About This Bit
This bit is a quintessential Norm Macdonald shaggy-dog story. He sets the stage with an elaborate, faux-historical buildup about the 'three wise men of Quebec,' establishing Jacques De Gautino as a man of immense intellectual pedigree destined for Ottawa.
Norm then pivots to an absurd, anti-climactic discovery: Jacques is not running the country, but feeding baby dolphins at SeaWorld. Jacques let us down, but Norm did not.
About Jacques De Gautino and His Pourpoise
- Puns as performance art: Norm treats the pun as if it were a profound dramatic twist, mocking the very concept of the 'reveal.'
- Commitment to the bit: He spends minutes creating a complex, pseudo-political backstory for a character whose only purpose is to deliver one wordplay-based line.
- Conan’s frustration: The contrast between Norm's calm storytelling and the audience's growing realization that they are being 'had' creates a unique comedic energy.
- Meta-commentary: Norm overtly discusses the 'burden' of the story, openly acknowledging that the long buildup is intentional torture.
Key Moments
- 00:00:00: The legend of Jacques — Norm introduces Jacques De Gautino, a scholar from Temiscaming, Quebec, who was destined for greatness.
- 01:30: The SeaWorld encounter — While visiting the dolphin exhibit in Niagara Falls, Norm unexpectedly runs into his old acquaintance.
- 02:21: The confrontation — Norm confronts Jacques about wasting his immense potential and failing his town's expectations.
- 02:59: The punchline — Jacques explains his career choice: he is 'serving a useful porpoise.'