Will Ferrell Reflects on Iconic ‘More Cowbell’ SNL Sketch

NEW YORK — A 2000 Saturday Night Live sketch featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken has become one of the most iconic moments in the show’s history, as revealed in a new Peacock docuseries. The sketch, a parody of VH1‘s Behind the Music, focused on Blue Öyster Cult and their hit song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.”

Ferrell, who hosted the episode, recalled how Walken’s improvisation elevated the sketch. “Christopher Walken added this thing where he gets all fired up and leans into it on such a level that I didn’t even expect,” Ferrell said. The moment culminated in Walken’s now-famous line, “Guess what? I’ve got a fever. And the only prescription is more cowbell.”

Jimmy Fallon, who appeared in the sketch during his first season on SNL, described the experience as “lightning in a bottle.” He added, “You hope for one of these things. It’s like lightning in a bottle. It rarely happens, where you have a catchphrase that takes off.”

Dana Carvey, another cast member, shared his excitement about the audience’s reaction. “If you do something on sketch TV and people like it and are applauding it and laughing at it the second or tenth time, that’s just a thrill,” Carvey said.

The sketch initially performed well but gained even more popularity after being featured in the Best of Will Ferrell compilation in 2003. Ferrell noted that the sketch’s influence extended beyond television. “Teams at sporting events were now playing clips on the Jumbotron to get a crowd going,” he said.

Ferrell also revealed a humorous encounter with Walken years later. “I went to see Christopher Walken years later in a play he was doing, and I talked to him backstage, and he’s like, ‘You know, you’ve ruined my life,'” Ferrell recalled. When Ferrell asked how, Walken responded, “Every show, people bring cowbells for the curtain call and bang them, and it’s quite disconcerting.”

The sketch’s enduring legacy is a testament to its unique blend of humor and spontaneity. Learn more about the history of SNL by watching the Peacock docuseries, now streaming.