation |
| Influences | Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Sam Kinison, Woody Allen, Don Rickles, Samuel Beckett |
| Notable works and roles | Opie and Anthony Lucky Louie Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn Red Eye The Jay Leno Show |
James Joseph Norton (born July 19, 1968), better known as Jim Norton, is an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, author, and actor. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show, which airs on Sirius XM Radio. Norton has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno six times and on the Late Show with David Letterman, filmed an HBO stand-up special for the series One Night Stand as well as his special "Monster Rain", co-starred in the short-lived HBO sitcom Lucky Louie and had cameos in the films Spider-Man and Zack and Miri Make a Porno.
Norton hosted a four episode stand-up showcase for HBO titled Down and Dirty with Jim Norton and appeared on The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget. He was also featured in Jerry Seinfeld's 2002 documentary Comedian.[1] Jim was also a regular correspondent on The Jay Leno Show.
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At age 12, Norton decided he wanted to be a comedian after seeing Richard Pryor's special Richard Pryor: Live in Concert.[citation needed] Norton became a comedian in the early 1990s, when comic Jim Florentine helped Norton receive his first paying stand-up gig.
Norton became a regular guest on The Opie and Anthony Show on WNEW in late 1999 after several guest appearances by himself and along with Andrew Dice Clay. In 2000, he was arrested with Lewis Black, show producer Rick Delgado, and a busload of naked teen women in connection with a stunt performed on the show involving the transparent "Voyeur Bus", which drove through Manhattan streets displaying the naked teens.
In 2002, Norton began appearing on the show three days a week (Tuesdays through Thursdays). Before Norton could become an official member of the radio show, it was canceled by Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio) due to the St. Patrick's Cathedral "Sex for Sam 3" incident on August 15, 2002. Norton has co-hosted The Opie and Anthony Show since it reemerged on XM Radio in October 2004. He is famous for such bits as "Frrrrrrunkis," "Uncle Paul," "Ted Sheckler", "Chip", "Boardroom Jimmy" (a jargon-spouting stereotypical executive along the lines of Jim Cramer from Mad Money), "Jimcy" (parodying the title character of 70's TV show Quincy, M.E. played by Jack Klugman), and calling in and screaming "Ramone," as Steve from Yellowstone, when the show hosts irritating guests.[citation needed]. Two of his characters, Uncle Paul and Ted Sheckler received homage in the TV series Lost, when each name appeared on the ceiling listing potential substitutes for Jacob. This inside joke was framed by assigning the two characters the numbers 202 and 197 respectively. These numbers correspond to the XM and Sirius channels upon which The Opie and Anthony show appears.
For two years, Norton was a regular on Comedy Central's Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn, which aired four nights per week. He was selected to be among the final twenty contestants for the second season of Last Comic Standing, but had to back out due to contractual obligations.
Norton has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno five times, The Late Show with David Letterman twice, and Jimmy Kimmel Live once.
His first half-hour HBO stand-up special aired on October 21, 2005, as part of the HBO Stand-up Series One Night Stand. In the spring of 2007, Norton filmed his second HBO stand-up special which aired live on October 13, 2007.
In 2006, Norton landed the role of Rich on the HBO series Lucky Louie. Rich is a foul-mouthed, perverted, "ill-informed", straight shooting character who lives with his mother and deals pot to high schoolers for a living, departing from the traditionally tamer sitcom model of a supporting character. Lucky Louie ran for one season before HBO opted not to renew the series.
In June 2008, Norton taped several episodes of The Gong Show with Dave Attell as one of the celebrity judges.
Since mid-2007, Norton has been a regular guest on Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld on the Fox News Channel.
Norton appeared regularly as a correspondent for The Jay Leno Show.[2]
Norton frequently tours the country, performing at the most well-known comedy clubs. In 2004, Norton was voted best comedian and breakthrough performer of the year on the Cringe Humor website, which is dedicated to some prominent New York comedians. Norton frequently performs at Caroline's and the Comedy Cellar, and sometimes performed at the weekly alternative standup "Eating It" show at the Luna Lounge before it closed in 2005. He is friends with several other comedians, including Rich Vos, Reverend Bob Levy, Jim Florentine, Otto Petersen (of the R-rated ventriloquist act Otto & George), Bill Burr, Colin Quinn, Louis C.K., Robert Kelly, Patrice Oneal, Keith Robinson and Artie Lange. Norton was the Best Man at Rich Vos's 2005 wedding to Bonnie McFarlane. Dom Irrera has described Norton as one of today's best comedians.
In June 2006, Norton helped arrange Opie and Anthony's Traveling Virus Comedy Tour. During August and September of that year, Norton was the headline comedian for some dates of Traveling Virus comedy tour.[3] He returned to the 2007 tour as well.[4]
Norton performed at Bonnaroo in 2008.
In February 2007, it was learned on The Opie and Anthony Show that Norton was close to finishing a book believed to be an autobiographical collection of stories and anecdotes from his childhood and his comedy career. Norton has said on-air that he selected the title, Sorry, the Pages are Stuck Together, from a "Name Jimmy's Book" thread on a popular Opie and Anthony message board. However, the final title of the book ended up as "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" due to publishing conflicts. The book was released on July 10, 2007.[5] It reached #4 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction.[6] The book entered the Amazon.com Top 10 for books on the day it was released, peaking at #7. Norton has admitted in the book his love of literature, most notability his admiration of the Irish author, poet and playwright Samuel Beckett. Beckett’s minimalist, bleak and existential viewpoint immediately appealed to Norton's wry and often scathing sense of humor. An ex-girlfriend introduced him to Beckett’s work while in his late twenties. In an excerpt from his book Norton writes, “(she) would often quote passages from Molloy and Endgame while squatting over my chest…one night, during the awkwardness caused by the delay of her laxative taking effect, she looked down at me and asked, ‘Are you Waiting for Godot or Krapp's Last Tape you dirty boy!’ We both cracked up like silly geese and I knew I was in love.”
Norton's second book I Hate Your Guts came out on November 4, 2008. It reached #13 on the New York Times Bestseller list for hardcover nonfiction.[7]
Norton had a one line cameo in the film Spider-Man. His cameo occurs midway in the film when various New Yorkers are being interviewed for their opinions of Spider-Man. As a surly truck driver character, Norton replies "He stinks and I don't like him".
Norton also appears in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno, directed by frequent Opie and Anthony guest Kevin Smith.[citation needed]
In 2010, Norton appeared in the films Furry Vengeance and Kevin Smith's Cop Out.
Norton's first CD was released in 2003 entitled Yellow Discipline. His second CD, Trinkets I Own Made from Gorilla Hands, was released in April 2005.
In 2007, Norton released his first book, entitled Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch.[8]
Norton appears on the internet video series The Good Side of Bad News on the Super Deluxe website with his good friend, comedian Jim Florentine.
Norton is an avid autograph and celebrity photo collector. In June 2006, he commented on the CBS radio show of his disdain for the New York Yankees after Derek Jeter's Turn 2 10th Anniversary Charity Event. He was upset that Jeter repeatedly avoided autographing a photograph for which Norton posed with the Yankee shortstop, and even more annoyed when he saw Jeter eagerly pose for a woman's photo. Norton also criticized Ron Guidry and Jim Leyritz, who did not show enthusiasm for his requests for a photo. Norton apparently felt snubbed by the star attendees, except Joe Torre and Jason Giambi, and declared to be a Yankee fan no longer. To date, Norton has not decided on a team to support. (Of note, XM Satellite Radio made a $20,000 donation for their table at the event.)[citation needed]
Norton also criticized Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) for blowing off his request for an autograph, leading to an on-air tirade by Norton. He publicly disavowed his fandom of Gene Simmons, who eventually visited the radio show where Norton confronted him on the subject. Simmons then gladly took a photo with him, explaining that he was preoccupied at the event, not realizing Norton was there. Norton's good faith seemed to be restored after this encounter. Norton is also an avid fan of heavy metal music, citing Black Sabbath and frontman Ozzy Osbourne as his favorite bands, vowing to defend them "to the death."
On October 9, 2008, it was reported that Norton was being sued by Roy Hollander over his treatment during a phone interview on the Opie & Anthony Show.[9] On August 28, 2009, the New York Post reported that Hollander would drop his suit if Norton would also drop his motion to have Hollander sanctioned for filing a baseless claim, as well as being forced to pay Norton's legal fees.[10]
Actor
Writer
Self
   | Opie and Anthony - Opie and Anthony.com - On XM Satellite Radio and FM Radio affiliates - Mornings 6 to 11 - Replays all Day Long! |
| | Lucky Louie - Jim's HBO show - HBO: Lucky Louie |
| | Traveling Virus Tour - Foundrymusic.com Headlines: THE OPIE AND ANTHONY TRAVELING VIRUS - 2006 COMEDY FESTIVAL |
| | "Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch" - Amazon.com: Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilc: Jim Norton, Colin Quinn: Books |
| | XM Satellite Radio - XM Satellite Radio - Everything worth listening to is now on XM |
| | Jim Norton's Official MySpace Page - Jim Norton - Call Jim (917) 267-2602 on MySpace Comedy - Comic Clips, Funny Videos & Jokes |
| | FuckJimmy.com - PLAY WITH MY NIPPLES AND EAT MY ASS, LOVE |
| | Cringe Humor - Cringe Humor Comedy New York Booking, radio, tv, live shows |
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