Special Coverage 2008 Fall Movie PreviewThe Must List2008 Fall TV PreviewSound Bites
Page 5 of 5
feb292008_980_lg
ON THE COVER '''You are an exciting and inspiring person.''' He waves the slip of paper from the fortune cookie. ''That's what I've been trying to tell you this whole time!''

Some in Ferrell's position might jealously guard their turf from the encroachment of younger comedians. He welcomes them. ''There are a lot of really funny guys who are very natural in what they do: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Seth Rogen,'' Ferrell says. ''I guess it's just my personality, but I don't think you can be threatened by any of that. There's always going to be someone as funny as you or funnier.'' He trails off. ''You know, your hope is to stay relevant as long as you can. But I never want to be caught forcing the issue. I want to guard against being in a situation where, you know, I'm on Mr. Belvedere and it's like, 'What happened to that guy? He was really funny, but now he's the butler on that show?' I'd rather just not be doing comedy anymore. I'll figure out something else.''

Ferrell switches the TV from Reba to an L.A. Kings hockey game. With one eye on the game, he tells a story about a woman on the Blades of Glory crew who pitched him an idea for a movie about an Australian bush pilot who discovers an alien. Galifianakis — one of several comedians whose career Ferrell is helping to nurture — listens with an exaggerated look of boredom. He grumbles that he'd be a much more interesting cover subject than Ferrell. As evidence, he claims a close friendship with Jason Priestley. He picks up his cell phone and pretends to call the former TV star: ''Judas Priestley! It's Zach. I'm here on a bus with Colin Farrell. Call me back.''

Ferrell cracks open a fortune cookie, unfolds the fortune, and reads it to himself. He stands up to address his bus mates. ''You guys have belittled me and disrespected me on this entire tour, and it's hurt,'' he says, his voice cracking. ''Now I want you to hear this.'' He takes a deep breath, bites his lip to hold back his emotions, then reads: '''You are an exciting and inspiring person.''' He waves the slip of paper. ''That's what I've been trying to tell you this whole time!''

With the snow coming down hard now, the drive is agonizingly slow. Everyone is starting to fade. It's nearly 2 a.m. when the bus finally pulls into Boston and heads downtown toward the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, where Ferrell has a reservation under the name of a made-up U.S. senator. As the bus approaches the hotel, everyone stands up and begins to gather his luggage. Ferrell looks out the window at the open expanse of Boston Common, empty and silent under a blanket of snow. In a small, childlike voice, to no one in particular, he says, ''Who's up for making snow angels?''

Want more? See our photo gallery of Will Ferrell's wackiest characters


Posted Feb 21, 2008 | Published in issue #980 Feb 29, 2008 | Order Article Reprints
Page 5 of 5