After SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night Digs Deep Into Will Ferrell’s Iconic Cowbell Sketch, The EP Discussed Tracking Down Old Footage: ‘Somebody Had A VHS Tape’

by

On the 2025 TV lineup, Saturday Night Live (SNL) is now in its 50th season, an achievement few other shows can boast. NBC has commemorated this milestone in numerous ways, but fans with a Peacock subscription can watch the docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, which delves into some of the series’ most memorable moments and challenging times spanning the last fifty years. One such unforgettable moment, starring Will Ferrell, is the “More Cowbell” sketch, and an entire episode of SNL50 is dedicated to it.

In an interview with TopMob, Morgan Neville, executive producer of the docuseries, discussed the process behind the latest episode, particularly the hunt for previously unreleased footage from a sketch that was first aired 25 years ago – the iconic “More Cowbell” sketch featuring Will Ferrell and SNL cast members Chris Parnell, Chris Kattan, Horatio Sanz, and Jimmy Fallon. Notably, the future star of ELF, Ferrell, alongside other cast members, displayed varying degrees of success in maintaining a straight face while acting opposite Frenkle, the cowbell-playing member of Blue Oyster Cult.

Since its broadcast in 2000, the sketch has continued to haunt host Christopher Walken because of its endless quotability. The “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” episode, focusing on it, unveiled an interesting fact – Will Ferrell initially wrote the sketch intended for Norm Macdonald as Bruce Dickinson, but he didn’t get the part and it was set aside until Walken came along. I won’t delve into the details of the full episode from the Peacock docuseries here, but when I chatted with “SNL50” executive producer Morgan Neville, he explained why they devoted an entire episode to that one particularly successful (and admittedly incredible) sketch: it was a testament to its lasting impact.

I was thrilled by that concept since I felt certain we could delve deeply into details. There are other documentaries I adore for their specific focus, like the one on Helvetica font or the one focusing solely on the shower scene in Psycho. Hearing about it, I thought, “This is possible!” I wasn’t sure where it would lead, but I was eager to dive into intricate details. As we proceeded, not only did we discover dress rehearsal footage, but a former crew member had a VHS tape with blocking footage of the sketch. Additionally, we found old versions of the scripts. As we delved deeper into the history of it, I was astounded by how much information exists about one single sketch.

Many viewers of Saturday Night Live (SNL) have no doubt watched “More Cowbell” multiple times, but during SNL’s 50th episode, footage emerged that had never been aired on television, included in any DVD release or found online. The hunt for details about the 2000 sketch, which unexpectedly became so popular, went as far as retrieving an old VHS tape from a former staff member. Given how rare VCRs are nowadays, it’s amazing that the tape was preserved and in good enough condition for the documentary series!

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but share my thoughts on SNL50’s EP Morgan Neville, a man who has graced us with some truly exceptional documentaries. In 2014, he won an Academy Award for “20 Feet from Stardom,” followed by an Emmy in 2017 for “Best of Enemies: Buckley vs. Vidal.” He even snagged a Grammy for “20 Feet From Stardom” and was nominated for numerous other projects, including the heartwarming “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” showcasing the life and legacy of Mr. Rogers, and the innovative “Piece by Piece,” chronicling Pharrell Williams’ life and career through Lego animation.

When asked about the iconic “More Cowbell” sketch from around 2000, he had this to say: [insert quote here]

Initially, that drawing was simply a casual piece created during one evening, with no one predicting its future significance. Over time, however, the sketch amassed a history for itself, eventually appearing on ‘Best Of’ DVDs and more. This all happened 25 years ago, before the era of viral videos. The sketch needed time to grow in popularity, which is intriguing. Why does a sketch suddenly gain traction and become viral? What makes people connect with something? Yet, let’s not get too analytical about comedy, as discussing it too much can be futile. Instead, let’s enjoy the humor, because isn’t laughter what brings us together?

The SNL50 episode sheds light on the behind-the-scenes story of why “More Cowbell” was unexpectedly the highlight of the show in 2000, despite the fact that no one could have predicted it would become a cultural phenomenon for the next 25 years.

Having watched the skit for the first time through the “Saturday Night Live – The Best of Will Ferrell” DVD collection, I revisited it on YouTube after catching the new docuseries and found out that it has garnered a staggering 28 million views since its debut on the platform five years ago in 2020. I then shared this view count with Morgan Neville, who replied:

Five years seems unbelievable, doesn’t it? This is one reason I believe Saturday Night Live (SNL) has managed to thrive well into the 21st century – it fits surprisingly well with our modern media consumption habits. It’s highly adaptable for clipping and sharing on social platforms.

This line is both memorable and share-worthy, I’d definitely agree! From the “More Cowbell” skit, Christopher Walken’s quote, “I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!” might be the most well-known. However, my personal favorite moment is when Will Ferrell’s voice trembles slightly as he says, “I’d be doing myself a disservice––” while his fellow cast members try to suppress their laughter behind their Blue Oyster Cult beards. Even Ferrell himself comes close to breaking into a smile! It’s the inability of the stars to maintain composure that often makes a hilarious Saturday Night Live sketch even more amusing.

Take a closer look at the third episode of the documentary series “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night“, now streaming on Peacock. This episode, along with the entire series, is definitely worth your time. It features current and past stars revisiting their audition tapes, as well as an intriguing account of a peculiar year that nearly led to the cancellation of SNL. Don’t forget to catch new episodes of Saturday Night Live every Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBC with the upcoming hosts.

Read More

2025-01-21 14:37