Last summer, Jon Heder (pictured here with a goat) was cast as the lead in a Comedy Central series written and produced by comedy heavyweights Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. It seemed like the right career move after a series of movie roles in which his hair did most the acting. But no: Heder has pulled out of the project two days before shooting (like your dad should have).
Heder’s decision to ankle the show came just two days before the show’s March 31 production start. In a briefly-worded statement, the actor said he ultimately didn’t approve of his character’s direction…
Heder’s departure leaves what was to be an ambitious series committment up in the air. Comedy Central had ordered an initial 10 episodes of the series, with an option for 90 more… [It] also comes just two weeks after Chris Parnell and Horatio Sanz joined the cast. [Variety]
Good for Jon! With his star power and track record, he has every right to demand control of his character’s direction. That kind of selectivity is what gave us cinematic gems like The Benchwarmers, School for Scoundrels, and When in Rome. Just who the hell is this “Will Ferrell” person and what does he know about comedy anyway?
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Based on his last few movies, both acting and producing, I’d say Will has forgotten a shitload about comedy.
But I’m just a guy with some whiskey. What do I know.
Shit, I left my “Will Ferrell Sucks” pitchforks and torches over at FilmDrunk.
*types, “Fuck you if you don’t like Anchorman” in anticipation*
Awww they’re just player-heding.
/BOOOOOOOOOOOO
He was great on that cover of a board game.
[www.flickr.com]
Is this that big of a deal? Dax Shepard can’t be too busy to fill in, right?
Somewhere, Jaleel White is screaming, “JESUS CHRIST TAKE THE WORK!”
I’d rather have a show starring Uncle Rico. “How much you wanna bet I can throw Heder’s career over them mountains?”
In all honesty, being a comedic actor and getting on the bad side of McKay and Ferrell is an incredibly stupid thing to do.
^^^Exactly. If Heder angers them, they make him star in Funny or Die which is also known as “worse than MadTV”.
/The Benchwarmers was funny, bitch!
Heder is a Mormon and they have a tendency to walk out on things they don’t feel give some kind of uplifting message, or stay away from things they don’t feel “invite the Spirit”.
Really not overly surprised.
Heder, you fat lard, come get some WORK!
Horatio Sanz sealed the show’s fate, it just made more sense for him to jump ship now.
What a moron. Not only has he pissed off some of the biggest guys in comedy but he’s probably punched a huge whole in Comedy Central’s production schedule. Who’s parent company owns Paramount, and MTV films who gave him his start. It is a shame because Jon Heder really did have a unique authentic awkward quality. I hope he wasn’t holding out because his character wasn’t cool enough.
“I’m on a goat, motherfucker, don’t you ever forget!”