Fitzdog Radio
Episode 1127: Jim Norton
Release Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Greg Fitzsimmons
Guest: Jim Norton

Episode Overview

In this episode, Greg Fitzsimmons reunites with legendary comedian and friend Jim Norton for a candid, hilarious, and unabashedly honest conversation. The two reflect on their parallel journeys from the New York open mic scene to comedy stardom, exploring comedy’s evolving landscape, cancel culture, political polarization, personal growth, and the fine art of finding your comedic voice. Jim opens up about marriage, sobriety, hell gigs, and encountering celebrity, all served with the duo’s trademark dark wit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Comedy, Gym Shame, and Beverage Rituals

• Jim and Greg kick things off discussing the compulsions that replace addiction, with Norton noting, “Anything oral. I am addicted to coffee. Shoving food to my face. There’s always got to be a beverage. I don’t like being parched.” (13:59)
• Norton shares his discomfort at the jiujitsu gym:
  “I am by far the biggest lump of shit in the entire building,” he admits. There’s humility, but also a lesson in non-judgmental camaraderie. (14:45)
• Fitzsimmons humorously laments California’s anti-straw culture, and Jim deadpans: “I do [use straws] specifically because I hate turtles.” (16:38)

2. Woke Culture, Comedy Censorship, and Political Polarization

• The conversation shifts to the persistence of “woke” tendencies and identity politics, especially in LA. “The Republicans are all on point...the fucking libs trying to throw a parade,” Greg observes of party messaging. (16:58)
• Jim is critical of both sides:
  “As annoying as conservatives are, and they also stink. But liberals will do this thing...the needling and the harping and the scolding...” (17:47)
• They discuss comics losing gigs over jokes (“They just canceled six sold out shows because they didn’t like his bit because he’s conservative and his jokes are really funny.” – Jim, 19:43), offense culture, and shifting censorship.

Notable Quotes:

• “Finding that line means crossing that line.” – Greg, on the Club Cellar’s no-phone policy (22:44)
• “Or standing there until the line catches up. Sometimes...Because again, this guy...when I watched, he did a bit about a trans… I laughed. Who the fuck cares the point of view it comes from if the jokes are good, just enjoy them.” – Jim, 22:50

3. Origin Stories: Comedy Roots and Finding Your Voice

• Both recall their early days in NYC with contemporaries like Todd Barry, Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman: “We were doing open mics together...that was exactly our class.” – Greg (39:21)
• Jim’s evolution: “You didn’t have it right away when we were starting out, you didn’t have it.” – Greg.
  “No, high energy, happy to be there. It’s sickening.” – Jim (40:09)
• Norton: “Everyone’s worried about...finding who you are. Just get rid of all the shit you’re not. And whoever you are shows up.” (40:20)  

4. Marriage, Immigration, and Life Offstage

• Jim shares the saga of marrying his Norwegian wife and her prolonged struggle to enter the US due to an old cannabis ticket. The process took five years, giving Jim a unique perspective on immigration bureaucracy:
  “We did it legally, and it was very frustrating. It’s red tape. It’s bureaucracy. It stinks. I get why people want to cut the line.” (36:28)
• On married life:
  “I sometimes miss my old life, which was perverted and isolated. So I forget how lonely I was...after you come, you’re back in the hotel by yourself and you want to blow your brains out.” (37:54)

5. Reflecting on Comedy Legends

• The pair digress into British and Irish comics’ relative obscurity in the US, pondering cultural barriers, and spend time showering praise on George Carlin (“Nick [DiPaolo]’s joke writing—it’s literally completely fat free.” – Jim, 23:28) and Joan Rivers.
• Jim reminisces, “Joan Rivers...she made me nervous. I was never scared of meeting comedians, but she’s the only one who I was afraid of.” (49:41)
• Greg recounts being interviewed by Joan: “I got under the covers of a bed with Joan Rivers and she interviewed me.” (49:32)

6. Celebrity Encounters & Social Awkwardness

• Hilarious confessions about awkwardness with celebrities:
  “I have no traction with famous people.” – Greg (51:10)
  “Whenever I have an emotion I want someone to feel towards me, it puts pressure on how I interact...my goal is not to be myself, it’s to get them to feel a certain way.” – Jim (52:44)
• Jim recalls meeting De Niro, reflects on why some comics move effortlessly among VIPs while others freeze up.
• “We do want something from them. Not material things...but, I want them to respect me or like me as an equal...I don’t feel like I’m admirable.” – Jim (54:01)

7. Politics, Tribalism, and the Illusion of Change

• The discussion broadens to “tribal” polarization and performative political correctness.
  “The whole country is just filled with unreasonable twats.” – Jim, on right and left extremes (60:53)
• Both agree that most people’s politics are shaped by family and environment more than anything else:
  “That’s 97% of how people...that’s what their opinions are.” – Greg (62:57)
• Jim on parents: “They were, like with my life, very accepting. Very. And not in a fake way, but like, yeah, we love you. We don’t care who you...And they’ve never had that type of social...force.” (63:09)

8. US Politics & Political Performance

• The hosts roast political “losing moments” (Jeb Bush’s ‘please clap,’ Dukakis in a tank, etc.), and marvel at how leaders like Clinton, Obama, Trump exude magnetic “alpha” energy.
  “There’s something about a guy who is able to convince 100 million people to vote...who can alpha everybody in the room.” – Jim (57:16)
• Trump’s persona: “He was unscoldable. And I wish more guys were like that.” – Jim (60:11)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Comedy Censorship & PC Culture:
  “I have developed kind of an even newer loathing for [progressives].” – Jim, (22:22)

• On Comedy Legends:
  “Joan Rivers is top five. I think she’s top fucking five and she never gets mentioned in the top ten.” – Jim, (47:51)

• On Personal Growth in Comedy:
  “Get rid of all the shit you’re not, and whoever you are shows up.” – Jim, (40:20) “Talking about personal or embarrassing things made the other comics laugh...so that’s a good direction.” (40:59)

• On Life as an Outsider in Hollywood:
  “I have no traction with famous people.” – Greg, (51:10)
  “I don’t feel like I’m admirable.” – Jim, (54:01)

• On Cancel Culture and Friendship:
  “How could you be friends with that guy? He said that. I immediately lose respect for the person asking that.” – Jim, (71:42) “I’ve known Joe [Rogan] for 35 years...what, do you go to work and find a guy who you disagree with and make a fucking scene at work?” – Greg, (72:06)

Notable Stories & Segments

The Heckler Incident (Greg in Sacramento)

• Greg shares a classic comedy war story, dealing with a disruptive audience member and the catharsis of ejection:
  “There is a euphoria that comes across a crowd when a heckler has been removed...You used to [have power] when I was 16...but guess what? It’s my comeuppance.” (01:18-10:00)

Getting in the Epstein Files

• Jim jokes about his name being in the Epstein files due to UFC Unfiltered:
  “I was so happy because I really hate being excluded. Didn’t say anything about me, but still...I was there.” (19:12)

Hack Court

• In a nostalgic riff, Jim describes “Hack Court,” where comics would call out each other’s hack material and have to defend it before peers like Keith Robinson, Colin Quinn, Voss, and young Kevin Hart. “Very rarely did you win in hack court. Very high conviction.” (87:15)

The “Fastballs with Fitz” Segment (74:00+)

A rapid-fire, confessional Q&A revealing:

• Jim’s brushes with arrest (the infamous Opie & Anthony voyuer bus, 74:10)
• Uncommonly young oral virginity (“I was about five. A bully who I used to...I used to suck his dick in the hallway.” – Jim, 76:32)
• Adventures at the Porn Awards with Ron Jeremy (“He complimented my penis. He said, ‘You got a nice piece.’”—Jim, 80:27)
• Comedy bombs and walking offstage
• Perspective on apologies and the satisfaction (and conflict) of program amends.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 13:58 — Jim Norton joins, beverage and gym shame banter
• 16:38 — Banter on LA wokeness, straws, and turtles
• 18:50 — Epstein file/Opie & Anthony stories
• 22:44 — Club Cellar, comedy lines, censorship
• 39:21 — NY comedy roots, Norton finds his voice
• 36:08–37:54 — Jim describes his marriage/immigration journey
• 47:51 — Joan Rivers discussion
• 49:27 — Greg’s “In Bed with Joan” story
• 51:10–54:44 — Social awkwardness with celebrities
• 60:53 — Jim’s take on US politics, “unreasonable twats”
• 72:06 — Rogan, Cancel Culture, and DM blowback
• 74:00 — “Fastballs with Fitz” rapid-fire Q&A

Tone & Language

As expected from these two, the conversation is raw, irreverent, self-deprecating, and honest to a fault, with dark humor and bits of poignant vulnerability.

Summary

This episode of Fitzdog Radio is a comic masterclass in honesty, nostalgia, and the complex reality of the stand-up life, both on and off stage. Greg Fitzsimmons and Jim Norton dissect contemporary culture, comedy’s shifting boundaries, and the business of being authentic—peppering in plenty of stories from the road and their own evolving lives. Their affectionate banter makes this a must-listen (and must-read!) for fans of real talk and real comedy.

Highly recommended: Jim Norton’s special “Unconceivable,” free on YouTube.

[End of Summary]