Transcript: Will Ferrell on Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Hello everyone. Welcome to another

episode of Good Hangs. 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. 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 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 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

ask. You know how this works. Okay,

Parns, are you there?

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>> [music]

[music]

>> Parns?

>> Hey Amy, how are you?

>> Hi!

>> Hi, I haven't seen you in so long.

>> 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.

>> No, no. I I saw Tina and waved at her,

but that was kind of like the extent of

it, too. That was the case for

>> Well,

>> a lot of people.

>> Tina has that restraining order against

you, so you're not allowed to get close

to her.

>> Yeah, I mean, I I felt like she would

have let me if I had made an effort, but

yeah no.

>> not get into this again.

>> I I I need to talk about it, okay?

>> [laughter]

>> Thanks for doing this. I'm 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.

>> We met at the Groundlings, um gosh, uh

'96,

but it really we really didn't connect

um until I started on SNL, and then we

shared an office, he and I and Jerry

Collins.

>> Yeah.

>> Um had an office, the gentleman's

quarters.

>> That's right. That was the name of the

office.

Um So, you did not perform together at

the Groundlings? Like you were in

different time periods there?

>> Yeah, he was he was a he was ahead of

me, and I saw him perform, uh 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 um

and then, you know, got onto SNL, I

think, 3 years before I got on, I think.

>> What was it like to share an office

together? What do you remember of those

times in the late '90s being at the

show?

>> 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. Um we

kept a bottle in the office, and uh

that was a that was a fun ritual. And

sometimes we would kind of dress up

um a little bit in similar outfits.

>> [laughter]

>> But it was a it was a great such a great

welcome to the show.

Um 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 I remember asking us I was looking for

for comfort

assurance and I said, "Do you when you

first started, you know, did it take you

a while to to get rolling and get up to

speed?" He's like, "No, I just started

right away."

And I was like and I

I was like, "Okay, all right, well,

that's that's cold comfort for me, but I

knew it was I knew it was true cuz I'd

seen his first show, you know.

>> I mean, SNL was like the perfect job for

Will. He's really built for that show

cuz 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.

>> It's true. I know. He also he just, you

know, has always come across as pretty

fearless to me and uh

just so confident, but you know, never

arrogant about it, you know, just like

this is this is who I am. I got it. I'm

confident, you know, I can do this.

>> Yeah. What film and television have you

guys done outside of SNL together?

>> Um well, Anchorman was the main thing.

Um I think The Hawk this this upcoming

series

>> Who do you play in that show, Parns?

>> I'm 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.

>> Excellent.

>> Um I I have quite a bit of animosity

>> [laughter]

>> towards

Will's character.

>> Is your character the kind of guy that's

that that's like upset at how Hawk

doesn't take the sport seriously?

>> 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

that happened between us

uh, many years ago.

>> Great.

>> And it sort of comes back to the surface

again and yeah, so we've I've got a

personal grudge against him. And I'm

also just really an uptight

kind of, [laughter] you know.

Which just comes so naturally to me, you

know.

>> [laughter]

>> Before we go, I 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, um, frankly.

But, um, what what what what is so great

about him as a person cuz I find him to

be a really wonderful person as well.

What would you say?

>> He's a good laugher, you know, I think

that says a lot about a person, too.

When 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.

>> Yeah.

>> You know.

>> Is there a question, um, you have for me

today to ask him anything you're

thinking of?

>> Oh, look at Parns, he's so prepared.

>> I

>> Always.

>> Will has been for 4 hours thinking about

this since last [laughter] night. Um,

I wrote a list of 50 questions and I

narrowed it down to 25

and then to 10 and then final five.

Um, I guess one question would be, um,

who were were your comedy idols, your

heroes growing up? Who who did you look

up to comedy-wise?

>> Mhm.

>> Um, that would be one and then the other

one might be have you always been so

confident?

>> Yeah, I I think that's a good one. I It

feels like if stuff is going down, you

would kind of turn to Will. Like, "What

are we going to do?"

>> Right. Right. No.

>> Well, the last thing I'll say, Parns, is

I'll never forget. I've had so many

moments with you like where I've been

next to you where fun and weird things

have happened and

a lot of people don't know that

Parns used to do a great sketch.

Probably not Probably

a a sketch that probably wouldn't be

able to happen today.

Many like many things.

>> Oh well, it was a very gentle nice guy

called Merv the Perv. And he was

he I I loved him.

And but Merv would just kind of show up

to parties. How would you describe Merv?

>> Well, you know what the name came from

Will actually cuz I was kind of doing a

version of Merv at a some some party.

He's like, "Oh, Merv the Perv."

And I was like coming on to him or being

something weird and [laughter]

and that's where the title came That's

where the name came from.

>> 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 perv. Well, I know Parns

that Will's going to be so happy that we

talked.

>> I'm so happy to get to contribute a

little bit. So, yeah. Thanks for asking.

>> 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. Bye.

>> Okay, take care.

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>> Hi.

>> Hi.

>> [laughter]

>> How I

>> very excited about you coming today.

>> so excited to be here, to come here.

>> How are you?

>> But wait, I'm trying to remember

>> Is today a big press day for you? Like

do you have to go do a bunch of things

now?

>> We're We rolled this into We're going up

to Connecticut tomorrow.

>> Nice. ESPN?

>> No.

>> What's up there?

>> Travelers Insurance golf tournament.

Don't [laughter] you know? Amy, come on.

>> Well, we are going to talk about your

new show, The Hawk, in which you play a

golfer.

>> and then we've been We've been grabbing

stuff for Lonnie's Instagram in

character. So Lonnie

Lonnie walks around a lot and talks to

people.

>> Well, I was wondering if I was going to

be

>> No.

>> interviewing Lonnie today.

>> laugh too much. [laughter]

>> But you love to be in character.

>> but then sometimes as you as you know

>> Sure.

>> with our comedy lives, you sometimes

think of a really good idea, and then

you just makes you tired.

>> But I got to say, of all the idea of all

the people that have to do ideas, you

are probably and still remain one of the

least tired.

>> [laughter]

>> I'm hanging in there.

>> You are the least tired.

>> Yeah.

>> Because you love to work.

You love You're Well, you have worked

really hard since I've known you.

>> Yes.

I have.

>> You have.

>> But some of it

is smoke and mirrors.

>> Sure. But like you're also out there

plugging and you you get a kind of a

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. Kind of relaxes you.

>> You like to be embarrassed.

>> than

And I always remember what you said. You

were like what we do is embarrassing.

>> Yes.

>> [laughter]

>> But you don't seem ever seem

embarrassed.

>> Remember saying that? You're like comedy

is embarrassing.

>> Well, I think I I hopefully quoted

Ted Danson cuz that was his quote.

>> Okay.

>> gave him that pro- those props.

>> you said I remember you said

before 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?"

>> [laughter]

>> 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.

I [laughter] was like I was like, "Okay,

great."

>> It's kind of interesting.

>> Yep.

>> Yep.

But Ted Danson

He said it in terms of acting cuz we

were him and I were in a we're doing a

scene one time and somebody was acting

and he in a such a sweet way. He's such

a nice guy. He said, "Oh god, acting is

embarrassing." And I said, "It is." 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.

>> Mhm.

>> And you have a captain energy. I mean, I

think some of it might just be because

you're tall.

>> I think a lot of it is.

>> [laughter]

>> You're just like tallest guy in the

room.

>> Yeah, and they're like, "What are you

going to do, Will?"

>> [laughter]

>> Why is everyone looking at me? Don't

look at me.

>> 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 one on the set, and you

you're

always professional, always working

hard, but you're not taking things too

seriously or yourself too seriously,

ever.

>> No.

No. I look back

uh and that was not intentional.

>> Yeah.

>> But I rem- 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.

>> Yeah.

Totally. [laughter]

That we've won the jackpot.

>> 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.

>> Yes.

>> And let's have moments where like

no one's ever going to see. It's just

for us.

>> Yes. It makes everybody feel so relaxed.

And that was the thing that I watched

when I

>> But you always seemed 100% relaxed.

>> really did I really did I've told you

this, but I really did watch, you know,

in our our year overlapped we only had

one year together on the show, which is

so weird, isn't

>> It's so weird.

>> Um

uh but

>> And was it the

Was it

>> It was 2001.

>> One.

>> A great year for comedy.

>> Great year.

>> [laughter]

>> People were ready to laugh. A great time

to start a job in comedy.

>> That's right.

>> And it was like kind of coming into kind

of coming into a school and seeing the

cool senior and being like, oh, that

senior is cool not only cuz 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 it was really

important. So okay, I'm going to go back

in time.

>> Okay.

>> Get ready.

>> [laughter]

>> So grab something just in case you

faint.

Um

>> A little fake hamburger.

>> You Are you a Are you like You were like

a popular kid. Best personality you got.

>> Uh I did.

>> Congrats.

>> Yes,

I got best personality.

>> I mean, that could be a real curse.

>> to

>> It can be a curse.

>> did not lead to dating prowess.

>> Okay, got it.

>> or

>> That's good.

>> girlfriends or anything like that.

>> Okay, girls were like, "Will

>> Yeah, oh that was so funny.

But I don't like you."

>> They were like, "Oh my god, Will is so

funny."

>> so funny.

>> to him all day about my boyfriend.

>> What?

>> What a funny joke.

>> [laughter]

>> No.

>> Okay, that makes me feel better. So you

were God is fair, so you were like cra-

crushing it on the personality, not on

the ladies.

>> Nope.

>> What were sports did you play in high

school?

>> You name it, I played it.

What was your best sport? What

were you best at?

>> Well, I was captain of the basketball

team.

>> Dang.

Captain.

>> averaged 1.2 points a game.

>> [snorts and laughter]

>> Once again, not a joke.

>> Okay, so you don't have a good shot or

>> No, I just I learned

>> [laughter]

>> I had a pretty good shot, but I learned

I stayed in the game longer by playing

defense,

>> [laughter]

>> rebounding,

>> Yeah.

>> setting screen, doing all the things

that no one else wants to do.

>> Fundamentals.

>> Fundamentals. [laughter]

Team player.

>> Very sexy.

>> Captain.

>> Very sexy.

>> fundamentals, yes. Yeah.

>> Uh

>> Right, captain.

>> was You know, I played baseball. I was I

was

>> What ball did you play for how long?

>> kicker on the football team. Cuz I

played a lot of soccer, so

>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

>> Uh but I loved I loved team sports.

>> Yeah, and you you know, your dad was

working with the Righteous Brothers.

>> Mhm.

>> And I

The best thing about SNL is I get to

know you get to know everybody's

parents. I've met

>> Right. Right.

>> your parents so so many times. They're

so lovely.

>> Yeah.

>> And

but you like kind of I read somewhere

that like you were like I don't really

know about this this like idea of show

business cuz it's just very

>> very scary.

>> Scary. What

Why did it seem scary at the time?

>> Because I I just saw the

there was no stability in the life of a

musician.

>> Yeah.

>> And I would watch how

um

and I would sit and watch my dad play

going this is the most talented he was

like

like

my hero like so

funny and

>> Mhm.

>> and great piano player and like who

could be better than that?

>> Mhm.

>> And

so I never understood when he would have

a nightclub gig that would he 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. 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 I I was

I was

I was committed to having what I thought

in my little kid brain was a real job.

>> Which do you remember what you thought

it was going to be?

>> But this is what I knew. These are the

elements. You carry a briefcase.

>> Absolutely.

>> [laughter]

>> You carry a briefcase.

>> Of course.

>> You go into a building.

>> Yes, it has to be inside a building.

>> You go into building and you have either

a

a cubicle

>> Yeah.

>> or you have an office.

>> Yeah.

>> And um and you go

>> Yeah.

>> You go for a period of time.

>> Yep.

>> You talk to people. Then you walk home

with your briefcase. I didn't have a car

>> in in the city

>> in my little kid [laughter] brain.

>> have Do you remember there used to be

like punch cards? That was a big like 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.

>> I I didn't I think I was still I think I

was executive level.

>> [laughter]

>> In my little kid brain, yeah.

>> You opened up a leather binder of some

sort, signed something.

>> Yeah.

>> So, yeah. So, so that was that was the

that was the game plan even though I

don't know what that meant.

>> So, how do you then jump from like I'm

going to have a safe job with a

briefcase? Cuz you're you are you're

playing sports, you're tall, you're a

white straight guy. Like those guys go

into briefcase jobs.

>> jobs, yeah.

>> Then you're going to Then how do you get

to the Groundlings? How do you decide to

take classes? What do you think it was?

>> death by a thousand cuts. I mean, it was

literally just a little bit here, a

little bit cuz I wasn't

>> [gasps]

>> I didn't entertain any sort of

performance

uh

>> No plays in high school?

>> in high school. And yet I would I

remember remember our high school

had a really good drama department.

Yeah. And I went with friends to go

watch the show they were doing and I

forget what it was.

But but I remember watching going, "This

is good and these kids are good and that

would be fun." But

>> Any comedy sneak out at all cuz I think

sometimes it just like squirts out and

you can't help it. Like did you get up

in front of the class? Were you funny?

>> I did um

what the the kind of thing that kind of

opened

began the crack in the door.

>> Open the comedy briefcase.

>> open the comedy briefcase.

>> [laughter]

>> And you know what's inside of the comedy

one of those uh snakes that pops out at

you.

>> [laughter]

>> Right?

>> Yeah. Hilarious.

>> Yes. Hilarious.

Um

were

uh assemblies, school assemblies.

>> Yes.

>> And uh a good buddy of mine, Bart, and I

would write Basically, when I look back,

they were sketches.

>> Yeah.

>> And we wrote uh these performance pieces

for the assemblies.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> And [clears throat] we would we would

imitate the teachers. We would do

We performed as the Schmenge Brothers

from SCTV.

No other kids knew who the Schmengies

were.

But thought

Oh, I love when you guys do the Schmiga

Schmiga Doogles. [laughter]

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. That was

our big fundraiser.

So these were like little radio skits.

And

um

And the defining moment for me when I

look back was sitting at home. I knew we

had

We'd 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 3 hours

crafting this little dumb paragraph.

And I It was 11:00 and I'd started at

8:00 and it felt like

it felt like 10 minutes.

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."

>> 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? Like Were

you

>> I was uh

I parked cars.

I worked one day at Disneyland.

>> [laughter]

>> Did you get fired?

>> No.

>> Quietly not asked back?

>> I [laughter]

No.

No. I had I was too afraid. I had my

friend John call and quit on my behalf.

>> [laughter]

>> Which was really funny cuz

>> Pretend to be you or

>> Yeah. I was I was For For some reason I

was so embarrassed to call. I went

So I got a job and you You paid for the

orientation day.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> Sure.

>> To work at Disneyland. 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 or

And I I find out, "Oh, no, those guys

work there for 8 years before they get

So, they assign me uh one of the front

uh

kiosk for selling tickets.

>> Yeah.

>> At the same time I had a rival offer

>> [laughter]

>> to work at a friend's surf shop.

>> Oh.

>> A friend who was managing a surf shop

right down at Newport Beach. Exactly

same pay.

>> Yeah.

>> $5.50 an hour.

>> Yeah.

>> But I was too embarrassed to call up

Disney Disneyland. So, my friend John

called on my behalf

and said, uh I will I will be

quitting after 1 day.

And that uh And they asked, "Okay,

reason for leaving?" And he said, I He

said, "I have a tryout with the Dallas

Cowboys."

>> [laughter]

>> And they went, "Thank you very much."

So, somewhere there's a file at Disney

corporate that says, "Will Ferrell

worked for 1 day.

Reason for leaving, tryout with the

Dallas Cowboys football team."

>> [laughter]

>> And they probably were like 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."

>> [laughter]

>> Did he make the Cowboys?

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 [laughter] out for the Dallas

Cowboys. How good is that? Anyway, I

wish them the best.

>> Waiter ever?

>> No.

>> Never waiter.

>> I knew I would

>> I knew. [laughter]

>> Um when you started Groundlings, what

year was that? Do you remember what year

it was?

>> That was right after um

I'd graduated from USC.

And I

>> What was your degree?

>> In sports information. So, that was the

trying to bridge the gap between

real job and entertainment.

>> Yeah.

>> So, as I'm

as I'm coming kind of in college, like

you said, it's it's oozing out of me in

places. And 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're talking about

getting out, doing bits,

>> Yeah.

>> trying to make my friends laugh,

pretending to be other people that

I wasn't in order to make So, I would

show up to a friend's class as um

I found like some overalls

>> Mhm.

>> and I would interrupt this friend's

class

as a maintenance worker

>> [laughter]

>> 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 be like, "Can I help

you?"

And I'd [laughter] look at him

and I'd 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, but like

blowing smoke in his classroom

but [laughter] like

My heart is pounding in my chest, but

it's finding it I'm it's thrilling and

I'm only making three people laugh.

>> 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.

It's pretty It feels quite dangerous cuz

everyone's like, "What are you doing in

here?"

>> And I would have [laughter] I would have

I worked my work study job was at the

humanities audio-visual department.

>> Mhm.

>> So, occasionally I may have to push an

over overhead projector across campus.

And I would tell my buddy like, "Hey,

when are you Are you guys all going to

sit in the commons area? I may

I may be pushing an overhead projector

>> [laughter]

>> at around 12:30. He's like, "Okay,

good." And he my friend Emo became my

shill.

>> Mhm.

>> 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 Emo would be like, "Look

at that guy. What an idiot."

And people would be like [laughter] they

would gang on. Like he would he would

get the crowd to go, "Yeah."

>> [laughter]

>> And and people who didn't know me would

would laugh in a mean way.

>> Yeah.

>> Once again, I found it thrilling.

>> Thrilling.

>> That these people had no idea that it

was all

it was all actually jokes on them.

>> It makes sense to me because jokes on

them.

>> Jokes [laughter] on them.

>> You're the idiot.

>> Oh, I walked around campus with my pants

down. I knew my pants were down.

>> [laughter]

>> I knew it.

>> I knew it. I pulled them down myself.

>> [gasps]

>> But it but it it makes more 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

>> [laughter]

>> and he makes me laugh." Like I've been

with you when people come up to you and

people you invoke this like

feeling of people where they're like

it's almost like, "Will, I knew I was

going to see you. You're my friend." You

know, they people feel really connected

[laughter]

and

>> And then they're

>> let down when I'm not doing the bits.

>> Well, I mean, there's nothing but a let

down. Oh, yeah.

>> You've experienced many of

>> are like, "Oh, wow, you're quiet. You're

not telling jokes."

>> Oh.

What am I going to do with that?

>> Yeah. Like, "Oh, you are you are you sad

today?" It's like, "No, I'm just this is

my normal. I'm not screaming. My shirt

is on."

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Um when you got to Groundlings, who were

your peeps there? What was your class?

Who were Who were Who was studying when

you were there?

>> Who Let's see.

Um

my direct peeps kind of coming up in the

same at the same time through the school

were

uh

Kattan

>> Yeah.

>> and Sherry

>> Mhm.

>> and

uh

I believe a little overlap with Chris

Parnell.

>> Mhm.

>> Um

Uh oh, Jennifer Coolidge

>> Uh-huh.

>> was kind of she

She was actually ahead of us, but and

did some shows with us as well.

Uh

>> And and then

so many of you started at SNL around the

same time or at the same time. You

Sherry came in together?

>> Yeah.

>> And

>> And then I'd known Molly

>> Right.

>> from

uh

>> [laughter]

>> Molly sweetly

Uh I was just I saw it I was with Molly

yesterday.

>> saw her. She got this Hollywood Walk of

Fame star. [clears throat]

>> And

of course Molly gave the greatest speech

of all time.

>> Yeah.

>> of just stream of consciousness, you

know, 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 my friend

Patricia brought Will in and said, "This

is Will." And you said, "Hi, and like

you can I get you?" And you said, "I

will have a scone."

>> [laughter]

>> Molly delivering that story it like

thunderous lap.

>> Yes.

>> Like Like that written down on a piece

of paper is not funny, but [laughter]

Molly delivering it

>> I love what you said about her. What

What did you say about her and like how

her character felt like it was the

beginning of a new chapter for the show.

>> uh I I just remember it was it was

this moment when she first did Mary

Katherine Gallagher. It was our fourth

show that we'd ever done

uh for that new cast of the '95-'96

season and

you know, 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. Um

And so

the audience is

very leery

and

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 a section of

the [clears throat] studio where you're

underneath the bleachers there.

And I'm doing a quick change for the

next thing and she starts doing Mary

Katherine for the first time and I can

feel

the stands shake. The audience is

howling

and and screaming with laughter to the

point where

it almost it felt emotional. It felt

like

>> [sighs]

>> Wait.

>> A somatic thing was happening like there

was a rumble in your stomach.

>> 100% [laughter]

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

where people were like

oh my god, that character is

very real and funny and an outsider and

dark.

>> Yeah. Yes and

>> [clears throat]

>> super physical.

>> And she throws herself into a stack of

metal folding chairs with no visible

padding on her at all like

it was like punk rock version of Lucille

>> Yeah. And

for a woman

>> Yeah.

>> you know, in comedy stru- like like

>> Yeah.

>> like oh

busting through the door I think in a

way and I I just remember thinking

okay, they they like

I

and it just created this momentum from

that point on.

>> Mhm. 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 review like the show was

like Saturday night dead.

>> Yeah.

>> Um do you remember any of the bad

reviews?

>> one who got good reviews.

>> yeah. Do you remember cuz

>> Cheri had a great first show. Cheri was

I mean Cheri was

amazing performer as well.

Um

yeah, I I I was

my first show I mean I got you know, it

was it once again I think it it's part

of another piece that informed the way I

approach all of this because

it was

there was like good news and bad news.

>> [laughter]

>> You're one of the only cast members

mentioned by name, Will.

>> [laughter]

>> Oh, that's pretty it's got to be good.

Here's the bad news.

Most annoying newcomer. Right out of the

gate from the first show.

>> you you don't have to say their name but

do you remember the writer's name?

>> No.

>> Okay, that's where you and I are

different

>> [laughter]

>> because I would like

>> No, I don't remember that but I remember

it was one of those

one of those entertainment magazines

that doesn't exist anymore.

>> Yeah.

>> It was like Entertainment Weekly but not

Entertain- Maybe it was Entertainment

Mag. Remember there used to be

>> Premiere or like something like

>> like that and they were like

>> They were coming for you.

>> They were really not happy. And so

as we all know, we've all been hit with

these moments where you're like you're

you're thinking

what do I 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,

>> [snorts]

>> "You asked for it, buddy."

>> Yeah.

>> Here

So then I just back to sports, I just

made it bull I literally taped it to my

wall.

>> Yes.

>> Most annoying newcomer.

>> But this is what a captain does.

>> I was I I And then the only thing I know

how to do is I'm like I I'm just going

to lean in it 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.

>> Right.

>> And so it just kind of fired me up.

>> Yes.

>> But I 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.

>> People have very very strong opinions

about comedy.

Same with music. They're very similar

which is like, "I love that song. I hate

that song. I love that singer. I hate

their voice." Like everyone feels really

um

like they own their their

feelings about things.

>> I'm just envisioning you [laughter]

really pouring over and circling

someone's name.

>> There is a couple reviews. There I got

two reviews that I like I

I think like I whispered 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."

>> to be a writer for the

>> [laughter]

>> There used to be a writer for the LA

Times. Um Kay Farrell would remember her

name.

>> Okay, Kay's got it Kay's got it written

down. Wells mom.

>> She had it so out for me

that

I

>> [laughter]

>> I saw

I opened up the LA Times to see a review

of 40-Year-Old Virgin.

>> Sure.

>> And I remember

on Apatow and

Carell talking about that premise and

we're all going,

"Buddy, that is hilarious." He's like,

"Yeah, I may I may

you know, try to see if I can get this

going." Anyway,

I

>> [laughter]

>> 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 Yes, goes off on Will

Ferrell. Two solid paragraphs.

Uh

>> Oh, delicious.

>> there's no one worse than him.

>> [laughter]

>> He is unfunny. There's no There's

nothing redeemable about anything he

does.

>> [laughter]

>> That was That's the top of the article.

That's why when I

watched Steve Carell in 40-Year-Old I

was so pleasantly surprised.

It's like, "What do I have to do WITH

>> YOU'RE NOT EVEN

>> I guess because he was in Anchorman or

>> Oh, sure. She was like She was like,

"No, this is the kind of guy that I

laugh at, not this stupid idiot."

>> [laughter]

>> I It was like a hot It was like opening

Like It was like being in Las Vegas and

you're in your air-conditioning room and

you open up to a blast furnace of 110°

heat. [laughter]

It's like, "That serves you

>> for going looking

>> for going Don't even read other people's

movie reviews cuz they'll get you."

>> [laughter]

>> I mean

>> But it wanted me to get

I don't I don't

I wanted to wear a T-shirt of her name

and just be photographed walking around

town.

>> Yeah, I love that. That is the That is

the I think something that you and I

share, which is just like if 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 somebody

and it's like going to be like I I know,

there's something there's I there's a

mischievous quality about it that's fun.

Yeah.

>> Um

and

>> It's

>> and you don't internalize you just can't

internalize it. Like what are you going

to do? Like

>> It's it's like the our most favorite

review of Step Brothers was Roger Ebert

who said this is the end of Western

civilization.

>> [laughter]

>> And he went as far as to say do not buy

this on DVD when it comes out. Do not

support [laughter] movies like this

because it it will make other people

think they should make movies similar to

this. [laughter]

So please. It was a it was like a call

to action.

>> Yeah.

>> And

>> [laughter]

>> Incredible. Oh God, you and McKay.

>> McKay.

That is so delicious. Only because we'd

gotten enough filled up on the love side

that we could handle

>> Yeah.

>> the hate.

>> Yeah.

>> [applause]

>> When you speak about Molly saving the

show,

I felt the same way about you in 2001.

Like I felt like we were

I I was starting

>> Yeah.

>> You know, we joked about it earlier, but

I was starting in 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 are we

doing?

>> Um

>> No one could kid about anything other

than maybe pop culture and then not

everyone was like not now.

>> Right.

>> We're too sad. And so

>> Understandable.

>> I remember when you came out in

patriotic

>> [snorts]

>> underwear, Speedo? Speedo underwear.

>> dolphin shorts. Dolphin running shorts.

>> Okay.

Tight shorts.

>> Pulled way up.

>> And you had just

>> For air, not for dress. Dress I kept

them low.

Live show.

>> Don't peek at dress.

>> Don't peek.

>> Morgan likes to say, don't peek at

dress. So you you hiked them for air.

>> for air.

>> And I also remember that you had just

run cuz you're a runner.

You had just run like a half marathon or

something.

>> uh the the New York Marathon.

>> Oh, okay. So you'd run the New York

Marathon. So you also were very chafed.

>> Yes.

>> You were really chafed.

>> that part.

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

chafed. [laughter]

>> Super chafed.

>> And you did a patriot is he a guy who's

trying to be patriotic in his office his

office and same thing well, I remember

the audience laughing and being like

oh, we're going to be okay. Okay,

comedy's going to be okay. This show's

going to survive. I'm going to still

have a job.

>> about the chafing.

>> You were chafed from a

>> from running.

>> Okay, I want to talk about

>> [clears throat]

>> some

stuff that you've done. I'm so bad at

transitions.

>> By the way,

>> did you see how clunky that was?

>> was rough. I was [laughter] like, thank

god that's

>> I said, okay, STOP. OKAY, STOP.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK THAT is

a great transition. It's super

[laughter] clear.

>> I said, okay, stop.

>> Okay, stop.

>> Okay, I want to talk about something

else.

>> I'll turn this page.

>> to turn [laughter] my page?

Should we turn my page?

>> what I thought about?

Amy, let me I'm going to help model this

transition too.

>> Please.

>> I was thinking about

your time and how

then you were you became such a star

yourself. But I'm not I'm not trying to

I'm not trying to kiss butt.

>> [laughter]

>> This is a scientific analysis.

>> Okay.

>> But

then you and Tina go on to to do update

and to bring that like so far forward

and and but I was thinking, god, Amy had

to run around and do sketches and then

do update.

>> Yeah. And you know what? It felt it was

so um

>> But you and Tina

>> loose because I was always you know,

like nothing worse than having one line.

>> to yep. You didn't have to think about

up because you're like

>> Totally. I would just be Oh, here comes

this fun this is fun break.

>> Right here in a world away. Wow, okay.

>> And I wasn't as stressed about getting

sketches on because I knew I always knew

I had 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 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 [laughter] after hit,

like Zoolander, like Elf, Old School,

Anchorman, Step Brothers, Holiday Inn,

it's like like

First of all, I can't even I should have

done the research.

>> Yeah.

>> Like how how many years did you do like

it seems like it that that was all done

in like 10 or 15 years, a movie a year

at least.

>> Right.

>> So many hits.

>> pauses in between.

>> Sure.

>> Yep.

>> 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.

Good comedies are hard.

Way harder than a drama, which is easy.

>> Yeah, let's

>> Dramas are easy. I mean, what are you

going to do?

>> [laughter]

>> I'm like you

>> at all three all five cameras.

>> Like drama is so easy, like

>> one up here?

>> Like you yell, they cry, like whatever.

But

I'm I I want to ask you about the end

>> way, I I don't know what your question

is, and I don't know half the answer.

>> [laughter]

>> I don't know.

>> Yeah, it's such a such a run.

>> Because

>> Such a run.

>> I leave the show

with

>> No job?

>> No job.

The only thing

>> Zoolander maybe?

>> It already came out.

>> Oh right, it had come out while you were

there. That's right.

>> And if you recall, that came out during

>> [laughter]

>> Came out during 2001.

>> 2001.

>> Yeah, tough time for comedy.

>> And And didn't find its audience till

much later.

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Um

I had been in

uh that last year second I'd filmed No,

that last year

>> I was leaving cuz I was filming Old

School.

>> right. You were going back and forth.

>> So Old School, but Old School had been

held on to, which is not

usually a positive endorsement from the

studio.

>> They're like They're like this is great,

hold on.

>> Oh, this is so good.

Let's keep it on the back burner.

It's too good.

>> [laughter]

[gasps]

>> No, it went from like a November release

to like February of the next year.

>> Mhm.

>> [laughter]

>> And the only thing that was to

big time development was Elf.

>> I mean Elf is such a good

>> And then

>> Yeah. Well, talk Let's talk about Elf

for 1 second.

>> Okay.

>> It is the I mean, it is a lot of

people's comfort movie. It is definitely

their favorite Christmas movie. It's so

funny. It's It holds up so well.

>> you.

>> Directed by Jon Favreau, who was like a

Chicago improv guy that you know, I came

up with in Um It's so What do you think

>> interesting cuz 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 no

I'm known Yes, there was like

the cheerleaders and sketches like that,

but I'm also known for

a PG-13

pushing R brand of humor.

Uh

and

I'm sitting in my

trailer

in my elf tights

>> [laughter]

>> looking in the mirror

going

what have you done?

>> [laughter]

>> I'm dressed as Buddy.

And I'm in

This is

early movie deals. I'm in the double I'm

in the double banger.

>> picture you really crowding this

trailer.

>> the with the space heater that's still

built into the wall.

>> Mhm.

>> And [clears throat] it's we shoot the

New York stuff first. So, I don't even

know if I know who this character is

yet.

>> [laughter]

>> Just walking around in the

>> I'm walking around in yellow tights and

Oh my god.

>> [laughter]

>> What?

>> Yeah.

>> This could be it.

>> This could be it.

>> This could be like, "What?

That guy was so funny and then he made

this movie

where he played a giant elf.

Oh, poor Oh.

>> why That's why it's so embarrassing.

It's like, it could be like he's a

genius, classic Christmas movie forever,

or

>> And so I just I just

I just remember but I remember going

this is either going to be a home run or

it's going to be a complete strikeout.

>> 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

deeply stupid, hilarious person who is

disconnected to the world

>> Right.

>> but yet in charge

>> [laughter]

>> Who is why?

>> really really mentally mentally

challenged.

>> Really has a hard time with life.

And just it just gets worse, not better.

Never changes. And

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 about him 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 Keckner and Rudd are so funny.

>> Yeah.

>> You love playing Ron like you you you

love doing him, right? What's fun about

him?

>> will trot him well we did a podcast with

him which was so fun. Um

just because I Ron can say whatever he

wants

>> Yeah.

>> and he doesn't have to have the right

facts.

>> [laughter]

>> He doesn't have to In fact I just did

Ron recently

uh down in San Diego

because Bill Curtis

>> Mhm.

>> long time Chicago and I

narrates the movie.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh it was retiring from Wait Wait Don't

Tell Me.

>> Yeah.

>> And I had gotten a uh email just asking

would I send a video

>> Mhm.

>> and

to congratulate Bill and and and he's so

proud of his connection to that movie

and he still has a standee in his house

of Ron.

>> [laughter]

>> And

and he's the sweetest guy and and I said

well hold on where when do you where are

you doing the show? He's like well we're

doing it live down in San Diego. I'm

like what if I come and surprise him and

so

>> I they were like would you actually? I'm

like yeah that I we owe him so much and

so we surprised the audience

>> Oh that's huge.

>> It's also such a good name Ron Burgundy

and and also great that his suit was

burgundy.

>> Yes.

>> You know

costumes are so fun. You love them.

>> love a good costume.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah. Yeah you do.

>> Ron had other costumes too.

>> had other suits. [laughter]

>> He didn't just have the one. He wasn't

that crazy.

>> No.

But when you think about Ron you think

about him in his burgundy suit.

>> some delightful tans.

>> I mean he was a he was ahead like a

fisherman turtleneck at the time.

>> He had a baby blue

>> Yeah. He had a He had a gorgeous blue

suit, though. Bring out his eyes. He was

He was a very handsome man.

>> He was very handsome.

>> was very handsome.

Um

>> [laughter]

>> and um then you and I did a movie We did

two movies together. We did Blades of

Glory,

>> Yes.

>> which was so fun. And you had to learn

how to ice skate.

>> I had to learn

>> Or did you know a little bit? I had to

learn.

>> But you you didn't love it,

>> [laughter]

>> if I recall.

>> I talked about it with Greta Lee on this

pod a few weeks ago.

>> love it.

>> I didn't love it.

Um [laughter]

I wasn't I I I I I think I saw it. 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, I'm

not. But 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.

>> [laughter]

>> You look so tall. Do you ice skate

still?

>> No.

>> No.

>> I need to.

>> Yeah. I'm too nervous now.

>> I let it I let it I have the skates

packed away somewhere.

They were custom-made skates.

>> Yeah.

You insisted on it.

>> my costume

>> You do?

>> framed.

>> You do?

>> Yeah. But Viv

>> Will's wife.

>> Yeah, sorry.

It It's hanging in the garage. She won't

let [laughter] it come in the house.

>> She's like, I don't want to I don't need

it. I don't need it in the house.

>> [laughter]

>> I don't not like it, but it's going to

hang in the garage.

>> Um and then we did The House together,

>> Yes.

>> which was so fun to do with you. Was a

dream come true to make a movie with

you.

Did not really resonate.

>> resonate at all. But yet

I still argue that movie's funny.

>> My kids often

tell me that that like they're like,

"Mom, that was 7% on Rotten Tomatoes."

>> Oh, I didn't realize it was that.

>> And I was like, "No way, 7%?"

>> Have they seen

>> It's gone up. I just want you to know. I

just checked today.

>> 14? Did it double?

>> 20%.

>> [laughter]

>> Triple.

WE DID IT. WE DID IT.

>> BUT THAT WAS A really fun movie.

>> premise and a fun movie. How did that

come on?

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

>> I know. I just

>> I flopped you. You spoke about Vivica,

Vivica, your wife of now 25 years,

probably.

>> 25 going on 26.

>> Damn. Such a formidable, cool, smart,

interesting person. So a such a perfect

match for you, Will.

>> Oh, yeah.

>> And Swedish.

>> Swedish?

>> And that's what we have in common. My

brother lives in Sweden. What are the

stereotypes of Swedish people that are

correct?

>> I think the stereotype that Swedes

aren't funny is not true.

>> Agree.

>> They're very sly, dry sense of humor.

>> Yes. [laughter]

>> Uh and as you know very well and your

brother knows, can be also be though

uh

unintentionally direct.

>> Yeah.

Very direct. I think intentionally

direct.

>> Intentionally.

>> Yeah.

>> But they don't but it's just um

it's just a matter of fact. No, I'm just

telling you.

>> No, you you look you got fat.

>> Yeah. You

>> No, you were skinny and now you're fat.

>> Someone is very tired. You look tired.

>> Well, she Well, I don't think he would

be do well because he's ugly.

>> [laughter]

>> Wait, what? He's ugly?

You Or the polite version is like, "It's

They are a little bit ugly."

>> They're a little

You're [laughter] right.

>> That's the polite version.

>> He's a little bit ugly.

>> My best story, we This was

when we were first

taking trips there.

I didn't have an I didn't have a lot of

Swedish under my belt, but I had I had

some nouns, you know.

And [laughter] we were on one of these

little tour but buses or it was a boat.

It was a boat out to

the archipelago and they they had like a

you know, one of those outside decks and

I saw this group of tourists and they

were

looking and pointing

and

then they sent a scout. You could tell

they sent a scout to go check to see if

if it was really me.

And so I say to Viv and we're with her

cousin

Ava 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 yeah, yeah.

Uh-huh.

Yeah,

chickling.

Which is just chicken.

Yeah.

Oh score.

Which is shoes.

>> [laughter]

>> I'm just saying nouns.

I'm just saying yeah, chickling. Yeah,

chicken. Yeah, shoes. Yeah.

Hat.

Oh, bra, which is good.

And I just would say these words

and he did this lap and he

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.

>> [laughter]

>> Then he looked back at the group and he

just went

Not him. Not him.

>> [laughter]

>> So I was like

>> So sad.

>> So good.

>> I mean, you could be sweet. You look

Swedish Will.

>> Which the the B side of that is Swedes

listening to someone just go chicken.

>> [laughter]

>> Shoe.

Shirt.

Good.

>> And they'd be like, "He's stupid." So

he's he's obviously stupid.

>> took him out for the boat ride.

>> He's a little stupid.

>> The other thing that's really annoying

about the Swedes

>> Yeah.

>> and I'm sure Greg has encountered this,

but

the men

all can either are gourmet cooks, can

build a table,

>> They're insane.

>> can repair the tire on your car,

>> Yeah. Yeah.

>> Look, oh, the dishwasher's broken. Let

us take a look.

Well, the the flumen valve is not

working.

>> Yes.

>> And take it apart,

>> Yes.

>> put it like

>> You You run can't fix it.

>> Yeah, they can do everything.

>> Yes.

>> They can do everything.

>> and they're so tall and buff, and

they're very and also home a lot.

>> Yeah.

>> They're just like They're They're Yeah,

they're pretty Yeah.

>> And like

I sewed the button back on my shirt. I'm

like, "I can't sew a button.

I should I should be able to

I'm 58. I should know how to sew a

button. You would think?

>> Yeah. No.

>> Right?

>> Yeah.

But they're like, "Matthias, we'll do it

for you."

>> [laughter]

>> Let us do it.

>> Let us do it.

>> 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. I'll do it." Code for,

"You're going to break it.

Let me [laughter] do it."

>> And then the last thing Well, would last

two things before I get to the hawk. I

just also I love I the um

film you made with Harper last year.

That was such a beautiful beautiful

film, well. Like

>> Thanks.

>> Congrats on its success, on how it was

received. Do you have people coming up

to you still talking to you about it?

>> Still to this day.

>> What do they say when they

>> Just

the gift that keeps on giving. Just

uh

just

thank you. And what a you know

I love it. What a beautiful We've We've

gotten

stories that have ranged from 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 have been the most

once again like

surprising in the sense that we didn't

know what we were going to make or have.

I mean, it's a documentary.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh

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. [laughter]

And then the first time we watched it

and we're like, how did you do that?

>> Mhm.

>> This is

how did you build a narrative structure

out of this whole thing? It's to then

from the festivals and the pri- It was

everything was just like the most fun

year.

>> Yeah.

>> uh yeah and like

>> that. That's awesome.

>> the coolest thing ever.

>> And you know, Harper and I worked

together at SNL and

you know, not only was it exact like was

it exactly about that about 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

>> Yeah.

>> that allows not only Harper to talk

about how she's feeling, but for you.

Like that middle space is all is kind of

like treacherous.

>> For sure.

>> 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.

>> Right.

>> 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 such good storytelling.

>> gave permission. She was like, let's

we

you're you're going to make me ask me

whatever. I'm going to make mistakes.

You're going to make like and I'm like,

okay. Okay, are you sure?

Okay, what about this, you know? And um

what a kind of wonderful piece about

just friendship and just being an

advocate for for anyone who's going

through anything.

>> Totally.

>> And that was kind of the the universal

takeaway as well.

>> And you team up with Harper again on

>> The Hawk.

>> The Hawk.

Which is the name of your character,

Lonnie Hawk.

>> Lonnie Hawkins, Lonnie the Hawk Hawkins.

>> Okay, Hawkins. Okay. Incredible, you

have an incredible look in this show.

>> Yeah.

>> Incredible. Always a little sunburned?

>> Always.

>> Got a little golf golf tan?

>> Golf tan.

>> Mhm. The great Autumn Butler doing your

makeup for that.

>> craft Autumn pitched like, what if

Lonnie

What if Lonnie had a little tan line?

>> [laughter]

>> Like like and we carry it the whole

series.

>> Perfect.

>> And I said, done and done.

>> [laughter]

>> And Parnes is in the show, right?

>> Well, we talked to Parnel.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah, we did. We talked to him before

this um before we started because we

always try to talk well behind someone's

back and we try to get in a question.

And before we get to his question, let's

talk about Parnel for a second. What a

like what a laser-focused

performer.

>> Right.

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.

>> Yeah, Chris Parnell comedically, yeah,

he's so precise. He nails

every performance, every nuance,

everything.

You give him a note um

and he ex he just executes everything in

such a funny way.

>> And he's a really good actor.

>> Yes, really good actor.

And is so funny in this because he just

plays wonderfully uptight.

>> Yeah.

>> Uh and gets so mad

throughout.

We have him screeching at times.

>> [laughter]

>> Literally screeching.

>> Jerry Collins is writing on the show,

too.

>> Your third roommate.

>> we

were reminiscing how we had we shared

the three of us shared an office at SNL

and for a good half of the season

committed I don't know if you remember

this committed to wearing

short-sleeve button-down white shirts

and dark tie we dressed as NASA

uh

mission control guys. Do you remember

that? Every writing Tuesday we would

wear

>> ahead of my time, I think.

>> Oh, you weren't there yet.

>> don't think I was there yet.

>> That's right.

>> Yeah, I missed the fun.

>> It was Jerry's idea, should we every

Tuesday night on the writing night

should we wear short-sleeve button-down

shirts with black ties

like we work for NASA?

>> Yes.

>> Let's do that. [laughter]

>> Um okay, but um his question to you was

um who were your comedy idols growing

up?

>> I loved staying up and watching The

Tonight Show and I would

if there was a comedian on I would stay

and watch the if there wasn't I

so I that's where I would see

Jerry Seinfeld for the first time. Uh

that's where you know

Richard Pryor

>> Mhm.

>> 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 loved those late '70s early '80s

sitcoms like

>> Yes, all of

>> Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley

all of that stuff and watching these

actors be so funny but then it felt real

and how are they doing that and

>> Mhm.

>> like

Andy Kaufman in Taxi.

>> Mhm.

>> Uh

So,

it's I didn't have that one person that

I could put on a poster in my room.

>> Uh Bob Newhart.

>> Yeah, who you worked with in Elf.

>> Yeah.

>> Well, you bring up the fact that when we

grew up TV was kind of the only place.

Like I we didn't 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 um

you know, Big Money Players, which is a

huge

um network of great podcasts including

Let's Go to

Call Your Sister's which we love here.

Like you you've kind of like in our

lifetime, the way people

>> Yeah.

>> watch things and find people is so

different

>> So different.

>> for the one TV show at 11:30 at night.

>> Yeah.

>> It's 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?

>> the same

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 just

like

Yeah, give them a shot.

>> Yeah.

>> Why not?

>> You just cuz I think you like

I mean, it was it's been said about you,

but you love to laugh. Like you're a

really you really want to laugh.

>> And I remember that when

um

Jerry Seinfeld came to host SNL, he

laughed so hard at 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 uh

>> [laughter]

>> I was like, "No, it was slight, Jerry."

So, I thought

I don't want to It was a It was a light

dusting.

>> Yeah, if if you want more you got to you

got to pay through the paywall.

>> the paywall.

>> good hang paywall and you'll hear.

>> full

>> full Seinfeld

>> hair, makeup, everything.

>> not you can't you don't get the

Seinfeld.

>> to go away.

>> Yeah.

>> That was just a little dash.

I do regret.

I regret that little dash of Jerry

Seinfeld. [laughter]

But keep it in. Keep it in.

>> It was just a tiny

>> dash. It was so slight. It was so

slight. It was so slight.

>> Because you can't help it.

>> [laughter]

>> Because how do you talk to him when he

looks like this?

>> But but I do remember

going yeah what?

We should all laugh at each other. I

mean, if we think it's funny.

>> Yeah.

>> We should all laugh.

>> 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 the my most favorite sketch

I've ever watched that bombed is your

Gabe Kaplan sketch which we've talked

about. And for people under the age of

50, there was a gentleman named Gabe

Kaplan on a show called Welcome Back

Kotter.

>> Another 70s sitcom that I loved.

>> and he was he was huge. He would be like

who would he be like now? It would be

like

>> He was kind of like a

it was almost like equivalent of like a

Larry David maybe in a way.

>> Yeah, sure.

>> If if he was the teacher in a classroom

with all these and a

a young John Travolta.

>> Yes, young John Travolta. Incredible.

Anyway, Will does a sketch where he

plays a guy

>> Oh, and he has a very distinct look.

>> Right, his look is like a very 70s.

>> 70s, big mustache,

>> curly hair.

>> hair, sideburns.

>> 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

>> [laughter]

>> makes you feel a lot better

>> Right.

>> about yourself.

>> Okay.

>> 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

plays a guy who What's the premise?

>> The 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 Gabe I've cultivated

I'm such a fan of Gabe Kaplan. I've

cultivated my look to look just like

him.

>> Right.

>> And the sketch is that 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.

>> John Goodman, Tim Meadows, and Molly.

>> talking about what a nice guy. He was so

cool. He was so funny. I'm like I'm I'm

like, "Who are you guys talking about?"

"Oh, Gabe Kaplan was here."

I was like, "What?"

Yeah.

You

"Why didn't you guys come and get me?"

Like, "What do you mean?" Like, "You

guys I

That's the reason why I'm working at

this company." [laughter]

And I lose it and I'm like

>> starts to lose it and there is not

>> one

>> one laugh. I mean, there's not even a

cough.

>> No, there's the smallest laugh in the

world though, way up in the corner here.

>> [laughter]

>> At one point.

>> So the audience never mind you're all

you're screwed. They don't know who Gabe

Kaplan is.

>> Kaplan is.

>> They don't They don't appreciate that

you're dressed just like him.

And they don't understand why you're

mad.

>> They don't understand I'm mad. And I'm

the whole

the the thrust of the sketch is built

off my tirade of why why didn't anyone I

was in the bathroom. Why didn't anyone

check the bathroom?

>> [laughter]

>> Did you not then like They're like,

"Relax.

We didn't think to check the bathroom."

Like, "Why wouldn't you? You know how

much he means I wanted to meet him."

>> And what happens is Molly and you and

Tim Meadows play it like a drama. You're

in like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

or something like that. You Who's Afraid

of Virginia 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 funniest and a 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? Are you like Do you

Is there anything you're watching right

now that you love?

>> No.

>> I know.

>> [laughter]

>> I ask this because I'm always looking.

I'm always looking.

>> to come up with something clever.

I mean, right now I'm watching all the

World Cup. I'm really into It's very

exciting. We went to one of the games

out in LA.

>> So fun.

>> I also love when like the best players

play great. It's like Messi is just

playing so great.

>> Mbappe.

>> Mbappe.

>> That's just fun to say.

>> Yeah.

>> Mbappe.

>> Mbappe.

The M is not silent.

>> It's not silent. No, you lean into it.

Mbappe.

Mbappe. Luxuriate in the M.

>> Yeah. Um Will Ferrell

I

I think we did it.

>> We totally did it.

>> [laughter]

>> I really do think we did it. We talked

for a long time.

>> We really did. Yeah.

>> And um

I just

>> real plants?

>> These are fake fake plants, fake food.

>> Got you.

>> [clears throat]

>> Fake plants, fake food. I didn't want

the like codependent responsibility of

keeping these alive.

>> The compliment is it looked real out of

the side of my eye. That's the

compliment. And then I was like, "Oh,

that's not real."

So, that's a comp- that's a compliment.

>> You just want to be able to side eye it.

>> eye you. [snorts]

>> Is there any food over there that looks

real?

>> reality. That hamburger with the sesame

The sesame seed buns.

>> Okay, let's just let's take a look at

that before we go.

>> seed drew drew my eye.

>> So, this is a This is your typical

Take a look at that if you want to feel

it.

>> toy?

Oh, no. It's got a good weight to it.

>> And does it come apart? It's a Will's a

No.

>> No, it doesn't.

>> glued together. It's cheeseburger with

like a rubber cheeseburger, but it looks

good right?

>> of looks appetizing, yeah.

>> [laughter]

>> Now, be careful.

>> Oh, I want to bite into it.

>> Be careful. Don't do it.

Well, thank you for being here. Thanks

for doing this.

>> It's great to see you. I love I love

spending time with you.

>> that you're a power player in this space

now.

>> I mean, look at me.

>> Yeah.

>> [laughter]

>> Can you tell?

Like every power player.

>> Yep.

>> Yep.

>> That's That's [laughter] That's your

part,

right there.

>> Thanks, buddy. Thanks for doing this.

>> so fun.

>> [cheering]

>> 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 um 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,

um the um

very religious singers who um sing um

sing popular songs in their own special

way. Do yourself a favor and go down

memory lane and uh watch Ana Gasteyer

and Will Ferrell play those two weirdos.

And pay attention, please, to Will's

bald cap, um

his outfits, and his gentleness. Because

I think that people um know Will as

these characters that kind of yell and,

you know, have these like giant bursts

of energy, but um Marty Culp is um just

He's just very self-contained. And uh

it's such a funny, weird performance and

one of my favorite characters among the

many that Will have um have given us.

So, uh thank you for uh joining us.

Will, thank you for listening, whoever's

listening. And we'll see you soon on the

next one. Okay, bye.

>> [applause]

>> You've been listening to Good Hang. The

executive producers for this show are

Bill Simmons, Jenna Weiss-Berman, and

me, Amy Poehler. [music] The show is

produced by The Ringer and Paper Kite.

For The Ringer, production by Jack

Wilson, Kat Spellane, [music]

Kaya McMullen, and Elea Zinouris. For

Paper Kite, production by Sam Green,

Joel Lovell, and Jenna Weiss-Berman.

Original music by Amy Miles.

>> I had a one who was a really

good hang.