LATE BREAKING "SNL" NEWS

NBC Nixes Norm ... Again!

By Joal Ryan

A dirty tricks campaign against "Dirty Work."

NBC is deep-sixing TV ads for Norm Macdonald's new movie, furthering a feud between the ex-"Saturday Night Live" comic and his old network bosses, Daily Variety says.

The Peacock pulled a "Dirty Work" ad that was scheduled to run during the May 23 edition of "SNL," the trade paper says. And now it's shutting out MGM, the studio behind the comedy, from buying time elsewhere in its prime-time lineup.

The report says that NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer issued the "No 'Dirty Work'" edict. The reason? Simple. The flick, opening June 12, stars Norm Macdonald.

Until January, Macdonald was an NBC employee in good standing. He was seen regularly delivering the faux "Weekend Update" newscast on "SNL."

Then, the way Macdonald told it, Ohlmeyer stepped in and ordered the show to replace him on the anchor desk with fellow cast member Colin Quinn.

The reason? Simple. Ohlmeyer told Macdonald that he wasn't funny.

At least that was how the acerbic Macdonald related the turn of events.

NBC maintains that Ohlmeyer was concerned about sluggish ratings and a decline in the quality of Macdonald's work on the segment, Variety says.

The "Dirty Work" dust-up stems partly from Ohlmeyer's belief that Macdonald misrepresented why he got canned, it reports.

In April, Macdonald departed "SNL" and NBC for good after being exiled from "Weekend Update."

"Dirty Work" is his first big-screen starring vehicle. Directed by "Full House" refugee Bob Saget, it's about a guy who goess into the revenge business.

Not based on a true story.

Macdonald is scheduled to sit down for a live E! Online cyber chat tomorrow at 7 p.m. (ET)

Source: E! Online

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