Happy Sad Confused - Will Ferrell, Vol. II

Episode Date: July 27, 2026

He's been making us laugh for decades, in countless classic SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE sketches, in classics like ELF and STEP-BROTHERS, and now in his new Netflix comedy, THE HAWK. And now he's front and center finally on Happy Sad Confused to talk about it all. SUPPORT THE SHOW BY SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! Rula -- Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.rula.com/happy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ #rulapod Quince -- Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/HAPPYSAD ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for free shipping and 365-day returns. Limited Time Offer–Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code happy15 at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://huel.com/happy15.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I had one guy go, I don't care what they say. I think you're hilarious. I said, well, thank you, but what are they saying? He's like, what? No, you said, I don't care what they say. Well, who's they? He's like, oh, no, no, I didn't mean, I didn't mean it that way. No, let's sit down and talk about it right.

No, I want to break it down. Who's they? Give me the list. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, Sad, Confused begins now. Hey, guys, it's Josh. Welcome to another edition of Happy, Sad, Confused. Today, an absolute icon is in the house.

Will Ferrell, I'm not even going to list the resume. He is one of one, one of the greats of all time, talking about his new Netflix show, The Hawk. I'm so excited he's here today. Thanks, guys, as always, for checking out the podcast. Thanks for subscribing to us on YouTube, on Spotify. However, you're enjoying these podcasts. But remember to hit that subscribe button if you haven't already.

Before we get to Will, I'll remind you guys, if you're a Patreon subscriber, you would have seen this already through the magic of time and space. It's early access only on Patreon. Patreon.com slash happy, say, confused. We post all of our episodes early over there with bonus content, access to autograph merch, access to our live events. Check it out, patreon.com slash happy, say I'm confused. Okay, let's talk Will Ferrell. I can talk about Will Ferrell until the end of time because he is, he truly might be my favorite comic performer of all. time. No one makes me laugh like Will Ferrell, and I know I'm not alone in that, and I'm so pleased

to say that Will is exactly who you want him to be. On camera, off camera, there's really not much difference. He's funny. He's sweet. He is just light in this universe. I've had the privilege of talking to Will many times over my years at MTV. He has done the podcast once before, but it was with Reese Witherspoon, like about a year and a half ago, I want to say, for their film, you're cordially invited. So this is actually his solo, happy, Say, Confused podcast debut, and he more than lived up to my expectations. We reminisce about our shared history, but more importantly, some of the greatest hits of Will's career, including, of course, Anchorman and Talladega Knights and Step Brothers, too many to list. Of course, his S&L days. So many fantastic

stories in this. And of course, needs to say he is hysterical in this conversation. Check out his new show. It is called The Hawk. It adds to the Panthe. of great Will Ferrell characters. It adds to the pantheon of great Will Ferrell sports characters. This is kind of a bad boy of golf. Very funny stuff and reteams him with some familiar folks like Luke Wilson, like Chris Parnell, like Molly Shannon. Well worth checking out on Netflix.

Check it out right now, The Hawk. But for now, enjoy this. I'm so happy this finally happened. Will Ferrell, front and center, alone on happy, sad, confused. Enjoy. Will? Hi, Josh. It's so good to see you, man.

Great to see you, too. Oh, this is your first solo outing on Happy, Sad Confused on the podcast. Yeah. We dropped Reese when you were on last with her. I needed you all to myself today. I know. Yeah. I mean, look, I really enjoyed visiting with you with Reese, but.

Big butt. But this just, yeah, now I'm just. Yeah, you felt, now it's just me. You felt, yeah, you're free. And you got the dress code. Thank you for very specific. Yes. We're going to talk about a lot of things.

Most notably your new show. Well, I love now with podcasts, people are like, oh, what are you going to wear? I'm like, well, isn't it radio? Yeah. I'm going to wear a t-shirt. This is very stable genius. Which, if you recall, that was a quote. Yes.

From our president. I do remember that. You were big supporter. You're rooting for the next term, right? Especially in Star Wars font. Everything is better at Star Wars font. Do you have like a funny wardrobe at a normal wardrobe at home that you like? Is there one closet that's like...

No, I haven't... My normal wardrobe also is my funny wardrobe. There's no normal clothing. Yeah, there's no normal. There's constantly... I think it started in high school with my mother going, are you meaning to wear that? And I was like, what?

That shirt with those shorts and those shoes? This is an intentional choice that you're making. Your eyes are working. Okay. Okay. She would never, that was her version of like, that looks terrible, but she wouldn't discourage. She'd be like, okay. And is it similar now as your wife say?

She's like, she's so immune to it. Yeah. Does she ever try to stop you when you go out with one of your like, buddy the elf is going to go to the hockey game? Does she ever stop you at the door? No. Let's talk about this. And that's why we are a match made in heaven. She's like, she'll almost matter of a matter of fact way say, oh, that's really.

good. That's a great idea. Yes. That's what you... It's very clinical, though. She's not excited by it. She's yes anding you. Yeah, she's yes-handing. But she was an accomplice for the Buddy of the Elf at the hockey game. She agreed on what. She said this is brilliant. But she was also there

sitting next to me. Oh, she's providing the Sigs. So they whole like... Which are candy cigarettes, just so everyone knows. Great. Thank you. I was afraid, because I was afraid that the real, the stadium people would kick me, like put those away. You can't have real cigarettes right in a stadium. Yeah. So I made

sure they were candy. I was thinking ahead and it fits into buddy and did it we talked because the last time we talked it was right after that. Yeah. And you you you told the famous story that you were offered insane amounts of money to do the the elf sequel. Right. That you turned down. Yeah. Did this reignite anything? Did did the studio come back to you and say here's even more money? Oh no. Didn't hear a peep. Really? Yeah. No. No. No. Okay. No. That, that, that, that, that, that, that train has sailed. Okay. But I think, I think for, for the best, for the best. Yeah. It's a classic. Yeah. Um, add to the pantheon, the hawk. Yeah. There it is. Just making sure. People know why I'm here. You got the chest tattoo too. You have to see you. Of course. Obviously. You make shows as it exceeds the scene. This is very much. This is basically something Lonnie would do. My character, Lonnie Hawkins, the Hawk, for the entire, for probably 87% of the show, wears a visor that says his nickname on it because he is, he lives in mortal fear that someone won't recognize it.

He needs constant relevancy. He's got to stay on top. He wants to make sure people know he's a, he's a pro golfer and his name is the Hawk. He's the bad boy of golf. Yeah, he's a bad boy golf. Is that an oxymoron? Because as I recall, the one that comes to mind is John Daly way back. Yeah, right? He was the guy.

There's very few of them. And there are very few of them. There's really not, and it's kind of one of the points of emphasis of the show is Jimmy Tatro plays Lance, my son, and he represents the current golfer today. Fitness focused. They're really into nutrition and training, and they wear monochromatic clothes. And they're very careful. They're very careful people because they have all the weight of all this sponsorship.

And so the PGA is devoid of personality right now. Right. In a way. But I said that with love because the PGA was also a part of our show. So thank you, PGA. Yeah, that's with love. I say it with love. You suck, but I mean it in the best possible.

But to their credit, they were like, you know what, have some fun at our expense. And so Lonnie represents, you know, what in my head was, were golfers in the 70s. Right. Like seeking a cigarette in between holes, wearing loud clothes, having a few cocktails, you know, after playing. Like at least, I don't even know if that really existed. But in my mind, you know, the head canon, that's there, yeah. The Arnold Palmer's and the Jack Nicholas is and the Leetra. vinos and talking smack to each other.

And so that's that's kind of the collision course of what our, our shows about. It fits very much in the pantheon of your great characters. When I think of like the great comedy characters in your career, which there are many, there are kind of two buckets. It's kind of like the sweet earnest, you know, there's the Frank, the Tank, there's the Buddy the Elf, outnumbered significantly, I would say, by the ferocious narcissists, clueless assholes that if any, virtually any other actor played these roles.

Like if Daniel Day Lewis is playing the roles you've played, if he's playing Ron Burgundy, it's like, that guy is horrible. I never want to see him again. I remember early days. I was so on Saturday Night Live. I was with my manager. We were kind of doing the rounds with the studios. And we had to sit down with a very prominent head of a studio at that time who,

we had this argument and and I stood my grass. She was like, you know, comedy characters have to be likable. And I said, you're wrong. And everyone went, no, it's in the book. Don't say that. I'm like, I've done plenty, watch my work on SNL. I played plenty of people. Yeah.

And I had just, in fact, the previous week's show, I'd written a sketch, which I'm pretty sure made it on, which, was just myself and two kid extra, two kid actors. And we are singing happy birthday to their grandmother on speakerphone. But they are not doing it right. And it just builds into me yelling at these children, which to your point, on paper, the math of that looks horrible.

But it played like gangsters. And I've been given that gift to be able to. That is true. Your gift, one of your great gifts. It to somehow make that funny and likable, I don't know. I don't know how. Are both of those spectrums equally rewarding? Do you find them both, like, that note fun to play?

I mean, I loved, you know, the earnestness of like playing buddy, the, you know, the kind of obnoxious enthusiasm was so much fun to play. at the same time. And I kind of, I think I kind of, that through line carries through in the, the, the, a lot of the movies I've done with Mark, like the Daddy's Homes movies. Sure. I'm kind of that guy. And, uh, uh, but then it's also just fun to, again, yell at children.

That's the, you're comedy 101 class. When in doubt, yell at a small child. The smaller and cuter, the better. Right. If you can. Is it a sign of the time? And I punch a baby. I punched a baby in the campaign.

I forgot that. Oh, yeah. Yeah. That was sweet. It was sweet. There should be more punching babies. I punched a baby and we slowed it down, slow-mo. Right.

Yeah. So we see the fists go into the jaw of the baby and look a box. It's the best use of CGI. It was fantastic. I remember the, gosh, Chris Henshi, who's also helped create the show and as directed to the episodes. Chris was a producer on that movie. And that, getting that shot, it took all day to get the components of that. And the AD on that movie was like, I don't know why we're doing this.

It's going to get cut out of the movie. You can't punch a baby. And I was like, yes, you can. And we're going to show you. And sure enough, one of the biggest laughs in that movie. We'll be right back with more Happy, Happy, Said, Confused. From the parents behind law and order comes a mystery the whole family can enjoy. Patrick Pickle Bottom Everyday Mysteries.

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The war is over and both sides lost. Kingdoms were reduced to cinders and armies scattered like bones in the dust. Now the survivors claw to what's left of a broken world, praying the dark, the dark Chances Chuses someone else tonight. But in the shadow dark, the darkness always wins. This is old school adventuring at its most cruel. Your torch ticks down in real time. And when that flame dies, something else rises to finish the job.

This is a brutal rules-light nightmare with a story that emerges organically based on the decisions that the characters make. This is what it felt like to play RPGs in the 80s. And man, it is so good to be back. Join the Glass Cannon podcast as we plunge into the Shadow Dark every Thursday night at 8 p.m. Eastern on YouTube.com slash the Glass Cannon with the podcast version dropping the next day. See what everybody's talking about and join us in the dark. How much of your career is related to you being kind of like a frustrated athlete? Like you were a major athlete growing up.

Thank you. A major athlete at University High School in Irvine, California. But you were good. That never won anything. You averaged 1.6 points a game, I heard or something. Yeah. On the basketball team? Yeah.

I was the captain. Why did they make you the captain at 1.6 points a game? Because of this. Oh, sorry. Yes. The leadership. The leadership. Yeah.

The aura. Yeah. I had a lot of aura, a lot of Riz back there. Two men talking Riz and aura today. Yeah. Sports have, you know, ever since the moment, My amazing mother, Kay, sign me up for something called AYSO Soccer. Okay.

This is probably when I'm eight years old, so we're going to say, 1975. And she's like, I signed you up for this thing called soccer. I'm like, okay. And I just started playing sports and was kind of big for my age. and was found the team concept of working towards a common goal super satisfying. Right. And I think that is why I love the ensemble and I love, you know, and a lot of this work

is on, is, is, is teamwork. Whether you're on a film set, shooting a TV show, working on a show like Saturday Night Live, it was, it was as equally satisfying to be the centerpiece of a sketch to drive the sketch. It was just as much fun for me to come in and have one line. I've heard you say that. That served you well, that you kind of made yourself available to everybody. You're like, yeah, great to put me in the lead. I'm happy to walk in.

100%. I made a point to tell the writers because I could see, you know, Some cast members, and it's a natural response would be like, wait, that's it, that's all I'm going to do in the sketch, then I don't want to do it. And I was like, ooh, that could be a missed opportunity. So I made sure I told all the writers, like, I have no ego about that stuff. I will, I will be an off camera voice for you. I will record VO. I will, because if I, I know I can come into a situation.

and disrupt and leave. And at the very least, I might break everyone. Right. Because I'm gonna change it up between dress and air. Sure. In fact, there was a sketch that I think someone had written in which it took place, it was a beach volleyball match. Sure.

And I don't, I can't remember the premise at all. But I literally was someone who every, every 30 seconds just said, Beach volleyball. Then the sketch would go on, go on. And then I would just go, beach volleyball. And it started like, Bill, it became a laugh point. Right. And the the dumber it got, the better. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, sometimes, I mean, that, I even apply to you kind of the early film work, which, you know, you had some. By the way, was that good for sound yeah I see blood coming out of his ear but like I think of like Austin Powers and like that was one of the first times I saw you on the big screen and it's

and so much of that is all it's perfect I don't even see you I'm very badly burned and I've fallen out yeah yeah perfect so I want I want to reference just our shared history because it's very meaningful to have you here because you really and I had this experience with Danny recently with Danny was here like I started MTV 20 years ago 2006 and of course you were killing it then you're killing it now and to like go on this journey and you've always been the best like the absolute best to me well likewise you've always been appreciate it one of the best in terms of making it fun but also having great questions appreciate very skilled so we've we've gone on this crazy journey sometimes the other have been

on your sets yeah we've done some weird sketches one we always talk about and probably like 1.1 1% of the audience knows what i'm going to talk about but i want to reference it because it's It's just fascinating. It's a lasting moment in time. It is. Yeah. In 2010, for the other guys, you and Mark Wahlberg came into our studio at MTV. I had barely done any comedy sketches at the time.

And I pitched you doing something called The Knife Show. Yes. Which was a fully improvised sketch about knife enthusiasts. We have a photo. Can I show Will the photo to jog his memory? Oh, it's coming up. There it is. So, oh gosh.

That was they were real knives and swords. Yes. Why did you say yes to that? I mean, I guess we knew each other a little casually then maybe you liked me well enough, but like what was in your head, do you have any recollection of? Look, there, there. I was on a lot of drugs at the time. Yeah, yeah.

No, it was, um, it was just, uh, audacious and not like to be pitched. Uh, so, you know, when you get, when you get, when you get, kind of the rundown of what you're gonna do on a press schedule. And it's like, oh yeah, Josh, oh, I remember that guy, yeah. He wants to do a thing called The Knife Show. What? It'll be just, you guys will be just talking about knives.

Done, done, yes. I think the best things are the simplest pitches. So that, I was like, I don't care where it goes. I don't care what the structure is. This is insane. And yes, we're going to do this. And I don't think Mark has stated either. Oh, no, he did not.

Mark, yeah. Mark, right knife in my eye. Here, this foot, look this photo. That fear is real. And yeah, thankfully Mark is, you know, still in my life. I love Mark, but that was a really scary moment. But you're right. What were you thinking?

Very stupid. Very honest. Very unwise. But we're here today to tell the table. And we. Were we, here's what I don't remember. Okay. Was it presentational?

Were we selling knives to the audience? Were we just discussing? Just discussing knives. I'll send you the link. You should watch it again. We still have it up on the interwebs. You should watch it. I watched it this morning and it holds up in a bizarre way.

I thought there was more of a, it's just a black backdrop. Yeah. No real, like a simple idea. And then I think that that must have fueled the cosmic comedy universe because later I think unbeknownst to the Jimmy Kimball people I always wanted to bring this up Gosling and I did the knife guys

this was a sore point for me I swear they knew nothing of the knife show okay I was like buried so is stealing my idea you got you know what no one's seen this other thing true do you want to do a version no and that

That was pitched independently. That's so funny. Yeah. It was out of the ether. It was the knife ideas. Yeah. All right. So we reference SNL, which of course was the formative seven years of your life, which

isn't it fascinating? Like you have a comedy resume in film that is unrivaled. Like you know, you're up, you're at the top. SNL also will always define you in a way, right? Like do you feel that? Do you feel like grateful that that still is kind of- Oh my God, 100%. You know, to have this.

this comedy institution that, you know, you watched and and thought yourself one day, God, that'd be cool if you could be, if I could do that. And, but yet never thought it would happen. It's too big of a, it's too big of an idea to, to really think about. Are you surprised at the sketches that people still want to bring up to this day, that things like cowbell and jeopardy and. I'm still surprised by all of it. It's because it's, it's a, it's a game. of inches.

Yeah. Success and failure. And whether you get, you know, there are a lot of funny people out there. And the fact that Lauren took a chance on me and or any of us, it's truly remarkable. And the fact that that show still to this day allows a certain amount of freedom that doesn't exist. Right.

anywhere in the creative landscape of where you can you know there really isn't uh there's a certain level of supervision but for the most part you can write whatever you want and and put it up at that read-through table right so and you know that's insane i find it so funny that's like some of like especially like the celebrity impressions you kind of did at the time were so specific and niche And yet they hold up. Like, I mean, to a generation today, I can't imagine they know who Harry Carrey is or Robert Goulet. No. And yet, even James Lipton, like, they were so meaningful to us.

But I'm sure they still play because they are so specific and odd. I guess. Yeah. It's, I mean, as Tom, they're slipping away, you know. You think? I mean, I guess I occasionally get a shout out to Goulet. But it is. It's very specific.

But that was kind of, that was kind of what I was more enamored with. Because I knew, I knew when you have someone like Daryl Hammond in the cast who was going to do all the big important impersonations, I thought, oh, I should, I should really be, you know, work around the edges. Yeah. Yeah. And, and do just bizarre, obscure people. That's how, like, Adam McKay and I were talking about, like, sitting around talking about Neil Diamond's music. And then next thing we're like, let's write up a Neil Diamond. I go, well, I've been kind of working on a Neil Diamond.

Like, let's write a V.H1, like, behind the music of Neil Diamond where he is just unhinged, with the way he talks about how he created the songs and then just go into his, you know very kind of benign pop kind of stuff and so that those were always intriguing to me did jumping into I'm not gonna cover nearly all the films but I want to touch on a bunch so Zoolander for instance are you welcome in Malaysia is there like a ban on you you I I need to go there to see we have yet to go to Malaysia okay you haven't gotten the invite you would think I would have been there multiple times

I have not been invited by the government. That's not on the press store? That's weird. It should be Philadelphia, New York, Toronto. And one quick stop in Malaysia. Knife show in Malaysia. Let's see. If you want to do the knife show in Malaysia.

Don't tempt me. We'll get Mark. For no apparent reason. Right. Is there a country that has a very unusual relationship with you? Like, if you touch down in a certain country, is there a certain film they love you for? Have you tracked any?

There was, well, speaking of Zoolander, the, the couple times I've been to Italy, there has been, I remember I was in a cafe once and this one was like, there he is, the Zoolander. I'm like, oh, well, no, I'm not the Zoolander, but like, the genius, the Zoolander. I was like, well, no, I'm Mugatu. Yes, you know what I mean.

Oh, that, that movie in particular. The Italians love it. Yeah, the, the, Italians love it. I'm trying to think of a, yeah, I don't know. I don't know if there's, I guess, I guess the French really put anchorman on a pepstle. Really? Yes.

Wise. Yeah. To where I was, I forget what, what show that is that's like there, they're, it's like an interview chat show, but it's news specific. Okay. And it's on like five nights a week at like six o'clock every night. And they had me on the panel once, which is so disconcerting because you have the translator in your ear, translating everything. Yeah, there's that delay.

But they were asking me all these esoteric questions about tell me, Ron Burgundy, he represents current state of journalism. Wouldn't you say? I'm like, exactly. Yes, that's what we were doing for. As we're on, almost. But yeah, so yeah, the European, the foreign lens on some of this stuff is always interesting as to what, you know, they gravitate towards. Since you bring up Anchorman, a couple things I've never had a chance to ask you about. One is famously, it's the script started as like a plane crash movie.

Yeah. It was kind of a comedic take on a live, which everybody needs. It was, it was the news team. was fly they were it was the the year was 1976 our bisonennial year and they were at a big news conference in Philadelphia where all the all the anchors were gathering

to celebrate the byzantism and they were flying they were the flying there flying and Ron asked to pilot the charter plane he convinced the pilots that no I look give me a hand or I know what I'm doing I have my pilot's losses and immediately loses

control the plane and they they crash land in the rocky mountains. Huh. And then yeah, it was a survival movie. Did that, how far did that get? Like was there- You know what happened was that they, it was a mid-air collision between a cargo plane that was carrying the only cargo on the plane were Chinese throwing stars and baboons, which a lot of the baboons survived. So then out the film they're trying to figure out how to survive

and get off the mountain while being hunted by the baboons. So occasionally we'd have a scene and then an unknown news anchor from another station would be killed by a Chinese throwing star. We're like, take cover. They're onto us. And the whole time Veronica Corningstone is saying, you know if we just head down we can get back to like I'm pretty sure there's a city down no we need to seek higher ground and the men were not listening

and I mean needless to say I would have green lit it but but here's a little this is a true story Paul Thomas Anderson I was going to ask about this what's the Paul Thomas Anderson Angerman connection

so Paul came and guest wrote on the show why we were there for a couple weeks. S&L, right. He'd always been a huge S&L fan. He loved our cast. He, and he said to Adam and I, you guys, what, do you have any scripts? Like, what if I produce something for you, would, would you, would you, would you say to someone, like, I could just be your 800 pound gorilla in the room and, and just, you would, you could write anything you want.

We're like, well, we do have something. Do you like that boons in the jungle? Even Paul was like, huh? Even Paul was like, huh, I like it, question mark. It was even too much for Paul. And so then we, they were like, maybe it should be just a little more conventional. Right. Yeah.

That's what Scream. Anchorman screams conventional to me. But by those standards, yes. Well, when you think about where it started. Sure. Yes. Have you ever talked to Paul about being in one of his films since? I, I haven't gotten the call.

So. That baboon script. really through him. Paul, I'm ready. Elf probably, correct me wrong, remains kind of the miracle of your career, right? Because like, if you're like 2% in the wrong direction, right? It's a career ender. Yeah. At what point did you-

And I've expressed that many a time, yeah. At what point did you know, was it not until the premiere, you saw a final cut, like, that it actually worked? Honestly, I mean, you know, I think, true comedians, I don't know, I don't believe anyone who says, I knew it was going to kill. Right. I think true comedians, we always are like, I don't know. I think it's funny. Right.

You know, it's just an educated guess. And, yeah, there's always a part of your brain that's like, God, is this going to work? So that was lingering for, I don't, yeah, probably until I, saw it with an audience and and then it was it was like oh I remember I remember getting a call from my manager when they were doing some test screenings and they did like a like a back-to-back screenings with two different audiences so they they wanted to see how it was going to play so one the one recruit was really more a family right uh recruit and And it played great and they were really happy.

And then he called me going, I'm looking at, I'm looking at the crowd that's lining up for the second screening and it looks like a bunch of USC frat guys. And we're, I'm just telling you, we might get eviscerated, you know. And so that, and when that crowd liked the movie, it played to both. Exactly. We were like, oh, okay. Ted Danson came and visited Mary Steambergh. on set one time where in Vancouver.

He's like, in fact, he came the day. I have this memory of when we shoot, we were shooting the scene where we're decorating the Christmas tree and I bounce off the couch and put the star and then tear the whole thing down. And Ted was there that day and he was like, this thing's going to be gigantic. I go, how do you know, Ted, really?

like from your mouth to God's ears you know and he's like no you can just feel it you can I'm like okay all right so always trust in Ted dancing and since then you bring him on set and like how we doing Ted how we doing I'd get out of here if I get if Ted gives me the thumbs down's and watson he was like I'm not sure you'll just walk in and go and then I'm like oh shoot I signed the contract I got to finish it I mean there's there's a war in conjecture that there was like creative issues on that film like was there a difference of opinion on like what the tone was going to be behind the scenes or no i think i think there was just um uh john i was always pushing for uh sillier comedy at times a little more um uh yeah just just let's explore this out

john was very you know john really wanted us for it to have a really strong story and heart. And, you know, and... Well, that push-pull clearly, that's why it works. And so I would kind of go, you know, after we had kind of taken a couple passes that a scene, I'd be like, okay, I see what you're talking about now. And then I think John would let me do my thing

and be like, okay, I see what you're talking about. Yeah. So and and I think that push pull yeah. Um, is what you see for for Talladega nights. Are you tickled by the fact that if you ain't first, your last has become like they took the wrong message from the film some people right like that that is now kind of like an ethos for people. I know. I know. Yeah. It's uh it's it's I know it's it's it's hilarious that that actually has manifests itself now into the thing we're making fun of is now. like a point of pride. Well, that must be such a, I mean, that's a constant in your career where like these things you'd make on these insular sets.

Sure. Then become like part like the Catalina wine mixer. Wasn't a thing and now it exists. Right. Now it exists. Right. It's, uh, it's so strange that I, that I haven't been to Malaysia. I also have not been to the real Catalina wine mixer.

I bet you've gotten that invite. John, a numerous times. You could be a VIP. You could run that place. And, uh, No, we would, that would not be a, that would be an afternoon of drunken selfies. That's your dream. That's what you love.

Right. Yeah. I just want to be harassed by, yeah. Maybe the most relatable, you have the most quotable career ever. One of my favorite moments is in Talladega Nights, which is the, I don't know what to do with my hands on the microphone. For somebody in this business that has to hold a microphone and have that sort like, it's, was that scripted?

Was that something? No, that was just on the day. And I was just playing around with the concept of Ricky Bobby now being thrust into the spotlight is not very media savvy. And what are the other things I could play around with of, you know, that could show off how uncomfortable he was? And I just started going like, I don't know what to do with my hands. And the gentleman who's interviewing me is really, I think, like a NASCAR reporter. And he just played it straight. And it was amazing.

Like, you don't have to do anything. Just keep them at your sides. And then I thought, oh, no, that's, it's always so fun when you realize in the moment, oh, this is the game. Yes. This is the game right now. I'm going to keep putting my hands in the frame. And to this guy's credit, he just kept moving.

moving them down. And we didn't, yeah, the gentleness of which he's trying to settle. Just push it down. It's perfect. And I didn't tell them to do that. And we never discussed this. And so that was just a moment of serendipity. More happy say confused coming up. I'm Andy and I'm Melissa. And this is moms and mysteries. We're two Florida moms obsessed with true crime. From infamous cases like Ellen Greenberg to shocking Florida stories like, like the Dan Markell killing. With 55 million downloads, we bring you new deep dives every Tuesday and Thursday. Listen to moms and mysteries on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, I'm Ashley, host of crime salad. And every week, my husband Ricky joins me as my partner in crime. We know the true crime space is crowded. So we skip the loud, bubbly small talk and get straight to the facts of the most gripping cases. If you want to see what we're all about, check out our recent two-parter deep dive. She saved him. Can You Save Her? Covering the baffling Rebecca Zahow case. If you want a true crime podcast that feels authentic and respects the details, come check us out. Search Crime Salad wherever you get your podcast.

So Step Brothers feels like this is like doubling down on you and John. Like this is like apex stupidity in the best possible way. I mean, I've talked to all of your like Catherine and Adam. Have you ever read the Roger Ebert review? Oh, this is the one he hated, right? or no it's the greatest review all the time what it is said and they've you have to search deep for it because they i think they've scrubbed the actual some of the elements out of it because the last time i found it i was like there seems to be stuff missing from it as you recall it was pretty scathing

it was so it was um it was just a it was a call to action this is a moment in time a cta as they say in the social media world. There was a call to action. I think it starts with like, do not watch this film, do not support this type of filmmaking. Do not buy this film when it goes to DVD. Right.

Because then the studios will want to make more of this. And there was something like, I was, then he references writing Valley of the Dolls. Right. He wrote, yes. And he was like, look, I am not a stranger to vulgarity in writing and I support the creator, but this is beyond the pale.

Exactly. And I swear it was something. I remember something like, this is literally one of the signs of the fall of Western civilization, this movie. You hated it that much. Did you ever interact with him after the fact? Did you ever get to talk to him about? No. No.

No? No. I don't know if I ever, I mean, we met him once or twice in passing, but it was very, but, but it was a real badge of honor. Do you ever get, I mean, you are received, I would imagine, with such love by people. Everybody wants, like, just you bring a lightness to wherever you are. Does anybody ever say to your face like, I don't find you funny? Like, you're not my cup of tea. Like, sure. I mean, it, it, you know, I have the benefit now of, of, of, of. and I'm so fortunate, like so many of these films have been watched so many times that it's very rare that someone's going to say something, you know, critical to me. But I did have this amazing experience. I was out of restaurant. I was walking to the bathroom. And I just happened to be in lockstep with this woman who looks up and is like, oh, hi, how are you? I'm like, oh, I'm fine.

I'm like, oh, gosh, great to meet you. I'm like, thank you. She's like, you're very funny. And I'm like, well, that's, that's very nice of you. It's like, but you're no Larry David. And I go, oh, well, yeah. Well, hey, and I kind of chucked. I'm like, are you kidding me?

He's one of the best. He's a king. He's like, she's like, yeah, yeah. Anyway, she goes to the bathroom. I go, I go to the men's room. I don't know. Somehow I come out. She comes out at the same time.

She wasn't waiting for me. It literally, and then she picks up right where she's like, I'm serious. You're no Larry David. Wasn't it a joke. I'm like, you're not even close to him. And then I'm like, I was like, okay, oh, we're going there. Right. Because I do have the ability to stand up for myself that's surprising to people.

So I was like, you know what? I get it. You like Larry David? Why don't you go back to your table and shut up? And she's like, oh! And then I just was like, puchm. I would imagine like, but yeah. It was hilarious.

And then I was like, okay, if you're going to really keep it up, then I'll get back in your face. Like, I get it. You like Larry David. I do too. You made your point. Shut up. And then she was taking, like, and I know she was back. So I know the B side of that.

was like, I just met that buddy the elf. He's an asshole. Like for context, she was an asshole twice. She doubled down. I just told him. I love Larry David. Her version was probably, I just told him I love Larry David.

Yeah. Yeah. People must be so shocked because like they probably imagine you don't have the capacity for anger or frustration. Right. Or I'll, if I'm feeling cheeky, like I've had moments where,

uh, I had one guy go, I don't care what they say. I think you're a. I said, well, thank you, but what are they saying? He's like, what? No, you said, I don't care what they say. Who's they?

He's like, oh, no, no, I didn't mean, I didn't mean it that way. No, let's sit down and talk about it right. No, I want to break it down. Who's they? Give me the list. It's always when you go to the extra, yeah, stop. They're like, never mind, sorry. Yeah.

Um, throughout your career, so we talked about obviously the collaborations with John, but like, it's always fun to see you mix it up with someone, sometimes unlikely, sometimes complimentary, whether it's, you know, it's Walberg or Kevin Hart, et cetera. It's like that mix of you and another actor that really create something really special. Um, because it strikes me like as many of those great collaborations as there have been. Like I started to think of the things that haven't been. Like we've never seen you with like, like you and Sandler or you and Stiller. I guess, have it never done like a two-hander or like are there.

It's funny too because we both, I don't know, Sandler and I have texted for, we've been kind of circling like trying to like like, like, Sandler, bless his heart has been like, come on, buddy, we got to figure something out before we, before we can't move anymore. It would be epic. So I know. I got that's on my bucket list. And I would and then reached out. within the last couple years as he's wanting to get a little bit more back into acting and doing comedy and stuff. So it's just, you know, it's hard in that you, if you're thinking of other ideas, you know, like as time keeps moving on and everyone has their own little universes, you would think it'd be an easy thing. And I don't know why it isn't.

We're all just kind of like ships passing in the night. And then it's not till you're way far away from each other. Like, yeah. Wait, how are we not done a thing? So, yeah. Are you in Gosling? I'm trying. Okay.

No pressure. And I'm trying with Ryan and I have a project together. And we're, it's, it's, we're banging it into shape. And I would hope that. That's an action comedy. Yeah, it could be really fun. Yeah, it could be a really fun thing to do with him. I mean, he's such an underrated.

Maybe not anymore. But no, no. Yeah. As a comedic personality, he's a beast. I mean, I think that performance in Barbie is. Talk about commitment and just. Epic and how he was not. Like, that's where comedy gets the short shrift.

Like, you think of a performance. Like, that should win the Oscar. Sorry. No. What other actor can do this? You know, like Jim Carrey and the Grinch should win the Oscar. 100%. There's not.

Degree of difficulty. Degree of difficulty so high. And I'm not saying because I've been asked like should comedy have its own Oscar category. No. But acknowledge that it is not every year, but occasionally there's a performance that's yeah should win you know. What kind of stuff do you say no to like do you get offered that doesn't like be like I mean like there's so many different like routes you could go down I'm sure if you wanted to whether

it's like being, I'm sure like franchises have come and want you to kind of like, you know, be the, the color in this weird franchise or... It's usually that. It's usually the bigger kind of things that, you know, probably would work and probably in terms of like a tent pole franchisee piece of IP. But you don't need that at this point, first of all, from a career standpoint. I'm so lucky in that I don't. I just, you know, as long as I have currency out there, I'd rather spend it in other places and do things that are still feel adventurous,

which is why I love this series so much. I brought it back to the Hawk. There is. Thank you. Caboom. A professional always. Caboom. Did you get paid extra every time you reference it?

Yeah, I do. I do it. Yeah. Hawk on Netflix, July 16th. Boom. But that was, that was something I hadn't done. I hadn't been a lead in an episodic series, purely, I mean, I did shrink next door with Paul, but that's, that's more, that's probably more dramatic.

And then comedy, but to get to do this longer format, to get to live with a character over 10 seasons, 10 episodes, to get to create. You already saw 10 seasons? I'm sorry, 10 episodes, sorry. In my mind, God, it felt like 10 seasons. Wow. No, but that is like, I mean, that's taking advantage of where the forum's at now.

Because like back in the day, this would have been a feature when like, but now there's an appetite for this kind of thing, which must be very rewarding. Yeah, absolutely. You still get to play with all your friends. Totally. Molly's in it. Luke's back. Chris Parnell. Fortune Feincer, David Gordon Green director.

David Gordon Green director. Harper Steele and Chris Henshi writing. Great. Yeah, we just got to play every day shooting out, shooting California. It was a huge deal and and create something that, you know, has a distinct voice and tone and is really swinging for the fences. Yeah. And we're not really, we're kind of moving forward without any regrets or trying to kind of compromise. Yeah, exactly.

Well, speaking of series, I forgot to mention before, Danny McBride told me that relatively recently you guys pitched the Ashley Schaefer spin-off to H. and they said no. Oh, I didn't, I didn't even know that happened. Really? No, Dan, this is as far as the information I got. I had only heard rumblings of Danny had reached, like, would, will be interested in return. I was like, sure, I don't know what that means or whatever, but I never heard anything more. I got it.

Oh. It got awkward. Wow. So they went, yep. See, who knows. never know all right I'm going to challenge you as we Corrine towards the end

I can only do this with people that have amazing on-screen credits you're going to choose your your favorite film and your own filmography and bracket style since you're such a sports enthusiast I'm going to pit them against each other Whoa you ready

okay okay so Anchorman versus Blades of Glory I'll put my hand on the crystal you brought your own crystal thank you for that Anchorman versus Blades of Glory Ding ding ding I love them both. Yep.

I'm just going to say Anchorman because it was extremely hard to get made. Okay. Yeah. Elf versus the other guys? Oh, come on. I know.

It gets good, right? Come on. It's fun, yeah. Because the other guys has been such a sleeper. Like, people now reference the other guy, like they finally caught up to the other guys. Yep.

Well, I'll just, I will have to say elf because it's brought joy. It's brought joy. I don't think that's the way you're supposed to say that word. To people. They don't even watch it during Christmas. They watch it year round. Why are you so angry?

Because it brings joy. Tala Taked Hades v. Old School? This challenge melted Jack Flacks brain. It's hard. It's so hard. Can I say something controversial? Let's do it. I'm going to say old school.

Okay. Because old school was not, hadn't even, it was in the can. They pushed the release date, which is always a good sign, into February, no man's land of February. Back in the days where there were real release dates that meant something. But old school became such a hit that it then led to the green light of Anchorman. And it led to all this momentum. And so, and Talladega Knights wouldn't have been made without old school.

Great logic. There we go. Step brothers versus Zoolander. Oh, I mean, stepbrothers was just, it was, I think we shot over, I want to say, a million and a half feet of film on that movie because there was so much improvising. That was just a pure joy. Now we pit the winners against each other. So it's going to be old school versus stepbrothers. I'll go stepbrothers.

Okay. Anchorman versus elf. Well, no, he's having a stroke, right on camera. What an exclusive we got. I'll go. You got this. I'll go Anchorman. Okay.

And finally, it's Anchorman versus Stepbrothers for all the marbles. Will. It's going to anchor man. There it is. Yeah. According to the man himself. I don't know if I'm right. I'm probably wrong.

You're right. And finally, happy second views profoundly random questions. Are you a dog or cat? Are you a dog or cat? person always dogs never cats like cats no way wow yeah aggressively strong anti anti I'm allergic to them yep I don't get it yeah I don't get this is what gets you cancel just so you know affectionate I'm dogs dogs dogs dogs I'm with you for the record dogs okay and joy because they bring joy what do you

collect uh antique pistols yeah Knives There it is There it is I have like a modest little Watch collection Love it Favorite video game of all time

I don't really That's okay Back in the day nothing Back in the Oh yeah I'm gonna go I'm gonna go Either centipede or Gallagia

Yeah Yeah Okay Would you rather have a mouthful of bees Or one B in your butt Wait one B in my butt Yeah Why do you say that like

It's a weird question Or a mouthful of B I guess I would I take one bee in the butt in case it didn't try to sting me yeah mouthful of bees that's just just a lot of situation yeah yeah yeah uh wallpaper on your phone the background the background in your phone do you have a phone did they let you have a phone mr stable genius very stable cheese my genius brain shorted out let's see what wallpaper my phone is off okay i could turn it off

Your professional. You're professional. Yeah, yeah. If it were on. If it were on, I have a photo of my wife and lovely kids. Of course, that makes sense. At Wimbledon. Sports name drop.

Fancy man. Yeah. Last actor you were mistaken for, we're not doing Chad Smith. Outside of Chad. Okay. Last actor you're mistaken for. Anybody? Huh.

Ever happen nowadays? There's only one, Will Farrell. Thank you. It hasn't happened for a while, as I'm for a long time. But what's his face from MASH? Oh, yeah. Mike Farrell? Not Mike Farrell.

Jamie Farrell. The guy after Mike Farrell? Oh. The guy. Klinger? No. I'm a little rusty on my mash. I know.

That's okay. That's okay. Worst noted director has ever given you? Hmm. I mean, you've gotten some doozies of your old. Adam would throw everything at you. Yeah. Worse note, it's probably a, when it's delivered in earnest.

Yeah. Just have fun with it. Yeah. Yeah. And finally, an actor who makes you happy on screen, you're immediately in a better mood. What comes to mind? An actor who makes me happy. I will say, I mean, there's, there's so many.

I'll say Jack Black Yeah, right, yeah Movie that makes you sad Oh I haven't seen it in a long, long, long, long time But boy, did I Cry my eyes out

An amazing Italian Cinema Paradiso Comes up a lot, that's a great one Does it? It does. I always think of the score The Inio Morconi score Holy

Come on, come on And a food that makes you confused will you don't get it why do people eat that food it brings you joy i don't get it yeah what is it we were talking about it driving over here frozen yogurt you're off the froyo it's coming it's coming back i know it's going to that's what that's how we were talking about there's these shi shi frozen yogurt places that have like lines around that i mean i'm not anti but sounds like you're anti why such joy over frozen yoga so that's how you spend the rest of your day you're just going to go to these shops and heckle people i'm going to go it's a sham

Go watch the Hawk. Yeah. Get off. I will. I will do that. You gave me my next good idea. There you go. And I'll see you in Malaysia

for the revival of the night show. I'm excited for this. I got some good, I got a good list of restaurants. I feel like this ends with us in a Malaysian jail, which would be a good story. It'd be a great story, right?

It's always a pleasure. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the best, truly. So great to talk to you for always. Everybody check out the Hawk. It's coming out on his birthday. So we have to watch it. You kind of have to.

Like on or don't, it'd be rude. It would be like that woman who said, he's no Larry David. By the way, if you're, if you tune in to watch the Hawk and you're looking for a Larry David style performance, no, no. You're not going to find it. It's not Larry David level, but it's solid will far away. If that woman who I met in Palm Springs is watching this, don't watch the Hawk. You're the only person I don't want to watch. Everyone else I want to watch.

to watch. But you don't watch it because you already don't like me. It's a good note to end on. Thank you well. Thank you. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person. I'm Daisy Ridley and I definitely wasn't should do this by Josh. You've watched them from the outside your whole life on TV, on stage on the cover. The success that always looks like it happened to someone on a different planet. But what if it didn't? I'm Evelyn and I've spent over 25 years in entertainment, producing for some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

And here's what I learned. The distance between you and them, it's a lot shorter than anyone's letting on. On my podcast, Repen, I sit down with the people you've been watching and I ask them who they actually are. Not the brand, the person. Where they started. What it costs them? what almost broke them. Their grit, their courage, their resilience,

and the lessons they've learned, it's all yours for the taking. Repen, wherever you listen.