Will Ferrell Told Jimmy Fallon That The 'More Cowbell' Sketch Ruined Christopher Walken's Life

Photo credit: NBC
Photo credit: NBC
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  • Will Ferrell joined Saturday Night Live’s Five-Timers Club (the rare designation for the holy ones who’ve hosted SNL five times).

  • He made the mandatory stop at the nearby 30 Rock stage of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to shoot the shit and laugh a whole bunch with his former SNL castmate.

  • The chat turned to famous SNL sketches.


Will Ferrell joined Saturday Night Live’s Five-Timers Club (the rare designation for the holy ones who’ve hosted SNL five times). So, naturally, he made the mandatory stop at the nearby 30 Rock stage of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to shoot the shit and laugh a whole bunch with his former SNL castmate.

After they talked about Thanksgiving plans, Boston, and Dunkin’ Donuts, the chat turned to famous SNL sketches. The first one to come up? You guessed it: “More Cowbell,” in which Blue Oyster Cult is recording "Don't Fear the Reaper" with Will Ferrell on the titular instrument and Walken as the band's producer.

Turns out Walken—who’s had a long, distinguished career as a dramatic actor—has been haunted by the cowbell ever since. Ferrell said that he once saw a play that Walken starred in, and the actor told him after the show:

“You know, you’ve ruined my life. People, during the curtain call, bring cowbells and ring them. The other day I went for an Italian food lunch, and the waiter asked if I wanted more cowbell with my pasta bolognese.”

It’s hard to tell exactly how miffed Walken is at the apparently-ceaseless teasing. “I think he was really mad at me… He had a little smile,” Ferrell added. “From The Deer Hunter to Pulp Fiction to ‘More Cowbell,’ that’s all he gets now.”

Oh well. Nowadays, there are worse ways for a life to be ruined than the eternal clanking of a cowbell.

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