Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a 2004 American satirical comedy film written and directed by Adam McKay, produced by Judd Apatow, starring Will Ferrell and Christina Applegate, and written by McKay and Ferrell. But did you know about Ron Burgundy appearing on late-night talk shows?
Ron Burgundy is the well-known anchorman for the fictional KVWN channel 4 in San Diego. He is played by the comedian Will Ferrell in the Movie Anchorman. His character appeared on every late-night talk show on the same night in 2019.
Is Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Based on True Events?
Oscar-winner Adam McKay made his directorial debut in 2004 with Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, a satire of 1970s news culture. Anchorman, starring an ensemble cast of comedic heavyweights, is regarded as one of the funniest films ever made. To be sure, its characters, catchphrases, and bits are still quoted and parodied today.
The story follows San Diego anchorman Ron Burgundy played by Will Ferrell, and his newscaster pals, played by Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, and David Koechner, as they navigate an industry in flux. When Veronica Corningstone, played by Christina Applegate, joins the news station and eventually co-anchors Burgundy’s show, much to his chagrin, their reckless and womanizing behavior is called into question. Antics ensue, but the two ultimately succeed in their collaboration, resulting in a sequel released in 2013.
While the film satirizes 1970s culture, particularly the rising popularity of television news, the comedy also strategically brings to light issues that plagued the news industry at the time, such as sexism and misogyny. Many have wondered if the Burgundy and Corningstone rivalry as news anchors was based on a true story.
Because Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is set in the past, it draws heavily on real-life events and people. (Source: Today)
Did Real New Anchors Influence the Film?
While Anchorman isn’t a true story about a news anchor, it does draw significant parallels to actual events and anchors who dominated the news scene in the 1970s. Will Ferrell’s comedy is heavily influenced by the career of NBC news anchor Jessica Savitch.
The anchor faced significant challenges in a male-dominated industry, especially from her male coworkers. While Veronica Corningstone’s career isn’t a carbon copy of Savitch’s, the character’s appearance and the toxic work environment she must endure appearing to be influenced by the late newscaster.
Ferrell told The New York Times that while watching a documentary about the anchor, he was taken aback by how Savitch’s co-anchor Mort Crim treated her.
You have to remember, back then, I was a real male chauvinist pig. I was not nice to her.
Mort Crim, Newscaster New York Times
Crim has claimed to be the inspiration for Ron Burgundy. While Ferrell and director Adam McKay have not confirmed it, the former news anchor was invited to the premiere of the Anchorman sequel in 2013
Another newscaster from the time, Harold Greene, describes himself as Burgundy’s inspiration. According to Newsday, the anchorman from the 1970s approached Ferrell once and asked him if he was the inspiration for the character. Ferrell may have denied it, but Greene responded to him.
There’s an old saying in the news game: Yeah, right.
Harold Greene, Newscaster
While Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy isn’t based on a true story, it’s clear that Ferrell and McKay were influenced by the real anchors who dominated the 1970s airwaves. (Source: Looper)
Image from LaTimes