SmartLess Podcast: "Will Ferrell" (August 24, 2020)
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This episode of SmartLess brings the legendary comedian Will Ferrell into a freewheeling, candid, and delightfully absurd conversation with hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. With plenty of banter and behind-the-scenes stories, the hosts ditch the script to explore Ferrell’s comedic origins, unlikely career detours, impressions, parenting challenges, and memories from showbiz and beyond.
Key Discussion Points
1. The Guest Reveal and Will Ferrell’s Entrance
- After several minutes of host antics and dog metaphors, Sean introduces the surprise guest: Will Ferrell, to the delight of the others.
- [05:13] Sean Hayes: “He studied sports journalism at USC, but ultimately went on to join the Groundlings… Ladies and gentlemen, William Ferrell.”
- Will immediately jokes about thinking the podcast is about “the Gong Show.”
[05:55] Will Ferrell: “Can I start by saying I’m so excited to be on the Gong Show podcast. All things you want to know about the new Gong Show...”
2. Will Ferrell’s Early Life & Reluctance About Showbiz
- Will reveals his initial reluctance to pursue a career in entertainment, citing his father’s unstable career as a musician.
[08:13] Will Ferrell: “I was actually diametrically opposed to going into entertainment because I watched my father, the musician, go from job to job and be fired at the drop of a hat… I thought, who would want to do that? I’m going to have a job where I carry a briefcase to work.”
- He shares how high school skit-writing and making people laugh lured him in despite his intentions.
3. The SNL Dream & Comedy Inspirations
- Ferrell describes joining the Columbia House Record and Tape Club as a teen and being drawn to the SNL cast album.
[10:48] Will Ferrell: “One of my [selections was] the cast album of Saturday Night Live… So, I guess, quietly, I did [aspire to be on SNL].”
- He names Steve Martin and late-night stand-up comics as formative comedy influences.
[12:24] Will Ferrell: “Steve Martin, yep. I was also a Tonight Show weirdo... If there was a comedian on that night, I’d watch.”
4. College Years & Career Pivot
- Discusses his time at USC studying sports journalism, working toward a career as a sportscaster, and why he walked away:
[15:12] Will Ferrell: “I should be leaping out of my chair to go [interview an NFL coach], but I had no drive… That’s when I signed up for my first class at the Groundlings.”
- He explains how lack of passion for news led him to find fulfillment in comedy.
5. The Birth of Harry Caray and SNL Audition
- Will recounts his original Groundlings sketch based on Cubs announcer Harry Caray, who he first encountered out of curiosity.
[20:47] Will Ferrell: “I hadn’t heard of Harry Caray... The thing that struck me was… listening to this announcer say, ‘If that ball’s a strike, I’m a Chinaman.’”
- He describes performing this character for SNL, the surreal pressure of that audition, and standing on the same stage as past comedy giants.
[24:06] Will Ferrell: “You walk out to a studio that’s pitch black except for a spotlight… Lorne sitting in the shadows… you just have to do comedy standing in a void, possibly.”
6. Odd Jobs and Early Work Life
- Will admits he was “pretty terrible” at his “civilian” jobs, including bank teller and valet parking, describing specific mishaps:
[28:14] Will Ferrell: “I once had a regular customer stop me in the middle of a transaction and say, ‘Can you call your manager? ...This guy is your worst teller.’”
- He jokes about his fantasy of being a postman because of the route, routine, and concrete, daily results.
7. Navigating Fame as a Parent
- Ferrell discusses attending school events for his kids and the awkwardness of being a celebrity parent.
[30:12] Will Ferrell: “There is a certain level of underwhelming… I can tell there are a lot of let down people continually.”
- The hosts swap stories about trying to blend in amid expectations or, conversely, being ignored to avoid “bothering” the famous dad.
8. Creative Boundaries and Dramatic Roles
- Asked if there’s anything he wants to do, Ferrell downplays ambitions for radical new directions, noting his awareness of audience expectations.
[34:20] Will Ferrell: “I don’t know, but how do you… you can’t give that answer without sounding like a jackass, right?”
- Jason Bateman praises Ferrell’s range and discipline regarding comedic and dramatic work.
[35:13] Jason Bateman: “You’ve pushed what you do into so many realistic, dramatic, melancholy things that truly nobody else could do… it’s admirable.”
9. What Annoys Will Ferrell?
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The group pokes at Ferrell’s reputation for kindness, prompting Will to reveal what truly gets on his nerves.
[37:14] Sean Hayes: “What really pisses you off?” [37:52] Will Ferrell: “I have screamed in a professional manner... but mostly it’s typical frustrations with your children… For some reason I’m always checking myself because I’m holding them to some standard that I don’t think I was held to.”
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He also laments “unit publicists” on film sets who guilt actors into endless press duties.
[39:44] Will Ferrell: “I don’t love the unit publicist experience… There’s always this game of ‘so and so’s willing to do it if you are,’ and somehow you’re obligated.”
10. Classic Will Ferrell Stories
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Will shares a story of being roped into an imaginary charity golf event with Tiger Woods, only to discover it was fabricated.
[42:28] Will Ferrell: “Turns out, of course, Tiger’s team has never heard anything of this… That’s the way the world sometimes works.”
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He recounts fleeing a competitive celebrity golf tournament, leaving without saying goodbye after being stuck with strangers:
[44:24] Will Ferrell: “We were supposed to [go to] a banquet afterwards, and I said, guys, I’m gonna go put my clubs in the car... Just drove home.”
11. Parenting in the Pandemic
- The hosts commiserate about their kids’ use of devices and shares an epic parent move:
[46:04] Will Ferrell: “I did throw my 13 year old Matias’s phone out the window… typical, true to form, we pulled over… he was so shocked… went back to look for the phone. ‘I can’t find it!’ I walked right up to the bush—‘It’s right here.’ [It was] a great little shot across the bow… But it hasn’t been much of a deterrent.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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[05:55] Will Ferrell (comedic deadpan about podcast):
“I’m so excited to be on the Gong Show podcast. All things you want to know about the new Gong Show, and it is just… sweeping the country, both countries, Canada and US.” -
[08:13] Will Ferrell on why he resisted showbiz:
“I was actually diametrically opposed to going into entertainment because I watched my father, the musician, go from job to job and be fired at the drop of a hat…” -
[20:47] Will Ferrell on Harry Caray’s infamous broadcast style:
“…listening to this announcer say on syndicated national television, ‘If that ball’s a strike, I’m a Chinaman’… I literally did a spit take.” -
[28:14] Ferrell’s worst bank customer experience:
“He said, ‘This guy is your worst teller, okay? And I just want you to know this. Look at him right now, he’s sweating.’ And I literally was—I was sweating.” -
[31:39] Jason Bateman asks about Ferrell’s “game face” as a parent at school events:
“Do you have to sometimes lead with a vibe that is less than friendly because you’re afraid if you seem too friendly, [other parents] are really going to lean in?” -
[35:13] Jason Bateman compliments Ferrell’s unique range:
“You’ve pushed what you do into so many realistic, dramatic, melancholy things that truly nobody else could do… It’s admirable how aware you are of how you come across…” -
[37:52] On frustration as a parent:
“For some reason I’m always checking myself because I’m holding them to some standard that I don’t think I was held to… You’re not done. It’s a two-step process!” -
[39:44] On press obligations as a movie star:
“I don’t love the unit publicist experience... There’s always this game of, ‘so-and-so is willing to do it if you are’…” -
[44:24] On ghosting the golf tournament banquet:
“Just drove home… Did we win? Yes, we won, even despite!” -
[46:04] The epic phone-throw incident while parenting:
“I did throw my 13-year-old Matias’s phone out the window… so that was a great little shot across the bow... but it hasn’t been much of a deterrent.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Guest reveal and Ferrell’s entrance: [05:08 – 05:28]
- Discussion of Will’s early reluctance, father’s influence: [08:13 – 09:14]
- Comedy influences and SNL aspirations: [10:48 – 12:24]
- Pivot to comedy/first Groundlings class: [13:44 – 16:23]
- Origin of Harry Caray impression and SNL audition: [19:55 – 24:27]
- Ferrell on day jobs and bank teller story: [27:27 – 29:17]
- Parenting and fame anxieties: [30:12 – 32:08]
- Ferrell on dramatic roles and career limits: [34:03 – 36:08]
- What ticks Will off (work and life): [37:14 – 39:44]
- Charity golf/Tiger Woods story: [41:02 – 42:53]
- Parenting during lockdown/devices incident: [45:07 – 46:56]
Tone & Chemistry
The episode brims with improvisational energy and camaraderie. Ferrell’s humility, offbeat humor, and willingness to share professional mishaps blend perfectly with the hosts’ signature sarcastic banter. Throughout, the tone is self-deprecating, absurd, and honest, balancing insightful career discussion with side-splitting interruptions and playful digs.
Stand-Out Takeaways
- Will Ferrell’s “everyman” persona is genuine; he remains skeptical of celebrity, is comically self-aware, and treasures normalcy—even as he’s recognized as a comedy legend.
- His comedic path was shaped as much by what he ran from (unstable showbiz family life) as what he ran toward (comedy as connection and release).
- Ferrell’s stories highlight the disjunction between public perception/fame and personal authenticity.
A must-listen for anyone who loves inside-Hollywood tales, genuine friendship, and the art of comedy—served with riffs, real talk, and relentless laughter.