They were a legit Hollywood “it” couple – two Saturday Night Live sweethearts who’d go on to produce Step Brothers, Talladega Nights and so many other ribald gems. And then out of nowhere came the bulletin that Adam McKay and Will Ferrell had called time on their creative partnership, the former unpacking the whole affair in a Vanity Fair interview in November. Even more unimaginable than McKay’s disclosure that the superstar SNL alum was no longer on speaking terms with his former SNL head writer was Ferrell turning on McKay after being denied right of first refusal for the lead in a new dramedy McKay was developing about the Showtime-era Los Angeles Lakers.
Instead, McKay went with Step Brothers co-lead John C Reilly – another Ferrell bestie and frequent Funny or Die and Gary Sanchez collaborator who was reportedly put in the unenviable position of having to break the news of the booking to Ferrell. As much as it smarts to see business drive a wedge between arguably the most productive comedy team of the past two decades, there’s no question that McKay had to make that choice to give Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty a shooter’s chance.
