Jim Norton

Jim Norton's stand-up routines are marked by a confrontational approach, a penchant for taboo topics, and an outspoken disdain for Derek Jeter, which helped the comedian cultivate an intensely loyal audience through relentless road work and his memorable appearances on the Opie & Anthony program. Growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, he discovered Richard Pryor's recordings at twelve years old. After an ordinary early childhood, his teenage years became unsettled as he struggled with poor self-image and drinking problems before completing a productive period in recovery. Norton launched his comedy career onstage in 1989 and crossed paths with Jim Florentine the following year. The pair formed a close friendship, shared an apartment, and spent several seasons on the road together while each chased opportunities in entertainment. His major opportunity came in 1999 through regular guest spots on the nationally syndicated Opie & Anthony broadcast; he formally became part of the O&A team in 2004, coinciding with the program's transition to XM Satellite Radio. Panel appearances on Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn and a supporting role in Louis C.K.'s HBO series Lucky Louie paved the way for Norton's own hour-long HBO special, Monster Rain, which premiered in 2007. That year also saw the publication of his debut book, the autobiographical essay collection Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch. He served as a recurring presence on Jay Leno's short-lived The Jay Leno Show in 2009, introduced his own XM program The Jim Norton Show in 2010, and issued the comedy album Despicable in 2011 via his EatABullet label. The live recording No Baby for You!, captured in Boston, arrived in 2012, the same year his television special Please Be Offended first aired.