16 Sophisticated Insights About ‘Anchorman’

Adam McKay, a former SNL writer, made his directorial debut with this film about a sexist 1970s San Diego news anchor grappling with societal shifts. It’s celebrated as one of the finest comedies in cinematic history. To mark the movie’s 20th anniversary and Will Ferrell’s 57th birthday (born on July 16, 1967, in California), here are some intriguing details about Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, perfect to enjoy with a cold glass of milk on a sweltering summer day.

Will Ferrell drew inspiration from a documentary about Jessica Savitch.

Savitch, who died in 1983, was among the pioneering female news anchors. Her former co-anchor, Mort Crim, confessed in a TV documentary that he treated her harshly due to his “male chauvinist pig” mentality at the time. Crim was even invited to the film’s premiere.

The physical model for Ron Burgundy might have been Harold Greene. (Possibly.)

Greene was employed at KCST-TV and KGTV in San Diego during the mid-1970s. While researching for Anchorman, producers examined a scrapbook belonging to one of Greene’s coworkers. Years later, Ferrell encountered Greene, who inquired if Burgundy was inspired by him. When Ferrell denied it, Greene expressed disbelief and walked away.

Paul Thomas Anderson volunteered to produce the film.

Anderson, after reading and appreciating Ferrell and McKay’s script for August Blowout (McKay once described the unproduced screenplay as Glengarry Glen Ross set in a car dealership), encouraged the duo to write another project, promising he would assist in getting it produced. His support inspired them to write Anchorman on spec.

The initial draft included a list of potential actors.

McKay and Ferrell imagined John C. Reilly as Champ (played by David Koechner), Chris Parnell as Brick (Steve Carell), Ben Stiller as Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), Ed Harris as Ed Harken (Fred Willard ultimately secured the role), Dan Aykroyd as Garth Holiday (Parnell later took this part), Alec Baldwin as Frank Vitchard (Luke Wilson), and William H. Macy as Marshall Connors, a character that was eventually cut.

The narrator declined to say penis.

Bill Kurtis, a seasoned Chicago news anchor, had no prior experience with movie voiceovers until Adam McKay approached him. Harold Ramis persuaded a hesitant Kurtis to accept the role. Kurtis turned down producer Judd Apatow’s request to say penis, later explaining he didn’t want to risk being part of a potential “embarrassment.” However, after the film’s success, he expressed willingness to say it in a sequel.

DreamWorks initially doubted Will Ferrell’s potential as a movie star.

These were Walter F. Parkes’s exact words after rejecting Ferrell’s original pitch for Anchorman. Following the success of Old School, DreamWorks acquired Anchorman for $4 million more than they would have paid had they accepted the pitch earlier.

Christina Applegate secured the role of Veronica over Amy Adams, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Leslie Mann.

McKay felt Adams appeared too youthful for the role, Mann lacked the “'50s wholesome vibe,” and regarding Gyllenhaal, “you don’t cast Meryl Streep in a comedy.”

James Spader was extremely eager to portray Brick.

He was “fixated” on the character and assured McKay he’d go to great lengths to secure the role. However, Steve Carell landed the part after it was decided Spader was “too skilled” for the film.

Bob Odenkirk nearly landed the role of Brian Fantana.

Paul Rudd’s enthusiasm for the script, even when the film’s future was uncertain, helped him secure the part over the future Saul Goodman. Ron Livingston also tried out for the role.

A complete storyline featuring Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Justin Long was removed and later included in a straight-to-DVD release.

In place of the panda birth storyline in the third act, a subplot involving a gang of bank robbers called “The Alarm Clock” kidnapping Veronica and forcing Ron into a live broadcast was filmed. These scenes were cut from the theatrical version and added to Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie, along with alternate takes. Poehler suspected that her role as a bank teller would be cut due to the film’s length.

They had to carefully manage the screen time of Baxter’s penis in the movie.

McKay edited multiple shots of Ron’s dog’s anatomy to maintain their PG-13 rating.

The iconic news team fight scene was shot on an extremely hot day.

“I’m certain it felt like 103 degrees,” McKay shared with Vulture about the intense scene where Ron and his team clash with rival news crews, including Channel 2 and Wes Mantooth’s (Vince Vaughn) team.

One member of the Spanish-language news team opted out of the fight.

During the brawl, the Spanish-language news team (led by Ben Stiller) had seven members on the stairs, but only six stepped into the circle to vow that the “sewers would run red with Ron Burgundy’s blood.”

You’d probably avoid dining at the Mexican restaurant featured in the movie.

When Veronica and her friend devise their plan to sabotage the teleprompter, they’re seated at a restaurant named Escupimos en su alimento, which translates to “We spit in your food” in Spanish.

Jon Hamm and Adam Scott are credited as writers for the newscast.

Hamm and Scott weren’t well-known actors during filming, but they were close friends of Paul Rudd. Their names appear in the fake credits for the newscast.

You might have noticed or heard the ghost flutist.

Katisse Buckingham was behind Ron Burgundy’s iconic jazz flute solo. Buckingham, who portrayed Todd in the Who’s the Boss? episode “The Hickey,” where he gave Alyssa Milano a hickey, also contributed flute and saxophone performances to Dr. Dre’s The Chronic.

This article was originally published in 2017 and has been updated for 2024.