Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade RE-RELEASE - Will Ferrell
Oct 22, 2025
Will Ferrell, the iconic comedian behind unforgettable roles in films like Anchorman and Elf, shares hilarious stories from his early days at SNL. He reminisces about his infamous audition and the viral cat sketch, revealing his commitment to risky performances—even when they flop. Will also discusses the collaborative magic with fellow comedians, creating timeless sketches like the legendary cowbell bit with Christopher Walken. He reflects on balancing family life and his unique path from USC to comedic stardom.
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Audition That Bombed Became A Funny Origin Story
- Will Ferrell described bombing his SNL audition where he lay on the floor playing with cat toys and got dead silence.
- He framed it later as a funny story that showed risk-taking and persistence in his early career.
Turn A Tanking Sketch Into A Choice
- Will says if a sketch tanks he either commits harder or slows it down to punish the audience into laughing more.
- That counterintuitive response kept him visible and turned failure into a new comedic choice.
Visibility Builds Performer Confidence
- David Spade observed visibility builds confidence: small recurring appearances help audiences accept new cast members.
- That slow exposure enables performers to expand into bigger sketches over time.