Norm Macdonald was removed from anchoring “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live in late 1997 after clashing with NBC executives, especially West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer, who said Norm was “not funny” and pushed for his firing. Over time, Norm himself suggested it was a mix of his unbending comedic style, his refusal to take “marching orders,” and controversial O.J. Simpson jokes that made him a problem for the network.

Quick Scoop: What Happened

  • NBC’s West Coast executive Don Ohlmeyer insisted Norm be taken off “Weekend Update,” officially claiming Norm just wasn’t funny enough for the segment.
  • Norm’s relentless O.J. Simpson jokes, which targeted a close friend of Ohlmeyer, were widely believed to be the underlying reason, even if that was never admitted as the formal cause.
  • Norm later said he thought he was really removed for being “insubordinate,” doing jokes he knew might not get big laughs and not adapting his style to network pressures.

O.J. Simpson Jokes And Network Pressure

Many viewers at the time assumed the O.J. material got him canned, because Norm kept hitting Simpson with brutal punchlines long after the trial ended.

  • Ohlmeyer, who was friendly with Simpson, reportedly raised concerns about these jokes, putting backstage pressure on Norm and the writers.
  • The theory that “he was fired for O.J. jokes” became so common that SNL itself later referenced it in a satirical cartoon segment.

“Not Funny” vs. Insubordinate

Officially, Ohlmeyer framed the move as a creative decision, saying Norm was not funny enough and that the segment needed a change.

  • Norm, however, described himself as someone who did jokes he liked, even if they got smaller reactions, and believed the show got tired of him ignoring direction.
  • He characterized the real issue as him not trying to please everyone, which made executives question why they should keep a host who wouldn’t follow their line.

Loyalty And Behind-The-Scenes Stories

Later accounts from comedy commentators and insiders add another layer: Norm’s loyalty to head writer Jim Downey.

  • Some retrospectives claim Norm refused to throw Downey under the bus when NBC talked about firing him over harsh jokes, including the O.J. material.
  • In this telling, Norm’s decision to stand by Downey and not soften the Update style helped seal his fate at the desk.

Aftermath And How Norm Framed It

When Norm came back to host SNL in 1999, he openly joked in his monologue about being fired and mocked the idea that he suddenly became funny enough to host after being told he wasn’t funny enough to stay.

  • He often repeated the “they said I wasn’t funny” line on talk shows, leaning into the absurdity instead of giving a neat, sanitized explanation.
  • Over the years, fans and writers have treated his firing as one of the most controversial and talked‑about moments in SNL history, partly because it highlighted the tension between a comedian’s integrity and network politics.

TL;DR: Norm Macdonald was officially fired from SNL’s Weekend Update because an NBC executive said he “wasn’t funny,” but ongoing O.J. Simpson jokes, clashes with network brass, and his refusal to compromise or abandon writer Jim Downey all contributed to the decision.

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