Ferrell antics appeal to campus audience
By: Seth Wright, Staff Writer
Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Arts
When Will Ferrell first appeared on stage Friday night in the Smith Center, he was wearing a Duke sweatshirt.
Boos and hisses erupted from the audience, until Ferrell pulled the sweatshirt over his head to reveal a Carolina blue UNC sweatshirt. Ferrell then began to fight performers dressed as ninjas to the "Mortal Kombat" theme song.
Ferrell was at UNC as part of the "Funny or Die Comedy Tour," presented by "Semi-Pro," a basketball-themed movie starring Ferrell, which opens in theaters Friday.
Attendees paid $45 for tickets, a price many students said was high. But Kyle Slighton, who attended the event, said he didn't mind the cost.
"It was worth it with all the comedians. If it was just Will Ferrell, I would be pretty pissed, but with everybody it was good," he said.
Ferrell acted as the show's host, introducing other featured comedians Zach Galifianakis, Nick Swardson and Demetri Martin between each of his own skits.
Midway through the show, Ferrell appeared as his title character from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and interviewed men's basketball coach Roy Williams
"I just stand over there and clap and tell everybody to run up and down the court. It looks pretty good," Williams said in response to Ferrell's question about what Williams' coaching duties entailed.
In the middle of the interview, ninjas came on stage and attacked Williams as Ferrell fought them off.
Williams said the ninjas looked like Duke students.
Ferrell asked Williams about Tyler Hansbrough's level of intensity during basketball games.
"I understand his nickname is Psycho. Is that because he has psychological problems?" Ferrell said.
After learning Hansbrough was in attendance, Ferrell acted frightened and told the star forward, "I've got my eye on you, Psycho."
While Ferrell was undoubtedly the headliner, audience members said other performers made the show great.
Martin came on stage playing a jet-black Gibson Les Paul guitar as his comedic drawings were displayed on large screens hanging above each side of the stage constructed on the Smith Center floor.
Swardson complemented Martin's short, witty comedy with more irreverent jokes about college life.
Swardson said he loved to black out from drinking because he wanted to be a detective when he was a child.
"When you wake up, you have a lot of mysteries to solve," he said.
He also talked about when he applied for a job at Taco Bell and was required to fill out a special skills section on the application.
"There's nothing special about me. That's why I'm here," he joked.
Last on stage was Galifianakis, who flashed the audience and danced around stage as Little Orphan Annie. He also performed a stand-up routine while playing piano music.
Graduate student Peter Franzese said the comedians' integration of Williams and other UNC celebrities made the event worth the cost.
"It was a nice little personal touch for campus," he said.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Boos and hisses erupted from the audience, until Ferrell pulled the sweatshirt over his head to reveal a Carolina blue UNC sweatshirt. Ferrell then began to fight performers dressed as ninjas to the "Mortal Kombat" theme song.
Ferrell was at UNC as part of the "Funny or Die Comedy Tour," presented by "Semi-Pro," a basketball-themed movie starring Ferrell, which opens in theaters Friday.
Attendees paid $45 for tickets, a price many students said was high. But Kyle Slighton, who attended the event, said he didn't mind the cost.
"It was worth it with all the comedians. If it was just Will Ferrell, I would be pretty pissed, but with everybody it was good," he said.
Ferrell acted as the show's host, introducing other featured comedians Zach Galifianakis, Nick Swardson and Demetri Martin between each of his own skits.
Midway through the show, Ferrell appeared as his title character from "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" and interviewed men's basketball coach Roy Williams
"I just stand over there and clap and tell everybody to run up and down the court. It looks pretty good," Williams said in response to Ferrell's question about what Williams' coaching duties entailed.
In the middle of the interview, ninjas came on stage and attacked Williams as Ferrell fought them off.
Williams said the ninjas looked like Duke students.
Ferrell asked Williams about Tyler Hansbrough's level of intensity during basketball games.
"I understand his nickname is Psycho. Is that because he has psychological problems?" Ferrell said.
After learning Hansbrough was in attendance, Ferrell acted frightened and told the star forward, "I've got my eye on you, Psycho."
While Ferrell was undoubtedly the headliner, audience members said other performers made the show great.
Martin came on stage playing a jet-black Gibson Les Paul guitar as his comedic drawings were displayed on large screens hanging above each side of the stage constructed on the Smith Center floor.
Swardson complemented Martin's short, witty comedy with more irreverent jokes about college life.
Swardson said he loved to black out from drinking because he wanted to be a detective when he was a child.
"When you wake up, you have a lot of mysteries to solve," he said.
He also talked about when he applied for a job at Taco Bell and was required to fill out a special skills section on the application.
"There's nothing special about me. That's why I'm here," he joked.
Last on stage was Galifianakis, who flashed the audience and danced around stage as Little Orphan Annie. He also performed a stand-up routine while playing piano music.
Graduate student Peter Franzese said the comedians' integration of Williams and other UNC celebrities made the event worth the cost.
"It was a nice little personal touch for campus," he said.
Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Tom Crosby
posted 2/27/08 @ 1:23 AM EST
I have to say, I'm disappointed with this review. It's so much of a capsule summary that it skips the joy of actually being there. Were you there, Seth?
Roy Williams stole the show. (Continued…)
Natalya
posted 2/27/08 @ 8:30 AM EST
I so wish I could have been there! I'm a huge fan but just couldn't afford it. Oh well...
Post a Comment