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11 Jan 2026 5:02
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  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Will Ferrell once had a sketch cut from the 'Saturday Night Live' broadcast because it was considered too funny

    The 57-year-old comedy star helped to write a sketch for basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal - but the plan was ultimately scrapped because it threatened to overshadow Kelsey Grammer, who hosted the TV show back in 1998.


    During an appearance on the 'New Heights' podcast, Will shared: "[Shaq] was so funny and natural to the point where one of his sketches got cut because he had a funnier show than the host."

    Will then explained the idea behind the sketch.

    He shared: "We wrote this sketch where all the cast members were picking on me and making me cry. And Shaq came up, he's like, 'What's going on?' And I'm like, 'Shaq, everyone's making fun of me.' And he's like, 'Come with me, Will.' ... And he picked me up in his arms, and we proceeded to sing a duet called 'No One's Gonna Hurt My Little Man.' And Shaq was cradling me ... That got cut, and it, like, destroyed."

    In November, Will hailed 'Saturday Night Live' as the "hardest but most fun job" of his career.

    The actor starred on the long-running comedy show between 1995 and 2002, and Will now looks back on that period with a lot of fondness.

    Will - who is one of the biggest comedy stars in Hollywood - told PEOPLE: "I had a wonderful seven seasons on that show, where I made lifelong friends.

    "I knew in that moment it would be the hardest but most fun job I would ever get to do, and I still look back on it that way."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

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     Today's News

    Accident and Emergency:
    Six people have been involved in separate water-related incidents across the country this afternoon 23:06

    Environment:
    MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the South Island West Coast 21:56

    Entertainment:
    Jeremy Allen White and Pusha T both feature in Louis Vuitton's new travel-themed campaign 21:53

    Entertainment:
    Nell Fisher says her friends "don't care" that she stars in Stranger Things 21:23

    Environment:
    An expected rain deluge and a possible tropical cyclone are posing fresh threats to already hard-hit communities in Queensland's far north 21:16

    Entertainment:
    Bodybuilder-turned-actress Jayne Trcka has been found dead at her home in California 20:53

    Entertainment:
    Kendall Jenner is celebrating "confidence" in her new role as a global fragrance ambassador for Emporio Armani 20:23

    Entertainment:
    A member of Mickey Rourke's own management team set up GoFundMe campaign for him "as a nice gesture" as he faced eviction from his home 19:53

    Entertainment:
    Kate Hudson doesn't regret making "sacrifices" for her family by staying at home to look after her kids 19:23

    Christchurch:
    Drummond Wharf in Akaroa is cordoned off after a drowning 18:56


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