He was one the best joke tellers. His part in the Bob Saget roast, where he just trolled and read jokes from one of those "101 jokes for retirees" type books was one of the greatest things ever. Pretty much every comedian will tell you he was great, but he didnt get anywhere near the appreciation he deserved in general.
I kinda thought it was stupid ... but it had its moments. Norm, like Dana Carvey, was best when paired with another cast member. Even will Ferrell can be similar.