--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On Update, the only real original thing…" description: "\"On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take away the cleverness of the punchline and make it as blunt as possible.\" — Norm MacDonald" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png" --- # On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take… ![“On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take away the cleverness of the punchline and make it as blunt as possible.” quote by Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png) > “On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take away the cleverness of the punchline and make it as blunt as possible.” [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comedy should strip away cleverness to deliver a direct, blunt punchline, emphasizing simplicity over wit. **In simple terms:** Simple jokes can be more effective than clever ones. Key Takeaway Prioritize clarity and impact over cleverness. Themes comedy humor simplicity punchline Mood lighthearted analytical Type observational instructional When to use this quote - stand‑up routines - writing jokes - performance critique Key Concepts minimalism directness audience reaction Questions to Reflect On - When does bluntness hurt the joke? - How can simplicity enhance humor? A Different Perspective Over‑simplification may reduce depth or nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) [Blunt Possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt-possible-4128562/) [Cleverness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness/) [Cleverness Punchline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleverness-punchline-4128561/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Original Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/original-thing-1750095/) [Originals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/originals/) [Punchline Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punchline-make-3606046/) [Punchlines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punchlines/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Update Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/update-real-4128563/) [Updates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/updates/) ## Related quotes > [You gotta have fun with a song, make somebody laugh. You gotta have character. A hard punchline can make you laugh, but you gotta…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeoff/you-gotta-have-fun-with-a-song-make-somebody-laugh-you-gotta-have/) [Takeoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeoff/) > [I tried to make the punchline as close to the setup as I could. And I thought that was the perfect thing. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-tried-to-make-the-punchline-as-close-to-the-setup-as-i-could-and-i/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I generally have a real strong idea or a strong punchline, and I just try to get to it by rambling around, as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-generally-have-a-real-strong-idea-or-a-strong-punchline-and-i-just/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Whoever has an original thing to say, it is sort of a threat to the status quo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-lacy/whoever-has-an-original-thing-to-say-it-is-sort-of-a-threat-to-the/) [Steve Lacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-lacy/) > [Preaching is the most original thing I've ever done. There's nothing familiar about it. You have to be brave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-foreman/preaching-is-the-most-original-thing-i-ve-ever-done-there-s-nothing/) [George Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-foreman/) > [If I was singing like somebody else, then it was almost like I was expressing myself like somebody else. So it was always a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emeli-sande/if-i-was-singing-like-somebody-else-then-it-was-almost-like-i-was/) [Emeli Sande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emeli-sande/) > [Why do you copy everything I do? Be original. Do your own thing and be your own person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/why-do-you-copy-everything-i-do-be-original-do-your-own-thing-and-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What bugs me are parodies - they're never as special as the original thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-tundra/what-bugs-me-are-parodies-they-re-never-as-special-as-the-original/) [Max Tundra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-tundra/) > [“The most original thing you possess in your life is your true self.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-most-original-thing-you-possess-in-your-life-is-your-true-self/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [Donald Trump was seen for quite a long time as a punchline, the jokes about the excesses and the failures of the 1980s. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-l-o-brien/donald-trump-was-seen-for-quite-a-long-time-as-a-punchline-the-jokes/) [Timothy L. O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-l-o-brien/) > [My momma had heart attacks back to back I'm sorry, but I wasn't really thinking bout rap than my Pops just past I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-banks/my-momma-had-heart-attacks-back-to-back-i-m-sorry-but-i-wasn-t-really/) [Lloyd Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-banks/) > [I've seen girls turn to double dumb hoes, then they get pregnant...another one grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-banks/i-ve-seen-girls-turn-to-double-dumb-hoes-then-they-get-pregnant/) [Lloyd Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-banks/) > [I still think that, hopefully, you're not ahead of the jokes, and I think that has value. There is a punchline and it's pointed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-still-think-that-hopefully-you-re-not-ahead-of-the-jokes-and-i/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [Musically, I want to graduate and become one of the greatest. You can't do that just spitting punchlines. I respect those people who say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/musically-i-want-to-graduate-and-become-one-of-the-greatest-you-can-t/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [Well, the coffeehouse audiences never know what they're going to get, and all the comics are different, as opposed to when you go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/well-the-coffeehouse-audiences-never-know-what-they-re-going-to-get/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) ## More by Norm MacDonald > [In estimating the adversities of life, we would seldom have much reason to complain of the evils we suffer, did we understand the dangers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-estimating-the-adversities-of-life-we-would-seldom-have-much/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Chastity is oftener owing to diffidence and shame, than to fortitude of reason or virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/chastity-is-oftener-owing-to-diffidence-and-shame-than-to-fortitude/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I'd say Jon Stewart has remained funny the entire time. Jon always makes it funny first. And he's just, he's talking about serious things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-d-say-jon-stewart-has-remained-funny-the-entire-time-jon-always/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Liberty, like health, appears most precious when lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/liberty-like-health-appears-most-precious-when-lost/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [In theatres, you're kind of disconnected. Also, it's way too big for the likes of me. Unless you're Robin Williams or someone that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/in-theatres-you-re-kind-of-disconnected-also-it-s-way-too-big-for-the/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [After months of speculation, the sitcom star Ellen DeGeneres admitted that yes, she's gay. Inspired by her courage, today, diet-guru Richard Simmons admitted that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/after-months-of-speculation-the-sitcom-star-ellen-degeneres-admitted/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [So much in L.A. is waiting. It's so irritating. That's what's good about stand-up. You can go away, and you don't have to sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/so-much-in-l-a-is-waiting-it-s-so-irritating-that-s-what-s-good-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [You ever hear guys with small cocks talk about sex? Can't talk about it enough. They even got poems. They'll say, 'It's not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/you-ever-hear-guys-with-small-cocks-talk-about-sex-can-t-talk-about/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [My dad died, and my grandfather died, and my great-grandfather died. And the guy before him, I don't know. Probably died.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/my-dad-died-and-my-grandfather-died-and-my-great-grandfather-died-and/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [ Louis \[C.K.\] is great. But I don't know how many you could do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/louis-c-k-is-great-but-i-don-t-know-how-many-you-could-do/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [I don't have any ego about it, but I find there's not a great work ethic in show business. A lot of people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/i-don-t-have-any-ego-about-it-but-i-find-there-s-not-a-great-work/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Many people are skeptical about marriage of Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Pressley. They say, Lisa Marie is more of a sit at home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/many-people-are-skeptical-about-marriage-of-michael-jackson-and-lisa/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [Back in the old days, a man could just get sick and die. Now they have to wage a battle. So my Uncle Bert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/back-in-the-old-days-a-man-could-just-get-sick-and-die-now-they-have/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) > [The man that does not fear punishment, little regards crime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-man-that-does-not-fear-punishment-little-regards-crime/) [Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) [Explore all 205 Norm MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/) ## More Blunt quotes > [Jazz is not something that can be defined through blunt instruments. It is much more poetic than that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/jazz-is-not-something-that-can-be-defined-through-blunt-instruments/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. The EPA has served notice that it will enact a rule requiring CO2 reductions by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/local-and-state-governments-have-outrun-the-federal-government-the/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [Was it fate? Was it destiny?" "I think it was Alan Blunt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/was-it-fate-was-it-destiny-i-think-it-was-alan-blunt/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [Blunt force didn't knock out the drug epidemic. 21 million Americans are addicted to drugs or alcohol. And half of all federal inmates are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-botticelli/blunt-force-didn-t-knock-out-the-drug-epidemic-21-million-americans/) [Michael Botticelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-botticelli/) > [Christie led the way - with a bulldozer. The governor is blunt, brash, and self-consciously authentic, the antithesis to what turns off today's voters:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-fournier/christie-led-the-way-with-a-bulldozer-the-governor-is-blunt-brash-and/) [Ron Fournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-fournier/) > [The finest edge is made with the blunt whetstone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lyly/the-finest-edge-is-made-with-the-blunt-whetstone/) [John Lyly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lyly/) > [I'm a blunt person, not mean-spirited. I come from a place of love, but I'm interested in being real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/i-m-a-blunt-person-not-mean-spirited-i-come-from-a-place-of-love-but/) [Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/) > [Emily and I have some funny scenes where we quarrel and it gets quite heated, the mother-daughter relationship. You know, film mothers and daughters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacki-weaver/emily-and-i-have-some-funny-scenes-where-we-quarrel-and-it-gets-quite/) [Jacki Weaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacki-weaver/) > [Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures And of so easy and so plain a stop That the blunt monster with uncounted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/rumour-is-a-pipe-blown-by-surmises-jealousies-conjectures-and-of-so/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill. Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt. Chase after money and security and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/fill-your-bowl-to-the-brim-and-it-will-spill-keep-sharpening-your/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [Better stop short than fill to the brim. Oversharpen the blade, and the edge will soon blunt. Amass a store of gold and jade,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/better-stop-short-than-fill-to-the-brim-oversharpen-the-blade-and-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [There is something discordant about a team of speechwriters and political operatives hammering away to create an image of the 'real, inner' candidate. 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Man, when I was young I shoved my ignorance in people's faces.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-re-afraid-of-making-mistakes-don-t-be-mistakes-can-be-profited-by/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 322 Blunt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blunt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take away the cleverness of the punchline and make it as blunt as possible.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Norm MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-was-trying-to-take-away-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blunt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-was-trying-to-take-away-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a58/norm-macdonald-1825_blunt_on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-w_1279282.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On Update, the only real original thing was trying to take away the cleverness of the punchline and make it…” — Norm MacDonald", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Norm MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "On Update, the only real original...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-was-trying-to-take-away-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/on-update-the-only-real-original-thing-was-trying-to-take-away-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```