Will Ferrell tells Letterman that Bill O'Reilly was 'a real sourpuss' at SNL's 40th bash

Will Ferrell does his best Bill O&#039;Reilly impersonation

(Image credit: Late Show)

published 18 March 2015

On Tuesday night's Late Show, Will Ferrell — dressed like a leprechaun — told David Letterman that he wasn't allowed to sit in the audience during the beginning of Saturday Night Live's big 40th anniversary special last month because he had to get in costume for the "Celebrity Jeopardy" skit. But he snuck out front once he was dressed as Alex Trebek, "and I look up, and there's Bill O'Reilly."

"Everyone's just clapping, and Bill O'Reilly's like this," Ferrell said, resting his frowning chin on his fist. "I don't know if he got a wrong seating assignment, or what. Just a real sourpuss." Letterman asked if Ferrell had ever met O'Reilly, and Ferrell said no, and he didn't understand the Fox News star's dour expression. "I don't know what he was doing there if he's wasn't a fan of Saturday Night Live," Ferrell said. Then he had a thought: "Maybe he's just really a student of comedy." Yeah, that's probably it. —Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.