Will Ferrell's entrance into the world of "Saturday Night Live" was anything but smooth. The premiere of Season 21 marked his debut as a cast member, yet it was marred by a blunder that would become part of SNL lore. The new documentary series "SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night," now streaming on Peacock, captures this pivotal moment in Ferrell's career.
The anticipation for Ferrell's debut was high. Executive producer Lorne Michaels humorously warned him, "No pressure, but the whole show's riding on you." Ferrell, tasked with opening the show in the "O.J. Today" cold open, stumbled over his introductory lines, setting the stage for a rocky start.
"It really made me laugh. But I'm sitting there, and they're counting the show down. And then all of a sudden, I felt the enormity of this moment, being on live television, and I'm like, 'Oh, no. This is crazy!' And so I totally garble the lines." – Will Ferrell
Ferrell's nerves got the better of him as he attempted to deliver his first line as a newscaster.
"Good afternoon, it's been a busy day in court. The trial which ended yesterday with the ruh—prosecution's…" – Will Ferrell
This stumble on live television set the tone for a mixed reception. Former Entertainment Weekly editor Ken Tucker critiqued Ferrell for his "yelled-insult shtick" and labeled him as "Most Annoying Newcomer."
Despite the initial criticism, Ferrell embraced it with humor and resilience, even displaying a placard on his office door as a reminder of his early feedback.
"I was either gonna take that to heart, or I was gonna just use it as bulletin board material. So sure enough, I had a placard made, 'Most Annoying Newcomer,' and I put it on the door of my office. And I was like, 'Okay, if you think I'm annoying now, just wait. I'm gonna be so annoying.'" – Will Ferrell
Ferrell's castmate Rachel Dratch admired his originality and fearlessness in the face of such critiques.
"He would just come up with the most original ideas," – Rachel Dratch
Ferrell's initial stumble did not overshadow his creative potential. He continued to develop his comedic style, proving himself as an integral part of SNL's ensemble.
