Jim Norton (comedian)
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| Jim Norton | |
 Jim Norton from Lucky Louie |
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| Birth name | James Norton |
| Born | July 19, 1968 (age 38) Bayonne, New Jersey, USA  |
Jim Norton (born July 19, 1968) is a professional comedian hailing from New Jersey, and is heard on nationally syndicated radio program The Opie and Anthony Show. He appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno four times, co-starred in the short-lived HBO series Lucky Louie, and had a cameo appearance in the film Spider-Man. He is best known for his so-called "cringe humor" style, which deals with sensitive and uncomfortable subjects.
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[edit] Career
At age 12, Norton decided he wanted to be a comedian after seeing Richard Pryor's special Richard Pryor: Live in Concert. Norton became a comedian in the early 1990s, when comic Jim Florentine helped Norton receive his first paying stand-up gig. Norton lived with Florentine for several years while they broke into show business.
[edit] Radio
Norton became a regular guest on The Opie and Anthony Show on WNEW in late 1999 after several entertaining guest appearances by himself and along with Andrew Dice Clay. In 2000, he was arrested with Lewis Black, 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. Before Norton could become an official member of the radio show, it was cancelled 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 Satellite Radio in October 2004.
[edit] Television
For over a year, Norton was a regular guest on the Comedy Central TV show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. 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 been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno four times, and The Late Show with David Letterman once. James also went to Los Angeles in December of 2006 for "no good reason other than a free trip to LA" when chums Opie and Anthony were on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
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 the Comedy Cellar, and sometimes performed at the weekly alternative standup "Eating It" show at the Luna Lounge before the bar's closing in 2005. He is friends with several other comedians, including Rich Vos, Reverend Bob Levy, Jim Florentine, Bill Burr, Colin Quinn, Louis C.K., Robert Kelly, Patrice Oneal 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 Norton's bio, Judi Brown of the Aspen Comedy Festival says, "He's so brutally honest. He's very refreshing in a business where a lot of people are phony."
In 2006, Norton landed the role of Rich on the HBO show Lucky Louie. Rich is a foul-mouthed, perverted, "ill informed", straight shooting character that lives with his mother and deals pot to high schoolers for a living, departing from the traditionally tamer sitcom model of a supporting character. In September 2006, it was announced that the show would not be renewed for a second season.
During the month of June 2006, Norton began hatching what could be called his brain child: 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.[1] He will return to the 2007 tour. [2]
[edit] Writing
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. According to Amazon.com, the book is scheduled for release on July 10, 2007.
[edit] Selected works
Norton's first CD was released in 2003 entitled Yellow Discipline. His latest CD, Trinkets I Own Made From Gorilla Hands, was released in April 2005. His half-hour HBO stand-up special aired on October 21, 2005, as part of the HBO Stand-up Series One Night Stand.
Norton is currently featured as the third microphone on The Opie and Anthony Show on XM Satellite Radio and CBS Radio.
[edit] Trivia
- 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. With the exception of Joe Torre and Jason Giambi, Norton apparently felt snubbed by the star attendees, 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.)
- Norton also criticized Gene Simmons (of KISS fame) for blowing off Norton's 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 when 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 still a huge fan of Black Sabbath and frontman Ozzy Osbourne, vowing to defend them "to the death".
- He plays the role of Officer Morrison in video game Bully by Rockstar.
- Norton had a one-liner 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".
- He qualified to be on the second season of Last Comic Standing, but contractual obligations with MTV, where he was involved in several pilots that were not picked up, prevented him from completing the audition process.
