Will Ferrell hit the stage at The Greatest Roast of All Time: Tom Brady, channeling his legendary Ron Burgundy persona from Anchorman.
The reporter played by Ferrell in 2004’s Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and 2013’s Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues was introduced as “a living legend, a world-class lover, and San Diego’s top news anchor.”
“My name is Ron Burgundy. I am a very big deal but tonight is not about me,” Ferrell, as Burgundy started. “We are here to honor a champion of the gridiron, a great American, a father and a sexy man, a true patriot — until he was not of course.”
Of course, Ron had trouble getting past the pure sexual energy Brady gave off.
“Holy s— this man is gorgeous,” Ron marveled. “Look at those cheekbones. That’s a million-watt smile right there. … A person could get lost in those eyes and right now I am that person.”
Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgandy Admits His Lust for Tom Brady
A conflicted Ron Burgundy had a sexual existential crisis before Brady and the assembled crowd. Of course, Ron is famously a lady’s man… yet…
“Ron, pull it together. You’re a straight man,” Burgundy said through grit teeth. “He’s making you question your sexuality. Stop looking at him. You’re here to make fun of him. Not fall in love. Concentrate!”
After failing to lead the audience in jeering Brady (perhaps in a bid to regain his lost heterosexuality), Ron relented.
“Tom, it’s clear, everybody up here loves you,” Burgundy admitted. “I love you, although it might just be lust. Could be love, we’ll never know.”
Burgundy added, “I can’t wait for you to be up there on Fox Sports commentating on the game you loved, or playing for the Raiders in the playoffs, or coaching the Patriots, or whatever the f–k you’re gonna do.”
“I mean, let’s be honest,” Burgundy continued. “Your best years are behind you, Tom. The Super Bowls, Gisele, your movie career, it’s all done, it’s all gone. But you won’t be forgotten, you’ll always be remembered as Eli Manning’s b—-h. Don’t let that get you down, Tom.”
During the special hosted by Kevin Hart, Brady managed to be a good sport about the jokes at his expense. The event also featured appearances by other stars such as Julian Edelman, Rob Gronkowski, Nikki Glaser, Drew Bledsoe, and Randy Moss.
Kim Kardashian also made an already infamous appearance in which she was booed mercilessly and struggled to land a joke.