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Will Ferrell | Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Good Hang with Amy Poehler178 views
0:05

Hello, everyone.Welcome to another episode of Good Hang.So excited about our guest today.It is the one, the only Will Ferrell, a comedic giant on the Mount Rushmore of comedy.The captain, oh, captain, my captain, Will Ferrell.And we are going to get into so many things today.

0:21

We're going to talk about SNL and all the great movies he was in.We're going to talk about how important makeup is in building a character.We're going to talk about talk about the mutual flop that we made together and how fun it was.We're going to talk about Swedish stereotypes and how some of them are true.We're going to talk about his new show, The Hawk, coming out this week on Netflix.Before we do that, we are going to talk to somebody who is also in The Hawk with him and also knows him from SNL and who is a comedy legend.

0:49

And that is Chris Parnell.Chris, who you can also catch in Stop That Train, a movie that's out.We're going to check in with Chris.Chris is going to speak well behind Will's back.Give me a question.You know how this works.

1:00

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1:55

so long.

1:55

I know.I was just trying to think about the last time and it must have been at the 50th, but even then I feel like we didn't get some good enough hang time there.

2:04

No, no.I saw Tina and waved at her, but that was kind of like the extent of it too.That was the case for a lot of people.

2:11

Tina has that restraining order against you, so you're not allowed to get close to her.

2:15

Yeah.I mean, I felt like she would have let me if I had made an effort, but yeah.

2:19

Let's not get into this again.

2:21

I need to talk about it, okay?

2:25

Thanks for doing this.I'm talking to Will today.And I feel like I don't think enough people know how long you and Will have been friends.

2:34

We met at the Groundlings.Gosh, 596.But it really we really didn't connect until I started on SNL.And then we shared an office.He and I and Jerry Collins.Yeah.

2:50

Had an office, the gentleman's quarters.

2:52

That's right.That was the name of the office.So you did not perform together at the Groundlings?Like you were in different time periods there?

2:59

Yeah, he was he was a he was ahead of me.And I saw him perform.And I think he actually saw me perform in one of my shows.But no, he was he was a couple of years ahead of me, I think.And then, you know, got on to SNL, I think.three years before I got on, I think.

3:23

It was just so cool.It was so fun.You know, and after read -throughs on Wednesday, we'd go back and we'd all have a little scotch.We kept a bottle in the office and that was a fun ritual.And sometimes we would kind of dress up a little bit in similar outfits.But it was it was a great, such a great welcome to the show.

3:46

And Will, you know, obviously in so many ways is so impressive.But I, I remember feeling, you know, insecure about being on the show.and trying to get material on.And I remember asking us, I was looking for comfort assurance.And I said, do you, when you first started, you know, did it take you a while to get rolling and to get up to speed?He's like, nope, I just started right away.

4:12

And I was like, okay, all right, well, let's.That's cold comfort for me, but I knew it was, I knew it was true because I'd seen his first show, you know.

4:21

I mean, SNL was like the perfect job for Will.He's really built for that show because he had the constitution.So much of it is handling the big feelings that come along with trying to get stuff on and, and just kind of competing with your friends in a weird way, but then also collaborating with them and all that stuff.And he just seemed to not let that get in his head.

4:43

It's true.I know.He also, he just, you know, has always come across as pretty fearless to me and just so confident, but, you know, never arrogant about it.You know, just like this is who I am.I got it.I'm confident, you know, I can do this.

4:59

Yeah.What film and television have you guys done outside of SNL together?

5:04

Well, Anchorman was the main thing.

5:06

Right.

5:06

I think The Hawk, this this upcoming series.Who do you play in that show, Parnes?I am on the PGA Tour board.I'm a PGA Tour board member.And I'm kind of I don't care for Will's character.I don't care for the Hawk.

5:22

Excellent.

5:23

I have quite a bit of animosity towards Will's character.

5:28

Is your character the kind of guy that's that's like upset at how Hawk doesn't take the sport seriously?

5:35

Well, that's part of it for sure.That is part of it.But it also has to do without giving anything away.It has to do with personal matter.It happened between us.many years ago.

5:49

Great.And it sort of comes back to the surface again.And yeah, so I've got a personal grudge against him.And I'm also just really an uptight asshole, you know, which has come so naturally to me, you know.

6:03

Before we go, I just, you know, we do this to kind of talk well behind people's backs.And I think everybody knows that Will is like a uniquely confident performer and obviously kind of like for many on the Mount Rushmore of comedy, frankly.But what what what what is so great about him as a person?Because I find him to be a really wonderful person as well.What would you say?

6:27

He's a good laugher.You know, I think that says a lot about a person, too.And when you can make people laugh as well as he does, but also be willing and free to laugh at other people really openly.And yeah, I just think he's, he's a, he's a sweet guy.I just think he's a sweet guy by nature.

6:43

Yeah.Is there a question you have for me today to ask him anything you're thinking of?Sure.Oh, look at Parnes.He's so prepared.

6:54

Well, I was up for four hours thinking about this last night.I wrote a list of 50 questions and I narrowed it down to 25 and down to 10 and the final five.I guess one question would be who were your comedy idols, your heroes growing up?Who did you look up to comedy -wise?That would be one.And then the other one might be, have you always been so funny?

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7:22

confident.

7:23

Yeah, I think that's a good one.It feels like if stuff is going down, you would kind of turn to Will, like, what are we going to do?

7:30

Right, right.

7:31

Well, the last thing I'll say, Parnes, is I'll never forget.I've had so many moments with you, like where I've been next to you, where fun, weird things have happened.And a lot of people don't know that Parnes used to do a great sketch, probably inprobably a sketch that probably wouldn't be able to happen today.Many, like many things.Well, it was a very gentle, nice guy called Merv the Perf.

7:57

And he was, I loved him.And but Merv would just kind of show up to parties.How would you describe Merv?

8:05

Well, you know, the name came from Will, actually, because I was kind of doing a version of Merv at some party.And he's like, oh, Merv the perv.I was like coming on to him as being something weird.And that's where the title came.That's where the name came from.

8:22

And Merv would just come up to ladies and, you know, just gently ask them if they'd like to party in his pants.And he'd have rip away, tear away pants.Like a nice perf.Well, I know, Parnsey, that Will is going to be so happy that we talked.

8:35

I'm so happy to get to contribute a little bit.So, you know, thanks for asking.

8:39

Of course.It's great to see you.Congrats on the new show and great to see you and and hope you're doing great.And and I hope I see you soon.

8:47

Bye.OK, take care.

8:51

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Get Ulta Beauty on Uber Eats and get your summer glow on.Ulta Beauty on Uber Eats.Terms apply.See app for details.Hi.I was very excited about you coming today.

10:13

I was so excited to be here, to come here.

10:16

How are you?

10:17

But wait, I'm trying to remember.

10:21

We rolled this into we're going up to Connecticut tomorrow.

10:25

Nice.ESPN?

10:27

No.

10:28

What's up there?

10:29

Travelers Insurance Golf Tournament.Don't you know?Amy, come on.

10:34

Well, we are going to talk about your new show, The Hawk, in which you play a golfer.

10:37

So we're going to go up there, and then we've been grabbing stuff for Lonnie's Instagram in character.So Lonnie walks around a lot and talks to people.

10:50

Well, I was wondering if I was going to be interviewing Lonnie today.

10:54

I love those too much.

10:56

But you love to be in character.

10:57

I do, but then sometimes, as you know, With our comedy lives, you sometimes think of a really good idea and then it just makes you tired.

11:06

But I gotta say, of all the people that have to do ideas, you are probably and still remain one of the least tired.

11:14

I'm hanging in there.

11:16

You are the least tired.Because you love to work.Well, you have worked really hard since I've known you.

11:24

Yes, I have.

11:26

You have.

11:27

But some of it, is smoke and mirrors.

11:30

Sure, but like you're also out there plugging and you you get a kind ofa pleasure.We've talked about this, about doing kind of stupid stuff to promote.Like you don't mind that.You kind of like it.It kind of relaxes you.

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11:43

I kind of, exactly.

11:44

You like to be embarrassed.

11:45

And it's way better than, and I always remember what you said, you're like, what we do is embarrassing.Yes.

11:52

But you don't seem, ever seem embarrassed.

11:54

Do you remember saying that?You're like, comedy is embarrassing.

11:56

Well, I think I, I hopefully quoted Ted Danson, because that was his quote.

12:02

Oh, okay.

12:02

I hopefully gave him those props.

12:05

I remember you said, I'm about to say something, and this is my quote and my quote only.And I remember thinking, okay, what's the big deal?But I want you to know, when you hear it, remember, I came up with it.I was like, fine, tell me what it is.Comedy is embarrassing.What we do is embarrassing.

12:27

I was like, okay, great.

12:28

Yeah, that's kind of interesting.Yep.But Ted Danson said it.He said it in terms of acting because we were, him and I were in a, we're doing a scene one time and somebody was acting and he, in such a sweet way, he's such a nice guy.He said, oh, Chris.And I said, it is.

12:46

But you, you have a captain energy.that I love.And you know, for me when I started SNL, like you were the captain I watched and you still are in many ways.I watch how you navigate your life and this work and everything.And you have a captain energy.I mean, I think some of it might just be because you're tall.

13:04

I think a lot of it is.It's just like tallest guy in the room.Yeah.

13:11

And they're like, what are you going to do?

13:12

Well, why is everyone looking at me?Don't look at me.

13:16

Yeah.And I also think that, you know, being a good captain, like I feel like you have this thing where, you know, I've worked with you.I've got to work with you a lot where I watch you kind of be the number oneon the set.And you, you're always professional, always working hard, but you're not taking things too seriously, or yourself too seriously, ever.

13:39

No, no.I look back, and that was not intentional.

13:44

But I just remember that what was intentional was reminding everyone, and I'm referring to working on Saturday Night Live in that environment, reminding everyone that this is supposed to be fun.

13:57

Yeah.

13:58

Totally.This is a comedy show.

13:59

So we've won the jackpot.

14:01

We've won the jackpot.It's a comedy show.That's right.Let's have fun while we do it.That's right.And let's make each other laugh.

14:09

Yes.

14:10

And let's have moments where, like, no one's ever going to see.

14:14

Right.

14:14

It's just for us.

14:15

Yes.It makes everybody feel so relaxed.And that was the thing that I watched when I...

14:20

But you always seemed 100 % relaxed.

14:23

Well, I really did.I really did.I've told you this, but I really did watch, you know, our year overlapped.We only had one year together on the show, which is so weird, isn't it?

14:34

It's so weird.And was it the, was it?

14:38

It was 2001.

14:41

One.

14:42

A great year.

14:43

A great year for comedy.

14:44

Great year.People were ready to laugh, a great time to start a job in comedy.And it was like kind of coming into a school and seeing the cool senior and being like, oh, that senior is cool, not only because they're talented, but they know how to like make people feel relaxed, keep people like doing bits, like reminding everybody that this is like life is a dream and like, what are we doing?Like all that stuff, like it was really important.So, okay, I'm gonna go back in time.Get ready.

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15:19

So grab something just in case you faint.

15:23

A little fake hamburger.

15:25

Are you, like, you were like a popular kid.Best personality you got.

15:32

I did.

15:33

Congrats.

15:34

Yes.I got best personality.

15:38

I mean, that could be a real curse.

15:40

Did not lead to...

15:41

It can be a curse.

15:42

Did not lead to dating.Prowess.

15:46

Okay, got it.That's good.

15:48

Or girlfriends or anything like that.

15:49

Okay.Girls were like, Will.

15:50

Oh, that's so funny, but I don't like you.

15:53

They were like, oh my God, Will's so funny.

15:55

You're so funny.

15:56

I've talked to him all day about my boyfriend.Do you want to go to the dance?

15:59

What a funny joke.No.

16:01

No.

16:02

Yeah.Okay.That makes me feel better.So you were, God is fair, so you were like crushing it on the personality, not on the ladies.Nope.What sports did you play in high school?

16:11

You name it, I played it.Shit.

16:13

What was your best sport?What were you best at?

16:15

Well, I was captain of the basketball team.

16:17

Dang.

16:19

But I averaged 1 .2 points a game.Once again, not a joke.

16:24

Okay.So you don't have a good shot?

16:27

No, I just, I learned, I had a pretty good shot, but I learned I stayed in the game longer by playing defense, rebounding, setting screen, doing all the things that no one else wants to do.

16:40

Fundamentals.Fundamentals.Team player.Very sexy.Captain.

16:45

Very sexy.

16:46

Very good at fundamentals.Yes.Yeah.Great.Captain energy.

16:49

But I went, you know, I played baseball.I was a kicker on the football team because I played a lot of soccer.

16:56

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

16:57

But I loved, I loved team sports.

17:00

Yeah.And you, you know, your dad was working with the Righteous Brothers and The best thing about SNL is I get to know everybody's parents.I've met your parents so many times.They're so lovely.But you like kind of, I read somewhere that like you were like, I don't really know about this likeidea of show business, cause it's just very.

17:23

Why did it seem scary at the time?

17:26

Because I just saw the, there was no stability in the life of a musician.

17:33

Yeah.

17:34

And I would watch how, and I would sit and watch my dad play going, this is the most talented, he was like, my hero, like so funny and, and great piano player.And like, who could be better than that?And so I never understood when he would have a nightclub gig that would, he'd, he'd come home and be like, well, I'm not going to be playing there.I'm like, oh, what?He's like, nothing.They just decided going to make a change.

18:05

So I've got to go out and I've got to look for the next gig.And it was very impressionable to me that that was, oh, that was rough.So I, I was, I was, I was committed to having what I thought in my little kid brain was a real job.

18:23

Which do you remember what you thought it was going to be?

18:25

No, but I knew, but this is what I knew.These are the elements.You carry a briefcase.

18:29

Absolutely.

18:31

You carry a briefcase.Of course.You go into a building.

18:36

Yes, it has to be inside a building.

18:38

You go into a building and you have either a cubicle or you have an office.

18:44

Yeah.

18:46

and you go, you go for a period of time, you talk to people, then you walk home with your briefcase.I didn't have a car in my little kid brain.

18:56

Do you remember there used to be like punch cards?I used to play secretary when I was a kid.Clock in, clock out.Clock in, and I used to go down to my dad's.

19:04

I think I was executive level in my little kid brain.

19:09

You opened up a leather binder of some sort, signed something.Yeah.

19:13

So yeah.So, so that was, that was the, that was the game plan, even though I don't know what that meant.

19:18

So how do you then jump from like, I'm going to have a safe job with the briefcase.Cause you're, you are, you're playing sports.You're tall.You're a white straight guy.Like those guys go into briefcase jobs.Then you're going to, then how do you get to the ground links?

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19:34

How do you decide to take classes?What do you think it was?

19:38

It was.death by a thousand cuts.I mean, it was literally just a little bit here, a little bit, because I wasn't, I didn't entertain any sort of performance.

19:50

No plays in high school?

19:51

No plays in high school.And yet I remember, I remember our high school had a really good drama department.Yeah.And I went with friends to go watch the show they were doing.I forget what it was, but, but I remember watching going, this is good and these kids are good and that would be fun.

20:07

Any comedy sneak out at all?Because I think sometimes it just like squirts out and you can't help it.Like, did you get up in front of the class?

20:14

Were you funny?I did.I did.The kind of thing that kind of opened began the crack in the door.

20:26

Open the comedy briefcase.

20:28

Open the comedy briefcase.And you know what's inside of the comedy?One of those snakes that pops out at you.Right?Yeah.Hilarious.

20:38

Yes.Hilarious.Were assemblies, school assemblies.

20:45

Yes.

20:47

And a good buddy of mine, Bart, and I would write basically, when I look back, they were sketches.

20:54

Yeah.

20:54

And we wrote these performance pieces for the assemblies.

20:59

Oh, yeah.

21:00

And we would, we would imitate the teachers, we would do, we performed as the Schmenge brothers from SCTV.No other kids knew who the Schmengis were.I thought, oh, I love when you guys do the Schmagedugles.How'd you make that up?I'm like, no, we're copying it from SCTV.That was my first kind of, and we were also writing these morning announcements to sell senior class t -shirts.

21:31

That was our big fundraiser.So these were like little radio skits.

21:35

Yeah.

21:38

And the defining moment for me when I look back was sitting at home.I knew we had, we do it like every other Tuesday or something.And one was due the next day and I'm, I have a mountain of homework and I'm sitting there.I spent three hours crafting this little dumb paragraph.

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22:01

Yeah.

22:02

And I, it was 11 o 'clock and I'd started at eight and it felt like, It felt like 10 minutes.

22:08

Yeah, yeah.

22:09

And even then, as like a senior in high school, I thought, hold on, hold on to this memory.Remember what this feels like.This does not feel like work.

22:18

Did you have like job, like fun, dumb jobs that you were like doing while you were trying to figure out, you were at USC, right?Yeah.Like, were you?

22:27

I was, I parked cars.I worked one day at Disneyland.

22:35

Did you get fired?

22:37

No.

22:37

Just quietly not ask back?No.

22:43

I was too afraid.I had my friend, John, call and quit on my behalf, which was really funny.

22:51

Pretend to be you?Yeah.

22:53

For some reason, I was so embarrassed to call.So I got a job and you were paid for the orientation day to work at Disneyland.Oh, yeah.Sure.And I thought that I was going to be assigned, you know, to be one of the really fun jobs, like the jungle cruise operator.Yeah.

23:14

And I find out, oh, no, those guys work there for eight years before they get.So they assigned me one of the front kiosks for selling tickets.Yeah.At the same time, I had a rival offer.to work at a friend's surf shop, a friend who was managing a surf shop right down at Newport Beach.Exactly, same pay, $5 .50 an hour.

23:38

But I was too embarrassed to call up Disneyland, so my friend John called on my behalf and said, I will be quitting after one day.And they asked, okay, the reason for leaving?And he said, I have a tryout with the Dallas Cowboys.And they went, Thank you very much." So somewhere, there's a file at Disney Corporate.It says, Will Ferrell, worked for one day, reasons for leaving, try out with the Dallas Cowboys football team.

24:10

And they probably thought for a second they remembered you and they were like, huh?What position?And someone was like, he's a kicker.And they were like, oh, that makes sense.Maybe a kicker.Did he make the Cowboys?

24:22

You want to hear an interesting story?We just had someone call and cancel.They're not going to work.They're going to try out for the Dallas Cowboys.How good is that?Anyway, I wish them the best.

24:30

Waiter ever?

24:32

Never waiter.

24:33

You knew.I knew.When you started Groundlings, what year was that?Do you remember what year it was?

24:38

That was right after I graduated from USC.

24:42

What was your degree?

24:44

In sports information.So that was trying to bridge the gap between real job and entertainment.So as I'm As I'm coming kind of in college, like you said, it's oozing out of me in places.I still wasn't like, I still didn't join a college improv team.I still didn't audition for anything.It was more, uh, it was more kind of what we were talking about, getting out, doing bits, trying to make my friends laugh, pretending to be other people that I wasn't in order to make.

25:22

So I would show up to a friend's class as, um, you know, found like some overalls and I would interrupt this friend's class as a maintenance worker and pretend to fix things or just come up, come in with like a lit cigarette out of my mouth and like a puke bucket.And the teacher would be like, can I help you?And I'd look at him and just go, no one threw up in here.And he would say, no, I'm sorry.They called me from physical plant and they said, this is, this is classroom B302, right?Yeah, I'm sorry about that.

26:06

But like blowing smoke in his classroom.But like, but my heart is pounding in my chest, but it's finding it.It's thrilling.And I'm only making three people laugh.

26:17

That to me is like free solo of comedy.It's like rock climbing.where you're like doing it just kind of for yourself.No one's watching.

26:28

Totally.

26:29

It's pretty, it feels quite dangerous because everyone's like, what are you doing in here?

26:33

And I would have, I would have, I worked, my work study job was at the humanities audio visual department.So occasionally I may have to push an over overhead projector across campus.And I would tell my buddy like, Hey, when are you guys all going to sit in the commons area?I may, I may be pushing an overhead projector.at around 1230."He's like, okay, good.

26:58

And he, my friend Emil became my shill and I would time it.I'd do a circuitous route, nowhere near where I needed to go.And I would just pull my, just enough to have my butt crack show and just slowly push.And my friend Emil would be like, look at that guy.What an idiot.And people, like they would gang on.

27:20

He would get the crowd to go, yeah.And people who didn't know me would laugh in a mean way.Yeah.Once again, I found it thrilling.

27:31

Thrilling.

27:32

That these people had no idea that it was all actually jokes on them.

27:37

It makes sense to me because jokes on them.Jokes on them.Oh, you're the idiot.

27:41

Oh, no, no, no.Oh, I walked across campus with my pants down.

27:46

I knew it.

27:47

I knew it.I pulled him down myself.But it makes sense because people, when people, what people love about you, Will, is it does feel like you're trying to make your friends laugh.Like that's really what it feels like.It feels like, and they feel parasocially like your friends.Like they're like, Will is my friend and he makes me laugh.

28:07

Like I've been with you and people come up to you and people, you invoke this like failing at people where they're like, it's almost like, Will, I knew I was going to see you.You're my friend.You know, we both feel really connected.

28:20

And then they're let down when I'm not doing the bits.

28:23

Well, I mean, there's nothing but a let down.Oh, yeah.

28:26

You've experienced many, right?

28:27

I mean, people are like, oh, wow, you're quiet and you're not telling jokes.You're so normal.

28:32

Oh, what am I going to do with that?

28:36

Yeah.Like, oh, are you sad today?It's like, no, I'm just, this is my normal.I'm not screaming.My shirt is on.Yeah.

28:46

Yeah.When you got to Groundlings, who were your people?there?What was your class?Who was studying when you were there?

28:54

Let's see.My direct peeps kind of coming up at the same time through the school were Catan and Sherry and I believe a little overlap with Chris Parnell.Oh, Jennifer Coolidge was kind of, she was actually ahead of us and did some shows with us as well.

29:28

And then so many of you started at SNL around the same time or at the same time.You and Sherry came in together?

29:35

Yeah.And then I'd known Molly from Molly Sweetly.I was with Molly yesterday.

29:47

I just saw her.She got the Hollywood Walk of Fame star.So cool.

29:53

Of course, Molly gave the greatest speech of all time.

29:57

Yeah.

29:58

Of just stream of consciousness, you know.Yeah.But told the story of how, and I met Will.I was working at the Melrose Baking Company.And Will, I met, I was with my friend Patricia and brought Will in and said, this is Will.And you said, hi.

30:15

And like, what can I get you?And you said, I will have a scone.Molly delivering that story, it like thunderous laugh.Yes.Like that written down on a piece of paper is not funny, but Molly delivering it.

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30:30

I love what you said about her.What did you say about her and like how her character felt like it was, The beginning of a new chapter for yourself.

30:38

Yeah, I just remember it was this moment whenshe first did Mary Catherine Gallagher.It was our fourth show that we'd ever done for that new cast of the 95, 96 season.And very much finding our sea legs, very much, we're all pretty brand new.It was eight new cast members and an entire new writing staff.And so the audience is very leery.

31:12

And, um, and it was, it was that first moment she starts doing the character and I'm at the beginning of the sketch, but I have to run.This is during dress rehearsal.I have to run to go underneath the paint cans there, which is a section of the studio where you're underneath the bleachers there.And I'm doing a quick change for the next thing.And she starts doing Mary Catherine for the first time.And I can feel the stands shake.

31:42

The audience is howling and screaming with laughter to the point where it almost, it felt emotional.It felt like, wait.

31:54

A somatic thing was happening, like there was a rumble in your stomach.

31:59

100%.Yeah.And I literally, as I thought about things to talk about Molly in terms of knowing, I thought, oh, that she kind of saved the show in a way.It was that first thing for this new group of where people were like, oh my God, that character is very real and funny and an outsider and dark.

32:23

Yeah.Yes.

32:25

And super physical.And she throws herself into a stack of metal folding chairs with no visible padding on her at all.It was like punk rock version of Lucille Ball.And for a while,you know, in comedy, it was like a busting through the door, I think, in a way.And I just remember thinking, okay, they like And it just created this momentum from that point on.

32:56

You know, if anything, the show is like so cyclical.We've learned that, like it's been said a million times, like when somebody leaves the show, it'll never be the same.It's been on for 50 years.It's like this cast is better than that cast or whatever.And I, you guys got bad reviews.Like the show is like Saturday Night Dead.

33:13

Yeah.

33:15

Do you remember any of the bad reviews?

33:17

I think Sherry was the only one who got good reviews.

33:18

Sherry got a good, do you remember?

33:20

Sherry had a great first show.Sherry was, I mean, Sherry was an amazing performer as well.Yeah, I was, my first show, I mean, I got, you know, it was, once again, I think it's part of another piece that informed the way I approach all of this because it was, it was like good news and bad news.You're one of the only cast members mentioned by name, Will.

33:48

Oh, that's pretty good.

33:50

It's got to be good.Here's the bad news.Most annoying newcomer right out of the gate from the first show.

33:57

You don't have to say their name, but do you remember the writer's name?

34:00

Okay, that's where you and I are different because I would like...

34:05

No, I don't remember that, but I remember it was one of those entertainment magazines that doesn't exist anymore.

34:11

Yeah.

34:11

It was like Entertainment Weekly, but not entertainment.Maybe it was Entertainment Magnet.

34:15

Or like Premiere or something like that.Yes, it was something like that.They were coming for you.

34:20

They were really not happy.And so, as we all know, we've all been hit with these moments where you're thinking, okay, do I just sit and wallow in this?And I don't know what it is about my DNA, but I just started cracking up going, you asked for it, buddy.

34:40

Yeah.

34:42

So then I just, back to sports, I just made it, I literally taped it to my wall.

34:47

Yes.

34:48

Most annoying newcomer.

34:50

But this is what a captain does.

34:51

And then I was, and then the only thing I know how to do is, I'm like, I'm just going to lean into it anymore, even more.Like if you think I'm annoying now, just wait.I'm going to push that overhead projector across your face, you know.

35:07

Right.

35:07

And so it just kind of fired me up.

35:10

Yes.

35:10

But there was no part of me that was like, what am I doing wrong?Oh, I better change things up.I don't have that move.

35:17

People have very, very strong opinions about comedy.Yep.Same with music.They're very similar, which is like, I love that song.I hate that song.I love that singer.

35:33

I'm just envisioning you really pouring over and circling someone's name.

35:40

There is a couple reviews.I got two reviews that I, like, I think, like, I whisper their names into my pillow every night, like Arya Stark.Like, I think about these two people and I'm just like, Someday we're going to see each other again.

35:55

There used to be a writer for the L .A.Times.Kay Farrell would remember her name.Oh, Kay's got it written down.Will's mom.

36:06

She had it so out for me that I opened up the L .A.Times to see a review of 40 -Year -Old Virgin.Sure.And I remember on Anchorman, Carell talking about that premise.

36:23

And we're all going, Buddy, that is hilarious.

36:26

He's like, yeah, I mean, I mean, you know, try to see if I can get this going.Anyway, I see this.I'm like, oh, I want to see what they think of Steve.The first two paragraphs are how this woman hates me.Hates.There's no one.

36:44

Yes.Goes off on Will Ferrell.Two solid paragraphs.

36:50

Oh, delicious.

36:52

Of how there's no one worse than him.He is unfunny.There's nothing redeemable about anything he does.That's the top of the article.That's why when I watched Steve Carell in four -year -old, I was so pleasantly surprised.It's like, what do I have to do with I guess because he was an anchormate or...

37:19

Oh, sure.She was like, now this is the kind of guy that I laugh at, not this stupid idiot.

37:25

It was like being in Las Vegas in your air conditioning room and you open up to a blast furnace of 110 degrees heat.It's like, that serves you.For going looking.Don't even read other people's movie reviews because they'll get you.But it wanted me to get I know what it feeds you.I wanted to wear a t -shirt of her name and just be photographed walking around town.

37:55

Yeah, I love that.That is, I think, something that you and I share, which is just like, there's a little bit of a tingle of like, it must be the challenger in us, but like some kind of like where it's like, because it's kind of, it's this thrilling thing where you realize like, I'm going to survive this.I can't explain it other than like, the worst has happened.Somebody doesn't like me and it's like going to be like, I don't know, there's something, there's a mischievous quality about it that's fun.And you just can't internalize it.What are you going to do?

38:30

It's like our most favorite review of Step Brothers was Roger Ebert, who said, this is the end of Western civilization.And he went as far as to say, do not buy this on DVD when it comes out.Do not support movies like this because it will make other people think they should make movies similar to this.So please.It was a it was like a call to action.

38:56

Yeah.Incredible.Oh, God.

39:00

That is so delicious.Because we'd gotten enough filled up on the love side that we could handle.

39:09

Yeah.

39:09

The hate.

39:10

Yeah.When you speak about Molly saving the show, I felt the same way about you in 2001.Like, I felt like we were, I was starting, you know, we joked about it earlier, but I was starting at a time when it was like, New York was hurting, comedy was over, people were like, we can't joke anymore, we can't do, we can't do, yeah.It was post your book, like, you had done Bush, we couldn't do any jokes, you know, poor Forte had to play Bush during those years, and it was like, what do we do?No one could kid about anything other than maybe pop culture.And even that, everyone was like, not now.

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39:52

We're too sad.And so I remember when you came out in patriotic underwear.Speedo?

40:00

Speedo underwear.Dolphin shorts.Dolphin running shorts.

40:05

Okay.

40:06

Tight shorts.Pulled way up.For air, not for dress.Dress, I kept them low.

40:13

Don't peek at dress, as Tracy Morgan likes to say.Don't peek at dress.So you hiked him for air.And I also remember that you would just run because you're a runner.You would just run like a half marathon or something.

40:26

The New York marathon.

40:27

Oh, okay.So you'd run the New York marathon.So you also were very chafed.Yes.You were really chafed.I forgot that part.

40:34

Yeah.And you were like, I'm very chafed.

40:38

Super chafed.

40:39

And you did a guy who was trying to be patriotic in his office.And same thing, Will.I remember the audience laughing and being like, oh, we're going to be OK.OK, comedy is going to be OK.The show is going to survive.I'm going to still have a job.

40:53

I forgot about the chafing.

40:54

You were chafed from running.OK, I want to talk about some stuff that you've done.I'm so bad at transition.By the way.Did you see how clunky that was, Trent?

41:07

That was rough.I was like, thank God.

41:09

I said, OK, stop.

41:11

OK, stop.But you know what?I think that is a great transition.It's super clear.

41:20

I said, OK, stop.

41:21

OK, stop.OK, I want to talk about something else.I'm going to turn this page.

41:29

I'm going to help muddle this transition too.

41:32

OK, please, please.

41:33

I was thinking about your time and how then you were, you became such a star yourself, but I'm not trying to, I'm not trying to kiss butt.This is a scientific analysis.

41:46

Okay.

41:48

Then you and Tina go on to, to do update and to bring that like so far forward.

41:55

And, and, but I was saying, God, Amy had to run around and do sketches and then do update Yeah, but you know what, it felt, it was so, um, I stayed very loose because I was always, you know, like nothing worse than having one line, nothing worse.

42:12

You didn't have to think about it because you're like totally

42:15

I would just be.

42:16

Oh, here comes this fun, this is a fun break right here.

42:18

Totally.

42:19

Wow.

42:19

Okay.And I wasn't as stressed about getting sketches on because I knew, I always knew I had to update.And so I felt like very, very like getting eventually to the looseness that I wanted.Maya and I talk about it, like we, we wanted like senioritis, that feeling of like half in, half out, like this is a dumb thing, this is a fun thing, but it's so hard to get there.And then you go, you leave SNL and then Will, you have the biggest string of comedy hits, like hit after hit, like Suitlander, like Elf, Old School, Anchorman, Stepbrothers, Helladink, and it's like, like, first of all, I can't even, I should have done the research.

42:56

Yeah.

42:56

Like how, how many years did you, like, it seems like that was all done in like 10 or 15 years, a movie a year at least.Right so many hits some pauses in between sure yeah, but just you are you are the for so many people, especially millennials, I would say, and maybe some Gen X, you are the face of their like five favorite comedy movies.And you've been in some good comedy movies.And we know that's hard.Movies are hard.Good movies are hard.

43:28

Good comedies are hard.Way harder than a drama, which is easy.Dramas are easy.What are you going to do?I'm looking at all three, all five cameras.Easy.

43:41

So easy.

43:42

Is there one up here?

43:43

You yell, they cry, like whatever.But I want to ask you about the ending.I don't know.

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43:51

By the way, I don't know what your question is, and I don't know how to answer.I don't know.

43:56

Yeah.It's such a run.Such a run.

44:01

I leave the show with...

44:05

No job?

44:06

No job.The only thing...

44:09

Zoolander?maybe?

44:11

Had already come out.

44:12

Oh, right.It had come out while you were there.That's right.Yeah.

44:14

And if you recall, it came out during 2001.

44:16

Came out during that.Yep.Tough time for comedy.

44:21

And didn't find its audience until much later.

44:24

Yeah, yeah.

44:26

I had been in That last year, I was leaving because I was filming old school.

44:35

Old school, that's right.You were going back and forth.

44:38

Old school, but old school had been held on to, which is not usually a positive endorsement from the studio.

44:45

They're like, this is great.Hold on.

44:47

This is so good.Let's keep it on the back burner.It's too good.No, it went from like a November release to like February of the next year.And the only other thing that was big time development was Elf.

45:12

So we didn't even know.We didn't even know.And then, yeah.

45:16

Well, let's talk about Elf for one second.

45:18

Okay.

45:19

It is the, I mean, it is a lot of people's comfort movie.It is definitely their favorite Christmas movie.It's so fucking funny.It's, it holds up so well.

45:28

Thank you.

45:29

Directed by Jon Favreau, who is like a Chicago improv guy that, you know, I came up with.And, um, It's so, what do you think?

45:38

It was interesting because John really wanted to make sure it had a timeless feel to it.And John really wanted to, and was 100 % right.But I'm coming off of SNL.I'm known, yes, there was like the cheerleaders and sketches like that, but I'm also known for a PG -13 pushing our brand of humor.And I'm sitting in my trailer, in my elf tights, looking in the mirror going, what have you done?I'm dressed as Buddy.

46:21

And I mean, this is early movie deals.I'm in the double, I'm in the double bagger.

46:26

I was gonna say, I picture you really crowding this trailer.

46:29

I'm with the space eater that's still built into the wall.And it's, we shoot the New York stuff first.So I don't even know if I know who this character is yet.I'm walking around in yellow tights, and oh my God, this could be it.This could be it.I was so funny, and then he made this movie.

46:53

We played a giant elf.Oh, poor, oh.

46:57

That's why it's so embarrassing.It's like, it could be like, he's a genius, classic Christmas movie forever, or the tights were the thing that killed his career.

47:05

But I remember going, this is either going to be a home run or it's going to be a complete strikeout.

47:11

Yeah.It's a very good example too of what you do so well, which is like the big and little of it all.Like you play big, but you're little or you're like, you've got no power, but you're cockier than you should be.Like, playing around with status, which you do in all your movies.Like Anchorman is a perfect example of that.Like one of many things you made with McKay, which is just like this.

47:30

deeply stupid, hilarious person who is disconnected to the world, but yet in charge and who is really, really mentally, mentally challenged, really has a hard time with life.And it just gets worse, not better, never changes.And all you guys did was just go for all of the funny and have the funniest people in it.Like Steve was here, we were talking abouthim in that movie and how he was just blown away by watching you work and being around all you guys.And like, and every single character in that movie is, Kechner and Rudd are so funny.

48:15

You love playing Ron, like you, you, you love doing him, right?What's fun about him?

48:22

Well, we did a podcast with him, which was so fun.Just because Ron can say whatever he wants and he doesn't have to have the right facts.He doesn't have to.In fact, I just did Ron recently down in San Diego because Bill Curtis, long time Chicago, who narrates the movie, was retiring from Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. I had gotten an email just asking would I send a video to congratulate Bill and he's so proud of his connection to that movie and he still has a standee in his house of Ron.And he's the sweetest guy.And I said, well, hold on.

49:12

When are you, where are you doing the show?He's like, we're doing it live down in San Diego.I'm like, what if I come and surprise him?And so they were like, would you actually, I'm like, yeah, that I, we owe him so much.And so we surprised the audience.

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49:26

Oh, that's huge.It's also such a good name, Ron Burgundy and, and also great that his suit was burgundy.Yes.Costumes are so fun.You love them.

49:37

I love a good costume.

49:38

Yeah.

49:39

Yeah.Yeah, you do.But Ron had other costumes, too.

49:41

He did.He had other suits.

49:43

He didn't just have the one.He wasn't that crazy.

49:45

No.But when you think about Ron, you think about him in his burgundy suit.

49:49

But he had some delightful tans.

49:51

I mean, he had like a fisherman turtleneck at times.A fisherman turtleneck.

49:55

He had a baby blue, like leisure suit.

49:57

He had a gorgeous blue suit that would bring out his eyes.He was a very handsome man.He was very handsome.Ron was very handsome.And then you and I did a movie.We did two movies together.

50:09

We did Blades of Glory.Yes.Which was so fun.And you had to learn how to ice skate.

50:14

I had to learn.

50:16

Or did you know a little bit?I had to learn.

50:18

But you didn't love it.If I recall.

50:22

I talked about it with Greta Lee on this pod a few weeks ago.You didn't love it.I didn't love it.I wasn't, I, I, I, I think I thought, you know, like you sit down at the piano and you think you're going to be able to play the piano.Like, I thought I'd be better at it.And I was like, fuck, I'm not.

50:39

I remember us meeting the real, you know, performers and just being like, we're never ever going to look like we can do this.Exactly.And you look, of all your movies, you look the tallest in Blades of Glory.You look so tall.Do you ice skate still?

50:58

Yeah.I'm too nervous now.

50:59

I let it, I let it.I have the skates.

51:02

Yeah.

51:02

Packed away somewhere.They were custom -made skates.

51:05

Yeah.You insisted on it.

51:07

I have my costume.

51:08

You do?

51:09

Framed.

51:10

You do?Yeah.

51:11

But Viv...

51:12

Will's wife.

51:13

Yeah, sorry.It's hanging in the garage.She won't let it come into the house.

51:19

She's like, I don't want it.

51:20

I don't really.I don't need it.

51:21

I don't want it.

51:23

I don't not like it, but it's going to hang in the garage.

51:28

And then we did The House together.Yes.Which was so fun to do with you.So much fun.Was a dream come true to make a movie with you.Did not really resonate.

51:39

Flop.Kind of a flop.

51:39

But yet, I still argue that movie's funny.

51:44

My kids often tell me that that, like, they're like, Mom, that was7 % on Rotten Tomatoes.

51:52

Oh, I didn't realize it was that.

51:53

And I was like, no way, 7%.Have they seen it?It's gone up.I just want you to know.Okay.I just checked today.

52:01

14?Did it double?It's 20%.Triple!We did it.It was a really fun movie.

52:09

It was a fun premise and a fun movie.How did that come on?

52:13

I don't know, but I'm sorry.

52:16

No, I'm sorry.

52:17

I feel like I flopped you.You spoke about Vivica.Vivica, your wife of now 25 years, probably?

52:23

25 going on 26.

52:25

Damn.Yes.Such a formidable, cool, smart, interesting person.Such a perfect match for you, Will.

52:33

Oh, yeah.

52:34

Swedish.

52:35

Swedish.

52:37

And that's what we have in common.My brother lives in Sweden.What are the stereotypes of Swedish people that are correct?

52:44

I think the stereotype that Swedes aren't funny is not true.Agree.They are very sly, dry sense of humor.

52:53

And as you know very well, and your brother knows, can also be though unintentionally direct.

53:02

Yeah.Very direct.I think intentionally.

53:06

Intentionally.

53:06

Yeah.

53:06

But they don't.But it's just a matter of fact.No, I'm just telling you.

53:12

No, you've got fats.

53:14

Yeah.

53:15

No, you were skinny and now you have fats.

53:17

Someone is very tired.

53:19

You look tired.Well, I don't think he would do well because he's ugly.What?He's ugly.

53:29

Or the polite version is like, They are a little bit ugly.

53:34

Terribly.You're right.

53:36

That's the polite version.

53:36

He's a little bit ugly.

53:37

My best story, this was when we were first taking trips there.I didn't have a lot of Swedish under my belt, but I had some nouns.And we were on one of these little tour buses, or it was a boat.It was a boat out to the archipelago, and they had one of these outside decks.And I saw this group of tourists, and they were looking and pointing.Then they sent a scout.

54:14

You could tell they sent a scout to go check to see if it was really me.And so I say to Viv, and we were with her cousin, Eva, and I was like, let's start, we should start speaking Swedish.I want to see.And so they started speaking and I just started going, ja, ja, uh -huh, ja, oh, kyckling, which is just chicken.Ja, oh, skor, which is shoes.I'm just saying nouns.

54:46

And I'm just like, yeah, chickling, yeah, chicken, yeah, shoes, yeah, hat, hmm, oh, bra, which is good.And I just would say these words.And he did this lap, and it was kind of, it was really fantastic bad movie acting.Did this lap where he did a slow look at me, and then he looked away.Then he looked back at the group, and he just went, not him, not him.

55:26

You look Swedish, Will.Which, the B side of that is Swedes listening to someone just go, chicken, shoe, shirt, good.

55:38

And they'd be like, history.He's obviously stupid.

55:42

They took him out for the boat ride.

55:44

He's a little stupid.

55:45

The other thing that's really annoying about the Swedes, and I'm sure Greg has encountered this, but the men all can either are gourmet cooks, can build a table, can repair the tire on your car.Yeah.Oh, the dishwasher's broken.Let us take a look.Well, the flowman valve is not working.Yes.

56:07

And take it apart.

56:08

Yes.

56:09

Put it, like...

56:10

Juran can fix it.

56:11

They can do everything.

56:13

Yes.

56:14

They can do everything.

56:15

They can do everything.And they're so tall and buff and they're very, and also home a lot.

56:21

Yeah.

56:22

They're just like, they're, they're, yeah, they're pretty, yeah.

56:25

And like, I sewed the button back on my shirt.I'm like, I can't sew a button.I should be able to, I'm 58, I should know how to sew a button.You would think?Yeah.Right?

56:37

Yeah.But they're like, Matias, we'll do it for you.

56:42

Let us do it.Let us do it.Or if you start to do it, they're also very precise.So if you start to, oh, I'll do like, let me do it.I don't want you to wreck it.That's okay.

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56:54

I'll do it.Code for it.You're going to break it.Let me do it.

56:58

And then the last thing, well, last two things before we get to the hawk.I just also, I love, I, the, um, film you made with Harper last year.It was such a beautiful, beautiful film, Will.Like, congrats on its success, on how it was received.Did you have people coming up to you still talking to you about it?

57:17

Still to this day.

57:17

What do they say when they?

57:19

Just the gift that keeps on giving.Just, just thank you.And what a, you know, I love it.What a beautiful, we've, we've gotten stories that have rangfrom, we watched with our trans child and it was the first time we talked about it as a family.We, um, it, it, it's just run the gamut and, uh, and it might've been the most, once again, like surprising in the sense that we didn't know what we were going to make or have.

58:00

I mean, it's a documentary.

58:02

Yeah.

58:04

But to have this thing where we literally got to the beach at Santa Monica and Josh yelled cut and we were like, Oh my God, that was so much fun, but I don't think there's a movie there.We both said that.And then the first time we watched it, and we're like, how did you do that?This is, how did you build a narrative structure out of this whole thing?To then from the festivals and the press, it was, everything was just like the most fun year.Yeah.

58:35

I love to hear that.That's awesome.

58:38

the coolest thing ever.

58:39

And, you know, Harper and I worked together at SNL and, you know, not only was it exactly like, was it exactly about that, about it's like somebody's journey and, but it's just the journey of friendship.Like how, how do we allow people to change?How do we allow them to get more of themselves?What is so beautiful about the film is it like doesn't shy away from that middle, um, middle space that allows not only Harper to talk about how she's feeling, but for you, like that middle space is kind of like treacherous.

59:16

For sure.

59:16

People get very afraid to stay there.They want to get on one side of the pool and they don't want to get it wrong.

59:20

Right.

59:21

And also same with Harper, like Harper's like figuring out like, where is she in this world, in this space?And the fact that you guys just kind of settled in there, it's suchgood storytelling.

59:31

Because she gave permission.She was like, let's, you're going to make, ask me whatever.I'm going to make mistakes.You're going to make like, okay.Okay.Are you sure?

59:42

Okay.What about this?You know, and what a kind of wonderful piece about just friendship and just being an advocate for, for anyone who's going through anything.

59:52

And that was kind of the, you know, the universal takeaway as well.

59:55

And you team up with Harper again on The Hawk, which is the name of your character, Lonnie Hawk.

1:00:04

Lonnie Hawkins.Lonnie the Hawk Hawkins.Okay.

1:00:08

Incredible.You have an incredible look in this show.

1:00:11

Yeah.

1:00:11

Incredible.Always a little sunburned?

1:00:15

Always.Got a little golf tan?Golf tan.

1:00:19

The great Autumn Butler doing your makeup for that.

1:00:21

Autumn Butler, craft, autumn pitch, like, what if Lonnie, what if Lonnie had a little tan line?Like, and we carry it the whole series.Perfect.And I said, done and done.

1:00:37

And Parnsey is in the show, right?Yes, yes.Well, we talked to Parnell.Okay.Yeah, we did.We talked to him before this, before we started because we always try to talk well behind someone's back and we try to get a question.

1:00:51

And before we get to his question, let's talk about Parnell for a second.What a, like, what a laser focused performer.Yes.So funny.What was fun about working with him?And you guys have worked together on many things for a long time and shared an office at SNL.

1:01:08

Yeah, Chris Parnell, comedically, yeah, he's so precise.He nails every performance, every nuance, everything.You give him a note and he just executes everything in such a funny way.

1:01:24

And he's a really good actor.

1:01:26

Yes, really good actor.And he's so funny in this because he just plays wonderfully uptight.

1:01:32

Yeah.

1:01:33

And gets so mad throughout.We have him screeching at times.literally screeching.Jerry Collins is writing on the show, too.

1:01:43

Oh, nice.Your third roommate.

1:01:45

And we were reminiscing how the three of us shared an office at SNL, and for a good half of the season, I don't know if you remember this, committed to wearing short -sleeved button -down white shirts, and we dressed as NASA mission control guys.Do you remember that?Every writing Tuesday, we would wear...

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Donni, Queensland, Australia

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1:02:04

I was ahead of my time, I think.Oh, but you weren't there yet.I don't think I was there yet.

1:02:08

That's right.

1:02:09

Yeah, I missed the fun.

1:02:10

It was Jerry's idea.Should we, every Tuesday night on the writing night, should we wear short -sleeved button -down shirts with black ties like we work for NASA?Yes, let's do that.

1:02:22

Okay, but his question to you was, who were your comedy idols growing up?

1:02:29

I loved staying up and watching The Tonight Show and I would, if there was a comedian on, I would stay and watch the rest.If there wasn't, I'd So I, that's where I would see Jerry Seinfeld for the first time.Uh, that's where, you know, Richard Pryor, uh, uh, you name it.That was, you know, before cable, that's the, that was one of the few outlets to get to see comedy.So I just kind of, and then I loved, I love those late seventies, early eighties sitcoms, like Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, all of that stuff.I'm watching these actors be so funny, but then It felt real and how are they doing that?

1:03:13

And like Andy Kaufman and Taxi.So it's, I didn't have that one person that I could put on a poster in my room.Bob Newhart.

1:03:29

Yeah, who you worked with in Elf.Well, you bring up the fact that when we grew up, TV was kind of the only place, like I didn't go to the theater.It was the only place to kind of find out or some like comedy records.And now, I mean, you have been like, you've been on the front line of a lot of like new media, you know, you're like Funny or Die and you like have, you know, Big Money Players, which is a huge, um, network of great podcasts, including Las Culturistas, which we love here.Like you, you've kind of like in our lifetime, the way people watch things and find people is so different than waiting for the one TV show at 1130 at night.

1:04:13

Yeah.

1:04:14

It's the, do you, what do you get out of producing?I mean, you're always, you're always trying to encourage like young, fresh voices, new POVs.You're always doing that.What do you like?

1:04:25

thing that you've probably gotten out of it, just being able to lend some currency to someone who, you know, has a fresh voice or you're just like, yeah, give them a shot.

1:04:36

Yeah.

1:04:37

Why not?

1:04:38

You just, cause I think you like, I mean, it's been said about you, but you love to laugh.Like you're really, you really want to laugh.

1:04:45

And I remember that when Jerry Seinfeld came to host SNL, he laughed so hard every sketch.I was like, Jerry, do you really?you're like the most generous host I've ever seen." He's like, he's like, I just love comedy.And that was my, that was a slight Jerry Seinfeld.I didn't want to, it was a, it was a light dusting.

1:05:12

Yeah.If, if you want more, you gotta, you gotta pay through the payroll.

1:05:15

Go to the paywall.

1:05:17

And you'll see full...

1:05:18

Full Seinfeld.Hair and makeup, everything.Yeah.But not, you can't, you don't get this for free.It's going to blow you away.Yeah.

1:05:23

That was just a little dash.I do regret that little dash of Jerry Seinfeld.But keep it in.Keep it in.

1:05:31

It was just a tiny...It was a tiny dash.It was so slight.I was like, why did I do that?It was so slight.Because you can't help it.

1:05:38

Because how do you tell someone when they're talking like this?

1:05:41

But I do remember going, yeah, we should all laugh at each other.if we think it's funny.

1:05:48

Yeah.Or if it's not.Also, sometimes if it's not funny, it's the best thing in the world.And I'll finish with this, which is one of my favorite things ever was at SNL.We would look at sketches that bombed.And my most favorite sketch I've ever watched that bombed is your Gabe Kaplan sketch, which we've talked about.

1:06:06

And for people under the age of 50, there was a gentleman named Gabe Kaplan on a show called Welcome Back, Cotter.

1:06:12

Another 70s sitcom.70s sitcom.

1:06:15

And he was huge.He would be like, What would it be like now?It would be like...

1:06:19

It was almost like equivalent of like a Larry David, maybe in a way.Yeah, sure.If he was the teacher in a classroom with all these, and a young John Travolta.

1:06:30

Yes, young John Travolta, incredible.Anyway, Will does a sketch where he plays a guy.

1:06:38

Oh, and he has a very distinct look.

1:06:39

Right, his look is like a very 70s.

1:06:42

Very 70s, big mustache.

1:06:44

Curly hair.

1:06:44

Big curly hair, sideburns.

1:06:46

And Will did a sketch that went into the SNL archives that we used to pull up, not only because, and this is going right back to the beginning, Will, because watching the captain fail is, makes you feel a lot better about yourself.But also the way in which everyone dug in deeper, the worse the sketch was going to me is like, that's true love.But Will pulleda guy who, what's the premise?

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Dave, Leeds, United Kingdom

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1:07:13

Premise is that I am a guy who works at an office.I think we made it an insurance company that Gabe Kaplan, the actor, is a client of.Okay.I look just like, I've cultivated, I'm such a fan of Gabe Kaplan.I've cultivated my look to look just like him.

1:07:35

Right.

1:07:35

And the sketch is, it's in the break room, and it's the day that Gabe Kaplan actually came into the office to sign some paperwork.And they're talking about how nice, it's John Goodman, it's Molly, it's Tim Meadows.

1:07:48

John Goodman, Tim Meadows, and Molly.

1:07:49

And they're talking about what a nice guy, he was so cool, he was so funny.I'm like, who are you guys talking about?Oh, Gabe Kaplan was here.I was like, what?Yeah.Why don't you guys come and get me?"

1:08:03

Like, what do you mean?Like, you guys, that's the reason why I'm working at this company.And I lose it.

1:08:10

And he starts to lose it.And there is not one laugh.I mean, there's not even a cough.

1:08:15

No, there's the smallest laugh in the world, though.Way up in the corner, you're at one point.

1:08:21

So the audience, number one, you're screwed.They don't know who Gabe Kaplan is.

1:08:24

They don't know who Gabe Kaplan is.

1:08:25

They don't appreciate that you're dressed just like him.And they don't understand why you're mad.

1:08:30

They don't understand why I'm mad.The thrust of the sketch is built off my tirade of why why didn't anyone I was in the bathroom?Why did anyone check the bathroom?Did you not think like they're like relax?We didn't think to check the bathroom like why wouldn't you and then know how much he means?I wanted to meet him.

1:08:51

What happens is Molly and you and Tim Meadows play it like a drama.You're in like afraid of Virginia Woolf or something.You play it like who's afraid of Virginia Woolf and you're both and Molly's going I'm sorry I didn't tell you and you're going how could you do this to me and it is the funniestand a lesson in commitment, but it's such a good example of how everyone is one thing away from bombing all the time.That's no matter who you are, like the bombing is so delicious.As I finish, anything right now that you're like, do you watch comedy?

1:09:23

Are you like, do you, is there anything you're watching right now that you love?

1:09:28

No.

1:09:29

I know.

1:09:33

I was trying to search my brain.I'm always looking.I really was trying to come up with something clever.I mean, right now I'm watching all the World Cup.Okay.I'm really into it.

1:09:44

It's very exciting.We went to one of the games out in LA.Okay, so fun.And it was electric.

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1:09:49

I also love when like the best players play great.Yeah.It's like Messi is just playing so great.Mbappe.

1:09:56

Mbappe.That's just fun to say.Yeah.Mbappe.

1:09:58

Mbappe.The M is not silent.

1:10:02

It's not silent.No, no.You lean into it.Mbappé.Mbappé.Luxuriate in the M. Yeah.

1:10:11

Well, Farrell, I think we did it.

1:10:15

We so did it.

1:10:17

I really do think we did it.We talked for a long time.

1:10:20

We really did, yeah.

1:10:21

Are these real plants?These are fake plants, fake food.

1:10:26

Gotcha.

1:10:27

fake plants, fake food.I didn't want the codependent responsibility of keeping these alive.

1:10:32

Yeah, that's fine.The compliment is it looked real out of the side of my eye.That's the compliment.And I was like, oh, that's not real.So that's a compliment.

1:10:41

You just want to be able to side it.Is there any food over there that looks real?

1:10:45

Hamburger with the sesame seed buns.

1:10:48

OK, let's just let's take a look at that before we go.

1:10:50

The sesame seed drew my eye.

1:10:53

So this is your typical.Take a look at that if you want to feel it.

1:10:59

Oh, no.It's got a good weight to it.And does it come apart?It's a...Will is a...Nope.

1:11:05

No, it doesn't.

1:11:05

It's all glued together.It's a cheeseburger with like a rubber cheeseburger, but it looks good, right?

1:11:10

It kind of looks appetizing.Yeah.

1:11:12

Now be careful.

1:11:13

Oh, I want to bite into it.

1:11:15

Be careful.Don't do it.Don't do it.Well, thank you for being here.Thanks, Amy.Thanks for doing this.

1:11:20

It's a pleasure.It's great to see you.I love spending time with you.

1:11:23

I love that you're a power player in this space now.

1:11:26

I mean, look at me.Can't you tell?Like every power player.

1:11:33

Yep.Yep.That's what sets you apart right there.

1:11:37

Thanks, buddy.Thanks for doing this.

1:11:39

That was so fun.

1:11:42

Thank you, Will Ferrell, for coming.You're the best.You're the king and the goat and the captain, as far as I'm concerned.And it's so, so fun to have you here.And and and I could have talked about all of your comedic choices for a very long time.But I just want to end in this polar plunge by talking once again about Bobby and Marty Culp, the very religious singers who sing sing popular songs in their own special way.

1:12:12

Do yourself a favor and go down memory lane and watch Ana Gasteyer and Will Ferrell play those two weirdos.And pay attention, please, to Will's bald cap, his outfits and his gentleness, because I think that people know Will as these characters that kind of yell and, you know, have these like giant bursts of energy.But Marty Culp is just He's just very self -contained.And it's such a funny, weird performance.And one of my favorite characters among the many that Will have have given us.So thank you for joining us, Will.

1:12:53

Thank you for listening.whoever's listening.And we'll see you soon on the next one.Okay, bye.You've been listening to Good Hang.The executive producers for this show are Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss -Berman, and me, Amy Poehler.

1:13:07

The show is produced by The Ringer and Paperkite.For The Ringer, production by Jack Wilson, Kat Spillane, Kaia McMullin, and Alea Zanaris.For Paperkite, production by Sam Green, Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss -Berman.Original music by Amy Miles.

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