Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is far more than one of the best Will Ferrell movies, as it’s also a comedy staple of 2000s cinema. Adam McKay’s racecar comedy sees Ferrell at the peak of his powers, and it features some moments that still make me laugh today. One of the most surprising moments in the film happens during the ending, at which point Bobby shares a passionate kiss with Sacha Baron Cohen’s Jean Girard. Now, I’m looking at that differently after learning some key behind-the-scenes information.

In the film, Bobby and Girard become fierce rivals upon the latter joining NASCAR but, in time, they do find a bit of common ground. Their competitiveness culminates into a showdown and eventual car wreck at the Talladega Superspeedway, where they later engage in a foot race. Ricky ultimately wins that (illegal) race, and Girard concedes. While Girard extends a congratulatory handshake after that, Bobby, instead, offers him a passionate kiss, which is cheered on by the thousands of fans in attendance.

Adam McKay recently reflected on the making of the film as part of a retrospective conducted by Business Insider. Eventually, McKay discussed the kiss seen around the race car stadium or, at least, I thought it was seen by spectators. McKay revealed that there were no live crowds present when the kiss was filmed and, not only that, but the moment came together in a relatively surprising way:

Said scene does indeed hit the right note, and I’d argue that it’s one of the most memorable moments from the film (which is currently streamable with a Hulu subscription). Considering the emotional weight of that moment, I’m really surprised to hear it was improvised. Also, I do indeed know scenes in movies and TV that take place in crowded areas don’t always necessarily include various extras. But I could’ve sworn this kiss moment was shot in front of various onlookers. McKay also added this in regard to how the scene was received:

A lot of improvisation apparently happens with McKay’s movies, so I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that even a big moment like that smooch would be a spur-of-the-moment kind of addition. To that point, Will Ferrell previously spoke about improvising with co-star John C. Reilly, who made him crack up on set. What McKay, Ferrell, Reilly, Cohen and co. captured was lightning in a bottle, and the result is a flick that deserves to be named amongst the great sports movies.

In hindsight, the film is even more precious due to the fact that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay have since split up as creative partners. The pair had different career goals at the time they parted ways in 2019, but McKay is opening to working with Ferrell again. So that begs the question of whether they could ever come back together to produce the Talladega sequel they talked about so many years ago.

Such a sequel would have a high bar to clear, though, since Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby works so well as a standalone film. Nearly 20 years after its theatrical release, it’s still worth a watch and, on that note, I’m going to give it another look and pay keen attention to that kiss scene.

Kim Kardashian has gotten the biggest, hottest, most famous and talented celebrities to model for SKIMS, from former Victoria’s Secret Angels like Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum to athletes like Suni Lee and musicians including Usher and Ice Spice. Even Sabrina Carpenter has donned SKIMS lingerie. Now Kardashian has officially dipped into the comedy world, as Will Ferrell just showed off his SKIMS tighty whities in the most hilarious golf course photoshoot.

In what has to be SKIMS’ funniest partnership yet, Kim Kardashian posted a video and images to her Instagram Stories, showing Will Ferrell in nothing but SKIMS underwear as he plays golf, and I’d never have guessed he’d be such a great model for the brand.

I mean, don’t sleep on that farmer’s tan, either.

Kim Kardashian is no slouch herself when it comes to comedy, and she provides the perfect, amusingly earnest voiceover to the video. As the Anchorman star swings his golf club at the SKIMS-branded ball, Kardashian’s voice comes in:

Will Ferrell’s still got it, and he’s really not afraid to show it off, either, as he posed for several more photos in the Kim Kardashian-approved skivvies.

This is definitely a partnership I never knew I needed, but one part of it confuses me. Kim Kardashian is a Hulu girl, with both The Kardashians and her legal drama All’s Fair streaming with a Hulu subscription.

However, in these ads Will Ferrell is promoting his upcoming series The Hawk, which will be available with a Netflix subscription starting July 16. I guess a little cross-promotion never hurt anybody, right? Unless you find this much of the 58-year-old’s body anything less than delightful:

The Hawk reunites Will Ferrell with fellow SNL great Molly Shannon, as he portrays Lonnie “The Hawk” Hawkins, a pro golfer whose career peaked decades ago, though he still insists on attempting to complete golf’s Grand Slam with one more tournament win. Shannon plays his ex-wife, Stacy, while Jimmy Tatro plays his son Lance, whose golf talents seem to rival his father’s.

And, if you were curious, it does appear — at least in the trailer — that Will Ferrell's character remains fully clothed. What he’s wearing under those glorious golf pants, however, is no longer a mystery:

I can’t help but love how game Will Ferrell was to throw himself into this campaign with Kim Kardashian. Be sure to check out The Hawk when it hits the 2026 TV schedule on Thursday, July 16, and we’re also keeping an eye out for new seasons of Kim’s Hulu shows, including the Kardashian-Jenner family’s reality series.

The biggest question is no longer when The Kardashians Season 8 will premiere, but rather if I’ll ever be able to get Will Ferrell in his tighty whities out of my head.

Hollywood has seen some truly iconic comedy-based partnerships over the years, and Will Ferrell & Adam McKay certainly fit the bill. Together, they produced some of the most beloved comedies of all time, like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Unfortunately, in 2019, it was confirmed that Ferrell and McKay had parted ways as partners, and they haven’t worked together since. McKay is now opening up about that split and sharing whether he’d ever reunite with Ferrell.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights (and, yes, I did just say 20th), McKay took part in an interview and laid out the finer details of the film’s production. The Oscar-winning filmmaker was eventually asked about the breakdown of his relationship with Ferrell, which led him to share some candid thoughts. McKay admitted it was a “shame” that he and his longtime collaborator weren’t able to keep their partnership intact. From there, he also went into detail about why that relationship ultimately broke down after 13 years:

Ferrell and McKay co-ran the since-dissolved Gary Sanchez Productions, which produced not only many of Ferrell’s best movies but other notable comedies as well. These comments that McKay shared with Business Insider shed a lot of light on the specifics, and they also align with sentiments shared by Ferrell in 2021. At the time, the famous SNL alum explained that he wasn’t eying the “growth and a sphere of influence” that McKay was pursuing.

As a fan of much of the work that the two Step Brothers producers did together, I was honestly shocked and saddened that they decided not to make films anymore. I have been wondering, however, whether there’s any chance that they could patch things up and work together again. Well, fans may feel somewhat optimistic about that possibility after seeing what Adam McKay had to say about a potential reunion:

What’s more is that McKay also says he holds “no hard feelings” towards Ferrell and acknowledged that they had “a great run.” It’s hard to argue against that last point, considering their filmography. I’d love nothing more than to see McKay and Ferrell working together again and, if they did join forces again, I’m sure they could come up with something fun. Maybe they could even pursue the discarded Talladega Nights sequel, which McKay even talked up in his recent interview.

Until there’s actual movement, though, fans will just have to hope and pray that Will Ferrell and Adam McKay are reunited by their mutual love of comedy. Fans can still enjoy their work in the meantime, though, as the nearly 20-year-old Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby is now streamable with a Hulu subscription.

With Saturday Night Live hitting its 50th anniversary last year, there’s been a lot of looking back at the early days, from the brutal audition process to the sketches that didn’t go according to plan. Molly Shannon has had the opportunity to reminisce lately, as well, as she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Will Ferrell paid tribute to his longtime friend and gave her a lot of the credit for bringing the show back from being “Saturday Night Dead.”

Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell joined Saturday Night Live in 1995 amidst a dip in ratings for the NBC sketch comedy show, and as Shannon was honored with a literal Hollywood “Superstar!” on Monday, June 22, the Spirited actor recalled the night she debuted what became one of SNL’s most iconic recurring characters — Catholic schoolgirl Mary Katherine Gallagher. Ferrell said:

Saturday Night Live fans are more than familiar with the armpit-sniffing Mary Katherine Gallagher, who shared one memorable sketch with Whitney Houston (after Molly Shannon convinced her to do it) and even got her own movie Superstar in 1999, which ended up being one of the best movies based on a Saturday Night Live character. Will Ferrell spoke about how instantaneous the audience’s reaction was to Molly Shannon in that role:

That’s quite a huge amount of credit to give Molly Shannon, as SNL is considered one of the best sketch comedies of all time with Season 52 premiering this fall on the 2026 TV calendar. You can see the sketch that Will Ferrell was referring to below:

Molly Shannon definitely deserves all of the flowers. She stayed with Saturday Night Live until 2001, earning an Emmy nomination in 2000, but has returned to 30 Rockefeller Center as a guest several times and hosted twice. Her success has continued outside of sketch comedy with amazing roles on shows like The White Lotus and The Other Two. The SNL star has even pulled off dramatic roles including A Good Person.

I love that Will Ferrell has such glowing memories of his time with Molly Shannon on SNL, and it makes me even more excited to see the two reunite for the comedy series The Hawk. The upcoming Netflix series stars Ferrell as a golf legend, with Shannon playing his ex-wife Stacy. Make sure your Netflix subscription is up to date, because that premiere is coming our way Thursday, July 16.

It’s hard to imagine a world in which Will Ferrell is not one of the most famous comedies. For that, we’d have to head all the way back to the ‘90s when the actor and funnyman was a mere player in LA’s popular The Groundlings troupe. Obviously he went on to join SNL, and then parlayed that career into great comedy movie gigs like Elf, Anchorman, and Talladega Nights. None of that was guaranteed when he was just starting out, but it was some advice from his dad that helped him to move forward with no fear.

In fact, to his recollection, the advice may not have worked on everyone, but it worked well for him. He'd already made the decision to try to give comedy a go, before he talked to his dad, and they had a candid conversation over lunch.

His dad didn’t shut him, but he did give him a piece of caring advice that’s clearly stuck with Ferrell in the decades since. His dad said basically he knew it was a “crapshoot,” and gave his kid an out, while still managing to be supportive, with the actor telling fellow SNL alum Ego Nwodim on her 'Thanks Dad' podcast:

Does that read like good advice or bad advice? Even the comedian acknowledges that it’s the sort of comment that might not work from everyone, but because he was so loving while stating it might not work out, it actually made it so much easier for Will Ferrell. Not everything felt like life and death. He just out there and gave it the good college try.

Ferrell went on to do The Groundlings in 1994. In ‘95, he was part of a newly minted SNL cast that also featured such heavy hitters as Cheri Oteri and Chris Kattan. He was in his late twenties at the time. So, fame didn’t happen for him overnight.

He left SNL in 2012, but has never forgotten that gig, and has frequently landed on the list of upcoming guest hosts. By the time he left, though, he already had a burgeoning film career, becoming a crown jewel in the Frat Pack in the early aughts (though some of his movies have aged better than others). He's also had an impact on a lot of other Hollywood careers, so he's definitely paying it forward. In short, he's had the sort of career in the industry many have dreamed of, and few have achieved.

These days, he's also a dad to three grown children: Magnus, Axel and Mattias. Here's hoping he's been able to impart some of the same life lessons his own dad clearly did.

You can always count on Will Ferrell to commit to a bit, and that came in handy for Sabrina Carpenter. During her star-studded Coachella performance this weekend, she brought out the comedy star to play an electrician. Now, the internet is having one heck of a time reacting to his cameo, and I can’t stop laughing.

Well, Ferrell’s love for a wild and public bit seems to have taken him to Coachella. He dressed up as a curmudgeonly electrician and monologued about the need for a tech run-through after it seemed like the power went out between Carpenter's songs “Bed Chem” and “Juno.” It was hilarious, and, as per usual, the massive SNL star fully committed to the joke. Take a look:

Now, if you are familiar with Will Ferrell’s love for a random joke and/or side quest, it makes perfect sense why he’d say yes to a part like this. I mean, I know I remember when he showed up as a sad and smoking Buddy the Elf at a hockey game, and I also can’t forget that time he showed up at his son’s school to DJ at a frat party. You have to expect the unexpected with this guy.

However, I also totally get where @EweduOfIbadan was coming from when they tweeted:

Oh, people sure did notice him online. However, I really wish I could have seen the double takes people were probably doing at the concert when they realized he was the one walking down the stage as an electrician. I know that’s how I would have reacted.

I wasn’t there, though, and neither were lots of folks on the internet. However, fans of Carpenter’s were floored in the most fun way by Ferrell’s appearance, and they were posting things like these comments on @bilieelisish’s TikTok of the cameo:

• Will Ferrell side quests are the best -Veritywells
• Imagine the crowd being so confused on what's heppening 🤣 -Michelle
• Some one deserves a raise 🙌🏻 -Kristy

Here are a few more wonderful reactions to the Step Brothers star’s appearance from X:

• What do you mean Will Ferrell is her guest as a technician!!!! Oh My Gosh 😅🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼 -@MoustafaHadary
• That was iconic ✨ Pure unexpected comedy gold. -@Rose8yd
• Between Will Ferrell, Susan Sarandon, and Sam Elliott appearing in Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella performance I should be able to log it on Letterboxd -@NateOnFilm

Now, in reference to that last tweet, Carpenter’s performance also featured cameos from Susan Sarandon, Samuel L. Jackson, Sam Elliott and her Girl Meets World co-star Corey Fogelmanis. So, she really brought out the big guns, and a range of them, for her big headlining set. It was wonderful too, especially since her show was one giant homage to Hollywood and film.

Considering how well Carpenter hosted her episode of Saturday Night Live’s 51st season (you can stream Episode 3 with a Peacock subscription) and the cheeky lyrics she includes in lots of her songs, it’s obvious that she has a gift for comedy. So, bringing out a comedic legend like the Anchorman star for this massive moment in her career feels right.

Now, the question is: Will he return to fix the power outage during her second performance next weekend, or will she have new stars lined up? Time will tell, but I can guarantee that you’ll be able to see Will Ferrell back in action and committing to the bit soon when he returns to SNL to host the May 16 episode on the 2026 TV schedule.

There are good movies, and there are bad movies. However, most of us, even when we know we’re watching a bad movie, take the time to watch all of it. There’s always the chance that something that isn’t working at first might turn around, or have some redeeming quality that makes it worth seeing, even if it’s not great. Sometimes movies are so bad that they can still be enjoyable. ‘So bad it’s good' is a thing, after all. But then sometimes, movies are so bad that you simply can’t make it through.

In the age of streaming, it’s pretty easy to just off a movie if it’s really so bad you can’t keep going. A recent Reddit thread brought a spotlight some of these films that people either turned off unfinished or walked out of a theater midway through. There are some really interesting examples, including franchise films from Star Wars and the Wizarding World as well as one of Will Ferrell’s most infamous comedies.

• Holmes and Watson, starring, Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. I knew going into it that it was supposed to suck, but I like watching trainwrecks for the fun of it. This was god awful. I can usually finish a movie to the end but this one tested my limits, hard. - BIKEiLIKE
• When I was a kid I went to see Star Wars: Attack of the Clones in theaters with my dad. He made us leave part-way through the movie after one of the Anakin/Padme scenes. I think after they were rolling in a field? I remember him saying “this isn’t Star Wars.” - -doesnotcompute-
• The Secrets of Dumbledore. From a drive-in theater. We made it as far as Newt saying "we have to be as confusing as possible" and realized immediately that was an in-universe excuse for horrific writing. -CryptoCentric
• That forgotten Fantastic Four from 2015. I didn’t turn it off but rather fell asleep. It’s so damn boring, nothing grabs your attention. - FisherKelTath00
• The Mummy with Tom Cruise. It’s not even close to the Brendan Fraser version. - Arcade1980
• The second Wonder Woman set in the 80s, whatever its title was. I just couldn’t do it. The slap stick comedy was just so bad. - ARazorbacks
• Star Trek: Section 31. I tried for like 15 minutes, before my brain just said, "nope!". - Kakarroto007

There are a lot of perfectly good candidates for movies not worth finishing here. After Earth, Battlefield Earth, and the recent War of the Worlds on Prime Video are among the titles listed in the thread. The movie that launches the conversation is Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, which received poor reviews upon its release in 2023. It looks like more than one person never even made it to the second half. There's also the unfortunate Dark Tower movie that was supposed to launch a franchise, which is now being revived for TV instead by none other than Mike Flannigan.

Considering that Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly have made some absolute god-tier comedies like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights, the fact that Holmes & Watson is so universally panned by movie fans truly says a lot about how bad it is. Similarly, while the Star Wars prequels have been reappraised over the years, they were famously trashed at the time, With that said, though, Attack of the Clones is still viewed by many as the worst movie in the entire franchise.

As somebody who counts watching movies as one of his job responsibilities, walking out of a movie isn’t something I do, though I’ll admit there have been times I’ve been tempted. What movies have you never finished?

Despite Saturday Night Live seeing multiple departures for Season 51, its longest-tenured cast member is still kicking. Kenan Thompson joined the series in 2003, meaning he is entering his 23^rd year on the program that's airing its 51st season on the 2026 TV schedule. He doesn’t seem to be eager to leave, either. However, even considering his SNL career, Thompson still gets star-struck when it comes to working with some of the show's greats who came before him, such as Eddie Murphy and Will Ferrell (and his booty shorts).

SNL’s three-hour 50^th anniversary celebration special last year brought out the big guns, with dozens of past cast members, hosts, and musical guests, bringing back plenty of old fan-favorite sketches. One of those sketches was “Scared Straight,” which made its debut in 2008 and hadn’t been seen since 2012. It was one of two sketches that Thompson did with Murphy, along with Black Jeopardy. While on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Thompson praised Murphy, calling him legendary and recalling how he never thought he’d be close to him, let alone acting with him. And when it came to “Scared Straight,” he was still singing his praises:

Murphy is arguably one of the most famous comedians to come out of Saturday Night Live. He’s had many memorable characters, including Gumby and Mr. Robinson, so for Thompson to be in not one but two sketches with him for a milestone anniversary seems to be a dream for him. Of course, Murphy had previously hosted SNL in 2019, so it’s not like that was the first time Thompson worked with him. However, even though they’re friends, it’s still a surreal thing to work with him, and I can’t say I blame him.

Meanwhile, Will Ferrell was also in the “Scared Straight” sketch, meaning Thompson was able to work alongside another SNL legend. The Kenan and Kel star recalled what it was like when the Elf actor rolled into the sketch with his very interesting costume, and I can’t stop laughing thinking about the booty shorts:

Ferrell is known for having some unique costumes on Saturday Night Live, notably with his outfit for the iconic “Cowbell” sketch, which he actually had changed between the dress rehearsal and live show. But for “Scared Straight,” he opted to wear booty shorts, and it was certainly a highlight for the night, which probably helped with nerves for everyone involved.

Working with greats like Murphy and Ferrell is definitely a “pinch me” moment, and Thompson doesn’t seem to be taking it for granted. He assumes that he’ll still be around for the 60^th anniversary, but hopefully, we don’t have to wait another 10 years to get the three of them together again in one sketch.

Now, to see Thompson in action with the current cast, you can catch new episodes of SNL every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. on NBC or wth a Peacock subscription.

My kid is officially out of school until the new year starts, which means we're watching the best Christmas movies nonstop until the big day arrives. Elf is always a favorite in my home, not just for Will Ferrell's classic quotes, but because Buddy the Elf is a wonderful modern Christmas character we can celebrate. Even Ferrell's kids love it, though I wonder if they asked him the same question my daughter threw my way when she watched: how long did Buddy's walk to New York take?

In all the times I've seen part or all of Elf since its release in 2003, I've never once thought about the logistics of Buddy's journey from the North Pole to New York City. It is a comedy, after all, and I was in seventh grade when it came out, so it's not like I actually believed he made that trip in real life. Seven-year-olds' brains are wired differently, however, and my kid's curiosity had me diving into the Internet's trenches to see if I could...okay, no....to see if someone else had figured out how long Buddy's adventure to The Big Apple actually took.

Someone Actualy DID The Math On How Long Buddy's Walk Would Take

Some angelic genius on Reddit did the math, which I won't be double-checking, and came up with a reasonable guesstimate for how long it would take a person to recreate the 3,600 miles-long walk from the North Pole to New York City depicted in Elf. Just for reference, the distance between Los Angeles and New York is 2,776 miles, so Buddy walked over 800 miles beyond that.

As the Redditor u/cooperred pointed out, a pace of 12-14 miles a day would be doable for an average person to accomplish while still allowing for rest, eating, and using the bathroom. This would mean that a walk of that size would take anywhere from 250 to 300 days. Quite a haul, to say the least, and one that would probably have Will Ferrell's character looking like that horrifying animatronic of himself by the end of it.

When Buddy Would've Needed To Leave The North Pole To Arrive In New York City By Christmas

One might think Buddy left the North Pole around Christmas in Elf, but in reality, it could've been any time. It's always cold in the North Pole, so the snowfall wouldn't be surprising. Also, the elves are preparing for Christmas, but when you're making presents for every child on Earth, work has to be going on all year round.

All this to say, Elf leaves the possibility open that Buddy left the North Pole around late February or March, and arrived in New York City just in time for the Christmas season. That's pretty lucky on his part, because I can't imagine how the already weird events of the movie would've unfolded had he shown up around Halloween or around New Years. There's no way he would've gotten that job at Gimbels, or even been allowed into the building to see his father had they not assumed he was a singing telegram worker.

Obviously, this theory is just for people watching fun funsies via HBO Max subscription, and not one to be taken seriously, because then we'd need to talk about elf feet being impervious to blisters. At the same time, if an Elf sequel ever comes into being, I would love to see what all occurred on the months-long journey to make it to New York City. Maybe he got mixed up with a yeti, or met a red-nosed reindeer? There are a lot of possibilities to explore, and it could make for a great movie!

For now, there's no word on an Elf sequel, and there may never be one. Fortunately, the original movie is good enough as is, and is able to make me laugh every holiday!

It’s hard to imagine anything being different in one of your favorite movies. For example, I can picture no one other than Zooey Deschanel playing Will Ferrell’s love interest in Elf, which is one of the best Christmas movies ever. However, there was a time when a different actress was set to play Jovie, and the New Girl star revealed who had the part before her.

Again, I can’t picture the Elf cast featuring anyone other than Ferrell, Deschanel, James Caan, Bob Newhart and co. However, during an episode of Call Her Daddy, Zooey Deschanel revealed that she originally wasn’t going to play Jovie. In fact, Katie Holmes had already been cast when she took a meeting about the movie with its director, Jon Favreau. Speaking about how all this went down, she said:

So, since she sincerely thought she wasn’t getting the part, nerves were out of the equation. Well, that ended up working really well in her favor. That’s because, as we know, Katie Holmes wasn’t in Elf due to scheduling conflicts, according to Deschanel, so she was able to step in. Continuing to speak about getting the part, she said:

First of all, I love that they were able to shape Deschanel’s role in this great 2000s movie to her. I mean, that singing scene in the bathroom is iconic! However, it does make me wonder who Jovie would have been if Katie Holmes had played her. Would she still sing? Would she have been blonde? What would her relationship with Buddy look like?

I’m sure she would have done a great job too. However, I’m very happy that the 500 Days of Summer actress ended up with the gig. Elf is easily one of Will Ferrell’s funniest movies, and it’s one of her’s too. She’s amazing in it, and her chemistry with the SNL alum is irresistible.

It served as a pivotal moment in Zooey Deschanel’s career, too. She was 21 when she got Elf; at that point, she’d been working consistently since 1999. However, there’s no question that this film was one of her first signature projects. After that, she starred in a bunch of movies, including 500 Days of Summer. Then, in 2011, she started working on the hit show New Girl.

Now, if you are looking to go back and watch Elf and think about what could have been while also appreciating Zooey Deschanel’s performance in it, you can stream the classic Christmas film with an HBO Max subscription.

Elf is a prime example of one of the best Christmas movies fans can rewatch over and over again. Scenes like Will Ferrell’s Buddy eating candy-filled spaghetti or dominating an epic snowball fight still stick with me over 20 years after the film's release. It seems Ferrell’s kids seemingly can’t forget their dad’s iconic holiday flick either. At least, that's the impression I get by their truly excellent recreation of the film's memorable shower scene.

Several years ago, Will Ferrell joked that he forced Elf on his kids ten times during Christmas before they could open presents. I'm not sure if watching Buddy the Elf's exploits on repeat inspired two of Ferrell's kids, Magnus and Mattias, to recreate the shower scene from the holiday flick. Regardless of what sparked this recreation, though, I'm now glad it exists, and you can watch the Instagram reel for yourself down below:

As can be seen above, Magnus is the one in the shower lip-syncing to Jovie’s part of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” while Mattias syncs with Buddy’s lines. I especially love the ending, at which point Mattias gives a creepy smile, as Magnus notices there’s someone else in the bathroom with him.

It’s lovely to see that a great sense of humor apparently runs within the family and that the SNL alum’s sons are celebrating their dad’s classic film. As of this writing, the post has 1.8K likes, so I think it’s safe to say Ferrell’s sons have achieved a Christmas classic of their own.

Magnus and Mattias certainly picked a great scene to recreate from the funny Christmas movie. The scene of Jovie unknowingly singing to “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” with Buddy while she’s in the shower will always make me laugh.

Despite Buddy being raised in the North Pole, he still knew every Christmas song on Earth. Plus, that was probably the moment he realized he was in love with Jovie. (How unfortunate, though, that the North Pole native didn’t know anything about what locker rooms to stay away from.)

Even though it’s been 21 years since Elf hit theaters, its legacy lives on. From movie-themed Christmas sweaters to creepy life-sized Buddy the Elves, Jon Favreau's holiday film remains a significant part of pop culture. Even Dwayne Johnson’s daughters pulled an A+ Elf-themed prank, as they used a Buddy cut-out jumpscare their dad. And, now, with Will Ferrell’s kids joining in on the fun, Buddy’s Christmas spirit is still here to stay.

The Ferrell kids' recreation of Elf’s shower scene is so great that I actually wouldn't mind if they made it a tradition to recreate a different scene each year. Such a trend would certainly bring me joy over the holidays. While the Ferrell family revels in holiday bliss and silliness, grab an HBO Max subscription and stream Will Ferrell's beloved elf-centric comedy for yourself. Also, the streamer has a number of other yuletide titles that are sure to entertain fans.

The streaming wars are in full effect, and those with a Netflix subscription have been treated to all sorts of content. That includes Adam Sandler's long-awaited sequel Happy Gilmore 2, and now it seems like leaning into more golf-focused content thanks to a series that's in production starring Will Ferrell. Unfortunately, he did recently suffer an injury in the midst of production. Let's break it all down.

Will Ferrell has worked on a number of notable Netflix projects, including his acclaimed documentary Will & Harper. He's taking a tip from Sandler by playing a fictional golfer in the upcoming Netflix series Golf. But according to a report by TMZ, the Anchorman actor suffered a "minor injury" off set, throwing a wrench into the shooting schedule. So the forthcoming series will have to switch things up as he's unable to follow through on this week's filming.

Thankfully, the injury was reportedly minor, and Netflix rearranged its shooting schedule to accommodate Will Ferrell's recovery. The actor and the network did not offer a statement to TMZ, but it seems like the situation isn't quite dire. And I'm just hyped we're getting more golf comedies in the future. After all, I gushed in my Happy Gilmore 2 review.

While information about Will Ferrell's Golf is limited, what we do know is pretty exciting. The series will have a full, ten-episode season and features other familiar faces like SNL legends Molly Shannon and Chris Parnell (whose tenure on the sketch show you can watch with a Peacock subscription), as well as comedian Fortune Feimster. The specifics of the show's story remain under wraps for the time being, but with so many all-star comedians involved, I assume it'll be a riot.

In addition to Will & Harper, Ferrell also worked with Netflix on Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, opposite Rachel McAdams. But this time he's bringing a full TV show to the streamer, in his first major TV role since his cameo on The Boys and starring in The Shrink Next Door (which is available with an Apple TV subscription).

Golf is a unique sport, and the Happy Gilmore franchise has already poked fun at it plenty of times. I have to wonder what Ferrell and company have up their sleeves for the Netflix series. The funniest Will Ferrell movies have unique settings, and he's already put his spin on NASCAR, figure skating, singing contests, and more. So I'm curious to see what he's got up his sleeve... once he recovers from his injury, of course.

Golf doesn't have a release date yet, but fans are hoping that we see it as part of the 2026 TV schedule. We'll just have to see how long production takes and if Will Ferrell's injury results in any delays.

We’re entering the final stretch of the 2025 movie schedule, which also means it’s time to start speculating about what feature films from this year will be nominated at next year’s Academy Awards. That ceremony, hosted by Conan O’Brien again, won’t air until next March, but I’m already hoping that Neon’s Arco ends up being one of the nominees for Best Animated Feature. You’ll see what I mean by watching the above visually dazzling trailer for this movie starring folks like Will Ferrell and Mark Ruffalo.

Directed by Ugo Bienvenu, who also co-wrote the script with Félix de Givry, Arco follows its titular character, a 10-year-old boy who comes from a distant, peaceful future, who accidentally travels back to 2075 and discovers a world in peril. Arco soon forms a friendship with a girl named Iris, and together with Iris’ robot caretaker Mikki, they’ll embark on a journey to not only get Arco back to his home time period, but also potentially save Earth in the process. Diaphana Distribution handled Arco’s French release, and Neon is doing it in the United States.

For those watching Arco in the United States, you’ll be treated to an English cast that stars Romy Fay and Juliano Valdi as Iris and Arco, respectively, as well as Natalie Portman, Will Ferrell, Mark Ruffalo, America Ferrera, Andy Samberg and Flea. Portman also produced Arco with Ugo Bienvenu, Félix de Givry and Sophie Mas. Although none of the adult actors’ roles have been officially identified yet, if you listen closely during the trailer, you can pick out Ruffalo as Mikki, Ferrell as what sounds like one of the townspeople in 2075, and Samberg as, I’m guessing, Arco’s father.

Obviously, I’ll wait to watch Arco for myself to judge its full quality, but the visuals alone are enough to convince me this time travel movie is deserving of Oscars buzz. The visuals are exceptional, particularly when Arco is flying and leaving behind a rainbow trail. This is the kind of artistry that should be recognized at the Academy Awards, and there are already signs that it could happen.

Arco premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and was nominated for a Camera d'Or, as well as won two awards at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Although most of the public won’t get to see Arco until it’s widely released sometime early on the 2026 movie schedule, it will have a limited, award-qualifying run starting on November 14. So Neon and its partners are clearly gunning for this movie to be an Oscars contender, and I wish them the best of luck in making this happen.

Arco’s wide release date hasn’t been announced yet, but if it does end up being nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, we’ll see whether or not it wins when the 98th Academy Awards air on March 15, 2026, both on ABC and for those with a Hulu subscription. Neon will also release Sentimental Value, Keeper, Sirāt, The Secret Agent and No Other Choice before 2025 is over.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might be one of the most well-known names out there, but he’s constantly sharing with people on social media that he’s more than a movie star and WWE legend. First and foremost, he’s a proud dad who would likely do just about anything for his daughters. But just like any other dad, the Jungle Cruise actor is still subject to pranks from his young kids even though he’s a household name. However, I don’t think he expected their most recent A+ trick to involve Will Ferrell in his bathroom.

No, the Anchorman actor wasn’t actually in The Rock’s bathroom, but he definitely was there in (Halloween) spirit. Johnson posted his POV of the prank with some creepy music to his Instagram, showing how his daughters had strategically placed a classic Will Ferrell character’s cardboard cutout to jump-scare their dad:

Maybe “evil” isn’t the word I’d use to describe Buddy the Elf from the classic Will Ferrell holiday movie Elf, but the choice in cutout is definitely a strange one. And that begs the question, why this character? Perhaps a Beetlejuice or Ghostface would have been more on theme, although Buddy has proven to be a “creepy” character given the circumstances. Seeing this figure in my shower at 2 a.m. would definitely qualify.

Clearly, the Jumanji actor’s description of the cutout is semi-poking fun at Ferrell, but it sounds like Jasmine and Tiana Johnson got their dad pretty good. You’d think the WWE legend who just played UFC fighter Mark Kerr in The Smashing Machine wouldn’t scare easily. He’s definitely someone you don’t want to mess with, inside or outside the ring.

But this big tough guy has proven to have a softer side when it comes to his daughters, having tea parties and taking them to see Lilo and Stitch. Although if I were the Central Intelligence actor’s kids, I’d sleep with one eye open in case of a prank retaliation.

I’m still not sure why Will Ferrell was the chosen one here, but I hope this video reaches him because I would love to see the Talladega Nights actor’s reaction. Perhaps it’s the Johnson girls’ way of ushering in the holiday season post-Halloween, although something tells me their scheming is year-round, independent of any holiday. I think Buddy the Elf would approve, though.

However, their dad is in one of the best Christmas movies in recent years, Red One. I can imagine the holiday season is a big deal in their house. Now that Will Ferrell (or at least this cardboard version of him) and The Rock are acquainted, I would love to see them potentially add a Red One sequel to the list of upcoming Dwayne Johnson movies.

You never quite know how a sketch is going to do in front of a live audience. That’s a recurring theme so many former Saturday Night Live cast members talk about. The bit might get great feedback from the other cast members and seem hysterical on the page, but if the crowd doesn’t go with it during the actual show, it’s not going to work.

Of course, why exactly they respond to something is a mystery. What works with one crowd during dress rehearsal may or may not work with the next crowd during the live show. There’s a long history of famous sketches that didn’t set the world on fire earlier in the day and went on to gain legendary status, most famously Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken’s iconic More Cowbell.

The sketch didn’t do particularly well during dress rehearsals, which prompted Ferrell, who wrote the sketch himself, to change his sweater from one that actually fit to one that showed his stomach. The result gave off a goofier, more slovenly impression and may have been one of the factors that changed how the audience responded. Here’s what SNL EP Morgan Neville told Deadline while discussing Peacock's SNL 50 docuseries, which devotes an entire episode to the sketch…

As a seasoned SNL fan who has watched hundreds of episodes over the years, I’d describe it as a vibe. Sometimes a sketch is able to slip into a rhythm where everything comes together to make it greater than the sum of its parts. Cast members can tell when something is working, and in their best moments, they can play off each other really well. Both Ferrell and Walken seem to sense what’s going on and really lean into their characters even more. Check out the sketch below to get a sense of what I’m talking about…

In some ways, being a comedian on Saturday Night Live is closer to being a professional athlete or being a professional wrestler than it is to being a more traditional movie or TV actor. When the light turns on, you have one chance to create something special, and what you did during the week, doesn’t really count. All that matters is what shows up during the one take that counts.

It’s not always about performing perfectly or saying all of our lines with the best enunciation. In fact, maybe the most talked about sketch is recent years is the Beavis and Butt-Head bit that went wrong in all the best ways. No, it’s just about finding that magic, that moment where it all comes together and connects with the audience.

We’ll never know if Will Ferrell’s costume change was the reason More Cowbell went so much better, but it was certainly part of the mix that made it so special. Twenty-five years later, we’re still talking about those iconic six minutes, and as long as the show continues, they’ll still be talking about it.

SNL will return for another season in early October. Final casting decisions haven’t been made. Unfounded rumors about the fates of specific cast members are being passed around, but we should start getting more info in the coming weeks. I’ll be watching and wondering what minor details got changed between dress rehearsal and the live show.

Will Ferrell marked the debut of his latest film, 2025 movie schedule release You’re Cordially Invited, months ago and, since then, the A-lister has been lining up other film-related gigs. However, the major Saturday Night Live icon has also been making moves within the TV space. On that note, he’s set to lead his first TV show, which will eventually be available to Netflix subscription holders. As the show takes shape, Ferrell and co. have now lined up an SNL reunion for him, and it’s too sweet for words.

The Anchorman icon is headlining a-yet-to-be-titled series in which he plays a golf legend. While the notion of that seems funny enough, the show just landed a major star in the form of fellow '90s-era SNL veteran Molly Shannon. According to Netflix’s press release, Shannon has been tapped to play the role of Stacy, who’s the ex-wife of Will Ferrell’s character on the show. What’s also great is that the trade describes Stacy as having a bit of a potty mouth, and I am really hoping this means we’ll hear Shannon drop her fair share of F-bombs.

I’ve been waiting for another Ferrell/Shannon collaboration for a little while now. Shannon and Ferrell starred alongside each other during five seasons of Saturday Night Live. Since their time on NBC’s sketch comedy series, they’ve also joined forces for the feature films A Night at the Roxbury, Superstar (an SNL movie spinoff about Shannon’s Mary Katherine Gallagher character) and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. Shannon and Ferrell also appeared together as themselves for the latter’s emotional documentary, Will & Harper.

Honestly, it feels like a no-brainer to pair Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell up again. The two stars have excellent comedic chops on their own but, together, they’re pure dynamite. To me, the mere idea of them playing ex-lovers is just too funny, and I’m already wondering whether that relationship is truly contentious. On the one hand, these exes could still have a soft spot for one another. Yet I also wouldn’t mind if the producers craft a volatile relationship that sees both characters humorously bringing out the worst in each other.

Netflix’s golf show itself has gone through a number of changes behind the scenes. Ferrell was initially set as co-creator of the 10-episode show alongside fellow comedian Ramy Youssef and Josh Rabinowitz, according to Deadline. However, both Rabinowitz, Youssef and fellow collaborator Andy Campagna exited the project in 2024 over creative differences. Since then, new creative voices have been brought in, including Ferrell’s friend and fellow comedy writer Harper Steele.

Will Ferrell currently has a few streaming productions cooking at the moment. He’s starring alongside Zac Efron in Prime Video’s Judgement Day, and Efron dropped a set photo to tease the film. Ferrell’s also teaming up with Amazon MGM for another movie called Tough Guys, which will see him share the screen with Ryan Gosling. Meanwhile, Molly Shannon recently delighted audiences with her portrayal of Bev Melon in the hit streaming show Only Murders in the Building.

As intrigued as I am to see the Elf star work with the aforementioned talent, the allure of his latest team-up with Molly Shannon is just too hard to resist. I’m hopeful that the pair’s chemistry remains intact and that their talents are fully taken advantage of.

Between Ryan Gosling joining the Star Wars universe and the very highly anticipated Project Hail Mary, the actor undoubtedly has some great projects on the way, but apparently, it doesn’t stop there. A report just came out that Gosling is also getting together with Will Ferrell for a comedy that sounds like an absolute blast.

A Ryan Gosling And Will Ferrell Buddy Comedy Is In The Works, And I'm Sold

Per an exclusive from Deadline, Ryan Gosling and Will Ferrell are planning on being in the same movie again after both being in the Barbie cast. The action comedy is called Tough Guys, and this film being produced by Amazon MGM Studios will have the two comedic actors playing fellow henchmen who are fatigued over being disposable henchmen and collaborate to get themselves out of the criminal business. The report suggests Gosling and Ferrell will also produce the movie along with Jessica Elbaum (who worked with Ferrell on Will & Harper and Quiz Lady), among other names being attached.

A director has not yet been chosen for Tough Guys, but considering how in demand and beloved these two actors are (even more so together), I don’t imagine Amazon MGM Studios will have a hard time rounding out production for Tough Guys.

Gosling is reportedly starting production on Star Wars: Starfighter this fall, and Ferrell has various movies on the way, such as a comedy with Zac Efron. So, we’re currently unsure whether to expect this among upcoming 2026 movies or later on.

I'm Absolutely Sold On These Two Being Henchmen Together

You know it’s a good pitch when just upon hearing the premise, I’m already imagining all the funny potential for it, and Tough Guys definitely has that energy right away for me. I couldn’t help but think about this hilarious sketch the pair did 12 years ago on Jimmy Kimmel Live! where they called themselves “Knife Guys”. Check it out:

I watch this and imagine how these two could play with this dynamic as henchmen instead. I can totally see Ferrell being the more active, intense one of the pair, and Gosling playing into his Ken-ergy and following his orders. I also hope they are longtime best friends who don’t know how to show it. I can see the Elf actor being super mean to the La La Land star's character because he’s ridiculously gorgeous, and Gosling being very sensitive, despite his otherwise violent tendencies.

Those are of course just my thoughts about how it could play out, for the time being we know very little about the movie itself, and whether it will be an Amazon MGM Studios movie one can watch with their Amazon Prime subscription or whether it will be going to theaters (like the studio’s other movie with Gosling, Project Hail Mary is). Either way, I know I’m already anticipating this one.

Will Ferrell is, as the kids these days like to say, GOATED.

The list of comedies he made in the past are legendary, and he’s still making great content today. For example, his recent documentary, Will & Harper, which is about him and his transitioning friend, Harper Steele, going on a road trip together, was so emotional that even the trailer made some people cry. So, to say that I still enjoy Ferrell’s acting is an understatement (even though I find some of his voice work–such as in the middling Despicable Me 4–leaving much to be desired).

That said, even though I like where his career has taken him, a part of me really misses his days as a member of the “Frat Pack.” For those who’ve never heard of the term, it’s of course a play on the “Rat Pack,” which featured performers like Sinatra, Dean Martin, Humphrey Bogart, and many others back in the day. The “Frat Pack” denoted comedic actors in the mid-90s to early 2000s, and included stars like Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, Seth Rogen, and yes, Will Ferrell. So, here’s why I miss “Frat Pack” (or, as I like to call him, “vintage”) Ferrell. Shake and bake!

First Off, This Was An Era When Comedies Were Still Super Popular, And Ferrell Was The King In This Field

Think back. When was the last time that you can remember a comedy being the talk of the town in Hollywood? Sure, we still have well-received comedies like One of Them Days. But, I’m talking about MONSTER comedy hits, such as 2011’s Bridesmaids, which made over $288 million dollars worldwide, or 2009’s The Hangover, which made over $469 million dollars?

You can’t, can you? That’s because most comedies, if they go anywhere at all, end up on streaming services. In a timeline when even Happy Gilmore 2 doesn’t come out in theaters and only lands on Netflix, you’d be forgiven if you thought that there weren’t any comedies that came out in theaters these days.

Well, back in the “Frat Pack” era, we were getting comedies left and right. I’m talking Shallow Hal, A Night at the Roxbury, Wedding Crashers, Knocked Up, you name it, it was coming out. Comedies used to be big business in the late ‘90s, early 2000s, and we’d get a modern classic seemingly almost every weekend back then.

Well, one of the major faces of this period was (you guessed it) Will Ferrell, and I deeply miss going to the theater and seeing one of his comedic gems. I’m talking Old School, Elf, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, and my favorite of them all, Step Brothers.

I swear, if he was in it, you knew it was going to be good. In a lot of ways, he’s the last comedian that I can really think of where people would flock to the theaters just to see him. Yes, Kevin Hart has been in some pretty good and popular flicks in more recent years, but Hart’s movies arguably just didn’t have the broad (or quotable!) appeal of a film like Anchorman, or Talladega Nights. In that way, “Frat Pack” era Farrell almost feels like the last of a dying breed, which really makes me sad. I miss the broad WIll Ferrell comedy. Can’t we bring them back?

Also, His Diversity Of Films Was Unparalleled

Okay, I know what some of you might say. What about Jack Black? He was also a part of the “Frat Pack” era, and he’s still going strong today, especially with the recent Minecraft movie, which I, of course, saw because my kids are rabid Minecraft fans. He was also the voice of Bowser in the ultra popular The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

I’m always happy to see Black in anything, I don’t really see him as one of the major faces of the “Frat Pack” era. In fact, my kids are huge fans of his, and I’m actually comfortable with them watching a lot of his older flicks, like School of Rock, Nacho Libre (which might be my favorite Jack Black movie), and King Kong.

Black is wonderful, but I still think that Farrell’s filmography is unparalleled when it comes to the diverse comedic roles that he took on, especially in the late ‘90s, early 2000s.

I’ve already listed a lot of his popular roles, such as Anchorman, and Step Brothers, but I really miss the truly bizarre ones, like Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, The Campaign, and the utterly insane, Casa de mi Padre, in which he delivers barely serviceable Spanish for an entire movie.

But, just look at how diverse that list above is when it comes to comedies. Two outlandish sports films, a silly satire, and a send up of telenovelas. He was doing everything and anything back in the day, and I miss that version of his comedy. It really was completely off the rails, and I was there for it.

His Comedy Was Both Bawdy At Times, But Also Surprisingly Wholesome

Okay, so yeah, I can’t show my kids some of Ferrell’s more R-rated affairs (“Boats ‘N hoes! Boats ‘N hoes!”). But, I’d argue that even his raunchier material, like Step Brothers, is still surprisingly wholesome.

That’s because he doesn’t seem to have a single hard edge in his body. He’s more silly than sardonic. In other words, he’s no George Carlin, or Eddie Murphy, nor would I ever want him to be.

In a lot of ways, hew just seems lovable, even when he’s “going streaking” like he was in Old School. He’s not dripping with malice, and he seems like the kind of guy who you wouldn’t want to bother in public for an autograph, but you know he’d probably give you one if you asked him nicely.

I miss this kind of comedy. Yes, some of it could be bawdy, and he’s been in his fair share of R-rated films. But, the Ferrell in Elf – which is a children’s film, I might add - doesn’t feel too far off from a big goof like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights.

That’s the Ferrell I miss. Yes, he was a part of the so-called “Frat Pack,” but I never really thought he employed “frat boy” humor. Man-baby humor, yes, but not the raunchy, dirty kind of humor that would probably make me cringe today…and yes, I’m referring to the same actor who literally starred in a movie titled Get Hard.

And Overall, I Just Find The Old Will Ferrell Hilarious

Lastly – and most importantly – I just find old Ferrell hilarious. Yes, I like what he’s doing these days, but he seems to have toned down a bit.

For example, I liked Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, but even though it felt like it was harkening back to the earlier 2000’s era-Ferrell, it still didn’t quite feel like it had the same silly energy that some of his earlier work had.

Plus, it doesn’t help that some of the movies he’s made as of late have been downright unfunny, like 2018’s dreadful Holmes & Watson.

That said, kind of like what I said earlier with Jack Black, I will never turn down a Ferrell appearance in a movie. However, the Ferrell of today is not the Ferrell of yesterday, and that’s fine. As I said up top, I like where he currently is, such as playing the Mattel CEO in 2023’s Barbie.

However, “Frat Pack” Ferrell will always be my favorite, and I guess I just miss the days when he could simply not miss, no matter what he did.

Do you also love “Frat Pack” era Will Ferrell more than his current era? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Over the five decades that Saturday Night Live has been a staple of late-night television, it has been responsible for some of the funniest impressions of political figures in popular culture. It's invented words, like "strategery," and never failed to get the public talking. Some of the greatest cast members in the show's history have played the most famous and infamous politicians in United States history. This list is hardly exhaustive; that would be impossible, but they are some of the best.

Bill Clinton - Phil Hartman

Phil Hartman was one of the most versatile performers in SNL history and had some amazing moments on the show. He could do it all, including impersonating President Bill Clinton. In 1992, he appeared on one of the true classic skits that sees Clinton on the campaign trail, meeting people at a McDonald's. Most of the time, he's just stealing fries and taking bites of people's food.

George W. Bush - Will Ferrell

Who will ever forget Will Ferrell uttering the word "strategery" during an SNL debate? Ferrell's George W. Bush is a classic. He portrayed the former president as a little dimwitted, but generally affable. While "Dubya" is smarter than he lets on, he is certainly easygoing, just as Ferrall played him. He was so good as Bush that he later played him in a one-man show after leaving SNL and has occasionally returned to the show, as well.

Al Gore - Darrell Hammond

Will Ferrell's George W. Bush is legendary, and like all the best performances, he needed a partner to play the foil, and Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Al Gore, Bush's opponent in 2000, was perfect for the role. Like Gore himself, Hammond's take on the former VP was very dry - but make no mistake, it's pitch perfect and hilarious.

Sean Spicer - Melissa McCarthy

When Melissa McCarthy first appeared on SNL as Donald Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer, she completely stole the show. Though she wasn't a full cast member, the impression was so funny, she returned a number of times to reprise it. It's impossible not to die laughing when she starts shoving gum in her mouth, playing on one of Spicer's own habits.

Gerald Ford - Chevy Chase

The first cast member to send up a president was Chevy Chase, who became legendary for his performances as then-president Gerald Ford. Chase basically played Ford as though the president was a complete idiot, and while that might not be exactly what Ford was like, it didn't matter, because it was hilarious whenever Chase played him. Just don't make him do any math.

Vladimir Putin - Beck Bennett

Occasionally, Saturday Night Live branches out into foreign politics, and in recent years, we've had the pleasure of watching Beck Bennett as a shirtless Vladimir Putin. Is it a spot-on impression? No, but no matter, it perfectly mocks Putin's machismo that is so often on display in Russian propaganda, including his lack of shirt in pretty much every appearance.

Janet Reno - Wll Ferrell

Cast members playing across genders has a long tradition at SNL, and that certainly applies to political impressions on the show. Take, for example, Will Ferrell's hilarious impression of former attorney general Janet Reno. Especially the "Janet Reno's Dance Party" skit. Though Ferrell says he regrets the impression these days, it still should be appreciated for what it was in its time.

Ben Carson - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is hands down one of the greatest impressionists who has ever graced the SNL studio. He never failed to land just about any impersonation he took on, like former Republican presidential candidate and neurosurgeon Ben Carson. Pharoah perfectly captured Carson's sleepy appearance and gentle manner.

Michael Dukakis - Jon Lovitz

Like Al Gore, former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis was often criticized for being too dry and too much of a policy wonk. Jon Lovitz nailed the former Massachusetts governor perfectly by playing him in an almost boring manner. It wasn't boring to watch during the 1988 election, however.

Newt Gingrich - Chris Farley

Saturday Night Live legend Chris Farley wasn't known for his impressions, but that doesn't mean when he did them, they weren't top-notch. In fact, his Newt Gingrich was so good, he was even invited by House Republicans to perform as the former Speaker of the House. Right in front of the man himself! Of course, Farley nailed it.

Donald Trump - James Austin Johnson

Everyone and their brother thinks they can nail an impression of Donald Trump, but none do it better than James Austin Johnson on SNL. A ton of cast members (and guest stars) have "done" Trump in the past, including most famously Alec Baldwin, but if we're honest, none of them come close to Johnson's. It's all about the subtleties.

Sarah Palin - Tina Fey

When Sarah Palin first emerged as a vice presidential candidate in 2008, fans of the show and its former head writer and star, Tina Fey, started clamoring for her to come back to do an impression of the Alaskan governor. Fey did, of course, and in the process made the impersonation legendary. She even returned in 2018 to reprise the role.

Bob Dole - Norm Macdonald

The best thing about Norm McDonald's impersonation of Senator Bob Dole was just how little the SNL star did. It was basically just McDonald holding a pen in his hand, as Dole did, and calling himself "Bob Dole" in the third person a lot. It's absolutely hilarious.

Jimmy Carter - Dan Aykroyd

Jimmy Carter, who some would argue might be the best person to ever be president, but none would argue he was particularly effective as a president. That's exactly how Dan Aykroyd played him, too. He was a great man, willing to help out anyone he could, but maybe a little out of his depth as the leader of the free world.

Hillary Clinton - Amy Poehler

You have to wonder just how much Amy Poehler took from her impression of Hillary Clinton into her Parks & Rec character, Leslie Knope. We know Leslie idolized Clinton, just as it seemed Poehler did, especially when they appeared together on the show in 2016.

Joe Biden - Kevin Nealon

Years before Joe Biden became VP, and hence a regular target of SNL, he was a senator from Maryland leading the Senate's investigation into Clarence Thomas when Thomas was nominated for the Supreme Court. The hearings were front-page news, and SNL landed an amazing skit with Kevin Nealon playing the younger Biden.

George H. W. Bush - Dana Carvey

For Gen X, there is no more famous impersonation than Dana Carvey's George H.W. Bush. His version of the 41st president was a little nerdy, but very forthright. He also copied some absolutely classic lines, like "1000 points of light," that have become cultural touchstones. Carvey has done a lot of impressions for SNL, both as a cast member and later as a guest star, but Bush I remains his most famous.

Ted Kennedy - Phil Hartman

The great Phil Hartman may best be remembered for his version of Bill Clinton, but his take on Senator Ted Kennedy in the famous skit about Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearing was at least as good and really, really funny. It's always fun to do a Massachusetts accent, even for Hartman.

Bernie Sanders - Larry David

For over a decade now, Saturday Night Live has been great at bringing in guest stars to do the biggest political players these days. One of the most hilarious was when they convinced former SNL writer and Seinfeld co-creator Larry David to play Bernie Sanders. David seemed to enjoy his time playing the independent Senator from Vermont, but he admitted later he would not have wanted Sanders to win and have to play him more than he did.

Ross Perot - Dana Carvey

The 1992 Presidential election was a wild one. George H.W. Bush, was the incumbent, and he was challenged by and young upstart named Bill Clinton. A third candidate, Ross Perot, jumped into the race with a self-funded career as a financial centrist. Dana Carvey was already famous for his Bush, and he added Perot to his repertoire during this election, too.

David Paterson - Fred Armisen

One of the more underrated impressions has to be Fred Armisen's version of the former governor of New York, David Paterson. To some, it was offensive, but Paterson himself seemed to be ok with it, as he joined Armisen for an appearance in one skit.

Donald Trump, Jr - Mikey Day And Alex Moffat - Eric Trump

Sure, usually the kids of Presidents are off-limits for sketch comedy, but when they are such visible members of the campaign, like Eric and Donald Trump Jr. were, they are fair game. Alex Moffat and Mikey Day aren't really perfect impressions, but they are hilarious.

Ronald Reagan - Phil Hartman

Early in his SNL career, Phil Hartman did an amazing impression of Ronald Reagan. The skit shows Reagan as a kindly old man, much like the image he projected to the public, but things changed when the eyes were off Reagan in the script, and he was a ruthless leader with all kinds of schemes.

Elizabeth Warren - Kate McKinnon

Emmy Award winner Kate McKinnon has dozens of amazing sketches in her SNL portfolio. She was legendary in her time on the show for her impressions, including such political luminaries as Hillary Clinton and Kellyanne Conway. One of her best has to be Elizabeth Warren, who McKinnon got to play for a little bit when Warren ran for president in 2020.

Cory Booker - Chris Redd

Cory Booker was an up-and-coming Senator from New Jersey when he through his hat into the presidential ring in 2020. Chris Redd did a very funny impression of the former Newark mayor that emphasized Booker's wide eyes.

Jeanine Pirro - Cecily Strong

Though she was a local politician early in her career, Jeanine Pirro is most famous for her Fox News talk show. On Saturday Night Live, Cecily Strong nailed Pirro's unique speech pattern and made the impression incredibly effective and funny.

Rudy Giuliani - Kate McKinnon

Before he went overboard after Donald Trump's loss in 2020, Rudy Giuliani was one of the most popular politicians in the country. After his wild claims of election interference in 2020, he lost a lot of that respect. That's the version of Giuliani that Kate McKinnon played brilliantly in the aftermath of the election.

Richard Nixon - Joe Piscopo

Early on in SNL's history, Richard Nixon was played by Dan Aykroyd. In the mid-80s, the role was picked up by Joe Piscopo, who, frankly, was even better than Aykroyd. Nixon is one of those celebrities that everyone thinks they can imitate, but it takes real skill to do it as well as Piscopo did on the show.

Barak Obama - Jay Pharoah

Jay Pharoah is one of the most talented mimics in SNL history, and his most famous impression has to be Barack Obama. He crushes the part every time he does it. Though Pharoah had a falling out with the producers on the show, he'll forever be remembered as the show's best Obama.

Paul Simon - Al Franken

We just had to include this one. Even though Paul Simon, a Democrat from Illinois, isn't really remembered by anyone born after 1990, he was a prominent member of the committee that held the Clarence Thomas hearings in '91. For the now-famous skit on SNL, he was portrayed by none other than Al Franken, who himself would later be elected to the Senate.

Michael Bloomberg - Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen's Michael Bloomberg is pretty much pitch-perfect for the smart, but sometimes whiny-sounding former mayor of New York. Armisen captured both sides of Bloomberg perfectly. It's not as famous as "The Californians," but it was still a spot-on impression.

Jeff Sessions - Kate McKinnon

Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions was one of the most prominent members of Donald Trump's first cabinet, and s,o of course, he had to get his comeuppance on SNL. Kate McKinnon had the hono,r and like all the other impressions she did on the show, she nailed Sessions.

“Did we just become best friends? Yep!” “Buddy the Elf, what’s your favorite color?” “You're my boy, Blue!” “Milk was a bad choice.” Chances are you know at least one of these Will Ferrell quotes, and if you do, you probably know where all of them come from. Arguably one of the biggest stars to come out of SNL, Ferrell has made a name for himself in the comedy world with his quippy one-liners that fans throw at each other and even at him in public.

Most of the quotes fans greet Ferrell with come from his best, funniest movies, like Elf, Anchorman, and Old School, just to name a few. However, one fan managed to catch the You’re Cordially Invited star off-guard, reciting a line from one of the most underrated comedy movies in his filmography that took him a second to put together. As the actor told TODAY:

Released back in 2005, Kicking & Screaming centered on Phil Weston (Ferrell), a family man who gets roped into coaching his son’s soccer team after his competitive father kicks his grandson off the team. The quote in question stems from Phil’s obsession with coffee, which leads him to purchase an elaborate Italian espresso machine that he sets up on the sidelines of his son’s games.

While Kicking & Screaming is hilarious, it doesn’t have the same quotability as some of the Anchorman star’s other films, which is why Will Ferrell was so shocked when the fan uttered it to him. After the initial confusion wore off, Ferrell had a nice conversation with the person who praised him and said that he had no idea how often his family quoted his iconic characters. Ferrell had a hilarious retort, telling the stranger:

If he is serious about collecting royalties for being quoted in private households, I know my family is going to owe him a small fortune. It does make me wonder if the SNL alumni quotes his own characters from time to time.

After all, it’s a known fact that Will Ferrell likes to dress up as them outside of production. This past December, he put on his iconic Buddy the Elf costume and went to an L.A. Kings hockey game. Of course, Ferrell had to put a twist on the beloved Christmas character and turned the happy-go-lucky elf into a sad, chain-smoking has-been, which angered some of his fans. He’s also known for wandering around as his Anchorman character, Ron Burgundy, from time to time.

One thing that is certain is that Ferrell seems to love these interactions with his fans, so if you ever spot him walking around, you better have a quote ready for him. I know I do!

Will Ferrell has had plenty of iconic comedy moments over the course of his career. As a result, there are also plenty of hilarious Ferrell quotes that have been dished out across his film and TV work. But. according to him, it was one line from a co-star that nearly took him out. The actor shared how one line delivered by John C. Reilly in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (one of Ferrell's funniest movies) nearly got him.

It was at the U.S.-Ireland Alliance’s 2025 Oscar Wilde Awards , where Reilly was among the honorees On hand was Will Ferrell, who took the stage to share some heartfelt (and hilarious) memories about their work together. Reflecting on their long-running friendship and comedic chemistry (via People), the Blades of Glory actor shared one improvised moment from Talladega Nights that stood out the most. According to him:

The scene in question takes place while Ferrell’s character, Ricky Bobby, is in a coma. Reilly’s Cal Naughton Jr., Ricky’s loyal but clueless best friend, visits him in the hospital and confesses this wildly inappropriate secret in an attempt at heart-to-heart honesty. The randomness of the revelation, paired with Reilly’s deadpan delivery, was too much for the funnyman to handle. Even though Ricky was supposed to be unconscious, eagle-eyed fans might be able to spot him in the clip below struggling to keep a straight face.

The Elf star also reflected on how he and Reilly first met during his legendary Saturday Night Live days. Still, it wasn’t until Anchorman’s early development that they seriously considered working together. Reilly even participated in the film’s first table read before ultimately passing on a chance to appear in Gangs of New York instead.

Will Ferrell and Talladega Nights director Adam McKay were all in on pairing the two actors up, so they wrote the role of Cal Naughton Jr. just for John C. Reilly. It worked out, as their chemistry brought some of the funniest moments in the film, like the legendary Mike Honcho confession. They've teamed up a few more times, giving us the equally hilarious Step Brothers and maybe the worst Ferrell movie, Holmes & Watson–which had audiences walking out.

Looking back on Talladega Nights makes me wish for another collab between the two. Maybe it's time for that long-rumored Step Brothers 2 to finally happen! The whole Mike Honcho scene shows that while Reilly is an incredible dramatic actor, he’s also one of the best improvisational comedians out there.

Will Ferrell’s tribute at the Oscar Wilde Awards not only celebrated John C. Reilly’s comedic genius but also showcased Ferrell's deep admiration for his friend. Whether they were nearly breaking character on set or performing "Boats N’ Hoes" (a song for which Reilly is credited with writing half of), their partnership has made a significant impact on comedy. It has been a few years since they last shared the screen, and fans always hope for another reunion. Who knows? Maybe Mike Honcho has another confession left to reveal.

Make sure to check out our 2025 movie schedule to see what these two funny guys have coming up next. Will Ferrell's most recently film is the comedy You're Cordially Invited, in which he stars with Reese Witherspoon. You can catch it streaming if you have a Prime Video subscription.

As I keep telling my friends, family, and local government officials, through the Multiverse, all things are possible. While that mythical story element has been mentioned briefly on the 2025 movie schedule, we haven’t yet jumped headfirst back into that MCU brand of madness. That hasn’t stopped Ryan Reynolds, though, as his experiences on Deadpool & Wolverine and the Will Ferrell-led Spirited have collided in one single image.

Now, this photo I'm referring to is of Ferrell looking positively feral and ready for an upcoming Marvel movie that hasn’t been invented yet. It's honestly hysterical, and it's also giving big Cavillrine vibes...

I know what you’re thinking: how could the Saturday Night Live veteran possibly compare to Henry Cavill's variant we have come to know as “Cavillrine?” Well, feast your eyes on the rendering Mr. Reynolds shared to his Instagram account, and then let’s talk that out a little more:

While this is a ruggedly hysterical look at something that isn’t available with a Disney+ subscription, I can already hear the voice Will Ferrell uses for Ron Burgundy growling out of this Wolverine variant. Just imagine an X-Men movie where Logan keeps misinforming the team of the behaviors of wildlife, only to get mauled by a bear for five solid, scream-filled minutes.

At the same time, the vibes are definitely similar to that of Henry Cavill’s Deadpool & Wolverine version of Len Wein and John Romita Sr.’s iconic co-creation. Just because “The Ferrellrine” invokes memories of the funniest Will Ferrell movies, the comedy legend’s darker side does shine through in this mockup.

So, while I can have a good laugh at this hypothetical addition to the MCU, I still wouldn’t want to fight him once the claws popped. At the same time, as we've seen in the vastly underrated Stranger Than Fiction, the emotions and guilt that come with this character wouldn't be too much of a stretch for Mr. Ferrell.

Of course, there’s one angle we’ve overlooked here, and it comes down to the comedy institution known as the Ryan Reynolds/Hugh Jackman “feud.” Mr. Reynolds might be playfully teasing his sparring partner, who’s tagged in the image, that there are plenty of other claws in the woods. So if the Australian acting powerhouse doesn’t want to play the role until he’s 90, that’s no problem.

It’s just a bit of fun that we can all get when theorizing the truth behind this post-Deadpool & Wolverine ribbing. With the road to the eventual MCU X-Men movie seeming to be in play, jokes like these are good distractions from trying to figure out who will be the next Canadian ass kicker, and what the rest of the team will look like.

Though I will close with this final thought on the matter: if James Marsden wants to pitch a Cyclops/Wolverine team-up with Will Ferrell’s variant, I’d buy a ticket the moment it got the greenlight.

Will Ferrell is a comedy icon, having put his stamp on the artform in various ways. When it comes to the realm of film, Ferrell’s best movies represent some of the funniest flicks that American cinema has to offer. Like many stars, though, the SNL veteran has had both hits and misses. He most recently found success with the 2025 movie release You’re Cordially Invited (which is available to stream with a Prime Video subscription). With that, Ferrell’s son compared his career to that of an NBA player in a cool (and somewhat back-handed) way.

Actors have to deal with critics all the time, and I’m not just talking about the ones who write for publications. They can also receive feedback from both family and friends and, in some cases, those closest to them can be the most critical. Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon recently participated in a joint interview, during which they discussed their kids’ reactions to their work. Witherspoon revealed that her three kiddos are indifferent to her filmography, while Ferrell revealed the sports-centric way one of his three boys summed up his career:

So, as the actor humorously recalled to E! News, his son believes he experienced a bit of a lull in his career as of late. That doesn’t seem to hurt the funnyman’s feelings, but that’s still a humorously sharp comment. Leave it to kids to be brutal, but I suppose you have to admire the sheer amount of honesty there. Plus, it’s easy to get the impression that the younger Ferrell wasn’t trying to be mean-spirited towards his papa.

What’s more is that throughout the history of the NBA, there have been plenty of incredible stories involving players bouncing back after one situation or another. One that comes to mind is that of now-retired shooting guard Shaun Livingston. He suffered a horrific knee injury during a game in 2007 while he was a player for the Los Angeles Clippers, and he even faced the possibility of having his leg amputated. Despite that and some further injuries early on, Livingston enjoyed a 15-year career and, by the time he retired in 2019, he’d won four championships with the Golden State Warriors.

As for Will Ferrell, he’s seen several successes in recent years, including the box office behemoths that were Barbie and Despicable Me 4. In 2024, he also marked the release of his critically acclaimed documentary film Will & Harper, which is available to Netflix subscription holders. You’re Cordially Invited also hit No. 1 worldwide on Prime Video, with Reese Witherspoon celebrating on Instagram after sending sweet messages to fans who checked it out.

So I’d say that you can chalk this one up in the win column for Will Ferrell. What I appreciate about the star is not only his talent but his commitment to only joining productions that he’s passionate about. (That’s a major reason why an Elf sequel didn’t happen.) I’d say the Semi-Pro star is definitely back in the game and, if the NBA analogy from his kid holds up, I might even find himself in more proverbial halls of fame.

I have a confession to make: for a really long time, I found Will Ferrell to be pretty cringey. The movies that many consider to be the funniest in his filmography just were not my thing. Granted, I understand that being a young girl wasn’t exactly the demographic for his big movies of the 2000s, and he’s been doing just fine without me as his biggest fan, I figure it’s all good that he wasn’t my cup of tea. That’s right, I haven’t seen movies like Step Brothers and Talladega Nights all the way through. Of course I watched Elf, but it didn’t really make a massive impression on me. Cut to this past week. I watched two Will Ferrell movies in a row, and think I totally get it now.

As someone who lives in the dark world we all take part in, I can only watch so much Yellowjackets and The White Lotus before I miss a good, wholesome comedy. So I was pleased to see Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon teaming up together for You’re Cordially Invited. The concept feels like a movie lost in the early 2000s, and after I watched it, it inspired me to check into another one of the Ferrell's films that is truly lost in that decade.

I Watched You're Cordially Invited, And Found Will Ferrell's Performance Delightful And Hilarious

While I put off watching You’re Cordially Invited, after seeing these two have a time of their life on their press tour (which included TikTok dancing, of course), I gave it try. I’ll admit there've been a few made-for-streaming comedies starring big names that I really didn’t like, but I had a blast with this one. It’s by no means reinventing the wheel, but the concept of a wedding getting double booked was funny, and I enjoyed how Ferrell and Witherspoon used their talents to be the family members of the brides at odds.

I got a kick out of the complex, but cute relationship between Ferrell’s character and his daughter – played by Geraldine Viswanathan. Witherspoon was also funny whenever she interacted with her very Southern family, and beneath the humor was a sweet story about how she’s lost touch with her family over the years after pursuing her career in Los Angeles. Then when it came to those two together, it was an unexpectedly amazing combo. Like, I never would have thought about merging them together (especially with the movie’s alligator), but it was so fun to see their humor collide. Oh, and the supporting cast was so funny, too!

For Some Reason, It Inspired Me To Rewatch Stranger Than Fiction For The First Time In Years

That brings me to the movie I decided to watch right after You’re Cordially Invited. While I was doing some streaming doom scrolling in the evening with my partner, I saw the title Stranger Than Fiction and got excited about the idea of rewatching the dark comedy for the first time in years. Growing up in Will Ferrell’s blockbuster comedy era, I wasn’t really a fan. But I remember this movie actually being the one that I really liked when it came out, and I watched a few times over. You’re Cordially Invited lit the spark, and I was happy I revisited it all this time later.

The 2006 movie has Will Ferrell playing a rather boring IRS agent named Harold Crick that one day starts hearing the voice of a narrator in his head, who is discussing his life like he’s the main character of a novel. It’s not long before she says that “little does he know,” he’ll soon die. Once Harold learns his potential future, he makes a lot of changes in his life that allow him to really “live” for the first time.

I Was Gasping At The Stranger Than Fiction Cast The Whole Time

Not only is the movie giving Severance circa 2006, I couldn’t believe the cast around Will Ferrell in this movie. I had definitely recalled Emma Thompson playing the narrator, but wow, is she good in this movie! Harold is basically a reflection of her depressed state as an author, and while we never really get a whole backstory on her, she says so much with every scene she's in. But I had totally forgotten about Queen Latifah playing her assistant. She plays alongside Thompson so well with her matter-of-fact dialogue! I also found out that both Ferrell and Thompson were even nominated for Golden Globes at the time.

Then there’s Dustin Hoffman. That’s right, Dustin Hoffman! The actor plays a literary expert that Harold goes to help him evade his fate the narrator warns him of. I had remembered the movie being funny and clever, but what a cast.

It's Not A Perfect Movie, But Its Existential Message Still Hit Me

I was thankful for my Amazon Prime Video subscription for leading me to two Will Ferrell movies in the same weekend, but particularly for the affecting message within Stranger Than Fiction. What’s great about the underrated critical darling is it’s not only a good time on the surface level, it also still makes me think about my own existence and if I’m getting caught up in the routine of life – or not being the main character in my own story.

Sure, there’s some cheesy and rather on-the-nose themes about Stranger Than Fiction that didn’t dawn on me in my earlier viewings as a younger person, but I was struck by the allegory it has about regarding the inevitability of death and how it can feel to live inside the unknown of when and where it will happen. I still think Stranger Than Fiction is my favorite thing Will Ferrell has made, because it’s the first time I was able to connect with his personal brand of comedy, and how it can be so effective in such a unique way.

Like truly, I wouldn’t want anyone else to have had his role in Stranger Than Fiction. Now I think I’ll totally dig some of his other work I didn’t give the time of day before.

Ben Stiller's comedic taste has been made abundantly clear across his decades of work, and personally, I'm a fan of his unique sense of humor. Recently, he showed it off by retweeting a quietly funny, and random, moment from Step Brothers. Surprisingly, it also highlights an actor (who is connected to Stiller thanks to a show on the 2025 TV schedule) outside of Will Ferrell, and I'm so here for this!

The Adam McKay-directed moment Stiller loved highlights Derek (Adam Scott), Dale Doback (John C. Reilly), Dr. Robert Doback (Richard Jenkins) and Nancy Huff (Mary Steenburgen), among others. The scene takes place at the family dinner table while they wait on Brennan Huff (Ferrell). Self-obsessed Derek is in the midst of a crazy and extravagant fishing story when Dale interrupts him, masterfully the exchange bounces around the table after the posed question, only to land back on Derek, who has forgotten his place in the retelling.

The Severance director hyped it as one of the funniest scenes in all movies, ever. He seems to love the bit so much because of Scott’s performance specifically. The Parks and Rec star's demeanor in this small exchange does seem to rival his role on the Apple TV+ subscription show, Severance. Check it out for yourself below:

It’s a part of Step Brothers that flies by if you aren’t paying attention to it. What, I’m assuming, Stiller found impressively funny about the scene is that Scott sticks to the same level of obnoxiousness through the whole conversation, even when his son pipes up. His character is even bold enough to tell Reilly’s character it’s possible he ruined the whole evening by asking the harmless question. The absurdity and subtlety within the 1:34 run is quiet comedy gold, and it teases at the realities of these types of familial dynamics that can be found around the dinner table.

Stepping back, and realizing that Ben Stiller is praising an early Adam Scott role, you can’t help but wonder if it helped the Parks and Rec alum land his Apple gig. This was long before Severance, but it still made some fans pose the curious question to the Zoolander star too. @LobstaFace tweeted:

It’s no secret that Stiller fought for Scott's casting in Severance, and the big swing paid off. Little did the fans know this Step Brothers scene seems to be part of the reason why the director had such an affinity for the actor.

Stiller’s response to the question above was frank and definitive about the casting of the Big Little Lies alum, stating:

It’s great to know that Scott's commitment and comedy chops within this goofy role helped him land his role on Severance. The Party Down actor really pulled off a great performance in this 2008 flick. From the unexpected but funny musical numbers he participated in, to that parted hair-do, Scott never backed away from delivering Derek’s nauseating personality with humor and wryness. And while Severance is a totally different beast, the actor still brings the same level of commitment to playing Mark too.

One thing is for sure, Ben Stiller knows comedy. For him to hype this innocuous Step Brothers scene is pretty cool, and it’s even better to know that it’s part of why Adam Scott landed Severance. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rent Step Brothers to relive the comedic layers of this Adam McKay film.

Some spoilers for You're Cordially Invited can be found in this story, but it already hit the 2025 movies schedule, so throw it on if you haven't already.

Prior to throwing on You’re Cordially Invited with my Amazon Prime Video subscription, I didn’t know a ton about the film outside of the fact Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell had teamed up for both verbal and physical comedy hijinks. Oh yeah, and Ferrell wrestling an alligator was somehow involved (but that joke played out far more wildly than expected). However, after watching the surprise rom-com, I learned more about the Nick Jonas cameo in the movie, and I’m loving how it came about.

In fact, director Nicholas Stoller admitted it was not his idea to bring in one of the Jonas Brothers to add some star power to the movie. He admitted to Collider he had in mind a “sexy pastor” for the marriage scenes that played out on the dock, but there was no specific cameo he was looking at. Instead, he just thought some random Hollywood hottie would be hired.

So, who came up with the idea? Apparently it was Will Ferrell himself.

It’s always a gamble nabbing people who aren’t the most known as comedic actors to come in and do parts like these. This is likely particularly true of the You’re Cordially Invited scene, which involved a boat splashing water on a slew of wedding guests before said boat turned around and knocked down the dock in question. It’s a major --if not the most major -- scene in the movie, and it sounds like Jonas was down for some hijinks with the rest of the cast.

The good news is Nick Jonas has had some experience with comedy on set, having done comedy in his Disney Channel original series before he appeared in the wildly popular Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (a casting he's called "serendipitous" in the past). So him popping up here in the fan-proclaimed "Willerspoon" movie, while unexpected, was not completely out of left field.

He ultimately showed up in the movie in a dual wedding ceremony scene as the wedding officiant at Margot (Witherspoon)’s sister Neve's (Meredith Hanger) event. When Margot met him she clearly found him to be a handsome alternative to their hometown pastor, as did some of her relatives. When he did ultimately take over Neve’s wedding ceremony, he inexplicably dove into a rendition of Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open,’ leading to one of the film's funniest moments.

That is, just shortly before everything else went completely off the rails in the movie. (And, yes, some time before that alligator got involved.)

It's no secret that Hollywood really loves sequels. There is a lot of guesswork and hope when it comes to releasing a movie, so when a particular title finds an audience and legitimately succeeds, the industry tries to capitalize in every way possible – including the development of a follow-up feature. Understanding this, the fact that Will Ferrell has never made an Elf 2 is all kinds of surprising, but the reason it hasn't happened makes plenty of sense.

You may remember that Elf, directed by a pre-Iron Man Jon Favreau, was a massive hit in 2003, earning over $200 million worldwide, and Will Ferrell recently explained the lack of a sequel to the beloved Christmas movie as a guest on the podcast Happy Sad Confused. The beloved comedian was asked about a sequel never coming together after the box office windfall, and he noted that there was a legitimate effort for a second film that just never crossed the finish line. Said Ferrell,

In Elf, Will Ferrell plays Buddy, an ordinary human who crawled into Santa Claus' present bag as a baby and was raised at the North Pole thinking he was a mystical being and preparing Christmas gifts. The film is in part a journey of self-discovery as he understands the truth about who and what he really is... and it evidently proved tremendously difficult to create a proper follow-up story to that kind of character arc.

Getting super honest, Ferrell admitted that he could have made a whole lot of money if he had just said "yes" when he was first offered the chance to make an Elf 2... but he says it also would have meant him telling the truth on the press tour for the sequel and telling reporters that the movie was purely created as a cash grab:

Of course, just because the creatives behind the original Elf couldn't come up with a proper way to develop a sequel doesn't mean that there hasn't been plenty of clamoring for the project. People watch or rewatch the hit Christmas comedy every year, and it frequently inspires discourse about a follow-up story that tells the continuing adventures of Buddy. Sadly, it sounds like such a film is never going to happen.

The movie will forever remain a favorite title among Will Ferrell fans, regardless of whether or not it ever gets a sequel, as its celebrated for featuring one of Ferrell's best performances and some of the greatest, funniest lines of his career. Typically, Elf is saved for viewings around Christmas time, but if you want to get in the holiday spirit here in late February, the film is available for purchase digitally via major online outlets and is on both 4K UHD and on Blu-ray.

This year’s 2025 Oscar nominations list and the road getting there has been a tough one. Will Ferrell and his hit Netflix subscription documentaryWill & Harper are among those that were snubbed by the historic awards show. And, as any great Saturday Night Live alum would do, he used an iconic Studio 8H line, his was a Celebrity Jeopardy one, while talking about the awards news.

Ferrell has continued his success to make another hit, You’re Cordially Invited, alongside Reese Witherspoon for those with an Amazon Prime subscription. Along with the streamer’s latest original, the comedian also spoke about his Elf antics along with the acclaimed documentary on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Via the show’s YouTube, when Colbert asked about whether the documentary was up for any Oscars hardware, the Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy star had a short, but frank statement:

It’s a shame they didn’t nab a nod because it’s a fantastic watch and one of Cinemablend’s 2024 movie picks. Ferrell and Colbert then went into a bit of ragging about the Academy, and especially the documentary branch of the organization.

And before the Daddy’s Home actor pulled out the classic Celebrity Jeopardy quote, he announced that he hoped some members were in attendance during the interview. He stated, cheekily:

What a great callback to one of the greatest late night NBC bits of the 90s-00s. The reference was placed perfectly, too, it could pull rank with some of the best SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skits. And while Ferrell, who played Alex Trebek, rarely used the phrase, his usage was A+ material. Really though, even though the reference was great, the Academy not recognizing the sentimental and eye-opening buddy road trip is a bummer.

If you’re unfamiliar, Will & Harper follows Will Ferrell and a fellow SNL ex-employee, writer-collaborator and friend of the Step Brother actor, Harper Steele. The duo meetup post-pandemic, and after Steele has transitioned to Harper so they can embark on an old beloved hobby that isn’t as easy as it once was. The documentary follows the pair on a cross-country trip to celebrate each other while letting Steele grow in her transition journey. It’s a wonderful and timely watch–check the trailer out for yourself:

Even though the Will & Harper doc didn’t snag any nods, Ferrell always knows how to make light of the missed marks. The rogue ‘Suck it’ moment is almost as good as the nomination. And I’m glad to be in a world where the infamous line still hits as well as it ever did. Additionally, learning the apparent Norm Macdonald story behind the Celebrity Jeopardy skit helps, too.

Unexpectedly hearing the best saying from the SNL Celebrity Jeopardy skits from Will Ferrell himself is Oscar-worthy in itself. You can stream the classic Alex Trebek sketches with a Peacock subscription.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a rom-com, and you can’t tell me otherwise. I know what you’re probably thinking, ‘But Riley, it’s one of the best movies of the 2000s, it’s a comedy masterpiece, and it has what feels like every major male comedian in it.’ To that, I say, ‘Yeah, that’s true.’ However, when you break down the plot of this flick and the motivations of Ron, it fully centers around his love interest Veronica, and the way their story plays out makes Anchorman an indisputable and great rom-com, in my humble opinion.

Now, the beloved Anchorman is full of lots of classic comedy and jokes for the bros. However, when I watched it with a Peacock subscription, I was hyper-fixated on the love story between Ron and Veronica, and I couldn’t get over their plot, which is an absolutely wild rom-com.

Ron And Veronica’s First Date Is Classic Rom-Com Material

While Ron’s initial ask was to “squire” Veronica about town as professionals, it very much turned into a date.

Ultimately, it evolved into Ron playing the jazz flute for her. And she was clearly woo-ed by it. While the scene was so incredibly silly, it also showed Ferrell’s character outside of work and that he’s not 100% a jerk. As his performance went on, Veronica obviously longed for him and was turned on by his flute performance. Then they went to Pleasuretown…

This scene demonstrates that Veronica isn’t intimidated by Ron, and it in fact shows that they – for lack of a better term – match each other’s freak. While what brings them together is absolutely bananas, and I was laughing so hard my stomach hurt, I also totally bought that Veronica was into him. Their chemistry was palpable and so fun to watch, and as the movie progressed, I cared more about their relationship than just about anything else.

Between the forbidden love trope going on here, as Veronica got confuddled about getting romantic with a coworker, and the hilarious chemistry between Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate, it became clear to me that Anchorman was giving more than just comedy, it was giving romantic comedy.

The Enemies To Lovers Game In The Middle Of Anchorman? Iconic.

Of course, after Ron’s dog got yeet-ed by Jack Black and he missed work, Veronica went on the air for him, and things went downhill big time for them. We got way more than a third-act breakup here; we get a full-blown enemies-to-lovers story in the middle of Anchorman.

Veronica took over as anchor and Ron descended to very, very, very low levels. He was, to put it lightly, distraught as well as hot and bothered.

They were sabotaging each other's left and right. They got into a literal battle at one point. Their shenanigans got out of hand. Prank calls ensued, and teleprompter sabotages were afoot. It was ridiculous, and it was clear that their romantic feelings for each other were impacting their actions at work alongside their drive to be the main anchor on the news.

While this rivalry formed out of Veronica taking Ron’s thunder and gig, I think it was clearly amplified by their romance.

The friction created by the rivalry between Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate’s characters was so much fun to watch, and their bickering was truly hilarious. While funny was the priority here, this was also such an enemies-to-lovers storyline placed in the middle of this movie, and as a rom-com lover, this trope was so obvious and irresistibly entertaining.

Anchorman Literally Ends With Ron And Veronica Getting Back Together

Now, let’s talk about that ending. After Ron and Veronica broke it off, and she was leading the news, they collided again at the zoo when Applegate’s character ended up in the bears’ enclosure. Admittedly, there’s a lot going on in this scene as the news gangs all face off against each other and Ron tries to make his triumphant return to TV. Ultimately, though, his love for Veronica took priority and he wound up jumping into the bears’ enclosure with her.

After the news team and Baxter the dog helped save them, Ron and Veronica shared a kiss once they were finally safe and out of the bears’ home and Ron reported on the pandas. Also, it ended on a love confession, as Veronica said:

The film marks its resolve on Ron and Veronica getting together, and then going on to be co-anchors of the world news. It signifies Ron’s growth and the love these two share. When you end a movie on that note… I think it’s a rom-com.

The Only Reason Ron Evolves In This Movie Is Because Of Veronica

These two share the same dream of being a network anchor, and to achieve that dream – at least for most of the movie – Ron will do whatever he can. However, as he falls for Veronica, he evolves (not much, but he evolves) and it’s clear he cares for her and doesn't want to hurt her.

At the start of the movie, Ron would have never willingly said Veronica was his co-anchor. However, he changed for the better through this experience and fell in love while he was at it.

Think about it. Would Ron have given up that big panda story before everything he went through with Veronica? I think the answer is no. However, after his turbulent love story, he changed and he truly cared for her and couldn’t bear (pun intended) to see her hurt. Talk about evolving for the better! And it all happened because the boy was in love!

Also, while Ferrell’s performance for the most part is over-the-top and slapstick, there’s something genuine about how he plays out Ron’s feelings for Veronica. That adds depth to Anchorman’s story, and I think it’s a reason why this movie is so solid.

Ron and Veronica’s love story – while ridiculous like the whole movie – adds depth and stakes to it, and it is central to the film’s arc. Therefore, I don’t think it’s out of hand to call Anchorman -- which is easily one of Will Ferrell’s best movies and a legendary comedy overall -- the wildest rom-com I’ve ever seen.

Spoilers for You’re Cordially Invited lie ahead.

A new romantic comedy just released as part of the 2025 movie schedule, and it’s called You’re Cordially Invited. This film, which is available to Prime Video subscription holders, has quite a bit to offer. Having seen it for myself, I can say that it benefits from the keen direction of filmmaker Nicholas Stoller, a solid script and excellent laughs. Not to mention the fact that this film is anchored by excellent performances from Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. Still, I’d argue that another star deserves praise for their supporting role.

The matrimony-centric film tells the story of single dad Jim (Will Ferrell), who seeks to throw the perfect wedding for his daughter, Jenni (Geraldine Viswanathan). Meanwhile, Hollywood producer Margot (Reese Witherspoon) wants to do the same for her sister, Neve (Meredith Hagner) Both Margot and Jim are thrown for a loop, however, when the venue double books the affairs, and shenanigans ensue as both parties try to share the space. Within all of that is a fun performance from Keyla Monterroso Mejia that I want to discuss.

Who Does Keyla Monterroso Mejia Play In You’re Cordially Invited, And What Does She Bring To The Role?

Each member of You’re Cordially Invited’s principal cast receives time to flex their comedic muscles. And, despite not having the biggest role in the film, Keyla Monterroso Mejia gets her time to shine, as well. Mejia plays the role of Jenni’s vivacious best friend and maid of honor, Heather. The character’s energy is quickly apparent when she (along with the rest of the wedding party) greets Paul and Jenni at Palmetto Island, Georgia by hyping up the fact that her “bitch” is getting married.

The Launchpad alum also made me chuckle during a scene in which Paul chews out Heather for not double-checking that the inn was reserved, during which Heather humorously claims she gets anxiety from making phone calls. During that scene, the actress also delivers dialogue that’s more subtly humorous, specifically when accusing Paul of being sexist and later reacting to his fight and subsequent makeup with Jenni.

One of Heather’s funniest moments, though, comes near the end of the film. At that point, she and the bridesmaids attempt to prevent Paul from entering Jenni’s apartment building so that he can reconcile with her following the disastrous events at Palmetto Island. As a result, Heather furiously slaps Paul’s hands whenever he tries to use the elevator, and she yells at him not to touch her. (Her “I’m a baby” line will probably live in my head rent-free for a while.) From there, Heather and co. humorously chase Paul as he makes his way to the apartment.

What impresses me the most about Mejia’s work here is that she does so much with the limited time she’s allotted in the film. She also shines in the scenes that she has with Will Ferrell, which is saying a lot, given that he’s an esteemed veteran of the comedic craft. Mejia proves here that there really are no small roles, just small actors, and I truly appreciate the haphazard and sometimes loud energy she brings to what I’d say is one of the best movies to stream on Amazon Prime right now.

What Other Movies And TV Shows Might You Have Seen Keyla Monterroso Mejia In?

As I mentioned before, this California native is gradually making a name for herself in the entertainment industry. When it comes to TV, she notably played Maria Sofia Estrada on Seasons 11 and 12 of Curb Your Enthusiasm. She also played the recurring role of Ashley Garcia on Abbott Elementary. Additionally, Mejia took on the lead role of Gloria as part of the cast of Freeridge, Netflix’s short-lived On My Block spinoff. She also has film credits, including The Estate, Suncoast and the well-reviewed comedy, One of Them Days.

Of course, there’s a lot to appreciate about You’re Cordially Invited in addition to the Growing Fangs alum’s work. Witherspoon and Ferrell are indeed fun, with both bringing their specific comedic sensibilities to the flick. A particularly wild scene involves the two trying to remove an alligator from a room. (In case, you’re wondering, a real gator was offered for the film but not used.)

You’re Cordially Invited may not go down as one of the best romantic comedies of all time. However, it’s an entertaining piece of work that exudes (and takes the piss out of) love and highlights the complicated familial ties that bind people together. If you haven’t watched it, be sure to give it a try, and check out the talents of Keyla Monterroso Mejia while you’re at it.

After catching strays during The Traitors’ roundtable, Zac Efron is ready to prove that he’s a good actor once and for all. The High School Musical icon is once again partnering with Prime Video for an untitled comedy project where he’ll star opposite Saturday Night Live legend Will Ferrell. Judging by the premise, I’m predicting that Ferrell won’t be the only big star appearing in the movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Efron will star as a young convict who is fresh out of prison. Instead of choosing to make good on his newfound freedom, the convict decides to seek revenge on the reality TV judge, played by Ferrell, whose conviction put him behind bars. As if that’s not bad enough, Efron’s character manages to take a reality TV courtroom hostage in the process.

Reality TV court shows have been a staple on daytime television for decades, and with Amazon Freevee’s Jury Duty becoming an Emmy Award-nominated comedy show, it’s no surprise that the streaming site wants to dabble in the world once again. With such an open premise, there’s also a chance that the untitled Efron-Ferrell project will be able to poke fun at the real-life TV judges that generations grew up watching — like Judge Judy.

While nothing has been confirmed beyond Efron and Ferrell’s casting, it’s easy to wonder if television's most famous judge, Judy Sheindlin, will appear in the comedy. I can think of a couple of ways Sheindlin could show up, and they all could lead to some hilarious situations.

For starters, Sheindlin could appear as her infamous television persona, Judge Judy. Perhaps Efron’s character breaks into the wrong courtroom while searching for Ferrell’s character and finds himself making a scene in Judge Judy’s presence. If you’ve ever watched her courtroom series, which ran for 25 years, you’ll know that Judy didn't put up with any nonsense, meaning Efron’s convict character could find himself in even more trouble or be on the receiving end of one of Judy’s insults.

Though Sheindlin has never appeared on television as anything other than “Judge Judy,” it would be hilarious if she just happened to be an audience member in Ferrell’s televised courtroom. There could even be a moment where she criticizes him as a way to subtly call out her time as a TV judge.

If they can’t get Sheindlin, there are plenty of other television judges to choose from that would add a hilarious, meta cameo to the film. But even if that doesn’t happen, I’m sure the Efron and Ferrell-led film is going to be one of Prime Video’s best comedies.

After all, it’s being penned and directed by Nicholas Stroller, who just worked with Ferrell in the comedy You’re Cordially Invited, which you can stream now with an active Prime Video subscription. Plus, Efron has proven he’s a talented comedy actor over and over again, most recently in Ricky Stanicky for the same streaming service.

With the project still untitled, it’s unlikely that the film will be finished in time for the 2025 movie schedule. Thankfully, there are plenty of other great Prime Video films to hold you over until then.

You need only look at a handful of Will Ferrell’s funniest movies to see that he isn’t exactly known for his subtlety. From his time on Saturday Night Live to making Ron Burgundy a household name in Anchorman to his most recent project on the 2025 movie calendar, You’re Cordially Invited, Ferrell has made a career of pushing his characters over the top. He may have gone too far in some fans’ eyes, though, when he was seen drinking and smoking in his Buddy the Elf costume at an NHL game. Ferrell talked about going viral for that stunt and the backlash he got from it.

One of Will Ferrell’s best characters is unquestionably the titular wannabe North Pole-dweller Buddy in 2003’s Elf, which itself is one of the best movies of the 2000s, not to mention one of the greatest Christmas flicks ever. So, many fans were delighted — if not a bit shocked — to see him reprise the character while attending an L.A. Kings-Philadelphia Flyers hockey game in December. His grumpy take on the elf with a typically inexhaustible amount of Christmas cheer did not impress some fans, as Ferrell told People:

It does seem like a stretch for the elf — who, let's remember, was the inspiration behind getting New York City’s moodiest citizens involved in group caroling in order to save Christmas — would let himself go to such a degree (that definitely didn’t look like syrup in his glass). Will Ferrell previously discussed his decision to dress up as sad Buddy, suggesting maybe he finally got sacked from the North Pole (a theory I'm strongly opposed to). Either way, Ferrell continued:

We’ve all been there, right? Maybe not specifically at a hockey game, but I guess even the seemingly ever-cheerful Buddy the Elf should be allowed to have a down day. And let’s be real: Seeing Will Ferrell sporting a candy cigarette in his mouth is no more harmful to our children than watching him pop chewed gum off of NYC’s subway railing and into his mouth.

I do understand people’s concerns, though, because I imagine it would be disheartening for children to see Buddy the Elf in such a light, even if they understand Elf is just a movie. Hopefully no long-term trauma will come to the kids in attendance at that hockey game, unlike these kids from the movie, who were likely never the same:

It looks like the youngsters (both in the movie and at the Kings game) got an early lesson in the saying “Never meet your heroes.” I do have to wonder if Will Ferrell will possibly think twice before risking one of his characters’ reputations like that again, but I’d say probably not.

If you want to re-experience Buddy the Elf as director Jon Favreau intended, Elf is available to rent with an Amazon Prime subscription or other rental service.

Minor spoilers for You’re Cordially Invited lie ahead.

Take heart, romantic comedy fans, as the 2025 movie schedule features a newly released title that might just float your boat. You’re Cordially Invited is now available to stream with a Prime Video subscription and, as teased in the trailer, it features all of the madcap shenanigans you would expect from some of the best rom-coms. Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell’s new film even includes a wild scene involving an alligator, which was constructed by the crew. However, it seems the stars had an opportunity to use a real gator.

Nicholas Stoller’s rom-com sees a doting dad and a high-powered Hollywood producer at odds after a wedding venue double-booked ceremonies for the former’s daughter and the latter’s sister. Amid the humorous comedy of errors, Will Ferrell’s Jim ends up in bed with an alligator, which ends up giving him more than he can handle. Reese Witherspoon recently recalled being uncertain as to how Stoller and his crew would choose to proceed with the wild sequence. She then revealed how a proud-sounding man pitched his own gator:

Well, you have to give the guy credit for shooting his shot for him and Lucille, right? Seriously, though, it’s wild that You’re Cordially Invited’s team was actually presented with the opportunity to shoot with a live alligator. I’d say it’s best that they didn’t, though, considering an obvious fact — it could’ve been very dangerous. During her appearance on The Tonight Show (which was shared to YouTube), Reese Witherspoon also revealed Will Ferrell’s reaction. To put it simply, many of us can probably understand his feelings:

What the Anchorman icon was enthusiastic about, however, was the prospect of reuniting with Reese Witherspoon 20 years after they worked together on Saturday Night Live. As the comedian put it, he and his co-star are “the pairing that you didn’t know you needed to see.” The two A-listers seemed to gel quite well on screen and, behind the scenes, Ferrell and Witherspoon dropped a dance video (as part of a social media trend), which went viral. All in all, I loved seeing their chemistry in the film and have enjoyed seeing it amid their press tour as well.

Plenty of other great gags and jokes are present within You’re Cordially Invited, but I’d argue that the alligator scene could be the best among them. And believe me when I say that the lack of a real gator doesn’t take away from it in the slightest. I’m certainly glad the film’s lead actors didn’t have to contend with such a situation. I also hope that whatever gig the Georgia man and the apparently “docile” Lucille had lined up did or will go off without a hitch.

Do yourself a favor and check out the funny and sweet You’re Cordially Invited now on Prime Video. Those who are really looking to tickle their funny bones can also stream the funniest movies starring Will Ferrell as well as the great comedies headlined by Reese Witherspoon.

The 2025 movie calendar has already provided some great options for those taking a trip to the theater, but honestly, isn’t it great to sometimes be able to enjoy A-list talent from the comfort of your own sofa? To that end, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon would like to cordially invite you to You’re Cordially Invited, a new rom-com available with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Fans have been looking forward to seeing “Willerspoon” finally come together on-screen, and critics — who screened the movie ahead of its January 30 release — are here to tell us if those high hopes will be fulfilled.

Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon are apparently “the pairing that you didn’t know you needed,” the SNL alum said, as You’re Cordially Invited sees Jim and Margot go to war when they discover his daughter’s wedding venue has been double-booked with Margot’s sister’s wedding. Briana Zigler of AV Club, however, says she had trouble finding any humor in this lazy romantic comedy. The critic gives it a D, writing:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY agrees, giving it 1.5 stars out of 4 for failing to find the tonal balance between dark satire and lighthearted rom-com. What’s more, Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell lack chemistry as both friends and enemies. Truitt says:

Justin Clark of Slant also rates You’re Cordially Invited 1.5 out of 4 stars, saying this marriage of talents was doomed from the start. The film doesn’t allow Reese Witherspoon to stretch her comedic muscles, while Will Ferrell has the opposite problem, forcing even subtle jokes into ridiculous realms. Clark continues:

Lisa Laman of Culturess says the movie starts off strong but ultimately devolves into terrible dialogue and tired rom-com tropes. In Laman’s words:

John Serba of Decider says You’re Cordially Invited is almost funny enough and almost heartwarming enough, but ultimately the critic finds it “too long, too pointlessly chaotic and ultimately too blah to recommend.” Serba explains:

Critics have given the movie a 43% Rotten Tomatoes score, with the audience’s Popcornmeter only slightly higher at 56%. This may not go down as one of Will Ferrell’s funniest movies or rank up there with the best of Reese Witherspoon, but if you feel like this duo is too good to pass up, of course you should check it out yourself and draw your own conclusions.

You’re Cordially Invited has officially premiered on our 2025 movie schedule, starring Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell. While the comedian-actor declared he and his newest costar are the unexpected dream team, he’s already drummed up his newest headline-making idea. Ferrell’s sights are set on being considered for this year’s Sexiest Man Alive campaign, and Witherspoon made an excellent case on his behalf.

The new Amazon Prime Video subscription-exclusive double wedding comedy’s been buzzing from the press and its premiere. While the two funny leads were on the carpet to attend the event, People caught up with them on the Step Brothers actor’s goals of being considered. The publication’s interviewer jumped right in to ask about the 57-year-old’s plans for his course of action. Ferrell shared he was throwing his hat in the ring for a second time after not beating out the unsuspecting 2024 SMA John Krasinski last year, saying:

Even though I know this is most likely one of his bits, I can’t help but want the Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy star to win. Humor seemed to be on the table last year with The Office alum taking the crown, with much confusion that birthed plenty of memes. Ferrell could illicit even more internet fun.

His You’re Cordially Invited costar jumped in with an undeniably solid yet basic argument on his behalf. Comedically, Witherspoon noted, that no one else came to mind for her, and said:

I’m so down with this idea/bit between the Barbie and Legally Blonde stars. Regardless of whether they’re joking, I’m here for the whole vibe (and proving Ferrell’s feelings about him and his peer’s chemistry).

Will Ferrell expanded on his pitch that people were getting into the idea last year and thought he could be a good candidate. He shared:

Hopefully, the bit or literal idea gets some traction this time for the Elf star, and the scary encounter with a life-sized Buddy doesn’t detract from the campaign. He’d have the competition in the bag if it were the Most Lovable Man alive. One look at the funniest Will Ferrell movies and it’d be over. The Old School star even provided a pose he’d do if he snagged a place, and, of course, delivered. See the whole thing here:

It’s all too good and makes me even more excited to watch the new Nicholas Stoller movie. Hopefully the new comedy can help boost and showcase Will Ferrell to new sex-appeal heights! Seriously though, this campaign should happen because I know that Ferrell fans, like me, would be so thrilled about it all

We’ll have to wait and see if the Will Ferrell Sexiest Man Alive bandwagon takes off. I know that if it does happen, Reese Witherspoon, will be out there making the case for him.

The 2025 movie schedule continues to prove its impressive spread by introducing the long-overdue team-up of Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon, in You’re Cordially Invited. The 'Willerspoon' movie continues to surprise and excite anticipating viewers with the powerhouse pairing and the ongoing sprinkles of BTS tidbits being shared. The Saturday Night Live alum egged on the idea that he and his upcoming costar are a match we’ve all been missing out on, along with why the Prime subscription film is the perfect fit for them.

The Will & Harper star appeared on TODAY and chatted about the new Nicholas Stoller-directed film. He started by recalling the A-Listers shared work history–two decades ago on SNL when Witherspoon was hosting. The funnyman then teased that audiences would be in for a real treat with the terrific twosome. Via their YouTube account, he said:

It’s hard to believe that it’s the first time Ferrell and Witherspoon are really working together, but it’s true. I’m highly motivated to watch their 20-year-old SNL episode now (available with a Peacock subscription). And, I’m even more ready to watch the January 30th movie, their signature styles intertwine with one another, and that promised long-overlooked chemistry we’ve all been missing out on.

The Elf star then launched into why this double wedding movie, and its director (Stoller), was the perfect place to reunite with Witherspoon. He also noted Stoller’s great backlog of movies and how Ferrell was ready to jump in after the casual pitch, saying:

The Neighbors director and Zoolander actor seem like a match made in heaven. With films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and Bros paired with Ferrell’s funniest flicks–it’s a green flag for me. And it only gets better once Witherspoon and her top movies enter the arena (not to mention great comedic support like Jack McBrayer and Keyla Monterroso Mejia filling out the project).

The countdown is on until You’re Cordially Invited and we can see the dream team we never knew we needed, Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon. I know already that I’m hoping it won’t take another twenty years to see them in something together again.

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” That’s a line from Elf, one of the best Christmas movies of all time, but you know what’s not a good way to spread Christmas cheer? Creating a horrifying, life-sized animatronic of Will Ferrell’s character, Buddy the Elf. Ok, it’s January as I write this, so that’s a moot point, but that doesn’t change the fact that this thing truly nightmarish, and it was introduced to Ferrell on live television.

During his visit to TODAY, Will Ferrell, who’s starring in the Amazon Prime Video subscription-exclusive movie You’re Cordially Invited with Reese Witherspoon, was shown this Buddy the Elf decoration. His reaction is pretty much what I expected, i.e. saying the same sort of things I would if I saw the animatronic. Take a look:

“It’s chilling” is an excellent description of this abomination of a Christmas decoration. As someone said in the comments section of this video, they were “terrified” to see this at Home Depot, and I’m in full agreement. It’s like Will Ferrell said, someone who signed off on this who wasn’t him, and this is the result of that decision. I’m not saying this decoration had to look like a Madame Tussauds-level waxwork, but how it ultimately turned out just doesn’t fly.

Will Ferrell “meeting” the life-sized Buddy comes a month after the actor dressed as a disheveled version of his Elf character who’d turned to alcohol and tobacco. The SNL alum amusingly attributed the changed look to Buddy getting laid off from the North Pole, and while that was a funny way for him to help bring 2024 to a close, all this animatronic does is make me feel uneasy. I can’t blame Ferrell for exclaiming “Get out of here!” and pushing it off camera. It did not deserve any more screen time.

This Christmas decoration may not have hit, but it in no way detracts for the popularity of Elf more than 20 years after its release. This is even a movie that fans are willing to watch during the 4th of July! Elf went on to spawn a 2010 Broadway musical and a 2014 stop-motion animation special, but alas, Elf 2 never came to be. The late James Caan attributed this to Ferrell and director Jon Favreau not getting along, but Ferrell later said it was because he wasn’t interested in the sequel’s “rehashed premise.” It’s ok though, some things should be kept as a one-and-done deal, and I’d argue Elf is one of them.

Unfortunately, Elf currently isn’t available on any of the best streaming services, but that will surely change once the Christmas 2025 season gets underway. Until then, you can keep yourself entertained on the Will Ferrell front by watching You’re Cordially Invited starting this Friday, January 31, and also join me in hoping the life-sized Buddy won’t be sold for the next round of holiday festivities.

January is coming to an end and February is just about to get underway. This means a major shake-up in the offerings of all the best streaming services and many library titles disappear from one place, possibly appear elsewhere, and an entirely new library of new content arrives.

There's always a crazy amount new on Netflix at the start of every month but this week one popular series returns for a second season. Upcoming on Disney+ we have a brand new animated series that will like have Marvel fans crawling the walls with joy.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man - January 29 (Disney+)

We’re still waiting for Spider-Man: No Way Home to make it onto Disney+, but until then, basically every other Spider-Man movie and animated series ever conceived can be viewed if you have a Disney+ subscription. And now there’s one more, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man is a brand new animated series that will give us a fresh take on Spidey’s early years as a wall-crawling hero who also has to navigate high school.

Paradise January 29 (Hulu)

A lot of people with a Hulu subscription got to know Sterling K. Brown on This is Us. Brown has continued to show just how great an actor he is in film and TV but rarely does he get a chance to truly lead. Hulu’s new series Paradise sees Brown play a secret service agent who joins a community of some of the most wealthy and powerful people in the world, only to become wrapped up in a sinister investigation after another member of the community is murdered.

Mythic Quest Season 4 - January 29 (Apple TV+)

In an era when so many streaming shows rarely make it past Season 1, the fact that Mythic Quest has made it to Season 4 is a pretty impressive milestone. Clearly, a lot of people with an Apple TV+ subscription have been fans of this workplace comedy set at a video game developer. The new season looks to be just as funny as ever.

The Recruit Season 2 - January 30 (Netflix)

The Recruit’s first season on Netflix got a strong response from viewers and that reaction has now translated into a second season for the show that stars Noah Centineo as a lawyer working for the CIA who becomes a field agent. It's balance of action and humor was a win the first time around. In Season 2 the action travels to South Korea.

You're Cordially Invited - January 30 (Prime Video)

Weddings are certainly stressful affairs but in You’re Cordially Invited we see just how funny that stress can be. When two destination weddings get double booked at the same location, the two groups try to coexist. Instead, chaos ensues Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon co-star in the year's first great reason to have a Prime Video subscription.

The first month of 2025 has been a solid one for streaming so one hopes that it's an indication of what is to come over the next 11 months.

When you think of the funniest stars in Hollywood, Will Ferrell probably comes to mind, and rightfully so. The 57-year-old actor and comedian floored audiences with his work on Saturday Night Live, and many of Ferrell’s movies are greatly loved. His on-screen work aside, the star is known for occasionally pulling wild stunts in real life, with his drinking- and-smoking Buddy the Elf being the latest. Years ago, Ferrell pulled another prank at a sports game, when he threw Shaq out of a b-ball game at the Staples Center, and it’s a wild story.

The Talladega Nights icon paid a visit to Jason and Travis Kelce’s New Heights podcast, where he discussed various aspects of his career. He even clarified his wild Buddy the Elf moment from that hockey game. After that, Jason recalled the comic escorting Shaquille O’Neal out of a game at the Staples Center in 2013. At the time, Will Ferrell was decked out in a security uniform, and the stunt went off without a hitch. During his interview (which is on YouTube), Ferrell explained how he came to be in the position to pull off the prank:

Seriously, major kudos to the Step Brothers star for managing to sneak into the game unnoticed by the powers that be. I also can’t help but chuckle over the fact that some real security guards recognized him and let him go about his business. Of course, you may still wonder how the Inside the NBA co-host and aspiring underwear model got involved. Well, it turns out Shaq spotted the Old School alum himself, and the Los Angeles Lakers icon wanted to get in on the fun, as the comedic actor explained:

Shaquille O’Neal is definitely someone who appreciates a good time, as he’s shown in the past. His antics with Charles Barkley on Inside are proof of that, and there’s also the fact that he puts on grandiose shows as a DJ. Kudos to the Diesel for adding to the viral moment in such a great way. You can see it for yourself down below:

There was also a tad bit of humorous irony to this situation as well. Will Ferrell went on to tell the Kelce brothers that he was later approached by one of the heads of security for the Staples Center. And his take on Ferrell’s impersonation may not be what you’d expect:

Well, they do say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right? Regardless of Will Ferrell’s intentions, the stunt was downright funny and, in my humble opinion, will stand as one of his best public stunts. Here’s hoping that his recent appearance as Buddy won’t be the last time he pulls something wild at a sporting event.

Those who want to see some of Will Ferrell’s best Saturday Night Live performances can stream past episodes with a Peacock subscription. Ferrell’s various films are also available to stream, rent and own on various platforms.

I’m getting very excited about a comedy on the 2025 movie schedule that is set to be released this week! Reese Witherspoon and Will Ferrell have teamed up for a wedding comedy called You’re Cordially Invited, and I cannot wait to see these two funny actors together in a movie for the first time ever. To make matters more exciting, as the pair promote their film that will be available with an Amazon Prime subscription, they decided to dance like TikTokers, and I was not expecting this at all.

I might not have had this on my Bingo card this week, but Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon totally slayed this video that features them dancing to Lola Young’s “Messy.” Check it out:

See what I mean? These two killed this… especially Reese Witherspoon who completely went for the choreo, whereas Ferrell looked like he was just getting through it the best he could. When these two were coming up in the ‘90s and ‘00s they probably had no idea that dancing on camera would be part of the press tour process (the Twisters cast went viral for doing this last summer on their press tour, too), but these comedy icons are showing us how it’s done with this amazing video.

Fans were totally here for it, too. Check out some of the comments on the Instagram video that already has over 5 million views:

• “willerspoon is a movement 🙌” - @lindsaydawnebateman
• “The pair we need but had no idea we needed 😍😍😍” - @darbyecamp
• “This is pure joy” - @luiselkes
• “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen!😂” - @pieladybooks
• “The energy we need right now 🙌🏻” - @bianco.mariah
• "Perfect pairing" - @jennpoliseno 

“Willerspoon” is amazing. While I wouldn’t necessarily have put these two together on my own, now that they are sharing the same air for You’re Cordially Invited, I think it’s genius. The actors have been hyping up their new movie lately ahead of its release on Friday, January 31, and seeing this video only makes me want to see it more.

You’re Cordially Invited has Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon playing strangers who unexpectedly collide when the weddings their respective family members are in have been accidentally double booked for the same venue. The SNL alum is the father of a bride and the Legally Blonde star has been planning her younger sister’s wedding. The two quickly become rivals as they share the same space. You can check out the hilarious You’re Cordially Invited trailer below:

I do wonder if this will secretly become a rom-com or if it will truly and purely be a comedy for these two actors to get chaotic with. However, either way, I'll be happy.

Did a dance video between “Willerspoon” get me more excited for their comedy together? Yes. I cannot wait to stream at home next weekend.

Saturday Night Live is currently airing its 50th season in the 2025 TV schedule, which is certainly a milestone that most shows will never reach. NBC has celebrated that milestone in a variety of ways, but fans with Peacock subscriptions are the ones with access to the SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night docuseries that chronicles some of the series' highest highs and lowest lows over the past half century. Will Ferrell's iconic "More Cowbell" sketch is certainly one of the highest highs, and is the subject of one full episode of SNL50.

Docuseries executive producer Morgan Neville spoke with CinemaBlend about the episode, including how the team tracked down fresh footage for a sketch that aired 25 years ago. The "More Cowbell" sketch was written by Will Ferrell and also featured SNL cast members Chris Parnell, Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz, and Jimmy Fallon, some of whom were more successful than others at keeping a straight face opposite the future Elf star as the Gene Frenkle, the cowbell-playing (and fictional) member of Blue Oyster Cult.

The sketch has haunted host Christopher Walken ever since it aired in 2000 due to how infinitely quotable it is, and the SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night episode all about it revealed that Will Farrell originally wrote it for Norm Macdonald in the role of Bruce Dickinson, but was passed over and shelved until Walken arrived. I won't spoil the events of the full episode of the Peacock docuseries here, but when I spoke with SNL50 executive producer Morgan Neville, he explained why the four-part series dedicated a full episode to just that one (admittedly incredible successful) sketch:

Plenty of SNL fans have undoubtedly seen "More Cowbell" more than once, but the specific episode of SNL50 included footage that certainly was never part of the original broadcast, a DVD release, or the clip on YouTube. The process of gathering information on the sketch from 2000 that nobody knew would be such a huge hit went as far as retrieving a VHS tape from a former employee. Considering that few people even have VCRs nowadays, it's impressive that the tape was still around and of high enough quality for the docuseries!

SNL50's EP Morgan Neville, who won an Academy Award in 2014 for 20 Feet from Stardom, an Emmy in 2017 for Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal, a Grammy for 20 Feet From Stardom, and scores of nominations for other projects including Won't You Be My Neighbor as a showcase of Mr. Rogers and Piece by Piece as the documentary of Pharrell Williams' life and career via Lego animation, went on to say about the "More Cowbell" sketch circa 2000:

The SNL50 episode about the sketch goes in-depth on how the odds were actually stacked against "More Cowbell" even being the standout segment of the episode back in 2000, with absolutely no way of guessing that it would be a staple of pop culture 25 years later.

As somebody who actually did see it for the first time via the Saturday Night Live - The Best of Will Ferrell DVD compilation, I rewatched the sketch on YouTube after seeing the new docuseries and discovered that it has accumulated 28 million views since going live on the platform five years ago. I shared that figure with Morgan Neville, who responded:

Very clippable and very quotable, I'd say! The most famous line to come out of "More Cowbell" might be Christopher Walken's "I got a fever and the only prescription is more cowbell!" My personal favorite, though, is when Will Ferrell's voice starts to crack on saying "I'd be doing myself a disservice––" while his castmates are hiding their laughter in their Blue Oyster Cult facial hair. Even he comes dangerously close to cracking a smile! After all, nothing makes a funny SNL sketch even funnier than when the stars can't help but break.Take a look:

Check out the deep dive into "More Cowbell" with the third episode of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, available streaming on Peacock now. All four episodes of the docuseries are worth watching, though, between the long list of current and former stars rewatching their auditions in Episode 1 and the story of the weird year that almost ended in SNL's cancellation in Episode 4. You can also find new episodes of Saturday Night Live with the next SNL hosts on Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

The 97th Annual Academy Awards are coming up quickly on the 2025 TV schedule, and this year could be one to talk about regarding transgender representation. Regarding the Oscars, it’s been almost a decade since big talk about representation at the awards show went viral with #OscarsSoWhite. While Hollywood’s biggest night has given out more golden trophies to a more diverse group of people in recent years, 2025 could particularly be a massive step in the direction of more trans people being recognized – but, it will likely overlook one particularly good film from the community.

Between the buzz that Emilia Pérez and Will & Harper are getting this Oscar season, this could be a landmark year for transgender representation in movies being talked about during award season, but it's a shame I Saw The TV Glow is being left out. Let’s talk about it.

The History Of Trans Representation At The Oscars So Far

Over the nearly one hundred years that the Oscars have been around, stories about transgender people have been highlighted at the award show, but oftentimes with actors who are not part of the community actually earning recognition for playing trans people.

Movies like 1975’s Dog Day Afternoon, 1982’s The World According To Garp, 1992’s The Crying Game, 2005’s Transamerica, 2011’s Albert Nobbs, 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club and 2015’s The Danish Girl have all involved the topic of transgender people and have even earned some Oscars. While it's been important for these stories to be told, rarely if at all have the people within the community been given the opportunity to tell their own stories, and that needs to change.

There have been a few instances of people within the transgender community earning Oscar nominations. Such as in 1974, when Angela Morley became the first openly transgender Academy Award nominee for working on the music for The Little Prince, and she was also nominated in 1977 for The Slipper and the Rose—The Story of Cinderella.

In 2017, Yance Ford became the first openly transgender man to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary feature with Strong Island. Additionally, Anohni was the first transgender person to be nominated for Best Original Song for the 2015 documentary, Racing Extinction. It’s also worth noting that Elliot Page has an Oscar nomination for 2008’s Juno, but it was prior to their transition in 2020.

Karla Sofía Gascon Is Poised To Be The First Trans Woman To Be Nominated In Acting

There have been controversies around cisgender actors playing and winning Oscars for playing trans people – such as with Eddie Redmayne recently sharing regrets for starring in The Danish Girl to portray Lili Elbe. But this year, it’s likely that for the first time, an out trans actor will be nominated for an Academy Award. Karla Sofía Gascon is predicted to be in the Best Actress category at this year’s Oscars for Emilia Pérez, for playing a drug cartel kingpin who decides to fake their death and have a gender-affirming surgery in order to live their life in their truest way, as a woman.

According to Gold Derby’s odds list for the category, she is No. 3 under Mikey Madison’s Anora performance and Demi Moore’s The Substance performance, giving her tremendous odds for at least taking one of the five slots as a nominee. It is a very stacked category this year, between Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo, I’m Still Here’s Fernanda Torres, Hard Truth’s Marianne Jean-Baptiste, The Last Showgirl’s Pamela Anderson, Lee’s Kate Winslet, Babygirl’s Nicole Kidman and Maria’s Angelina Jolie also among top contenders, but a nomination would be a huge step, considering its one of the most high-profile awards of the night.

While we could see a historical milestone for an underrepresented sect of the LGBTQ+ community at this year’s Oscars, Gascon’s character and the movie have, however, been ridden with controversy due to the response for how it depicts its trans character. GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) for example, declared it was not good trans representation, citing numerous reviews against the film including Autostraddle’s words that it has “every trans trope you can imagine.”

And, Will & Harper Is In The Running For Best Documentary

Another trans-focused movie that could earn an Academy Award nomination at the 97th Oscars is Will & Harper. The movie follows Will Ferrell as he goes on a road trip with his longtime friend and collaborator, who recently transitioned into a woman named Harper Steele. As they travel together across the U.S., Ferrell gets to ask Harper honest questions about how the transition affects their friendship and her life going forward, and it has a slice-of-life approach to sharing the joys and struggles facing trans people.

The documentary, which is also one of CinemaBlend’s top movies of 2024, doesn’t have as high of a chance of being nominated as Emilia Pérez, considering Gold Derby has it at No. 6 below No Other Land, Sugarcane, Daughters, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat and Dahomey, but it does offer a unique chance for a trans story to earn a nomination, and potential win. It’s great to see it in the conversation.

The Academy Will Likely Overlook One Great 2024 Trans Film

While it could be a landmark year for trans representation at the Oscars, it’s unfortunate another film from the community isn’t getting its flowers during award season as we gear up for nominations to be released.

I Saw The TV Glow is a powerful drama (with a lot of horror elements to its name) that illustrates how it felt for writer/director Jane Schoenbrun to exist in the wrong body before their transition. The movie follows an isolated teen named Owen (masterfully played by Justice Smith), living in the ‘90s who connects with a fellow high schooler over a TV show called The Pink Opaque – inspired by Jane’s love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer growing up.

Through some hauntingly memorable filmmaking, Schoenbrun is able to communicate the dread trans people can feel pre-transition through a lyrical and visually stunning film. Martin Scorsese has even praised it for being one of his favorites of 2024. On Gold Derby, the movie is down at No. 33 for Best Picture odds, Schoenbrun is at No. 41 and Justice Smith is a No. 17, making it very unlikely the title will be part of the Academy's picks.

Despite there being some disappointment from the LGBTQ+ community about what will get the spotlight at this year’s Academy Awards, all in all, we’ll look back at 2024 as an important year for trans stories in movies. These films being made and talked about is a solid step forward, and it's more important that these movies exist and are providing more visibility for the community, both to represent their stories and get conversation going in mainstream media.

Emilia Pérez and Will & Harper are on Netflix now, while I Saw The TV Glow is currently streaming for those with a Max subscription.

Academy Award nominations drop January 23 and the show will be on March 10.

The best Saturday Night Live stars made an impact on the classic sketch comedy series, not just because of their ability to be funny but, more importantly, their ability to act. These comedy icons would go on to prove their versatility by challenging themselves in more serious roles on both the big and small screen, going on to earn widespread praise for their craft. Here, we show our appreciation for these dramatic performances by very funny people, including some that earned these SNL stars Oscar nominations.

Kristen Wiig (The Skeleton Twins)

This one technically counts as a twofer because the eponymous siblings in the 2014 twin movie, The Skeleton Twins, are played by SNL veterans Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Wiig has never given a more absorbing performance than in this movie that gets honest about mental illness as Maggie Dean, who is forced to put her own mental health struggles at bay to care for her gay, suicidal brother, Milo.

Robert Downey Jr. (Oppenheimer)

Robert Downey Jr. is already better known for his dramatic roles (and playing Iron Man in the Marvel movies) than his brief SNL stint. However, many agree that his career best so far is his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Best Picture Oscar winner, 2023's Oppenheimer, which was his third Academy Award-nominated performance and the first to earn him the gold.

Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)

Laurie Metcalf is one of the better examples of an actor with a largely forgotten SNL stint, considering she only made a couple of appearances on the show during Season 6. She is far better known for playing Jackie on Roseanne and The Conners and for her heartbreaking, Oscar-nominated performance in Greta Gerwig's acclaimed 2017 dramedy, Lady Bird, as the mother of the angsty titular role.

Will Ferrell (Stranger Than Fiction)

Director Marc Forster’s 2006 film, Stranger Than Fiction, is still, essentially, a comedy but an undeniably dark one, as it follows an IRS agent named Harold Crick, who can hear the author of his life story foretelling his impending death. The role was one of the first to prove that a goofy actor like Will Ferrell had dramatic chops and his tender performance, one of the strongest of his career, would earn him a Golden Globe nomination.

Will Forte (Nebraska)

Perhaps the best thing outside of SNL to star Will Forte (in addition to the MacGruber movie and his prematurely canceled TV show The Last Man on Earth) is director Alexander Payne's Nebraska. The comedian shows a new rare side of himself in the Oscar-nominated 2013 as a David Grant, who agrees to travel cross-country with his estranged father, Woody (Bruce Dern), to claim a potentially non-existent prize of $1 million.

Eddie Murphy (Dreamgirls)

While Eddie Murphy scored a radio hit in 1985 with "Party All the Time," the moment that truly convinced the world that he was a musically talented SNL star was his performance in Dreamgirls. He received an Academy Award nomination for playing troubled R&B singer, James “Thunder” Early in the acclaimed 2006 musical.

Abby Elliott (The Bear)

Creator Christopher Storer's acclaimed FX original, The Bear, is often billed as a comedy, especially around awards season. However, real fans of the culinary series know that it is truly one of the most emotionally grasping shows of its time and Abby Elliott (daughter of fellow SNL vet Chris Elliott) has contributed to some of its strongest moments as Natalie "Sugar" Berzatto.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

While he is still beloved for comedies like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, both critics and audiences agree that one of Adam Sandler's best movies is the intense 2019 thriller Uncut Gems. Many believed he deserved an Oscar nomination for his performance in the acclaimed A24 movie from Josh and Benny Safdie as self-destructive Manhattan jeweler Howard Rattner.

Sarah Silverman (I Smile Back)

It was not until years after her one-season stint on SNL that Sarah Silverman became one of the biggest names in comedy with her sharp stand-up and roles in popular funny movies. However, she had never received wider and stronger critical acclaim before playing vastly against type in the 2015 drama I Smile Back as a troubled woman struggling to hide her depression and self-destructive tendencies from her husband and young children.

Bill Murray (Lost In Translation)

Many would call Bill Murray (who was part of SNL's Not Ready for Primetime Players) losing Best Actor for one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation, at the 2004 Academy Awards one of the biggest Oscar blunders in history. His performance in writer and director Sofia Coppola’s sophomore effort as a lonely veteran actor striking up an unlikely bond with a young woman (played by Scarlett Johansson) in Tokyo is a masterclass in raw honesty and charm.

Chris Rock (Fargo)

No one was more surprised to see Noah Hawley offer Chris Rock one of the lead roles in the fourth season of his hit anthology TV show, Fargo, than the former SNL star himself. Rock – who went on to play a cop in a Saw movie called Spiral and starred in the Oscar-nominated biopic, Rustin – really turned heads with his commanding performance as Loy Cannon, who leads his 1950s-ear, Kansas City crime family with an iron fist.

Bill Hader (Barry)

When he created Barry with Alec Berg, Bill Hader knew people would think the idea of him playing a contract killer who falls in love with acting is pretty funny. That must have motivated the former SNL favorite to prove that he could bring himself to some disturbingly bleak places with his two-time Emmy-winning performance in the title role of the hit HBO series.

Kate McKinnon (Bombshell)

We genuinely believe that one of the most essential reasons why Bombshell is one of Kate McKinnon's best movies is the dynamic SNL star's performance. Her role as Fox News employee Jess Carr – a composite character based on real people involved with the real-life events that inspired the 2019 docudrama – could be written off as comic relief but she does show some real gravitas in its more somber moments.

Dan Aykroyd (Driving Miss Daisy)

Some of Dan Aykroyd's most notable cinematic efforts are actually movies based on SNL characters, namely The Blues Brothers and Coneheads. However, he would earn praise and an Academy Award nomination for his moving turn as Boolie Werthan in 1989’s beloved period drama, Driving Miss Daisy.

Andy Samberg (Lee)

When appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Andy Samberg acknowledged that a movie like Lee – the 2024 biopic about World War II photographer Lee Miller, played by Kate Winslet – is unlike anything the Lonely Island member has done before. However, not only is the SNL vet a dead ringer for Miller's colleague, David Scherman, but he excels in his emotionally heavy portrayal of the man.

Maya Rudolph (Away We Go)

Director Sam Mendes' Away We Go is a sweet, tender-hearted dramedy about a couple (played by John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) traveling the country in search of a worthy home for their soon-to-be-born child. Carrying most of the emotional weight in the film is Rudolph, resulting in one of her most wonderfully down-to-earth performances from one of SNL's goofiest female performers.

Molly Shannon (A Good Person)

Writer and director Zach Braff's A Good Person – following a young woman (played by Florence Pugh) and her post-accident road to recovery with help from her would-be father-in-law (played by Morgan Freeman) – is led to by heavy-hitting Oscar darlings. Yet, some say the heart and soul of the 2023 dramedy is Molly Shannon's performance as the mother of Pugh's character, for which she gives her most acclaimed, heartfelt dramatic performance yet.

Jay Pharoah (Unsane)

Jay Pharoah only departed from SNL a couple of years breaking into dramatic acting with director Steven Soderbergh's Unsane. The comedian and talented impressionist is electrifying in the mind-bending psychological thriller as a mental hospital patient who befriends Sawyer (Claire Foy), who claims she has been admitted against her will.

Jenny Slate (Obvious Child)

Arguably the most memorable moment from Jenny Slate's one-season SNL stint is when she accidentally dropped the F-bomb during her first show (which she confirmed had nothing to do with her exit, by the way). Years after her time at Studio 8H, the comedian amazed critics with her beautiful and heartbreaking performance in the 2014 romantic dramedy Obvious Child, in which she plays a stand-up comic dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

Casey Wilson (Gone Girl)

Some might say that a sign of a great actor is the ability to convey all that an audience needs to know just in one's silent expressions. For proof, see Casey Wilson's performance as Amy Dunne's "friend" Noelle Hawthorne in David Fincher's Gone Girl, in which you rarely, if ever, hear her speak but are thoroughly captivated by her body language.

Anthony Michael Hall (The Dead Zone)

In 1984, the same year that Anthony Michael Hall became a teen idol with roles in hilarious, high school movies The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, he became the youngest SNL cast member, coming on at just 17 years old. Years later, he fully reinvented himself as a serious actor as the star of USA's series adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone, in which he plays a man who wakes from a coma with the ability to see the future.

Christopher Guest (The Long Riders)

Christopher Guest joined the SNL cast in 1984, around the same time his career as the most trusted mockumentarian began as one of the writers and stars of This is Spinal Tap. He had shown Hollywood his more serious side years earlier by starring in The Long Riders – a fact-based Western noted for casting real-life siblings as real-life outlaw siblings, such as Guest and his brother, Nicholas, as Charley and Robert Ford.

Jane Curtin (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)

After SNL, Jane Curtin went on to play many great comedic roles – such as her two-time Emmy-winning role on Kate & Allie and an acclaimed stint on 3rd Rock from the Sun – but did not have quite many opportunities to show her more serious side. That would change in 2018 when the one-time "Weekend Update" anchor starred in the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Marjorie, who works as the agent for author Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy).

Michael McKean (Better Call Saul)

Interestingly, Michael McKean was already an established comedy actor and had even hosted SNL before he joined as a cast member in the early 1990s. However, his reputation as a dramatic actor was never fully realized before his Emmy-nominated turn on Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad prequel series Better Call Saul as Chuck, the delusional older brother of Jimmy McGill (former SNL writer Bob Odenkirk).

Joan Cusack (Arlington Road)

Joan Cusack became the first SNL star to earn two Academy Award nominations but both were for comedic roles, namely from 1988's Working Girl and In & Out from 1997. One might argue she deserved similar recognition for her work in 1999's Arlington Road as Cheryl Lang, who, along with her husband (played by Tim Robbins), is suspected of domestic terrorism by their neighbor, a professor (played by Jeff Bridges).

Billy Crystal (Before)

With the exception of, perhaps, the tearjerker ending of When Harry Met Sally..., it is hard to imagine Billy Crystal in a role that doesn't require him to be his signature goofy self. Thus, the comedic genius shocked audiences when he served as the star and showrunner of Apple TV+'s dark thriller Before, in which he plays a widowed child psychiatrist whose newest patient exhibits signs of psychopathy.

Janeane Garofalo (Cop Land)

Janeane Garofalo's time at SNL is largely forgotten but, luckily, did not affect her reputation as one of the smartest and most dynamic comedic actors in the 1990s. She further proved her versatility in 1997 as Deputy Sheriff Cindy Betts in James Mangold's acclaimed crime thriller, Cop Land.

Chevy Chase (Law & Order)

Chevy Chase's bread and butter on and off SNL was playing smarmy jerks. However, he really upped the ante in 2006 for his guest star appearance on Law & Order as an anti-Semitic murder suspect.

Tina Fey (A Haunting In Venice)

In addition to being the Agatha Christie surrogate in Kenneth Branagh's third Agatha Christie adaptation, you could call Tina Fey's clever writer Ariadne Oliver the comic relief of A Haunting in Venice. However, the former SNL star and one-time head writer plays the role in the 2023 mystery thriller with an earnestness that is perfectly suitable for its story and tone.

Jim Belushi (The Principal)

Jim Belushi's stint at SNL was unavoidably a constant source of comparison to his older brother, John Belushi. Luckily, he went on to have a relatively successful run with more dramatic roles, such as a man who takes a job at an anarchic high school in 1987's The Principal.

Rob Riggle (12 Strong)

Rob Riggle's brief time at SNL led to a stint on The Daily Show and scene-stealing turns in comedies like Stepbrothers and 21 Jump Street but his best role might be from 2018's 12 Strong. As he told Stephen Colbert on Late Show, he was uniquely qualified to star in the fact-based military drama, not only because he is a former U.S. Marine but because the person he is portraying, Lt. Colonel Bowers, is his actual former boss.

Randy Quaid (The Last Detail)

One of the few people to become an Academy Award nominee before becoming an SNL cast member is Randy Quaid. He earned the honor from his performance in 1973's The Last Detail as a dishonorable discharged Naval officer who is shown one last good time by his superiors (played by Jack Nicholson and Otis Young) before facing jail time.

Saturday Night Live still stands as one of the best sketch comedy shows ever because of its ability to deliver original and hilarious sketches that make audiences laugh uproariously. However, I've always wondered if the cast knows they are making a hit as they perform it live from New York. Well, now, Jimmy Fallon has addressed that, as he explained how they realized they were "cooking" with the legendary "More Cowbell" sketch.

It’s hard to look back at classic Saturday Night Live moments and not think of “More Cowbell.” In the great SNL sketch featuring A-list host Christopher Walken, he played music producer Bruce Dickinson as he requested the band he was working with to add more cowbell to "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." Will Ferrell played the cowbell player, and in the back, you can see Jimmy Fallon working really hard to not laugh. In the moment, the sketch worked well, however, in the years since, it's become legendary.

In a sneak preview video of the four-part docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night (which is set to air on the 2025 TV schedule), Fallon explained how he could tell the hilarious sketch was working as they performed it, explaining:

You can tell that Jimmy Fallon had a lot of fun being featured in that sketch. The part that gets to me is seeing the Tonight Show host hide his face away as he breaks out in laughter. However, seeing Will Ferrell as Gene Frenkle wearing a small shirt and aggressively defending his use for more cowbell also gets me chuckling. Clearly, the audience felt the same too, because they were laughing throughout the sketch.

One of the important things about shooting with a live studio audience, according to Gabriel Iglesias, is getting audience feedback to know what works and what doesn’t. That's true for SNL too, as Jimmy Fallon continued to say he could feel the energy in the room and he knew they were “cooking” during the “More Cowbell” sketch:

I can totally picture what he's describing, especially since Studio 8H is small, I imagine that you can take the temperature of the audience quickly during any given sketch. So, feeling the room shake with laughter must be the best feeling in the world as well as a telltale sign that you have a hit on your hands.

You can thank Will Ferrell for this iconic sketch because he wrote it. After writing a few skits a week back when he was a member of the sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, the Elf actor lent his writing and acting skills to Saturday Night Live. Penning and starring in so many well-written sketches, like "More Cowbell," paved the way for Ferrell, and he became one of the show’s most successful alums. What can I say, he knows how to play a room.

Jimmy Fallon and the cast of SNL knew “More Cowbell” would be a successful sketch after feeling what was “cooking” in the room. With Will Ferrell’s commitment to that cowbell and Christopher Walken’s deadpan delivery, you can’t help but laugh hysterically at the silly premise and you'll probably never hear “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” the same way again.

All four episodes of SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will be available with a Peacock subscription on January 16th. And if you’ve got a fever and need “more cowbell,” you can find the memorable sketch there as well.

With 50 years of episodes under its metaphorical belt, Saturday Night Live is a TV series unlike any other, even within the genre boundaries of sketch comedy. It takes both mental and physical prowess for not just the cast members to hit the Studio 8H stage each week, but also the lineup of guest hosts and musicians. And while some of those muscle memories might stick around, even Will Ferrell admits that it’s more difficult than one might expect to return as host after years away.

Ferrell hasn’t (yet) been locked down as frontman for any episodes hitting the 2025 TV schedule, though something along those lines is almost definitely coming, given how big NBC and Peacock’s 50th anniversary celebrations will get. (The Will & Harper co-star will indeed appear in the upcoming docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, which will feature cast members’ audition horror stories.) Speaking with Jason and Travis Kelce on the brothers’ New Heights podcast, Ferrell compared jumping back into SNL mode to a track and field competition, saying:

Given the fact that the actor recently went viral for showing up at a basketball game as an out-of-work Buddy from Elf just for kicks, it’s easy to assume he’s exuding modesty here. Sure, he may not be bouncing off the walls with quite the same energy that he had during his initial run from 1995-2002, but that’s more about age than anything else. Still, even if it looks to viewers like he’s locked in step with other cast members, it’s apparently more of a struggle below the surface.

And it sounds like series creator Lorne Michaels isn’t a producer who offers the most sympathetic ear for cast member gripes, with Will Ferrell saying even he was shocked by Michaels’ reaction to the actor’s self-assessment during his most recent hosting gig — Season 47, Episode 7 from 2019 — which made him a member of the lauded Five-Timers Club. Here’s how he explained it:

For as much of a subtle burn as that was from Lorne Michaels, it probably takes that kind of cold practicality to keep a show on the air for 50 years, especially when one is surrounded by a bunch of comedians all trying to get more airtime. And if anyone is aware of the energy and effort balance between younger cast members and their more veteran co-stars, it’s the guy who’s been in charge for the bulk of the show’s history.

But I mean, we can all agree that Kenan Thompson is the exception to the age-gap rule, right? He’s just that timeless.

In any case, Saturday Night Live guest hosts have had plenty of opinions over the years about taking on the monologue and acting alongside some of the biggest names in comedy. And many of them have handled it once and never returned for one reason or another. So anyone out there who watches the show each week thinking it’d be a cake walk to jump in for the week, let Will Ferrell’s anecdote sway you to be more honest with yourself.

And, of course, don’t forget to tune into the next new episode of SNL, which will air on January 18 and will feature comedian Dave Chappelle as host along with musical guest GloRilla.

The 2024 holiday season is well behind us, but there’s an amusing Christmas-related topic still being talked about. Before 2025 ended, Will Ferrell was seen at an L.A. Kings hockey game dressed as Buddy the Elf… or rather, a Buddy who’d fallen on hard times, as evidenced by his drinking and the cigarette in his mouth. Ferrell has now shared the story behind his viral decision dress up as his character from 2003’s Elf, one of the best Christmas movies, and his reasoning doesn’t get any more Will Ferrell than this.

To be fair, Ferrell has a history of doing weird stuff like this, like when he dressed up as Little Debbie during a visit to The Tonight Show a decade ago or when he DJed a frat party with his son Magnus. But as far as his rationale for why he decided to go dress as the disheveled Buddy the Elf, the SNL alum first gave the following explanation when he appeared on New Heights for why the human raised at the North Pole looked so rough:

Buddy may not have been as skilled as the other elves with working in Santa’s workshop, but to straight up be let go from the North Pole? Was this because Kris Kringle decided Buddy just wasn’t fit to help with making toys anymore, or was this simply a result of budget cuts? Am I thinking too much about this? Probably, but if Buddy had been sent packing, and given how many years he’s lived among other humans, I could see him falling onto booze and tobacco to cope. Anyways, back to reality, here’s what Ferrell said about deciding to dress up for the Kings game:

Oh yeah, people definitely reacted to the sight of Buddy engaging in behavior that’d surely put him on the Naughty List. Will Ferrell’s new Buddy look took the internet by storm, which is a testament to how popular Elf remains more than 20 years after its release. There are even some people who break out the movie during July 4th! However, don’t go thinking that Ferrell donning this costume means that he’s preparing to legitimately reprise Buddy in a sequel or some other project. As he also said during the interview:

Various reasons have been given for why Elf 2 never happened, from the late James Caan claiming that it was because Will Ferrell and director Jon Favreau didn’t get along, to Ferrell saying he wasn’t interested in the sequel’s “rehashed premise.” So that appearances at the Kings game could very well be the last time we ever see the actor “play” Buddy. Given how Elf ended, I’d like to think the real Buddy is still living a great life with Josie and their daughter Susie rather than hitting up hockey games looking like he’d just been hanging out with Ebenezer Scrooge.

Although Elf currently isn’t available to stream following the conclusion of the holiday season, Will Ferrell fans can view his recent documentary Will & Harper with a Netflix subscription and see him next in You’re Cordially Invited, which those with an Amazon Prime Video subscription will be able to view starting on January 30.

I think a lot of us are guilty of this. Christmas comes to an end. But we have spent so much time preparing for the holiday season, baking cookies and watching beloved Christmas movies, that we’re not ready to say goodbye to the annual season of giving. However, Will Ferrell just gave us the best indicator yet that it’s time to take down that tinsel, and to start removing the stockings from the mantle over the fireplace. The iconic comedian who’s always in need of more cowbell went to an L.A. Kings hockey game in his Buddy the Elf costume. But man, did he make Buddy look rough.

There was no Christmas spirit present on funnyman Will Ferrell as he sat near the ice and cheered on the Kings, who prevailed over the Philadelphia Flyers 5 to 4 on Sunday night. Ferrell made sure that the cameraperson in the arena caught “Buddy” chugging a beer:

And later in the game, Ferrell put a cigarette between his lips and stared down the camera, as if daring him to share this bad boy look with Santa. We guarantee that Buddy would end up on the Naughty List if he behaved this way during the year!

Will Ferrell and director Jon Favreau produced an instant holiday classic when they released Elf in 2003. Some people apparently love it so much, they watch it year round… even on July 4th. Now that’s dedication!

In the movie, Ferrell plays a man born to human parents who ends up crawling into Santa’s bag by mistake, and getting raised at the North Pole as an elf. Now a grown man, Buddy (Ferrell) heads to New York City to find his birth father (James Caan) and possibly rediscover the magic of Christmas. It’s the ideal mix of Ferrell comedy and holiday cheer, and that has helped Elf sustain the waves of Christmas competitors that have followed in its wake.

Buddy may be a very excited elf, fascinated by all the small wonders that he finds in the modern world. But Ferrell in the photos above looks like he wants to drink himself to sleep, and possibly set his pajamas on fire by passing out under the mistletoe with a lit cig in his mouth. It’s official, friends. Christmas is over. Bah humbug. Time to move on to 2025.

Speaking of 2025, there are plenty of things to look forward to in the pending new year, including a slate of fresh upcoming theatrical movie releases that will have all of us flocking to the multiplex. And you won’t have to wait very long for a new Will Ferrell movie, as he’s about appear alongside Reese Witherspoon in an anticipated wedding comedy called You’re Cordially Invited, which will be available to anyone with a Prime Video subscription. So cheer up, Buddy! Things are looking up. Also, the Kings won. That’s reason to cheer.

Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell have been co-stars several times over the years in movies like Daddy’s Home (and its sequel) and The Other Guys. Given filming, press junkets and red carpet events, not to mention social events in Hollywood, and their kids periodically communicating, the two have spent considerable time together. That apparently means Wahlberg has had the time to craft a pretty amusing impression of Ferrell, and he's not afraid to use it.

A video of the two appearing on The Graham Norton Show has been running around again, and I can totally see why. In it, the former SNL star is talking about coaching for his kids and his Daddy’s Home co-star busted out an impression of the SNL star that was pretty spot-on and that I really did not see coming. It’s a clip that’s so good, it continually runs around the interwebs.

If you've seen most of Will Ferrell's best movies, including Kicking and Screaming, you might have an idea of what Ferrell sounds like in the above quote. However, in order to get the full effect of the impression, though, you should check out the full clip below.

Meanwhile, Will Ferrell knows when a roast is spot on. He leaned into Wahlberg’s take and admitted his co-star might have been onto something when it comes to his coaching strategy. It’s a moment that both highlights Ferrell’s nice guy personality (and why that maybe isn’t the best fit for a coach). He also joked on the Graham Norton Show that kids "learn more from defeat than winning." What a bit:

I've never really thought of Mark Wahlberg as much of an impressionist, so this video is a welcome surprise.

Given Ferrell himself is known for impressions, though, it's a fun connection for the two co-stars to have. Probably most popular among these was Ferrell's ability to channel Alex Trebek during SNL's wildly funny and long-running "Celebrity Jeopardy!" sketches, sketches Trebek himself adored. However, he's done Harry Carey, Harrison Ford, Dr. Phil, and, of course, the also well-known George W. Bush. (Oh and he has some regrets over a Janet Reno impression.) Now, I just need him to work on a Mark Wahlberg impression and dish it right back.

Elf has easily become one of the best Christmas movies of the 2000s, and how can it not with Will Ferrell playing an orphaned elf? It’s for sure one of his best and funniest films since new scenes seem to go viral with every new year. The mailroom scene that has been incredibly meme-able and all over the internet between Buddy the Elf (Ferrell) and Mailroom Guy (Mark Acheson) was almost cut. The infamous "26-year-old" shares the story behind how it almost got scraped, and I’m so happy that it made its way to us.

Will Ferrell just celebrated Elf’s 20th anniversary last year, and I still can’t get over how it could’ve been much darker. The incredible holiday comedy is perfect as is, in my opinion, and after learning what Acheson shared with People, I’m even more glad to have the movie as is. As the actor recalled:

The 67-year-old shared that he was only supposed to have one line on set (‘work release’) but director Jon Favreau, had a different idea. And it's what we see today. Acheson aka Mailroom Guy and Buddy have a real moment discussing their career aspirations, and a bit of "syrup" with their coffee. This scene happens after the oversized elf is sent to work in the mailroom by his father and gets a brief tour, but nearly didn't make it into the movie.

The two are lying on top of two mail bins after having finished their beverages and are opening up to each other. Acheson talks about how he has to stop going with the flow. Buddy, in response, is naturally, very supportive, and that’s when the iconic line comes through from our favorite mailroom employee: “That’s what got me here. I’m 26 years old, got nothing to show for it.”

It speaks so well to so many career aspirations expectations and goals that have been dashed–relatable to many (hence the virality). The moment is all the better because the enthusiastic elf reassures him because his (North Pole) dad didn’t achieve his goals until he was 490. And, of course, it goes without saying, that no one believes that man is 26.

The one-liner turned iconic scene partner of the Saturday Night Live alum shared that Favreau fought producers on it. They wanted the whole moment cut but the actor-director promised that the joke would land, which it did, and changed Acheson's career. The mailroom joke adds another layer of dimension to Buddy while enriching the whole story, and of course, cementing it as the holiday staple it is.

Ferrell also shared Elf fans' specific movie watching habit which I’d never think about myself but speaks to the beloved nature of the 2003 film. Favreau has had some big notable works that have become fan favorites and continue to get streamed regularly on a yearly (or more) basis. I’m pleased to know the director has some incredible gut instincts that pay off for his projects.

As for the mailroom scene, I’m so glad to know the story behind it and for its existence. It makes many of us who struggled through aspirational phases–no matter what age–all the more relatable, and meme-able.

Watch the improvised scene and the rest of Elf with a Hulu subscription or Max subscription.

One of the most memorable musical acts on Saturday Night Live was The Blues Brothers, which were actually Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. Of course, they are not the only great SNL cast members who have surprised audiences with their musical talents. See for yourself by taking a look at this list of comedic geniuses who can also sing, dance, and play instruments.

Fred Armisen

Fred Armisen has demonstrated his skills with multiple musical instruments on SNL on various occasions, from playing guitar as Prince, drums as Fericito, or piano as Joshua Rainhorn. Outside of Studio 8H, he would perform on his other great sketch comedy TV show, Portlandia, and even served as Seth Meyers' bandleader on Late Night for a while.

Maya Rudolph

Arguably the single funniest SNL sketch led by Maya Rudolph sees her demonstrate her amazing pipes as a woman who overdoes it a little bit with her World Series National Anthem performance. The daughter of famous soul singer Minnie Riperton and composer Richard Rudolph also made a great Beyoncé on the "Prince Show" sketches and, speaking of the late artist, she is part of a cover band called Princess. She even started in music before SNL when she was a keyboardist and backing vocalist for the '90s band The Rentals.

John Belushi

Not only did John Belushi perform with Dan Aykroyd as The Blues Brothers on the Studio 8H stage but the duo also had a record deal, a hit concert tour, and led one of the best SNL movies ever as Jake and Elwood Blues. The late comedian also performed a striking impersonation of Joe Cocker, including once with the "Feelin' Alright" singer himself.

Melissa Villaseñor

One of Melissa Villaseñor's most impressive impersonations on SNL was a spot-on Dolly Parton but she had been matching the vocals of artists like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears during her earlier stand-up days. Since her SNL exit in 2022, she has continued to demonstrate her singing talent, such as with her collaboration with Wolves of Glendale for the song "Life's Better in Spanish" in 2024.

Dana Carvey

Dana Carvey debuted his character Derek Stevens in an SNL sketch featuring a ridiculous song called, "The Lady I Know," which is concluded with the repeated lyric, "Chopping broccoli." Then and any other time he would appear as the vapid pop star, Carvey would actually play the song on piano, which he would also incorporate into his early stand-up and demonstrated in his audition for the show.

Jimmy Fallon

Before becoming a "Weekend Update" co-host, Jimmy Fallon had a recurring segment with acoustic parodies of hit songs commenting on various topics. He would go on to incorporate his musical talents into his career as a late-night talk show host and has since released a few musical comedy albums.

Eddie Murphy

After his skillful impersonations of artists like Stevie Wonder and James Brown helped save SNL in the 1980s, Eddie Murphy would later prove that his musical prowess was not limited to comedic imitations. He scored a hit single later that decade with "Party All the Time" and became an Oscar-nominated SNL alum with his performance in the 2006 musical, Dreamgirls.

Andy Samberg

Golden Globe-winning former SNL star Andy Samberg is also known as a member of the comedy hip-hop trio The Lonely Island, alongside Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer. Many of the best SNL Digital Shorts, which the group was in charge of, are their music videos, such as "Lazy Sunday" and "I'm On a Boat."

Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler would perform music often on "Weekend Update," whether it was as himself debuting original tunes like "The Hanukkah Song" or as Opera Man, recalling the week's biggest headlines in melody. The Uncut Gems actor continued to make music a part of his career with movies like The Wedding Singer and the musical grown-up animated movie, Eight Crazy Nights, as well as in his stand-up routines.

Dan Aykroyd

If Dan Aykroyd had not introduced John Belushi to the blues, The Blues Brothers would have never taken the Studio 8H stage and experienced the success they had. Outside his performances as Elwood Blues, the Ghostbusters actor also participated in the chorus for the iconic 1985 recording of "We Are the World."

Martin Short

Martin Short's most notable musical contributions to SNL happened after his one-season stint at Studio 8H when he would return as a host. However, the comedian has numerous musical accomplishments outside the show, from his Tony Award-winning performance in Neil Simon's Little Me to an insult-filled duet he and Steve Martin performed while on tour.

Kate McKinnon

While known better for her hilarious physicality and characterizations, Kate McKinnon has had a number of chances to show off her pipes on SNL. For instance, she had host Ariana DeBose in awe when she joined the future Oscar winner for a medley of songs from West Side Story.

Christopher Guest

During his sole season on SNL, Christopher Guest could be seen playing guitarist Nigel Tunfel in one of the best movies about music, the 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. The fictional English heavy metal group would reunite for subsequent performances and album recordings, namely 1992's Break Like the Wind and 2009's Back from the Dead.

Taran Killam

Very rarely did Taran Killam, who was also a MADtv cast member for a little bit, have much opportunity to sing on SNL. However, he took many opportunities to carry a tune on Broadway, performing in shows like Hamilton and Spamalot.

Ana Gasteyer

Only a singer as talented as Ana Gasteyer could impress Celine Dion with her impersonation of the French-Canadian diva enough to be invited to join her in concert. The SNL star, also known for performing with Will Ferrell as married music teachers, The Culps, has performed on Broadway as well, such as when she played Elphaba in a Chicago production of Wicked.

Kenan Thompson

Many recurring characters played by Kenan Thompson – one of the longest-running SNL cast members – are musically inclined, such as What Up with That? host Diondre Cole. The former All That and Kenan & Kel star for co-writing an R&B parody song called, "Come Back, Barack," which he also performed with Chris Redd and host Chance the Rapper.

Harry Shearer

Harry Shearer, who was on SNL from 1979 to 1980 and once more from 1984 to 1985, has demonstrated his musical talent in movies like This is Spinal Tap and A Mighty Wind. The Simpsons star has also co-written a satirical stage musical called J. Edgar! The Musical and released five solo musical comedy albums.

Garrett Morris

Before he became a Not Ready for Primetime Player, Garrett Morris was a Julliard-trained singer who performed with Harry Belafonte and did various Broadway shows. He utilized these talents in various memorable moments on SNL, such as when he performed a particularly risqué tune as an inmate auditioning for a prison theatre program.

Robert Downey Jr.

Perhaps if Robert Downey Jr. was given a chance to show off his vocal range during his short SNL tenure, he could have lasted a little bit longer. The Oscar winner and Marvel movie star recorded an acclaimed rendition of Joni Mitchell's "River" for a holiday album called Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas and released a studio album in 2004 called The Futurist.

Paul Shaffer

There is really no surprise that Paul Shaffer is musically talented, given his tenure as part of Studio 8H's house band and The Blues Brothers Band and as the bandleader for David Letterman's late-night TV career. What might be surprising to some – despite making history as the show's first F-bomb dropper in an infamous SNL moment – is that he was actually part of the cast during Season 5.

Pete Davidson

Given his popularity, Pete Davidson could probably release a hit album, having debuted some surprisingly good rhymes on SNL and impressed fans with his viral parody of Barbie's "I'm Just Ken," called "I'm Just Pete." The comedian once had the opportunity to perform his favorite song, "Gangster's Paradise," with the legendary rapper who crafted the song, Coolio, for a Comedy Central event.

Jim Belushi

Years after John Belushi's death, Dan Aykroyd teamed up with John's younger brother for an album called Have Love, Will Travel. Jim Belushi would also perform with a more recent iteration of The Blues Brothers Band as "Zee Blues" and he also composed and performed the theme song for his sitcom, According to Jim.

Christine Ebersole

Somehow, SNL never really figured out what to do with Christine Ebersole, whose one-season stint is much forgotten. Luckily, she would still achieve much notoriety for her Tony Award-winning performances in Broadway musicals 42nd Street and Grey Gardens.

Cecily Strong

Before Cecily Strong left SNL in 2022, she had demonstrated her singing talent as one of the main stars of Apple TV+'s musical fantasy comedy series, Schmigadoon! Thus, audiences knew to expect some special when she ended her Studio 8H tenure singing "Blue Christmas" with host and Elvis star Austin Butler.

Chloe Troast

It is a shame that Chloe Troast only lasted one season on SNL because she has one of the strongest singing voices of almost anybody to join the cast. She wowed audiences with songs she performed as a woman posing as a young orphan named Cassidy and as Mama Cass in fake footage from the recording of "Make Your Own Kind of Music."

Michael McKean

Before he joined the cast, Michael McKean appeared on SNL as Spinal Tap's David St. Hubbins and, when he hosted in 1984, was joined by Harry Shearer and Christopher Guest for a special musical performance as their other fictional band, The Folksmen. Speaking of, when The Folksmen reunited for the 2003 mockumentary A Mighty Wind, McKean won a Grammy for its title song, and another track from the film, "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," earned him an Oscar nomination.

Will Ferrell

Probably Will Ferrell's most famous musically inclined character is Marty Culp but we also know from a certain legendary SNL sketch that he can play the cowbell like no one else. The actor also did all of his own singing in the final act of StepBrothers.

Chevy Chase

There is a great cold open from the first season of SNL in 1976 starring Chevy Chase as future president Ronald Reagan, who tries to prove that the conservative politician and actor could still be "hip" by playing keyboard in a jazz band. The comedian actually plays the keys pretty sloppily in the sketch but that is by design, as he is a very talented piano player in real life. While in college, Chase played drums in a band called The Leather Canary, alongside his college friends Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, a band that would go on to become Steely Dan.

Billy Crystal

Despite blessing SNL with many "mahvelous" memories as a host and brief cast member, none of Billy Crystal's most memorable moments from Studio 8H are particularly musical in nature. However, there are plenty of memorable musical moments throughout his career, such as when he hosted the Oscars and honored the Best Picture nominees with parody renditions of popular songs or when he and John Goodman performed "If I Didn't Have You" for the Monsters Inc. soundtrack.

Phil Hartman

The late Phil Hartman had a million-dollar voice that he put to grand use throughout his time at SNL and in other notable credits from his career but not for anything related to music. However, at the end of his very last show, he participated in a The Sound of Music parody, singing the final "Good night" lyric in such a genuine and endearing fashion.

Jason Sudeikis

During his seven years as an SNL cast member, very rarely did Jason Sudeikis make any musical contributions in a sketch, save when he played possessive '80s pop star "Ocean Billy" in a Worst of Soul Train DVD ad or one-half of Bon Jovi rip-off band, Jon Bovi. He has since gotten more use out of his musical talent on an annual basis by hosting a charity event called Thundergong.

Nasim Pedrad

We heard Nasim Pedrad's singing voice in a few SNL sketches, such as a music video for a song about getting busy with your significant other in your childhood bedroom while staying with family for the holidays. It is a wonder why she never got her own song in Disney's 2019 live-action remake of Aladdin.