WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.299 Welcome back to the Deep Dive. Okay, let's unpack 00:00:03.299 --> 00:00:06.559 this. Today, we're diving deep into someone we 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:09.759 all think we know, the one and only Will Ferrell. 00:00:10.480 --> 00:00:12.599 Most of us, you know, we immediately picture 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.640 Ron Burgundy, Buddy the Elf, Frank the Tank, 00:00:16.280 --> 00:00:18.820 these huge characters. Absolutely. They're iconic. 00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:20.679 But as we've been digging through the sources, 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.989 articles, interviews, research, Well, a much 00:00:24.989 --> 00:00:28.030 richer, more complex picture starts to come together. 00:00:28.230 --> 00:00:30.170 Yeah, it really does. We're aiming to go beyond 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:33.850 the punchlines, really uncover the formative 00:00:33.850 --> 00:00:36.450 experiences, the strategic choices, even the 00:00:36.450 --> 00:00:38.229 surprising stuff that's shaped him. And to this 00:00:38.229 --> 00:00:40.710 incredibly versatile figure in entertainment 00:00:40.710 --> 00:00:43.549 and, like you said, even sports, which is wild. 00:00:43.570 --> 00:00:46.130 Right. And what's so fascinating here, I think, 00:00:46.450 --> 00:00:50.030 is connecting those dots. Everyone sees the comedic 00:00:50.030 --> 00:00:52.869 talent, the sheer volume of work. It's incredible. 00:00:53.090 --> 00:00:55.509 Undeniable. But the full journey that often gets 00:00:55.509 --> 00:00:57.990 missed. We're talking like from a quiet childhood 00:00:57.990 --> 00:01:01.590 in Irvine, suburban kid, to being this prolific 00:01:01.590 --> 00:01:04.329 award winning producer and all these diverse 00:01:04.329 --> 00:01:06.409 personal interests like owning a soccer team. 00:01:06.849 --> 00:01:09.109 Yeah. The LAFC thing. We'll get into that. Exactly. 00:01:09.730 --> 00:01:13.859 So our mission really is to trace how those early 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:16.879 things, that inherent drive, how they kept influencing 00:01:16.879 --> 00:01:20.159 everything he did later, give you, our listener, 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:23.719 a kind of a -ha moment about him. Yeah, think 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:26.390 of this as your shortcut, basically. Understanding 00:01:26.390 --> 00:01:29.269 the guy behind the laughter under the surface, 00:01:29.650 --> 00:01:31.450 we're going to pull out those surprising facts, 00:01:31.549 --> 00:01:34.950 the pivotal moments that really define him, give 00:01:34.950 --> 00:01:37.650 you a fresh perspective on why he's had such 00:01:37.650 --> 00:01:40.090 an enduring legacy. You'll definitely see layers 00:01:40.090 --> 00:01:42.689 you maybe didn't expect. So let's pull back that 00:01:42.689 --> 00:01:45.629 curtain. Let's explore the unseen depths of Will 00:01:45.629 --> 00:01:48.870 Ferrell. OK, so to really get at what makes him 00:01:48.870 --> 00:01:50.569 tick comedically, we got to start at the beginning. 00:01:50.670 --> 00:01:52.730 Always the best place. John William Ferrell. 00:01:52.989 --> 00:01:57.310 Born July 16, 1967, in Irvine, California, heart 00:01:57.310 --> 00:02:00.310 of Orange County. His mom, Betty Kay, she was 00:02:00.310 --> 00:02:03.329 a teacher. His dad, Roy Lee Ferrell Jr., well, 00:02:03.409 --> 00:02:05.989 he's a musician, played sax and keyboards for 00:02:05.989 --> 00:02:08.030 the Righteous Brothers. Wow, the actual Righteous 00:02:08.030 --> 00:02:10.909 Brothers, that's pretty cool. Yeah, but interestingly, 00:02:11.349 --> 00:02:13.689 both parents were actually from Roanoke Rapids, 00:02:13.870 --> 00:02:16.210 North Carolina. They moved out to California 00:02:16.210 --> 00:02:19.810 in 64. Ah, okay, so that classic California story, 00:02:19.849 --> 00:02:22.530 but with this like... Southern heritage mixed 00:02:22.530 --> 00:02:25.689 in. Exactly. English, German, Irish ancestry, 00:02:25.990 --> 00:02:28.289 too. Kind of a blend. It's interesting, too, 00:02:28.289 --> 00:02:30.389 thinking about those really early experiences. 00:02:30.550 --> 00:02:33.250 Yeah. Things you have no control over. Like what? 00:02:33.569 --> 00:02:36.310 Well, not many people know this, but as an infant, 00:02:36.669 --> 00:02:39.389 he had something called pyloric stenosis. Oh, 00:02:39.490 --> 00:02:42.030 what's that? It's basically the opening between 00:02:42.030 --> 00:02:44.189 the stomach and the small intestine thickens 00:02:44.189 --> 00:02:47.169 up in babies, blocks food. He needed surgery, 00:02:47.430 --> 00:02:50.180 a pylormyotomy, really early on. Huh. Just a 00:02:50.180 --> 00:02:52.139 little detail, but it shows vulnerability, right? 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:54.080 Way before the comedy armor went up. Exactly. 00:02:54.460 --> 00:02:56.120 And then there was a home life stuff. His parents 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:58.060 divorced when he was eight. Right. He's always 00:02:58.060 --> 00:02:59.659 said it was amicable, though. Made the joke about, 00:02:59.659 --> 00:03:02.259 you know, two Christmases. Yeah. The classic 00:03:02.259 --> 00:03:06.759 kid line. But the reality, his dad's income as 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:09.939 a musician, it was unsteady. Show business, right? 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:12.219 Lots of travel, financial ups and downs. And 00:03:12.219 --> 00:03:14.500 that instability, it really stuck with young 00:03:14.500 --> 00:03:17.900 Will. Made him initially want a steady job. something 00:03:17.900 --> 00:03:20.020 outside of entertainment. That's fascinating 00:03:20.020 --> 00:03:21.840 because you see that later, don't you? The move 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:24.960 into producing, the business ventures. It's like 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:27.659 he's building that stability himself. Precisely. 00:03:28.060 --> 00:03:30.400 More control, more consistency than just acting 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:33.139 gigs alone provide. It makes total sense given 00:03:33.139 --> 00:03:35.580 that early experience. It is kind of ironic, 00:03:35.780 --> 00:03:38.039 though, that desire for stability coming from 00:03:38.039 --> 00:03:40.580 the son of a Righteous Brother musician. And 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:42.460 then how it may be pushed in towards comedy in 00:03:42.460 --> 00:03:45.520 a weird way because that environment in Irvine. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.560 He talks about it a lot. Safe, master -planned 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:52.479 Irvine. Yeah, almost too safe from his perspective. 00:03:52.599 --> 00:03:54.740 Right. He said there was no drama, so we had 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:56.979 to create it in our heads. His whole thing was 00:03:56.979 --> 00:03:59.240 just cracking his friends up, finding new ways 00:03:59.240 --> 00:04:01.740 to be funny. It wasn't humor born from, like, 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:03.979 tough circumstances or survival. It was humor 00:04:03.979 --> 00:04:07.159 born from boredom. Exactly. Breaking the monotony 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:10.240 of suburbia, making fun of the everyday, twisting 00:04:10.240 --> 00:04:12.460 it. That feels like the seed of his whole style, 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:15.460 doesn't it? Absolutely. Finding the absurd in 00:04:15.460 --> 00:04:19.199 the ordinary and just committing 100%. That Irvine 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.439 experience, you can see it echo through his whole 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:24.920 career. Even the wild stunts later on. Yeah, 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:27.920 that need to inject chaos. And you see it developing 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.040 through school too. Culverdale Elementary, Rancho 00:04:31.040 --> 00:04:34.259 San Joaquin Middle, University High in Irvine. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:37.300 He wasn't just the class clown though. No, he 00:04:37.300 --> 00:04:39.379 was pretty well -rounded. Kick her on the football 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:41.639 team. Yep, soccer team, captain of the basketball 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:45.439 team, student council. And voted best personality. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:48.620 No surprise there. Not at all. But those things 00:04:48.620 --> 00:04:51.379 matter, right? Leadership, teamwork, dealing 00:04:51.379 --> 00:04:53.420 with different kinds of people, skills you definitely 00:04:53.420 --> 00:04:55.259 need as an actor and especially as a producer 00:04:55.259 --> 00:04:56.980 later on. Oh, totally. You can see the direct 00:04:56.980 --> 00:04:59.839 line. He said third grade was pivotal. Why third 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:01.480 grade? That's when he figured out he could make 00:05:01.480 --> 00:05:03.819 friends just by like pretending to smash his 00:05:03.819 --> 00:05:06.160 head against the wall or tripping on purpose. 00:05:06.850 --> 00:05:10.110 That's so feral. Just pure physical commitment 00:05:10.110 --> 00:05:12.509 to get a reaction. Yeah, a very direct way to 00:05:12.509 --> 00:05:15.029 connect. And it got more elaborate. High school 00:05:15.029 --> 00:05:18.269 senior year, he and a friend did comedy skits 00:05:18.269 --> 00:05:22.029 over the school intercom. No way. With the principal's 00:05:22.029 --> 00:05:23.910 permission? Apparently. They wrote their own 00:05:23.910 --> 00:05:26.329 stuff. Shows that creative spark was there early. 00:05:26.730 --> 00:05:29.600 Definitely. Performing, writing? Then he goes 00:05:29.600 --> 00:05:32.000 off to USC, University of Southern California, 00:05:32.579 --> 00:05:34.680 studies sports broadcasting initially. Makes 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:36.639 sense, given the sports background. And the later 00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:40.720 obsession with sports. Right. Joined Delta Fraternity, 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:44.199 got known for pranks, dressing as a janitor in 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:48.519 friends' classes, streaking on campus, just fully 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:51.220 committed to the bit. Even then, that boundary 00:05:51.220 --> 00:05:53.920 pushing energy was always there. Yeah, but the 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.180 path wasn't like... A straight shot to start 00:05:56.180 --> 00:05:58.680 him after college? That's relatable, too. Oh, 00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:01.000 totally. He gets his degree in sports information 00:06:01.000 --> 00:06:04.339 in 1990, but quickly realizes, nah, broadcasting 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:06.879 isn't it. So the uncertainty phase. Big time. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:10.339 Takes a job as a hotel valet. Second day. Rips 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:12.579 a baggage rack clean off a van trying to drive 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:16.500 under a low beam. Oh my god. Just careless. Totally. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:20.720 Then he works as a teller at Wells Fargo. This 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:23.800 is classic. Comes up short in his drawer, like, 00:06:23.949 --> 00:06:28.689 $300 one day, $280 the next. Wow. Not exactly 00:06:28.689 --> 00:06:30.769 employee of the month. Not because he was stealing, 00:06:30.990 --> 00:06:34.769 just not suited for that structured thing. Yeah. 00:06:35.089 --> 00:06:38.370 It humanizes him, though, right? Future superstar, 00:06:38.970 --> 00:06:41.389 struggling with normal jobs. Absolutely. Makes 00:06:41.389 --> 00:06:43.930 you realize even incredibly confident performers 00:06:43.930 --> 00:06:46.410 can flounder outside their element. It wasn't 00:06:46.410 --> 00:06:48.410 working. And that's where his mom, Betty Kay, 00:06:48.529 --> 00:06:51.170 comes in, gives him that crucial advice in 91. 00:06:51.649 --> 00:06:53.730 Pursue something you actually like. Good advice. 00:06:53.829 --> 00:06:55.930 Leads him to LA. And this is where things quick. 00:06:56.430 --> 00:06:58.730 He auditions for the Groundlings. The legendary 00:06:58.730 --> 00:07:00.970 improv group. And gets in. He'd tried stand -up 00:07:00.970 --> 00:07:03.610 before, didn't really take, but improv. That 00:07:03.610 --> 00:07:06.149 was his sweet spot. Makes sense? Less about polished 00:07:06.149 --> 00:07:08.389 routines, more about character reacting, that 00:07:08.389 --> 00:07:10.490 physical stuff he excelled at. Totally. He loved 00:07:10.490 --> 00:07:12.589 the impersonations, started doing Harry Carrey 00:07:12.589 --> 00:07:14.610 there. Ah, the beginning of Harry Carrey. The 00:07:14.610 --> 00:07:16.949 Groundlings was his lab, basically, where he 00:07:16.949 --> 00:07:18.870 cooked up those characters. Like the Batabi Brothers, 00:07:19.089 --> 00:07:22.550 right? With Chris Catan. Exactly. Those two guys 00:07:22.550 --> 00:07:25.230 trying to pick up women at clubs became huge 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:27.410 in the Groundlings scene, obviously led to the 00:07:27.410 --> 00:07:29.870 movie later. And he needed flexibility back then. 00:07:30.029 --> 00:07:32.790 Didn't he have some side job? Yeah, his friend 00:07:32.790 --> 00:07:35.170 who later became his wife of Rebecca Paulin got 00:07:35.170 --> 00:07:37.810 him a job at an auction house. It was perfect. 00:07:37.930 --> 00:07:40.649 Gave him time for auditions, rehearsals. Smart. 00:07:40.949 --> 00:07:42.649 It wasn't overnight success. It was a grind. 00:07:42.949 --> 00:07:46.449 Totally. Small TV roles, grace under fire, living 00:07:46.449 --> 00:07:50.310 single, commercials. He was even a Moll Santa 00:07:50.310 --> 00:07:53.350 one winter. Moll Santa. That's amazing. Shows 00:07:53.350 --> 00:07:55.310 the hustle, right? Doing whatever it took before 00:07:55.310 --> 00:07:57.329 the big break. And all that grinding, all that 00:07:57.329 --> 00:07:59.610 creativity bubbling up at the Groundlings, it 00:07:59.610 --> 00:08:01.750 absolutely paid off. Let's straight to the big 00:08:01.750 --> 00:08:04.579 one. Saturday Night Live. The call -up. Yeah. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:07.019 But you got to remember, SNL was kind of in a 00:08:07.019 --> 00:08:10.720 slump then. Mid -90s, 94, 95. They needed fresh 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:12.800 blood badly. Right. The show goes through those 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.740 cycles. So a producer sees the Groundlings, spots 00:08:15.740 --> 00:08:18.420 Ferrell, Catan, Sherry O'Tary, invites them to 00:08:18.420 --> 00:08:20.920 audition for Lorne Michaels. And the rest is 00:08:20.920 --> 00:08:24.199 history. Pretty much. Ferrell joins in 95, stays 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:27.699 seven years, leaves in 2002. And by 2001, he 00:08:27.699 --> 00:08:31.339 was crucial. Highest paid cast member. $350 ,000 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:35.460 for the season. Wow. That speaks volumes about 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:37.779 his impact on reviving the show. Definitely. 00:08:38.139 --> 00:08:40.399 Because he really was central to that resurgence, 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:43.620 his consistency, the characters he created. They 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:45.559 were just unforgettable. He didn't just fit in. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:47.960 He became, like, a pillar of the show during 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:49.899 that era, helped bring it back to life. People 00:08:49.899 --> 00:08:52.620 still talk about his run as one of the best ever. 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:55.559 Oh, absolutely. That Grant Lin poll in 2014... 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:58.100 Yeah. ...voted him the best SNL cast member of 00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.879 all time. Think about all the legends who've 00:08:59.879 --> 00:09:02.200 been on that stage. That's incredible. It really 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:04.399 is. He just had that knack for creating things 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:07.620 that stuck, you know? Yeah. Became cultural shorthand. 00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.600 And the impersonations were a huge part of that. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:11.899 He wasn't just mimicking. He was capturing, in 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:14.279 essence, then... Dialing it up to 11. The George 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:17.299 W. Bush one. Yeah. Iconic. Totally. And it's 00:09:17.299 --> 00:09:18.919 interesting, he refused to meet Bush, right? 00:09:19.059 --> 00:09:21.240 Yeah. Said it was for comedic purposes, didn't 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:23.840 want it to soften the impression, and also his 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:25.460 political standpoint. Just don't want to meet 00:09:25.460 --> 00:09:28.639 that guy. Shows real integrity, sticking to his 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.259 guns for the comedy in his own beliefs. Definitely. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:34.710 And beyond Bush. Harry Carrey, obviously. Robert 00:09:34.710 --> 00:09:37.669 Goulet singing like Sisquo and Biggie. That was 00:09:37.669 --> 00:09:39.809 brilliant. So absurd. But he pulled it off with 00:09:39.809 --> 00:09:42.429 that weird sincerity. His range was nuts. Neil 00:09:42.429 --> 00:09:46.669 Diamond. James Lipton. Who apparently loved Ferrell's 00:09:46.669 --> 00:09:51.370 take. Yeah. Ted Kennedy. Janet Reno. Even Ted 00:09:51.370 --> 00:09:54.710 Kaczynski. Whoa, Kaczynski! That's dark, but 00:09:54.710 --> 00:09:57.470 I bet it was funny. He did Al Gore, Saddam Hussein, 00:09:57.629 --> 00:09:59.389 Fidel Castro. It wasn't just mimicry, like you 00:09:59.389 --> 00:10:01.409 said. He found the comedy in them. Blew it up. 00:10:01.669 --> 00:10:04.190 Made them cultural touchstones. He really distilled 00:10:04.190 --> 00:10:06.669 their essence and then just ran with it. Genius 00:10:06.669 --> 00:10:08.830 level stuff. And then the original characters, 00:10:09.429 --> 00:10:12.009 just as legendary, if not more so. Batabi Brothers, 00:10:12.110 --> 00:10:15.049 obviously, led to A Night at the Roxbury. But 00:10:15.049 --> 00:10:17.309 the one, the one everyone remembers. Or Howe 00:10:17.309 --> 00:10:20.269 Bell. Gene Frankel, the Blue Oyster cult cowbell 00:10:20.269 --> 00:10:23.190 player. That sketch is just peak SNL, pure commitment 00:10:23.190 --> 00:10:25.769 to absurdity. Modeled on their singer, Eric Bloom, 00:10:25.929 --> 00:10:28.029 apparently. But yeah, that sketch is immortal, 00:10:28.289 --> 00:10:30.509 still quoted constantly. And then there was Dale 00:10:30.509 --> 00:10:34.080 McGrew. the patriotic office worker. Oh yeah, 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:37.240 the half t -shirt, the really short shorts. He 00:10:37.240 --> 00:10:39.480 improvised turning the shorts into a thong right 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:42.419 before they went live. Yes, you could see the 00:10:42.419 --> 00:10:44.940 other cast members breaking. Sean William Scott, 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:48.240 the host, was losing it. That's pure feral pushing 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:50.860 it, surprising everyone, even his own castmates. 00:10:51.480 --> 00:10:54.440 Total commitment to the bit, live on air. Incredible, 00:10:54.860 --> 00:10:57.220 and there were others too. Tom Wilkins from Morning 00:10:57.220 --> 00:11:00.480 Latte, Ned, the twin brother of Mr. Ed, Marty 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:02.909 Culp, the music teacher. Craig Buchanan, the 00:11:02.909 --> 00:11:05.129 cheerleader. I've learned so many classics, often 00:11:05.129 --> 00:11:08.049 tapping into everyday stuff, anxieties, but making 00:11:08.049 --> 00:11:11.669 it hilarious. And his return visits as host solidified 00:11:11.669 --> 00:11:13.590 his legacy, got him into the five -timers club. 00:11:13.889 --> 00:11:16.129 Right. He kept coming back, often doing Alex 00:11:16.129 --> 00:11:18.409 Trebek and Celebrity Jeopardy. Always great. 00:11:18.789 --> 00:11:21.070 And even while he was dominating SNL. He was 00:11:21.070 --> 00:11:23.370 already dipping his toes into movies. Smart move. 00:11:23.490 --> 00:11:25.250 Yeah, setting himself up for the next phase, 00:11:25.730 --> 00:11:27.710 thinking out that steady job, maybe. Could be. 00:11:27.820 --> 00:11:31.059 He was Mustafa in Austin Powers back in 97. Right, 00:11:31.120 --> 00:11:33.240 that was a big one. Got him seen by a huge audience. 00:11:33.379 --> 00:11:36.139 Then in A Night at the Roxbury in 98, obviously. 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:39.820 Superstar 99. And Mugatu in Zoolander in 2001. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:43.519 Mugatu. So funny. Showed he could play that kind 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:46.100 of villainous, eccentric character, too. Definitely. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:48.340 These weren't just random roles. He was building 00:11:48.340 --> 00:11:50.279 connections, testing the waters, getting ready 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:52.659 for that jump to full -time movie star, laying 00:11:52.659 --> 00:11:54.860 the groundwork. And that groundwork paid off 00:11:54.860 --> 00:11:58.039 immediately. He leaves SNL in 2002, and boom, 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:01.000 he's a leading man. Old school in 2003 was the 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.419 game changer, wasn't it? Frank the Tank. Absolutely 00:12:03.419 --> 00:12:05.379 pivotal. The New York Times basically said the 00:12:05.379 --> 00:12:08.200 movie belonged to him, praised his hilarious, 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:11.360 anxious elitry. That movie just launched him, 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:13.200 put him right at the center of that whole, what 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:14.960 do they call it, the frat pack? Yeah, the frat 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:18.899 pack. Him, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.279 Vince Vaughn, Paul Rudd, the Wilson Brothers. 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:24.559 Owen and Luke. That group defined comedy for 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:26.559 a while there. They really did. A whole wave 00:12:26.559 --> 00:12:29.419 of that kind of irreverent, often improvised, 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:32.460 guy -centric comedy. And Farrell was arguably 00:12:32.460 --> 00:12:34.879 the king of it. And man, did he have a run after 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:37.960 old school Elf. Yeah. 2003 instant holiday classic. 00:12:38.259 --> 00:12:40.299 Showed that sweet, sincere side mixed with the 00:12:40.299 --> 00:12:42.340 physical comedy. Got another MTV Movie Award 00:12:42.340 --> 00:12:45.850 nom for that. Then Anchorman in 2004. Maybe his 00:12:45.850 --> 00:12:49.149 most quotable movie ever. Stay classy, San Diego. 00:12:49.409 --> 00:12:52.110 It's up there. Just pure, committed absurdity. 00:12:52.549 --> 00:12:55.330 Talladega Nights in 2006. That was his biggest 00:12:55.330 --> 00:12:58.490 opening back then, right? $47 million. Yep. Huge 00:12:58.490 --> 00:13:01.909 hit. Then Blades of Glory 07, Step Brothers 08. 00:13:02.190 --> 00:13:04.049 Step Brothers. Okay, maybe that's his most quotable. 00:13:04.230 --> 00:13:05.990 Took a while to become a cult classic, though. 00:13:06.070 --> 00:13:08.129 It did. Mixed reviews at first, but audiences 00:13:08.129 --> 00:13:11.690 loved it. Made $128 million. That chemistry with 00:13:11.690 --> 00:13:16.450 John C. Reilly was just magic. So good. Reilly's 00:13:16.450 --> 00:13:18.730 cockiness and Pharrell's like puppy dog thing. 00:13:19.110 --> 00:13:22.769 Exactly. Then the other guys in 2010. His earning 00:13:22.769 --> 00:13:24.990 power back then was insane. 40 million bucks 00:13:24.990 --> 00:13:28.340 in 2005 alone. Just a comedy juggernaut. But 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:29.840 what's really interesting is that during that 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:32.220 same period, he wasn't just doing broad comedy, 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.500 he stretched himself. Right, the dramatic stuff. 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:36.600 Yeah. Which surprised a lot of people. Stranger 00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:39.220 than fiction in 2006. That was really good. Showed 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:41.820 he could do nuanced, serious work. Got a Golden 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:43.919 Globe nomination for it. Yeah, playing the guy 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.860 whose life is being narrated, it was poignant. 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:48.179 Really challenged perceptions, showed real depth. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.519 He did Everything Must Go Later 2 in 2010. And 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:53.799 Downhill with Julia Louis -Dreyfus more recently. 00:13:54.339 --> 00:13:56.820 Critics took notice. The magazine named him one 00:13:56.820 --> 00:14:00.059 of their Actors of the Year in 2006. He wasn't 00:14:00.059 --> 00:14:02.659 content just being the funny guy. His collaborations 00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:05.639 were key, too. Adam McKay, obviously. They wrote 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:07.799 a lot of those hits together. Yeah, Step Brothers, 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.580 Talladega Nights, the other guys. That partnership 00:14:10.580 --> 00:14:13.179 was incredibly fruitful. The other guys with 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:15.740 Mark Wahlberg was great, too. Unexpected pairing, 00:14:15.799 --> 00:14:19.320 but it worked. Made over $140 million. Good reviews. 00:14:19.850 --> 00:14:22.470 And even recently showing up as the Mattel CEO 00:14:22.470 --> 00:14:25.350 in Barbie last year. Right. A smaller role, but 00:14:25.350 --> 00:14:28.529 in this massive cultural phenomenon, shows he's 00:14:28.529 --> 00:14:30.710 still relevant, still fits into these big moments. 00:14:30.929 --> 00:14:33.149 Absolutely. Keeps him connected to new audiences. 00:14:33.389 --> 00:14:35.409 And we shouldn't forget his voice acting. That's 00:14:35.409 --> 00:14:38.169 a whole other side of his career. True. He was 00:14:38.169 --> 00:14:40.929 Bob Oblong in the Oblongs way back. Voiced Ted, 00:14:41.090 --> 00:14:42.870 the man in the yellow hat in Curious George. 00:14:43.309 --> 00:14:46.470 Yeah, the gentle side. Then Megamind in 2010. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:49.360 He stepped in after Robert Downey Jr. and Ben 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:51.220 Stiller were attached. Yeah, and he was great. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:53.440 Played that villain turned hero thing really 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.860 well. And president of business in the Lego movie. 00:14:56.279 --> 00:14:58.899 Everything is awesome. He was hilarious in that. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:02.159 Did the sequel, too. And he's going to be in 00:15:02.159 --> 00:15:04.919 Despicable Me 4. So he's still very active in 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:07.200 animation. Yeah. Shows his range, right? Not 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:08.940 just physical comedy, but vocal performance, 00:15:09.120 --> 00:15:12.309 too. OK, so let's shift gears a bit. Beyond the 00:15:12.309 --> 00:15:15.370 acting, which is huge, obviously. He's also this 00:15:15.370 --> 00:15:18.669 innovator, this producer, this businessman, almost. 00:15:18.769 --> 00:15:20.809 Yeah, that side is really important to understanding 00:15:20.809 --> 00:15:23.610 the whole picture. Funny or Die, for instance, 00:15:24.110 --> 00:15:26.549 launched in 2007 with Adam McKay. That was so 00:15:26.549 --> 00:15:28.970 ahead of its time. A streaming site for short 00:15:28.970 --> 00:15:32.009 comedy, user -generated stuff, before YouTube 00:15:32.009 --> 00:15:34.330 was even that big. Totally. Showed a real understanding 00:15:34.330 --> 00:15:37.289 of where digital media was going. Very entrepreneurial. 00:15:37.389 --> 00:15:40.139 And it kicked off with The Landlord, right? Him 00:15:40.139 --> 00:15:43.440 and McKay's toddler daughter, Pearl. Yes. Pearl 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:46.019 is the swearing, beer -drinking landlord. It 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:48.179 went massively viral. Caused a bit of a stir, 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:50.220 though, didn't it? Child psychologists weren't 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:52.759 thrilled. A little bit. McKay defended it, said 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:54.600 she was just repeating things, didn't understand. 00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.960 They even did a follow -up, good cop, baby cop, 00:15:57.419 --> 00:15:59.840 joking about her retirement. It was groundbreaking 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:02.080 stuff for online comedy back then, showed how 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.480 celebrities could use that new space. Definitely 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:07.419 set a precedent. But Funny or Die was just one 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:10.419 piece. His producing work is extensive and really 00:16:10.419 --> 00:16:13.059 successful. Award -winning successful. Right. 00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:16.279 He clearly has that steady job drive working 00:16:16.279 --> 00:16:19.000 behind the scenes, too. Mm -hmm. He and McKay 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:22.259 exec produced East Bound and Down for HBO. Where 00:16:22.259 --> 00:16:25.320 he played Ashley Schafer. You're something else. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:28.019 Hilarious recurring role. He also produced The 00:16:28.019 --> 00:16:31.279 Chris Gethard Show. Dead to me. But the big one, 00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:34.129 production -wise, has to be succession. Absolutely, 00:16:34.169 --> 00:16:36.929 straight up drama. And as an executive producer, 00:16:37.350 --> 00:16:40.370 he won four prime time Emmys for that show. Four 00:16:40.370 --> 00:16:43.590 Emmys? That's huge. Shows his taste isn't just 00:16:43.590 --> 00:16:45.490 limited to comedy. He knows good storytelling. 00:16:45.690 --> 00:16:47.889 Definitely. And he got more Emmys for the live 00:16:47.889 --> 00:16:49.870 in front of his studio audience specials too. 00:16:50.590 --> 00:16:52.950 He's a genuine powerhouse producer, understands 00:16:52.950 --> 00:16:55.009 the whole process. But the partnership with McKay, 00:16:55.029 --> 00:16:57.769 which was so successful, it ended pretty dramatically, 00:16:57.850 --> 00:17:00.639 didn't it? Yeah, in 2019. They split personally 00:17:00.639 --> 00:17:02.879 and professionally. Closed down Gary Sanchez 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.140 productions. And the reason was about casting, 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:08.400 right? The Jerry Buss role in Winning Time. Exactly. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:11.700 McKay cast John C. Reilly, a role Farrell really 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:14.420 wanted, apparently without telling Farrell first. 00:17:15.160 --> 00:17:18.200 That's tough. Shows how complicated those long 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:20.900 -term creative partnerships can be. Trust and 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:23.259 communication are everything. It really highlights 00:17:23.259 --> 00:17:25.859 the human element, even in big Hollywood deals. 00:17:26.380 --> 00:17:30.180 Personal feelings, perceived slights. They matter. 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:33.420 So, beyond producing, he also hit Broadway. He 00:17:33.420 --> 00:17:36.599 did. Made his debut in 2009. A one -man show. 00:17:36.960 --> 00:17:39.779 You're welcome, America. A final night with George 00:17:39.779 --> 00:17:42.720 W. Bush. Timed perfectly, right? Started performing 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:46.140 the day Bush left office. Brilliant timing. Satirical 00:17:46.140 --> 00:17:48.700 genius. It got great reviews, earned him a Tony 00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:50.859 nomination for best special theatrical event. 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:53.720 Wow. Commanding a Broadway stage solo. That's 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:55.940 another level. And he keeps finding new platforms. 00:17:56.279 --> 00:17:59.430 Like podcasting. The Ron Burgundy podcast. Launched 00:17:59.430 --> 00:18:02.109 in 2019, bringing that character back in a totally 00:18:02.109 --> 00:18:04.430 different format. And it worked. Super successful. 00:18:04.589 --> 00:18:06.650 Still going. Shows Burgundy's appeal isn't just 00:18:06.650 --> 00:18:09.170 visual. It really demonstrates how he leverages 00:18:09.170 --> 00:18:11.930 those iconic characters smartly. And that led 00:18:11.930 --> 00:18:14.210 to him launching his own podcast network, Big 00:18:14.210 --> 00:18:17.049 Money Players Network, with iHeartRadio later 00:18:17.049 --> 00:18:20.609 that same year. A podcast mogul now. Planning 00:18:20.609 --> 00:18:23.789 like 10 comedy podcasts. Yep. Always innovating. 00:18:24.130 --> 00:18:26.700 Always looking for the next platform. Never standing 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:29.339 still. His recent movie choices show that too, 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:32.099 still mixing it up. Eurovision Song Contest in 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:34.380 2020, that felt like a real passion project. 00:18:34.680 --> 00:18:37.019 Oh yeah, combining the comedy and music, then 00:18:37.019 --> 00:18:39.319 spirited with Ryan Reynolds, the Christmas musical. 00:18:39.519 --> 00:18:41.279 And Will and Harper, the documentary from this 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:43.440 year, taking that road trip with his friend Harper 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:45.539 Steele after she came out as trans. That feels 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:48.559 really different, personal, vulnerable. Exactly. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.099 Shows a willingness to engage with important, 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:53.950 socially relevant stories. Shows growth, I think. 00:18:54.190 --> 00:18:55.930 Of course, not everything works. Land of the 00:18:55.930 --> 00:18:58.970 Lost back in 2009 was a big flop. Yeah, happens 00:18:58.970 --> 00:19:01.250 to everyone. And that Russ and Roger go beyond 00:19:01.250 --> 00:19:03.650 movie got canceled because of the hashtag MeToo 00:19:03.650 --> 00:19:06.710 stuff around Russ Meyer. Shows how external factors 00:19:06.710 --> 00:19:09.609 can derail things too. It's a long career. There 00:19:09.609 --> 00:19:11.970 are always ups and downs. OK, so we've covered 00:19:11.970 --> 00:19:15.369 the career path, the evolution. Let's look a 00:19:15.369 --> 00:19:18.380 bit more at Will Ferrell. The person. Off screen. 00:19:18.599 --> 00:19:20.940 The man behind the elf suit. He married Viveka 00:19:20.940 --> 00:19:23.980 Paulin, Swedish actress, back in August 2000. 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:27.160 They met in an acting class in 95. Nice. Full 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:29.779 circle. Yeah. They have three sons, born 04, 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:33.819 06, 10, live in New York and Orange County. keeping 00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:36.579 those California roots. And he's pretty active 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.920 physically, right? Runs marathons. Yeah. Boston, 00:19:38.920 --> 00:19:42.039 New York, Stockholm. That takes discipline. And 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:44.119 he does significant charity work, too, like the 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:46.660 Scholarships for Cancer Survivors campaign. Using 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:49.400 his platform for good. Seems genuinely committed 00:19:49.400 --> 00:19:51.579 to that. His public persona is interesting, too. 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:54.099 Remember that time Autograph magazine called 00:19:54.099 --> 00:19:56.880 him the worst celebrity autographer? Huh. Yeah. 00:19:56.880 --> 00:19:59.579 What was that about? Was he just rude? Not exactly. 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:02.299 He admitted he likes to taunt them playfully. 00:20:02.650 --> 00:20:05.690 Ask stuff like, how badly do you want this? Prove 00:20:05.690 --> 00:20:08.269 you're my biggest fan. Makes him earn it. That 00:20:08.269 --> 00:20:11.069 sounds exactly like him. Injecting that awkward 00:20:11.069 --> 00:20:13.930 performative thing into a totally normal interaction. 00:20:14.289 --> 00:20:16.230 Creating drama out of boredom again. Totally. 00:20:16.490 --> 00:20:19.130 And politically, he's pretty clear where he stands. 00:20:19.730 --> 00:20:23.009 Supports the Democrats. Campaign for Stacey Abrams 00:20:23.009 --> 00:20:26.549 in Georgia. And we mentioned he wouldn't meet 00:20:26.549 --> 00:20:29.829 Bush, but he did meet the Obamas. endorsed Eric 00:20:29.829 --> 00:20:32.150 Garcetti for L .A. mayor. Yeah, so he's engaged 00:20:32.150 --> 00:20:33.950 civically. And again, we're just laying out the 00:20:33.950 --> 00:20:35.910 facts here, not taking sides on the politics 00:20:35.910 --> 00:20:38.549 itself. Right. Standard disclaimer. But the thing 00:20:38.549 --> 00:20:42.089 that seems to combine his personality, his love 00:20:42.089 --> 00:20:45.549 of performance and just pure fun is sports. All 00:20:45.549 --> 00:20:47.750 of the sports stuff is fantastic. It's way beyond 00:20:47.750 --> 00:20:50.029 just being a fan. Remember the Billy Ray Rojo 00:20:50.029 --> 00:20:53.190 Johnson stunt? 2010 minor league baseball game. 00:20:53.369 --> 00:20:55.809 The Venezuelan pitcher. Yeah. It was a fake mustache 00:20:55.809 --> 00:20:59.049 that fell off. And the bag of beer. Yes! Throws 00:20:59.049 --> 00:21:01.309 one pitch, starts a fake fight, gets ejected. 00:21:01.390 --> 00:21:04.430 All for charity. You're a feral genius. Turning 00:21:04.430 --> 00:21:06.529 a baseball game into performance art. And that 00:21:06.529 --> 00:21:09.390 was just the warm -up. The 2015 MLB Spring Training 00:21:09.390 --> 00:21:12.430 Day. That was epic. Playing for 10 different 00:21:12.430 --> 00:21:15.970 teams in one day. 10 teams, 5 games. Played all 00:21:15.970 --> 00:21:19.680 9 positions, including DH. Dodgers, Giants, Angels. 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:21.720 And didn't he actually get someone out pitching? 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:24.619 Yep. Pitch for the Dodgers, face one batter, 00:21:24.859 --> 00:21:27.700 got him out. Career ERA. That's incredible. Even 00:21:27.700 --> 00:21:30.920 fouled off a 92 mile per hour fastball. All for 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:33.259 Funny or Die. Raising money for cancer charities. 00:21:33.900 --> 00:21:36.400 The commitment is just unreal. Blending comedy, 00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:39.180 celebrity, passion, and charity perfectly. His 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:41.680 love for the LA Kings, the hockey team, is pretty 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:43.940 intense too. Oh yeah. He's always there, front 00:21:43.940 --> 00:21:46.940 row, does funny videos for their Jumbotron. The 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:49.059 checkered face paint during the playoffs last 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:51.420 year, that went viral. Totally, became a whole 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:54.039 meme. And then he commentated a period of a Kings 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:57.240 game as Ron Burgundy. In character for a whole 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:00.960 period. Yep, live on TV, just fully embracing 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:03.519 the absurdity. merging his passions. Amazing. 00:22:03.740 --> 00:22:05.940 And then there's the soccer ownership, LAFC. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.779 Right. Part owner since 2016, along with Mia 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:11.599 Hamm, Magic Johnson. Why soccer? He talked about 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.140 loving how global it is, so many amazing players, 00:22:14.359 --> 00:22:16.920 top flight leagues. Said he hopes MLS can eventually 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:19.200 be on par with Europe. It seems like a genuine 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:21.440 passion. And it paid off. They won the MLS Cup 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:24.500 in 2022. So Will Ferrell is an MLS champion owner. 00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:27.099 Added to the list, it's such a unique achievement. 00:22:27.579 --> 00:22:29.420 Speaking of achievements, the awards and honors 00:22:29.420 --> 00:22:32.099 go beyond just acting stuff, too. Yeah. Besides 00:22:32.099 --> 00:22:34.680 the Emmys for producing the Golden Globe nom, 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:37.740 the Tony nom, he got the Mark Twain Prize for 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:40.599 American humor in 2011. That's a huge deal for 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:42.660 a comedian. The Kennedy Center honor. Massive. 00:22:42.799 --> 00:22:45.480 Honored by everyone. Conan, Riley, Stiller, Jack 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.180 Black, Rudd, McKay. Got a star on. the Hollywood 00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:51.880 Walk of Fame in 2015, an honorary doctorate from 00:22:51.880 --> 00:22:54.940 USC. And that MLS Cup. It just shows the breadth 00:22:54.940 --> 00:22:56.740 of his impact, way beyond just making people 00:22:56.740 --> 00:22:59.400 laugh in movies. He succeeded in so many different 00:22:59.400 --> 00:23:03.420 fields. Yeah. Hashtag jag tag outro. Wow. We've 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.500 really covered a lot of ground journeyed through 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:08.740 the unseen depths like we said from that kid 00:23:08.740 --> 00:23:11.799 creating humor and Irvine to this like Multi 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:14.400 hyphenate force and entertainment sports business 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:16.759 what really stands out for me anyway is just 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.859 his commitment to whatever he's doing absolutely 00:23:18.859 --> 00:23:21.220 whether it's a character a stunt owning a team 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:24.200 He goes all in that authenticity shines through 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:27.400 doesn't it it really does and connecting it back 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:31.390 his whole career feels like Proof of the power 00:23:31.390 --> 00:23:33.789 of just embracing your own weirdness your own 00:23:33.789 --> 00:23:36.789 unique voice and just committing Yeah that ability 00:23:36.789 --> 00:23:39.769 to dive in whether it's silly or serious or physically 00:23:39.769 --> 00:23:42.450 demanding it Resonates because you feel it's 00:23:42.450 --> 00:23:45.150 genuinely him it makes you wonder How much of 00:23:45.150 --> 00:23:48.049 all that success comes back to that kid in Irvine 00:23:48.049 --> 00:23:50.150 just trying to break the boredom? That's a great 00:23:50.150 --> 00:23:54.690 question that fundamental impulse to inject drama 00:23:54.690 --> 00:23:58.079 to commit fully Maybe that's the engine behind 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:01.019 it all. Could be. So for you listening, think 00:24:01.019 --> 00:24:03.559 about Will Ferrell's journey, Irvine to LAFC 00:24:03.559 --> 00:24:07.299 owner. Ask yourself what seemingly random things 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:09.920 in your own life, your own interests might actually 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.680 be connected by some deeper passion, something 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:14.000 just waiting for you to commit to it fully and 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:16.019 unapologetically. You might be surprised where 00:24:16.019 --> 00:24:17.880 those connections lead. A great thought to end 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.519 on. Thank you for joining us on this deep dive. 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.859 It was fascinating. See you next time.