Jim Norton Talks 'Opie & Anthony,' His Film Career, and Life as a Comedian

Jim Norton has enjoyed life as a comedian for nearly twenty years, achieving great success. Since 1999, he's played the role of "third mic" on talk radio program The Opie & Anthony Show. Earlier in the year, he was a prominent part of The Jay Leno Show before it was taken off the air in favor of Leno's return to The Tonight Show.

Jim also frequently tours the country doing stand-up and he attained roles in recent films Cop Out and Furry Vengeance. TheCelebrityCafe.com's Matt Thompson spoke with Norton about his film career, The Opie & Anthony Show, and life as a comedian.

TheCelebrityCafe: Since late 1999, you’ve been appearing on Opie & Anthony. Bring us up to date on what you’ve been doing on there lately.

Jim Norton: My job is to act as the "third mic," which basically entails waiting until they get on a roll so I can chime and drive the show into the ground.

TCC: You created a skit called “Boardroom Jimmy” on the show, which is similar to a Jim Cramer type. Are you into finance and stocks? Where did you get the idea to do this character?

JN: My stock market sensibilities suck. I was investing with Bernie Madoff until as recently as last week. As far as the character is concerned, I was just trying to be loud and irritating. I feel it was a monumental success.

TCC: You’ve been on tour for a while now. What fuels you when you’re up on stage on tour? Is it adrenaline or the crowd that keeps you going?

JN: What fuels me is the desire to meet someone after a show who is drunk enough to come home with me, but not so drunk they try to kiss me after they vomit down the front of their shirt. I also have a healthy fear of bombing in front of a large crowd. My audiences are animals; if I was onstage mailing it in, someone would voice their objection by lobbing a Molotov cocktail at me. And they’d be right.

TCC: You also just recently guest-starred on Bored to Death. Do you think the show has a promising future?

JN: The show definitely has a promising future, unless they decide to include me, in which case, they’re dead in the water. Anything I love dies on the vine; I’m the fu--ing kiss of death. And I loved working on that show, so they should stay as far away from me as humanly possible.

TCC: Is Zach Galifianakis as funny to work with as he comes across to people on the big screen?

JN: Zach was great. He’s a very funny guy off stage - a complete ball buster. Which is actually very relaxing to be around, because he doesn’t seem worried, which in turn makes you not feel worried.

TCC: Is film something you look to turn into your main career?

JN: I love to act; I just wish I was better at it. I have this tendency to express emotion by opening my eyes really wide, which makes me look like a burn victim.

TCC: Which role has been most substantial to your career thus far?

JN: Hard to say, they’ve all had a big part in getting me where I am. Opie & Anthony was a huge break for me, then when they got fired, it was Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn. Then Colin got fired, Opie & Anthony got rehired, so I crawled back up their a--holes. I really am a despicable ship jumper.

TCC: How did you come about collaborating with Kevin Smith on both Zach and Miri and then Cop Out?

JN: Kevin’s a buddy of mine, he put me in Zach and Miri and Cop Out. I jokingly asked him on air for a part in Zach and Miri and he agreed. True to his word, he put me in the film. I love Kevin.

TCC: He said to MTV News last October that he feels he has a “ten-film” life and then his career will move on. If I’m correct he’s done nine so far. Do you think this notion holds true for many directors/writers?

JN: I don’t know to be honest, I never think of it that way. I have a "ten-line" life and if you add up all my movie roles together, I still haven’t reached it. I suck.

TCC: How do you find book writing, such as I Hate Your Guts, to differ from other types of writing?

JN: Writing books is great; you get everything off your chest. I love attacking the things that annoy me on stage and in writing. It helps keep me from buying a semi-automatic weapon.

TCC: Let’s talk about recent work. The Jay Leno Show. Was this show given enough time before they went back to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno?

JN: That whole situation was a fu--ing mess for everyone except ME. It got me on television in prime time. And that’s how I look at everything; according to how it affects ME. But to answer your question, no, I don’t think Jay got enough time at ten. I also think Conan was under extreme and unfair pressure just starting as the Tonight Show host.

TCC: How would you label the current situation between Conan and NBC?

JN: I don’t know, I’ve never met Conan, despite winking at him on Twitter frequently. I think Conan’s worth millions and NBC is worth billions. They’ll both be fine. I, on the other hand, could use a few hundred thousand.

TCC: Have you caught his new TBS show? If so, did you find it to be entertaining?

JN: Haven’t seen it. I don’t watch a lot of television (especially when I’m on it). But, I’m sure it will be funny, I hear he seems very relaxed in the new atmosphere. He should be, they gave him a fu--ing blimp; that’s a nice welcome.

TCC: If The Jay Leno Show actually did move to the 11:30 p.m. timeslot as originally planned, do you think the show could have been properly utilized in just a half hour?

JN: It probably would have been awkward and crowded. Like when you finish sh--ting, open the stall door and there is a man with his newspaper who actually brushes past you walking in as you walk out.

TCC: How do you feel Leno’s style differs from Conan in the talk show format?

JN: I feel Leno has far better taste in comedians, since he likes me and Conan’s show doesn’t. (Or would that mean Jay has worse taste in comedians?) I have watched so little of Conan’s show over the years I really don’t know much about his style. I didn’t avoid the show for any sh--ty reasons, but at that hour I was either onstage or perusing Craigslist with lubricant all over my hand.

TCC: Are there any films/other works that you have upcoming that you’d like to mention?

JN: I am on a great show with Dave Attell, Bill Burr, and Jim Breuer January 16 at The Borgata hotel in Atlantic City. I think that’s the strongest lineup I’ve ever been on. And I have a new CD coming out in the next couple of months, tentatively titled No Baby For You.