Episode 26: Will Ferrell

pplpod Episode 26 sprints through Will Ferrell’s fearless comedy engine—from SNL’s commitment-first characters and “More Cowbell” chaos to the Adam McKay era that minted modern classics: Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, The Other Guys. We dig into how absurdity meets sincerity in his work—earnest buffoons, elastic improvisation, and the secret weapon of childlike stakes. Then it’s range: holiday canon with Elf, sports send-ups in Blades of Glory and Semi-Pro, left turns like Stranger Than Fiction, Downhill, and The Shrink Next Door. Also on deck: Funny or Die, producing instincts, ensemble chemistry, and what Ferrell’s career says about risk, repetition, and staying weird at scale.