Will Ferrell’s Broadway show about Bush (You’re Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush) opened last night. The consensus seems to be that it was funny, but meh.  Said NY Times, “I laughed, I yawned.” USA Today hated it, but their reviewer seems like kind of a cunt (with all due respect).

Ferrell’s monologue is a mixture of fact and fiction. While it is true that 71 percent of Americans disapproved of Bush’s job performance at the end of his term, Bush did not shoot up sleeping hobos with Novocain as a child. It is also unlikely that Bush has read Danielle Steel’s “Rogue” over 200 times. [NYC Theater]

[At one point] Ferrell, asks theatergoers to tell him their occupations, so he can give them the gift of his own pet names.
“Occupational therapist,” called out one woman at the performance I attended. “Helen Keller,” answered Mr. Ferrell as Mr. Bush, without pausing to think. “Bike messenger,” said another person. “I’ll call you Lance Armstrong,” responded Mr. Ferrell. But the coup de grâce came when a voice (not mine) yelled, “Reviewer,” and the man onstage answered, with the impact of a thrusting sword, “Obsolete profession.” [NYTimes]

Whoa, easy there, captain penis metaphor.  Anyway, that’s what you would’ve seen if you lived in Manhattan and had $61-$301 to spend.  All in all, not nearly as successful as the time Judy Dench crushed a ping pong ball with her anus.  She’s an amazing lady.

Not long ago, I brought you news that Will Ferrell would be playing George W. Bush on Broadway next month in a one-man show called You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush. It opens January 20th, inauguration day, with plans to run from Feb 1 to March 15 at the Cort Theater.  As you can see, today we have promo video.  Partial transcript:

Change is necessary.  Without change, we’d all wear the same clothes every day, and only watch the movie Tango and Cash. So I’m leavin the white house to go tear Dallas a new party hole.  But don’t worry, the Tiger Woods guy is taking over, and he seems to know stuff.

Will Ferrell is still one of the best comedic actors around and Dubya is one of his better impressions.  But keep in mind, this video was less than two minutes long.  I’ve seen student-run plays that ran two and a half hours plus (and you better believe someone deserved to get knifed afterwards).  So the question is, what are Ferrell and McKay gonna do for the other 90 or so minutes of this?  I’m not saying I won’t pay to find out, but you better believe I’m gonna get really, really stoned first.

Come January, Will Ferrell will make his Broadway debut as George W. Bush in You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush. The production will be directed and co-written by Ferrell’s frequent collaborator Adam McKay.  At this stage, it appears Ferrell is the only actor in the show.  Show opens on inauguration day, January 20th, with plans to run from Feb 1 to March 15 at the Cort Theater.

It just goes to show, New York’s a pretty cool place to live when you’re not being attacked by roving gangs of negro children.  What?  What’d I say?

[Variety]